U.S. President Barack Obama spoke1 with Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday evening, a tense call on which Obama promised further "costs" for a referendum in Crimea the U.S. and international community will never recognize.
美国总统奥巴马与俄罗斯总统普京举行电话会谈。奥巴马在会谈中指出,克里米亚公投不会得到美国和国际社会的认可。
The head of the referendum committee said more than 90 percent of Crimeans had voted in favor of
annexation2(合并) by Russia. In its readout of the call, the White House put the word "referendum" in scare quotes, signifying that it didn't respect the
alleged3 result of the referendum it has long considered to be illegitimate and illegal.
The White House also said Obama told Putin to prepare for additional "costs," likely in the form of sanctions that could be handed down this week.
"President Obama emphasized that the Crimean 'referendum,' which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under
duress5 of Russian military
intervention6, would never be recognized by the United States and the international community," the White House said in its readout.
"He emphasized that Russia's actions were in
violation7 of Ukraine's sovereignty and
territorial8 integrity and that, in
coordination9 with our European partners, we are prepared to impose additional costs on Russia for its actions. President Obama underscored that there
remains10 a clear path for resolving this crisis diplomatically, in a way that addresses the interests of both Russia and the people of Ukraine."
In its own readout of the call, the Kremlin said Putin defended the Crimean referendum as
legitimate4 and legal. Putin said it was necessary after the new Ukrainian government failed ot "
curb11 rampant12 violence by ultra-nationalist and
radical13 groups that destabilize the situation and terrorize
civilians14, including Russian-speaking population."
Tensions have risen in the region over the past few days, as Ukraine accused pro-Russian forces of making their first move outside Crimea and into eastern Ukraine on Saturday -- a move the White House said was concerning. Crimea's deputy prime minister said Sundayhe thinks Crimea's referendum is "only the first step."