White House: 'Russia's actions are dangerous and destabilizing'

The Guardian  Sunday 16 March 2014

The White House has released its statement, which condemns the referendum, calls Russia’s actions “dangerous and destabilizing”, and insists that Russia will face “increasing costs”. It reads, in part:

We reject the “referendum” that took place today … [It] is contrary to Ukraine’s constitution, and the international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law.

Ukraine, the United States, the EU, the OSCE, the UN, and others have called for Russia to allow international monitors … Russia has spurned those calls … and instead has escalated its military intervention.

Russia’s actions are dangerous and destabilizing. … Military intervention and violation of international law will bring increasing costs for Russia – not only due to measures imposed by the United States and our allies but also as a direct result of Russia’s own destabilizing actions.

In this century, we are long past the days when the international community will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another.