As of Saturday morning, the Russian Parliament has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to recall Moscow’s Ambassador from the United States. This, as the Putin has been given authority by the Russian Parliament to use military force in response to government overthrow in Ukraine.
In granting that authority, the Russian Parliament stated that threats to the lives of Russian citizens and soldiers stationed in Crimea made the situation one where Russia must act. Meantime, as of Saturday, Russian armed forces have now seized control of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.
As we have reported, Ukraine is fractured between the more pro-western opposition forces who have taken control of Kiev and ousted Ukraine’s President and the pro-Russian areas in eastern Ukraine near Donestk and Kharkiv where violence has been breaking out.
Meantime, President Obama has warned Russia to stay out of Ukraine and to respect the nation’s territorial sovereignty. President Obama even warned Russia that “there will be costs” for any military maneuvers it launches in Ukraine.
As of Saturday, the White House has not yet responded to the news of the Russian Parliament granting military authority in Ukraine to Putin.