U.S. wants Ukraine to remain unified, cautions Russia

Anti-Yanukovich protesters stand guard at the national bankoffice in Kiev February 23, 2014. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials insistedon Sunday that Ukraine should remain unified and cautioned that any militaryintervention by Russia would be a mistake after bloody street protests oustedthe pro-Moscow president.
In an appearance on the NBC TV program"Meet the Press," National Security Adviser Susan Rice was askedabout a scenario in which Russia would send troops to restore a government morefriendly to Moscow, or for the country to be carved up.

"That would be a grave mistake. It is notin the interests of Ukraine or of Russia or of Europe or the United States tosee the country split. It's in nobody's interest to see violence return and thesituation escalate," Rice said.
Rice's appearance provided the most extensiveWhite House comments yet on days of drama in Ukraine in which opposition groupswith leanings toward western Europe took control and Russian-backed PresidentViktor Yanukovich left the capital, Kiev.
Many in Washington regard the next few days ascrucial to the fast-unfolding crisis. With the Winter Olympic Games ending inSochi, Russia, President Vladimir Putin could focus more closely on theUkrainian situation.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by telephone onSunday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, expressing support for theUkrainian parliament's latest moves. Kerry has also been in touch with some ofUkraine's opposition leaders.
The State Department said on Saturday it wouldsend its No. 2 official, Bill Burns, to Kiev this week.
Rice said the United States wants a reduction ofthe violence in Ukraine, constitutional changes, democratic elections "invery short order," and the opportunity for Ukrainians to come together ina coalition government.
The fluidity of Ukraine's situation is such thatU.S. authorities are not sure where Yanukovich is. There had been reports hehas retreated to the pro-Russian eastern part of Ukraine.
"He is in a place where it will revealitself. Yesterday we knew where he was. Today we're not so sure," Ricesaid.
The crisis in Ukraine reflects the conflictbetween those who want the country to remain aligned with Russia and those whowant closer integration with western Europe.
But Rice said those goals were not"mutually exclusive".
"There is not an inherent contradiction ...between a Ukraine that has longstanding historic and cultural ties to Russiaand a modern Ukraine that wants to integrate more closely with Europe,"Rice said.
Ukraine's messy drive toward democracy, duringwhich dozens have been killed, was ultimately positive, Rice said: "Overtime, this trajectory is a good one."
Her comments were echoed by Geoffrey Pyatt, theU.S. ambassador to Ukraine, in an interview on Sunday with National PublicRadio.
"It's been thrilling, exhausting, but alsoinspiring," Pyatt said. "What comes in the weeks ahead is a secondchance for Ukrainian democracy, a chance to make the institutions work."
INFLUENCE
On Sunday, Ukraine's parliament, exercisingpower since mass protests caused Yanukovich to flee, named its new speaker,Oleksander Turchinov, as acting head of state and worked to form a newgovernment.
Pyatt said the United States had been"encouraged" by actions in the Rada, Ukraine's parliament and the"democratic process through which Mr Turchinov was selected as thespeaker."
"There are now intensive consultationsgoing on among all the political parties to shape a successor government,"Pyatt said.
He said the United States is in close touch withauthorities in Ukraine, including the Interior Ministry, the intelligenceagency and the police, to urge "the importance of gaining rapid authorityover the instruments of state power."
The European Union and Russia, vying forinfluence over the former Soviet republic of 46 million people on theirborders, considered their next moves on Sunday.
Russia, which had provided funding toYanukovich's government, said it would keep cash on hold until it sees who isin charge.
Asked whether Putin looked at Russia's sphere ofinfluence in Ukraine in a Cold War context, Rice said that "he may".
"But if he does, that's a pretty datedperspective that doesn't reflect where the people of Ukraine are coming from.This is not about the U.S. and Russia," Rice added.
Two lawmakers urged the Obama administration tomake clear that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be protected.
"The message has to be sent to him (Putin)that let the Ukrainian people determine their own future, and a partition ofUkraine ... is totally unacceptable," Republican Senator John McCain, akey Republican voice on foreign policy, told the CBS program "Face theNation".
"And we need to act immediately to givethem (Ukrainians) the economic assistance that they need, based on reforms thatare going to be required, as well. So it's going to be tough sledding."
INTEGRITY
bob Corker, the top Republican on the SenateForeign Relations Committee, said in a statement: "The United Statesshould do everything possible to ensure Ukraine remains one country and thattheir territorial and political integrity is maintained, allowing them thefreedom to choose a future within Europe."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew met his Russiancounterpart, Anton Siluanov, on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting inSydney on Sunday to discuss the Ukrainian crisis.
"Secretary Lew emphasized that the UnitedStates, working with other countries including Russia, stands ready to assistUkraine as it implements reforms to restore economic stability and seeks toreturn to a path of democracy and growth," a Treasury Department officialsaid.
Reporting by Will Dunham and Ros Krasny;Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington and Ian Chua in Sydney;Editing by Sophie Hares and Grant McCool)

I am thinking: why these white guys in the US always like a woman point a finger at Russia,why these European don't like a tough guys put a real battle.? Aren't these white guys( soviet and west countries) the bravest men on our planet? ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,

May be the European (US and Russia) play a show so -call "cold war", tell Earth people, Asian and African ,American Indian looking, our European are really 'hate' each other.

