Kerry Warns Russia of Further Steps, Offers Ukraine Aid
Aid Package Coincides With Kerry's Emergency Visit to Kiev
KIEV, Ukraine—Secretary of State
John Kerry,
during an emergency visit to Kiev, pledged aid to Ukraine's new
government and warned the U.S. and its allies would impose sanctions
against Russia if it didn't begin pulling troops from the former Soviet
state.
The financial assistance to
Ukraine—a pledge of $1 billion in loan guarantees and technical support
for the country's central bank and finance ministry—marked the first
concrete American assistance offered to Ukraine since opposition forces
overthrew pro-Russian President
Viktor Yanukovych
last month.
The warning to Russian President
Vladimir Putin
came as U.S. officials have steadily intensified threats of
punitive measures against Moscow for sending thousands of Russian troops
into Ukraine's Crimean region in the past week.
"If
Russia does not choose to de-escalate…then our partners will have
absolutely no choice but to join us to continue to expand upon steps we
have taken in recent days in order to isolate Russia politically,
diplomatically and economically," Mr. Kerry said. "I would emphasize to
the leaders of Russia this is not something we are seeking to do; this
is something Russia's choices may force us to do."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with
Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, left, and Ukrainian
interim President Oleksandr Turchynov, right, during their meeting in
Kiev, Tuesday.
European Pressphoto Agency
The U.S. wants Russia to "return its
troops to the barracks," Mr. Kerry said, and abide by basing agreements
with Ukrainians. U.S. officials said that if Mr. Putin doesn't take
these steps, the
Obama
administration is preparing to enact financial sanctions on
Russian leaders, companies and military officers "within days."
Mr.
Kerry arrived in Kiev Tuesday for an visit lasting several hours and
aimed at displaying American support for Ukraine's interim government in
the face of thousands of Russian troops deployed this week by Mr.
Putin.
Mr. Kerry, while talking tough to
Moscow, still stressed to Mr. Putin that the U.S. sought a diplomatic
situation to end Ukraine's political crisis. He said Moscow's
"legitimate" interests in the country, such as military bases in the
Crimea region, could be respected.
Mr. Kerry is flying to France later
Tuesday. He was scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, their first since the Ukraine crisis
erupted last month.
Meanwhile, President
Barack Obama
said Russia's military incursion into Ukraine could end up
driving countries away from Russia, instead of closer to it, according
the Associated Press. Mr. Obama said there is a strong belief around the
world that Russia's actions are violating international law and that
force shouldn't be used to exert influence inside Ukraine.
The
financial assistance pledged by the chief U.S. diplomat is a bid to
help Ukraine face down twin economic and energy crises while its new
government seeks a wider bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
American
officials said that the $1 billion in loan guarantees was expected to
help Ukraine finance purchases of energy imports.
"The
United States is prepared to work with its bilateral and multilateral
partners to provide as much support as Ukraine needs to restore
financial stability and return to economic growth, if the new government
implements the necessary reforms," Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in
a statement.
U.S. technical experts
will be sent to Ukraine to assist the country's central bank and finance
ministry to fashion a response to Kiev's mounting financial and energy
crises, U.S. officials said.
American
advisers will also help Kiev develop an anticorruption drive and system
to trace assets believed to have been plundered by Mr. Yanukovych's
government, officials said. U.S. experts will also be sent to help
Ukraine prepare for May 25 elections.
During
the Kiev visit, Mr. Kerry met with the country's president and prime
minister and other Ukrainian political leaders. U.S. officials said Mr.
Kerry is seeking the establishment of a formal dialogue between Ukraine
and Russia to enable Moscow to begin pulling back thousands of troops it
has deployed in the Crimean region of the country over the past week.
U.S. officials said they are closely
monitoring Russian troop movements in Ukraine and remained concerned Mr.
Putin could press a military offensive beyond the Crimean peninsula and
toward Kiev.
Russia has massed troops
on the isthmus that divides Crimea from the rest of eastern Ukraine,
these officials said, and Russian jets have repeatedly entered Ukrainian
airspace.
Write to Jay Solomon at jay.solomon@wsj.com
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