John Kerry Shocked by Putin’s Claim No Russian Troops in Crimea
Secretary of State John Kerry held a press conference in Kiev on Tuesday after he had toured the areas where anti-government protesters were killed in recent weeks and meeting with members of the provisional Ukrainian government. While taking a question from NBC News reporter Andrea Mitchell, Kerry appeared shocked when she informed him that Russian President Vladimir Putin had insisted earlier that no Russian troops were present in Crimea outside Russia’s bases.
“U.S. officials have been saying that Vladimir Putin will be isolated by his actions, yet today he seemed defiant,” Mitchell began. “He denied that there were any Russian troops in Crimea — occupying Crimea.”
“He really denied there were troops in Crimea?” Kerry interjected.
“Yes he did,” she replied. “He also blamed the crisis on the United States.” She said that Putin shows no signs of withdrawing from Crimea and asked how U.S. pressure is working.
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Kerry responded to this question by identifying the political figures he has met with in Ukraine and by praising the provisional government’s restraint. “I’ve spoken as directly to President Putin today as I can,” Kerry replied. “To invite him to engage in a legitimate and appropriate dialogue, particularly with the current government of Ukraine.”
He alleged that Putin has attempted to get Ukrainian cities in the East to ask for Russian intervention and those local governments did the opposite. “I think that it is clear that Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further,” Kerry declared.
Watch the exchange below via Fox News Channel:
[Photo via screen grab ]
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