These European propaganda these white guys (west countries and soviet union) are the bravest men in the world . They even don't care attack each other use hydrogen bombs!

The European and fcuking JEWS ,stop propaganda you " civil war" to Earth people, we had no interesting!
As a Chinese, I am boring watch these European( west countries and soviet) play a show "cold war" for 40 years on their medias .television and newspaper.

These are comments copy from other forums:

Comments
Steph Scott 14 hours ago 13 39
Lets do the score card
Obama
1) Killed Bin Laden
2) Removed Ghadafi
3) Confiscated Syria's Chemical weapons.
4) Halted Iran nuclear enrichment.
5) Least amount of Isreal/Palestine violence in any 5 year span in the last 3decades.
6) American popularity in the world highest in the last 13 years.
7) American lives lost : 4 in Benghazi
BUSH
1) Looked for WMD in Iraq with no success
2) Engaged in 2 wars with no identifiable victory.
3) Removed Sadam Husein
4) American popularity in the world worst in 4 decades.
5) Could not kill Bin Laden.
6) Accelerated Iran and N.Korea nuclear chase.
7) American lives lost: 5000.
All you FAKE TOUGH GUY GOPers need to shut the hell up. Sounding tough is notequal to being tough. Show us something you have achieved.

comments:
WHY U.S. THINKS ITIS GRAVE MISTAKE TO RUSSIAN TO SEND TROOPS IN UKRAINE???????
WHY OUR U.S. ARMY IS IN JAPAN AND S/KOREA FOR OVER 60 YEARS AND WHY DO NOT
BRING HOME AND SAME THING IF RUSSIA DID NOT DO IT THEY HAVE TO DO IT NOW IS THE
TIME TO SHOW THE UNEDUCATED OPPOSITIONS THAT THEY CANNOT OCCUPY ANY GOVT.
OFFICES AND IF THIS HAPPENED IN U.S. THEN THOUSANDS WILL BE KILLED.
AND IF THIS HAPPENED IN GERMANY OR FRANCE THE SAME WILL HAPPENS AND DO
NOT UNDERSTAND --MERKEL-- WHY SHE DID NOT WITHDRAW FROM UKRAINE AND TO LEAVE
RUSSIAN TO HELP WHERE THEY NEED RUSSIA MORE THAN EU AND U.S.
MOST OF THE OPPOSITIONS PEOPLE ARE PAID BY FOREIGN COUNTRY TO CREATE SUCH
PROBLEM AND NOW ALSO PAID TO PEOPLE IN VENEZUELA, ALL THE WORLD KNOWS WHO
PAID THEM.
PEACE ACTIVIST

comments
Correct me if I'mwrong, wasn't Ukraine a a state set up after word war two with part of thecountry being sliced from Poland?
Why is it the business of the US to insist that it not be divided?
Shouldn't this be a decision of the people that occupy the territory?
Are we going to start another cold war or hot one over this?
Lets take care of the problems we have in the US before we throw our nonexistent weight around.

如果我错了，请指正。乌克兰难道不是二战后建立的国家吗，这个国家的一部分是从波兰分裂出来的 ?
为什么美国坚持乌克兰不会被分裂呢，这和美国有一毛钱关系？
难道不是占据这个国家领土的人民做出决定吗？
我们是不是要根据这个发动冷战？或者热战？
在我们将不存在的砝码投放到周围之前，我们应当关注美国自己的事情。



Rick M 16 hours ago 18赞 2踩
So what would beso terrible about an "East Ukraine" and a "West Ukraine"?the eastern part of Ukraine is mainly of the Orthodox Faith and very Russian innature. The western part of the country is predominantly Catholic and tends tobe more westernized. It would seem in the best interest of the majority of theUkrainian people to feel comfortable with their national identity. For example,the west could join the EU and the east could have their closer ties withRussia. The solution should be what is best for the people, not what thepoliticians in Moscow, Washington, and Brussels want.

