Leaders of the G7 group of nations have called on Russia to stop all efforts to “annex” Ukraine’s Crimea region.
They said if Russia took such a step they would “take further action, individually and collectively”.
The G7 leaders also said they would not recognise the results of a referendum in Crimea this weekend on whether to split from Ukraine and join Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s national security chief has warned of a major Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders.
Andriy Parubiy said Moscow had not withdrawn its troops after carrying out military exercises near Ukraine’s eastern and southern frontiers last month.
“The Russian army is only two to three hours’ march from Kiev,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s “units are positioned to repel attack from any direction.”
The Group of Seven industrial nations – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US – along with the European Union urged Russia to “cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea”.
“In addition to its impact on the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea could have grave implications for the legal order that protects the unity and sovereignty of all states,” they said in a statement released by the White House.
They said Sunday’s referendum, asking the people of Crimea if they want to be a part of Russia or Ukraine, has “no legal effect” as it is in “direct violation” of Ukraine’s constitution.
“Given the lack of adequate preparation and the intimidating presence of Russian troops, it would also be a deeply flawed process which would have no moral force.”
The leaders repeated their calls for Russia to de-escalate the crisis by withdrawing its troops, talking directly with Kiev and using international mediators to “address any legitimate concerns it may have”.
Earlier, Ukraine’s President Olexander Turchynov told the AFP news agency: “Unfortunately, for now Russia is rejecting a diplomatic solution to the conflict.”
Andriy Parubiy, head of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, said there was a “critical situation” on Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders.
He accused Moscow of sending “subversive agents” into those areas to try to create a pre-text to deploy troops in the same way it has done in Crimea.
TodayParubiy said Kiev’s parliament will vote on Thursday to establish a National Guard of 20,000 people – recruited from activists involved in the recent pro-Western protests as well as from military academies – to strengthen Ukraine’s defences.
The National Guard, he said, would be deployed to “protect state borders, general security and prevent “terrorist activities”.
