Google – AFP, 27 February 2014
 |
US
Secretary of State John Kerry makes his way off the stage after speaking
on the
release of the annual Human Rights Report on February 27, 2014 in the State
Department briefing room in Washington (AFP, Mandel Ngan)
|
Washington
— Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his US counterpart Thursday that
Moscow "will respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine" but voiced
concerns about the situation in southern Crimea, US Secretary of State John
Kerry said.
The top US
diplomat said the pledge came in an early morning phone call with his Russian
opposite number, who insisted Moscow was not behind the storming of Crimean
government buildings by dozens of armed pro-Kremlin gunmen.
"I
asked specifically that Russia work with the United States and our friends and
allies in order to support Ukraine to rebuild unity, security and a healthy
economy," Kerry told reporters.
Lavrov
reaffirmed President Vladimir Putin's statement that Russia "will respect
the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Kerry said after talks with German
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Lavrov also
denied that Moscow had any hand in the takeover of the buildings in the Crimea,
over which a Russian flag was hoisted Thursday.
"On
the contrary they are concerned about it, they expressed their concern about
it," Kerry said.
But he
warned that Washington would be keeping a close eye on events following the
ousting of Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovych to ensure that Russia
stays true to its word.
"Statements
are statements, words are words," Kerry said, adding "we have all
learnt that it is action and the follow on choices that make the ...
difference."
The German
minister meanwhile called on Moscow to work with the United States and the
European Union (EU) to help Ukraine.
"No-one
will benefit from this country teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. We need
political stabilization to be accompanied by economic stabilization,"
Steinmeier said.
He
confirmed that the EU was thinking of offering about $1 billion in loan
guarantees to Ukraine, but said the International Monetary Fund first had to
assess what was needed.
"It's
difficult for anyone to give you an exact idea of how much Ukraine needs. Yanukovych
has kept the figure hidden under his desk," Steinmeier said.
He
insisted: "The political future is in the hands of the Ukrainians. It is
for them to decide about their future and I hope they will do so in a way that
will allow for an inclusive government that considers itself to be responsible
for the people of the country as a whole."
Ukraine
owes $13 billion in state debt payments this year -- a massive sum in a country
where state reserves have shrunk to less than $18 billion.
IMF chief
Christine Lagarde said Thursday that Kiev's new government of technocrats had
made a formal request for IMF help and a fact-finding team was being dispatched
to Kiev.
The White
House meanwhile reinforced US warnings to Russia that it must avoid
"miscalculations" in military drills along the border of Ukraine.
The
comments appeared to reflect Washington's concern that Russian maneuvers near
the ex-Soviet state could trigger events which may get out of control.
Kerry said
Lavrov had assured him that the exercises were long planned and had nothing to
do with the fast-moving events in Ukraine.
But Carney
cautioned: "We expect Russia to be transparent about these activities and
to avoid provocative actions."
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