所以，“东乌克兰”和“西乌克兰”有什么可怕的呢？乌克兰东部主要信仰东正教，更像俄国人。西部主要是天主 教，偏向于西方。这很符合大多数乌克兰人最好的利益以及
更舒适的国家认同感。比如，西部可以加入欧盟，东部可以和俄国更紧密的联系。这种解决方法是对乌克兰人民最 好的，而不是莫斯科华盛顿布鲁塞尔的政治家们想要的。



MISTER 17 hours ago 1赞 2踩
Simply all onesneeds to do is look at the Korea's

很简单，所有需要做的就是看看朝鲜。


Mike 17 hours ago 5赞 0踩
If the people ofUkraine choose it to be that way, then so be it. They need to determine thatfor themselves.

如果乌克兰人选择那种方式，那么就是它了。他们需要自己做主。



Commenter 17 hours ago 31赞 0踩
Last time we allsaw Suzie Rice she was covering up the deaths of Americans in Benghazi.

上次我们都看见赖斯是她掩盖美国在班加西的死亡人数。



Don M 19 hours ago 27赞 7踩
The only reasonRice is even in any position is as a payoff for lying about Benghazi.

赖斯在任何位置的唯一的原因是这是作为班加西事件撒谎额回报。



Hurley 18 hours ago 35赞 2踩
Russia doesn'tneed to send in any forces in the Ukraine. All they have to do is cut off thenatural gas supply.

comment;

。For the uneducatedidiots here.. Putin is laughing at Rice and Obama, but the truth is, Putin cannot be allowed to take over Ukraine. Ukraine is the finale piece of the puzzlePutin needs to rebuild the Soviet Union. He needs access to Poland and otherwestern countries through Ukraine. Putin needs the Black Sea ports..It will notbe Obama, but I feel it will be Germany and others that will stop the rise of aNew Soviet Union

comments:

I think we shouldlet the cards fall where they may. This is the Ukrainians land,country andultimately just there decision. Russia the US and every other country shouldstay out of this dispute! Let the people decide for themselves how therecountry will end up.We should never push people to make a decision. Democracyallows us to have freedoms to decide what we want, and if we are set on seeingthese freedoms be offered to all then we should start by letting the peoplehave the freedom to decide on there own without outside pressure.May theUkrainians find there path and may it be a blessed and fruitful one.

European! as a citizen of our Earth,nobody care,nobody want to watch your show,so-call "cold war" . The Russia and west Europe(US), play your 'cold war' game on the Mars.don't pollute our eyes.

These European very sucess in colonize America continent,Africa continent and Asia continent. In this course, these European don't forget tell other race of the Earth: look, our European are really "hate" each other.

Sure ,if these white people are really "hate" each other? Can you tell me? why these white people(inculde JEWS) got a visa or imigrate America,Canada,Austria,Brazil are much more easier than a Asian or a African?
of course, this race discrimination.

second,if these white are really 'hate' each other, can you tell me why the US can't help Japan got the Kuril Islands who capture by Russian? or these white guys just want make use of Japanese ?


One thing can be sure, the European will continue use their media tell the Asisan ,African and American Indian in next one hundred years.

These European are really "hate' other, relly really 'HATE' ! Sooooooooooo-bore!

Because the European very clever and had many "high-technology." No one race want to challenge these white guys dominate the planet!

But please don't play "a good cop,a bad cop' tricks in front of our face , and stop play a show so-call 'cold war'! nobody had interesting watch this show.

The European already rule the world for a long times. So these white guys like to show their superiority than Asian,African and American Indian.

When the Chinese cooperate with African. The media of the European accused the Chinese are new colonialist! These white guys should asked why the African didn't like the European. The white colonize Africa continent for hundreds of years. After they extract the resource and they leave. They even did not leave a decent toilet for African people.
So African people never trust these white guys anymore. no matter the west medias how they shame Chinese.
The China support and construct Africa only for twenty years. But Chinese built a lot of railway,highway,hospitals`communication station,airport,play ground ....for African. Exceed all achievement
these white construction in hundreds years. Elevate the living standard of African.


The African people already abandon the European forever! Because these white guys slave and exploit them for a long times. These white and Jews, nobody care what your talk many bullsh!T on your medias.

Nowdays ,The cooperation China and African are win-win. The Chinese can get material from Africa. African can get income from export resource.They will buy the car ,icebox ,computer ,generate-power ,recorder,motorcycle,machines,household items........every commodities they need.
China bring the modern civilization to African.

China produce 20 millions car in 2012, Africa continent is most potential market!

What white guys? Obama is black, Susan Rice is a black woman. Most Americans, disagree with Obama's foreign policy, or are to stupid to understand what he's doing. You must have never travelled around the US, unlike China, the US is a melting pot of people from every country. Hell, many people that you would call white have blood from American Indians, or even some African blood. My mother's family can trace their lineage back to Morocco, my wife came from Korea. You need to get off your racist high horse and meet some other people. Just as we have little or no say what our government does, neither do you.

Russian army invade Ukraine, slap the face of US.