© UnknownThe Right Honourable Stephen Harper, in a show of solidarity with his buddies in Kiev?
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday recognizing Crimea as a sovereign state after the Ukrainian region declared itself independent and applied to join Russia following a weekend referendum. The decree, which took effect immediately, says Moscow's recognition of Crimea as independent is based on "the will of the people of Crimea".
Ahead of a Monday afternoon meeting with Ukraine's ambassador to Canada, Mr. Harper once again condemned Sunday's referendum in the breakaway region, calling the move a "dangerous escalation" of the already tense situation in the southern, mostly Russian-speaking region.
Without going into detail, the Prime Minister said the government is going ahead with additional sanctions - economic and travel - on "various senior people in Russia and Ukraine, in Crimea specifically."
"It's my strong belief that we must keep the pressure on," said Mr. Harper, who is scheduled to visit Ukraine's capital, Kiev, on Thursday. Mr. Harper would then become the first G7 leader to travel to Ukraine since the crisis erupted.
A statement released soon after by the Prime Minister's Office reiterated those remarks, but also added Moscow could soon face additional measures. "In the days ahead we will continue to work with our G7 partners and other allies on measures to further pressure Russia to de-escalate by withdrawing its troops to their bases," the statement said.
Canada had already blocked certain Russian officials and other individuals from entering Canada, and it had already slapped targeted financial sanctions on members of the former Ukraine government - including ousted president Viktor Yanukovych himself.
The meeting on Monday came shortly after Canada's allies announced they, too, would take further action.
U.S. President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials blamed for Russia's military incursion into Crimea, including two top aides to Mr. Putin.
The U.S. sanctions came in an executive order signed by Mr. Obama a day after the Crimea referendum, a vote that the United States says was illegal and would never be recognized by Washington.
During a White House press briefing, Mr. Obama warned that continued Russian military intervention in Ukraine would only increase Russia's isolation and exact a greater toll on its economy.
"If Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine, we stand ready to impose further sanctions," he said.
Amid fears that Russia might move into eastern Ukraine, Mr. Obama said further provocations will achieve nothing except to "further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world."
Mr. Obama's order freezes any assets in the United States and bans travel into the country of seven ranking Russian government officials and four individuals identified as Crimea-based separatist leaders.
Mr. Yanukovych was among those sanctioned.
The United States also reached into Mr. Putin's inner circle by naming presidential aide Vladislav Surkov and adviser Sergei Glazyev. Russia's deputy prime minister, Dmitri Rogozin, and two state Duma deputies, Leonid Slutsky and Yelena Mizulina also were targeted.
Senior administration officials who briefed reporters on the penalties said they were the most comprehensive sanctions applied to Russia since the end of the Cold War.
Mr. Putin himself was not sanctioned. A senior Obama administration official said it would have been a highly unusual step and extraordinary to target a head of state.
Officials warned more sanctions would follow if Russia proceeds with the formal annexation of Crimea, which officials said they believe Putin may announce in a speech on Tuesday.
The European Union also announced Monday it will impose travel bans and asset freezes on 21 Russian and Ukrainian officials.
Then theres the fact that Crimea has spoken. When they say piss off to the western ways...piss off. Given the choice between capitalism with unemployment, freedom, and the chaos that occurred before the area was settled down...I like communism with that new job, food on the table, and a militant calm vs the riots and violence and death and destruction.
Tough choice eh?