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Ukraine won`t give an inch of land to Russia, says PM as Crimea crisis deepens
As Russian military intervention in Ukraine`s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea entered eleventh day on Sunday, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that `not an inch of land` will be ceded to Russia.
Kiev: As Russian military intervention in Ukraine`s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea entered eleventh day on Sunday, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that “not an inch of land” will be ceded to Russia.
Addressing a patriotic rally at Kiev, held in honour of 19th-century national hero and poet Taras Shevchenko, PM Yatsenyuk said, "This is our land. We will not give an inch of it. Russia and its president should know that," reported the AFP.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian forces were said to have captured a border post guarded by Ukrainian guards, called Chernomorskoye base, which is located in western Crimea.
Pro-Russian forces have taken control of many other key bases in Crimea, without bloodshed as Ukrainian forces have shown no restraint.
Urging Russia, to de-escalate the crisis in Crimea, US Secretary of State, John Kerry warned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to avoid annexation attempts or the US will close all diplomatic channels.
US President Barack Obama continued talks on Ukraine with world leaders of UK, Britain and Italy. The leaders of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia were also consulted by President Obama.
The crisis only seemed to worsen as the international monitors from the Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) were today for the third time, prevented from entering the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
As the international OSCE monitors tried to enter the region at Armyansk , now in control of pro-Russian forces, warning shots were fired.
Russian grip over the autonomous region of Crimea became stronger after a vote by the MPs in Crimean Parliament requested Russia to reunite with the Black Sea Peninsula, for which a referendum is to be held on March 16.
However, in his address Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday had said that he had no intention to annex Crimea, but had all the rights to protect “Russians” in the region and for that use of military force would be legitimate.
Russia`s moves have come in for intense condemnation by the world leaders who have mulled sanctions for Moscow.