The US and six other major industrialized countries have denounced what they referred to as Russia’s military buildup in Ukraine’s Crimea.
The denunciation came in a statement on Sunday by the seven countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States, which are together the partners of Russia in the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized countries. The seven countries said in the statement that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are incompatible with the principles of the G8. They also announced their decision to suspend this week’s preparatory talks in the Russian city of Sochi ahead of the G8 summit later this year.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “is not going have a Sochi G8, he may not even remain in the G8 if this continues,” warned US Secretary of State John Kerry, referring to the Russian military deployment to Crimea. Troops in several locations in Crimea wear military apparel that bears no insignia. It is not immediately clear where exactly Russian troops have been officially deployed to. Russia has defended its actions in Ukraine, saying the measures are aimed at protecting its interests and Russian-speaking people in Crimea.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has called up all military reservists in preparation for a possible military conflict with Russia. Moscow’s military deployment to Crimea comes after Russia’s parliament gave the green-light to president Putin to use military forces to protect its interests in the Black Sea territory.
