“Russians are our brothers,” Crimean Parliament speaker

Putin defends separatist drive in Crimea

canada goose store KIEV, Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday defended the separatist drive in the disputed Crimean Peninsula as in keeping with international law, but Ukraine’s prime canada goose jacket outlet store minister vowed not to relinquish “a single centimeter” of his country’s territory. canada goose store

canada goose clearance Over the weekend, the Kremlin beefed up its canada goose outlet military presence in Crimea, a part of Ukraine since 1954, and pro Russia forces keep pushing for a vote in favor of reunification with Moscow in a referendum the local parliament has scheduled for next Sunday. canada goose clearance

President Barack Obama has warned that the March 16 vote canada goose outlet los angeles would violate international law. But in Moscow, Putin made it clear that he supports the referendum in phone calls with German Chancellor Angela Merkel canada goose outlet uk fake and British Minister David Cameron. “The steps taken by the legitimate leadership of Crimea are based on the norms of international law and aim to ensure the legal interests of the population of the peninsula,” said Putin, according to the Kremlin.

canada goose coats Following an extraordinary Sunday meeting of the Ukrainian government, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced that he will meet with Obama in Washington on Wednesday. The White House confirmed the meeting. canada goose coats

canada goose black friday sale Vice President Joe canada goose outlet online store review Biden canada goose outlet in montreal cut short his trip to Latin America, nixing a planned stop in the Dominican Republic so he can attend Wednesday’s meeting, an aide to Biden said. Biden had been the White House’s prime point of contact with Ukraine’s canada goose outlet in canada president, Viktor Yanukovich, before he fled to Russia last month following violent clashes in the capital Kiev. considers Yatsenyuk to be Ukraine’s legitimate leader. canada goose black friday sale

“Our country and our people are facing canada goose outlet ottawa the biggest challenges in the history of modern independent Ukraine,” the prime minister said earlier in the day. “Will we be able to deal with these challenges? There should only be one answer to this question and that is: yes.”

Ukrainians sing national anthem during a rally in Independence Square in Kiev, canada goose outlet legit Ukraine, Sunday, March 9, 2014.

In an emotional climate of crisis, Ukraine on Sunday solemnly commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of its greatest poet, canada goose jacket outlet toronto Taras Shevchenko, a canada goose factory outlet vancouver son of peasant serfs canada goose discount uk who is a national hero and is canada goose outlet new york city considered canada goose outlet hong kong the father of modern Ukrainian literature. “This is our land,” Yatsenyuk told a crowd gathered at the Kiev canada goose outlet winnipeg statue to 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.”

canada goose “We’re one country, one family and we’re here together with our kobzar (bard) Taras,” said acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. canada goose

Later, Ukrainians in the tens canada goose outlet mississauga of thousands massed in the Kiev’s center for a multi faith prayer meeting to display unity and honor Shevchenko. One of http://www.canadagoosecanadaoutlet.com the speakers, former imprisoned Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, almost burst into tears as he implored the crowd to believe not all Russians support their country’s recent actions in Ukraine.

“I want you to know there is a completely different Russia,” Khodorkovsky said.

In the eastern city of Luhansk, however, people who canada goose outlet houston gathered in a square to celebrate Shevchenko’s birthday were attacked by pro Russia protesters, and some were beaten up, local media reports said.

canadian goose jacket Chanting “Russia! Russia!” the demonstrators then broke through a police barricade and took over the local government building, where they raised the Russian flag and demanded a citywide referendum on joining Russia, Channel 5 and other local media reported. canadian goose jacket

Canada Goose Parka But it’s Crimea, a strategic peninsula in canada goose outlet 2015 the Black Sea, that has become the chief flashpoint in the battle for Ukraine, where three months of protests canada goose outlet parka sparked by Yanukovych’s decision to ditch a significant treaty with the 28 nation European Union after strong pressure from Russia led to canada goose outlet factory his canada goose outlet black friday downfall. Canada Goose Parka

canada goose deals A majority of people in Crimea identify with Russia, and Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet is based in Sevastopol, canada goose outlet store toronto as is Ukraine’s. canada goose deals

Canada Goose sale Volunteers of a self defense group lean on their shields while waiting to attend the swearing in of the first unit of canada goose outlet buffalo a pro Russian canada goose outlet sale armed force, dubbed the “military forces of the autonomous republic of Crimea,” in Simferopol, Ukraine, Saturday, March 8, canada goose parka outlet uk 2014. Canada Goose sale

Canada Goose Jackets In Simferopol, Crimea’s capital, a crowd of more than 4,000 people turned out Sunday to endorse unification with Russia. On Lenin Square, a naval band played World War II songs as old women sang along, and dozens of tricolor Russian flags fluttered in the cold wind. “Russians are our brothers,” Crimean Parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said. He asked the crowd canada goose outlet kokemuksia how it would vote in the referendum a week hence. Canada Goose Jackets

“Russia! Russia!” came the loud answer.

canada goose clearance sale “We are going back home to the motherland,” said Konstantinov. canada goose clearance sale

canada goose coats on sale Pavel Nikonov, a young professional who’s pro Russian, told CBS News’ Elizabeth Palmer that for many Crimeans, it’s an emotional issue. They feel more tied to Russia. And there’s a practical reason, too, he said: Many Crimeans believe their standard of living would improve if they joined Russia. canada goose coats on sale

cheap Canada Goose “Russian people live more happy and more rich,” he said. “Yes, more rich!” cheap Canada Goose

Across town, at a park where a large bust of Shevchenko stands, around 500 people, some wearing yellow and blue Ukrainian flags canada goose womens outlet on their shoulders like capes, came out canada goose outlet winnipeg address to oppose unification with Russia.

buy canada goose jacket cheap They chanted “No to the referendum!” and “Ukraine!” People handed out fliers, one of which listed the economic woes that joining Russia would supposedly cause. buy canada goose jacket cheap

“We will not allow a foreign boot that wants to stand on the heads of our children,” said canada goose parka uk one of the speakers, Alla Petrova. “The people are not scared. We are not scared to come out canada goose outlet store uk here and speak.”

buy canada goose jacket Some pro Russians drove by, shouting “Moscow, Moscow!” from their cars, but there was no trouble. buy canada goose jacket

Canada Goose Outlet Associated Press reporters in Crimea said all Ukrainian television channels appeared to have been taken off the air by Sunday evening, save for one that appeared to rebroadcasting programs from Moscow based Russia 24. Canada Goose Outlet

British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who appeared on the BBC Sunday morning, described Russia’s entering Crimea as a “big miscalculation.”

He also said the March 16 referendum was happening “ridiculously quickly.” Hague canada goose outlet toronto added, “The world will not be able to regard that as free or fair.”.

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