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Saying that the United States is "deeply concerned" by reports that Russia is taking military action in Ukraine, President Obama urged Russia not to intervene in the destabilized country, where tensions have reached new highs this week.
Obama said that he had spoken to Russia's President Putin in recent days, to foster cooperation in coping with the situation.
But, he said, "we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine. Russia has a historic relationship with Ukraine, including cultural and economic ties — and a military facility in Crimea. But any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing."
Tensions in Ukraine have built steadily this week, after the country's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the nation over the weekend. Even as the roiled nation affirmed a new government on Thursday, gunmen took over government buildings in the Crimean peninsula, an area with a majority of the residents are ethnic Russians.
And on Friday, "gunmen in unmarked military uniforms on Friday took control of two airports,": as Mark reported this morning for the Two-Way. Speculation about the origin of those gunmen has been rampant and has included the possibility that they are Russian. But Russia's military officials deny that claim.
Ukraine's future "must be determined by the Ukrainian people," Obama said. He urged an end to the violence that has erupted in recent weeks, calling for stability and new elections in the spring.
Citing Russia's recent hosting of many of the world's nations for the Olympics, Obama said that any Russian military intervention would invite international condemnation.
Vic e President Biden spoke to Ukraine's new prime minister today, Obama added. The president did not take any questions after delivering his prepared remarks.
Yanukovych is currently in Russia. Earlier today, he said he is "eager and ready to fight for the future of Ukraine." But he also said that Crimea should not try to secede from Ukraine in an attempt to join Russia.
President Obama spoke just before 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. His remarks followed a statement at the U.N. by Ambassador Samantha Power, who called this a "critical moment" in Crimea.
She called for Russia to stand down and let Ukraine's citizens determine their own future. Saying that Ukraine's new government will need help to recover, Power said that the United States "stands with the Ukrainian people."
