Ukraine vows not to cede 1 centimeter
Print Edition
As pro-Russia people in Crimea kept up pressure for unification with Moscow, Ukraine yesterday solemnly commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of its greatest poet, with the prime minister vowing not to give up “a single centimeter” of Ukrainian territory.
“This is our land,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a crowd gathered at the Kiev statue to writer and nationalist Taras Shevchenko. “Our fathers and grandfathers have spilled their blood for this land. And we won’t budge a single centimeter from Ukrainian land. Let Russia and its president know this.”
“We’re one country, one family and we’re here together with our kobzar (bard) Taras,” said acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.
A choir sang, and people laid bouquets at the monument to the son of peasant serfs who is considered the father of modern Ukrainian literature and is a national hero.
Later yesterday, following an extraordinary meeting of the Ukrainian government, Yatsenyuk said he would be flying this week to the United States for high-level talks on “resolution of the situation in Ukraine,” the Interfax news agency reported.
Most people in Crimea identify with Russia, and Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet is based in Sevastopol, as is Ukraine’s.
Over the weekend, Russia reinforced its armed presence on the peninsula. Russian foreign minister ruled out any dialogue with Ukraine’s new authorities.
The regional parliament in Crimea has set a referendum on Sunday on leaving Ukraine to join Russia. Senior lawmakers in Moscow have said they would support the move, ignoring sanctions threats.
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