As battling forces in Kiev, Ukraine, signed a deal February 21, 2014, that could end violence there, US President Barack Obama talked to be Russian and EU leaders signaling American approval of the peace process. However, that's about all he did as the US stood back and let the EU taken the lead in negotiations.
By that date, 77 people had died in rioting in the streets of Kiev during the week since February 14.
The violence was the latest in protests that began in December 2013 when Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych veered away from a potential alliance with the European Union (EU) and toward a deal through which Russia would allocate $15 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Opposition forces in northern and northwestern Ukraine, areas typically anti-Yanukovych, felt betrayed by the move. They see association with the EU as more economically and socially beneficial to Ukraine. Conversely, they see a return to life in the Russian sphere as regressive.
Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union until that entity's collapse in 1991. The ongoing violence prompted Russia to rescind, at least temporarily, its financial aid offer.
Possible Deal
Under the tentative deal:
- Yanukovych would give up a series of presidential powers.
- Ukraine would return to its constitution of 2004, which embodies those limited powers.
- Ukraine would adopt a new constitution and have a new presidential election before the end of 2014.
- Police would release imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
EU nations Germany, France, and Poland led negotiations that resulted in the deal.
American Reactions
Obama talked to German Chancellor Angela Merkel the day before the agreement, lending support to the peace process and further patching up a rift between the US and Germany after a US diplomat disparaged the EU in a hacked cell-phone conversation.
According to a White House readout of the conversation, the leaders agreed that " it is critical that the United States, Germany and the European Union continue to stay in close touch in the days ahead on steps we can take to support an end to the violence and a political solution that is in the best interests of the Ukrainian people."
While the US was not directly involved in negotiations, Obama previously assured Ukrainians that the US was watching the situation closely.
I want to be very clear that as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we are going to be watching very carefully and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters. We've said that we also expect peaceful protesters to remain peaceful. And we'll be monitoring very carefully the situation, recognizing, along with our European partners and the international community, there will be consequences if people step over the line. And that includes making sure that the Ukrainian military does not step into what should be a set of issues that can be resolved by civilians.
On the day of the deal, Obama also telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House said, "they exchanged views on the need to implement quickly the political agreement reached today in [Kiev], the importance of stabilizing the economic situation and undertaking necessary reforms, and the need for all sides to refrain from further violence."
Promise From The Army
Meanwhile, the head of the Ukrainian army promised US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel that Ukraine troops would not deploy against opposition members.
According to Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Pavlo Lebedev said those troops are focused on protecting defense "facilities and equipment," and they "would not use arms against the Ukrainian people."
If The Deal Fails?
What recourse does the US have if the Ukraine deal fails?
State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said the US could consider a number of sanctions against Ukraine, but she did not elaborate on what those sanctions could be.
"Suffice to say we’ve looked at our policy options," she said. "We know what those are. But today we really are focused on working with our partners to get this agreement implemented and moving past this horrific violence we’ve seen, which is, of course, what everyone wants here."
Sources:
Black, Phil, Nick Paton Walsh, and Greg Botelho. "'Sadness,' uncertainly in Ukraine even after landmark deal." CNN. February 21, 2014; accessed February 21, 2014.
Siebold, Sabine, and Natalia Zinets. "Ukraine peace deal halts violence but crowds still angry." Reuters. February 21, 2014; accessed February 21, 2014.
Simeone, Nick. "Hagel given assurances Ukraine military will not deploy against protestors." US Department of Defense, Armed Forces Press Service. February 21, 2014; accessed February 21, 2014.
US State Department. Press briefing, February 21, 2014, accessed February 21, 2014.
White House, readout of Obama call to Merkel, accessed February 21, 2014; readout of Obama call to Putin, accessed February 21, 2014.