Tensions rise in Ukraine

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will be arriving in Ukraine this week — and a debate on the revolution there is taking place this evening in Ottawa.
But first, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an immediate combat readiness test in central and western Russia. The move comes as violent protests shift from Kyiv to the southern region – Crimea.

More than ten-thousand members of a Muslim Crimean group demonstrated in support of Ukraine’s interim leaders — shouting ‘Ukraine is not Russia.’ But on the other side protesters were calling for stronger ties with Russia — shouting ‘Crimea is Russia.’ As the crowd became more agitated, a line of police moved in to divide the groups. Several people were hurt.

As for the Russian military exercises near Ukraine’s border. Russia’s defence minister says they’re unrelated to developments in Ukraine. The exercise involves some 150-thousand troops — 880 tanks — 90 aircraft and 80 navy ships. The defence minister says the exercise is reportedly to check their readiness for action in ‘crisis situations’ that threaten Russia’s military security.

British Defence Secretary Philip Hammon. “We will certainly obviously want to take proper cognizance of any activities by Russian forces but we would urge all parties to allow the Ukrainian people to settle their internal differences and then to determine their own future without external interference.”

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “Ukraine is a close and long-standing partner to NATO, and NATO is a sincere friend of Ukraine. We stand ready to continue assisting Ukraine in its democratic reforms.”

Back in Kyiv, those who once considered themselves anti-government protesters cut down the fence surrounding Ukraine’s parliament. The activists says their action represented the unification of the people and the government. Last week, dozens of protesters were killed in clashes with government security forces in the capital. And people are continuing to honour those lives lost. In Kyiv’s Independence Square Wednesday morning, things were still very much in transition. A vote on a new interim government is expected Thursday. And candidates are now beginning to emerge for the presidential election, set for May 25th.

Meanwhile — the whereabouts of ousted president Viktor Yanukovich — who is wanted for the mass murder of those protesters — is still unclear. He was reportedly last seen leaving the capital in a helicopter — amid his ousting. Russia’s foreign minister called on Europe’s democracy watchdog to condemn what he calls the “nationalist and neo-fascist” sentiment in western Ukraine.

The U.S. is urging the former Soviet Republic of Georgia to further integrate with Europe and NATO. And went one step further — with demands that Russia withdraw troops from disputed enclaves it now occupies there. Georgia is on Russia’s southern border. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he wants to see Georgia sign a partnership agreement with the European Union later this year. Kerry insists U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Georgia is not aimed at reducing Russia’s influence — but rather, driven by America’s desire to see them succeed as robust democracies with strong economies. “We’re hoping that Russia will not see this as sort of a continuation of the cold war. We don’t see it that way. We do not believe this should be an East-West, Russia-United States. This is not Rocky IV. Believe me. We don’t see it that way. I think Russia needs to be very careful in the judgments that it makes going forward here. We are not looking for confrontation. But we are making it clear that every country should respect the territorial integrity here, the sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia has said it would do that and we think its important that Russia keeps its word.”

Here at home, the Liberals and NDP say they stand united with the people of Ukraine and that it’s unfortunate only Conservatives are heading to Kyiv. The two parties have been shut out of the delegation that will accompany Foreign Affairs Minister Baird.

Justin Trudeau is the federal Liberal leader. “I worry that the partisan approach this government has taken on this particular issue might highlight that it is about domestic politics. All of us represent Ukrainians in ridings across the country. I would like to see that we are committed to democracy and stability. This government has a pattern of using foreign affairs for domestic political advancement, and I’m disappointed we continue to do that with this.”

The chief spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, says neither opposition party was worthy of inclusion on the trip because of past behaviour.