Armed Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea – guns at the ready – guard their military site while surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed Russian troops supported by over a dozen armored personnel carriers.
Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout today concerning a telephone call between Secretary of Defense Hagel and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Ihor Tenyukh.
The release read as follows:
“Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke again today with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Ihor Tenyukh.
“In the 35-minute conversation, Secretary Hagel repeated his praise for the restraint demonstrated by Ukrainian forces in Crimea. He also commended Minister Tenyukh’s leadership.
“For his part, Minister Tenyukh updated Secretary Hagel on the situation in Crimea and throughout the country.
“Secretary Hagel re-affirmed the United States’ support for Ukraine, stressed that we are actively reviewing Ukraine’s request for military assistance materials, and agreed to stay in close contact with Minister Tenyukh moving forward.
“Both leaders agreed on the need to find a diplomatic, peaceful resolution to this crisis.”
Source: Department of Defense http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16595
See relevant article: Interview with Ukrainian Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh | SPIEGEL. Read more here: http://iranian.com/posts/view/post/29946