When CBS News’ Mark Knoller said that President Obama had no scheduled events this weekend, he wasn’t kidding.
No scheduled events for Pres Obama this weekend – but he said US will be closely monitoring developments in Ukraine.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 1, 2014
A senior admin official said POTUS was not at WH national security mtg. But he has been briefed by Nat Sec. Adv Susan Rice and nat sec team.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 1, 2014
At least Vice President Biden made an appearance via video conference.
VP Biden joined the national security meeting at the WH via video conference, a senior admin official said. Biden is in Phoenix today.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 1, 2014
Obama did not attend the meeting, but WH official says he has been briefed by Susan Rice and his national security team.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/JammieWF/status/439870324679913473
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/439871319803719680
There will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine, but I won't attend a WH national security meeting to calculate them. #Russia
— Razor (@hale_razor) March 1, 2014
The world is on the brink of war and Obama is MIA. It's like Benghazi all over again.
— Razor (@hale_razor) March 1, 2014
How much leadership did you expect from a guy whose most famous votes are "present." Shame he can't be present when the world's on fire.
— Razor (@hale_razor) March 1, 2014
Russia is invading and Obama is squarely focused on what's really important: November, income inequality, and climate change.
— Razor (@hale_razor) March 1, 2014
Hi @BarackObama. You can't spell "president" without "present." #Russia
— Razor (@hale_razor) March 1, 2014
The president might have skipped Saturday’s national security meeting, but he did speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone.
Obama has spoken by telephone with Putin. Details shortly.
— Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) March 1, 2014
BREAKING Interfax report on Putin-Obama phonecon: "discussed in detail various aspects of the extraordinary situation in Ukraine" cont'd
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2014
Putin warns Obama he could intervene in eastern Ukraine beyond Crimea to protect interests of Russian speakershttp://t.co/AiHfxBgHp9
— Jack Grimston (@GrimstonJack) March 1, 2014
Russian Pres Putin speaks with Pres Obama, tells him #russia reserves right to protect its interests in eastern #Ukraine
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) March 1, 2014
. @storyfulpro Kremlin has now posted English translation of readout on Putin – Obama telephone conversation: http://t.co/P38rEbenWK
— Storyful (@Storyful) March 1, 2014
Here’s the Kremlin’s take:
The two presidents discussed in detail various aspects of the extraordinary situation in Ukraine.
In reply to Mr Obama’s concern over the possibility of the use of Russian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin drew his attention to the provocative and criminal actions on the part of ultranationalists who are in fact being supported by the current authorities in Kiev.
The Russian President spoke of a real threat to the lives and health of Russian citizens and the many compatriots who are currently on Ukrainian territory. Vladimir Putin stressed that in case of any further spread of violence to Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Russia retains the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population of those areas.
Obviously, Obama's whereabouts for 1 meeting pales in comparison to real issue here, but optics of presidential interest aren't irrelevant
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 1, 2014
@guypbenson You'd think after yesterday's Happy Hour he'd be ready to focus on, you know, seismic shifts in the geopolitical playing field.
— Razor (@hale_razor) March 1, 2014
* * *
Update:
As expected, the White House released a picture of Obama on the phone — photographic proof that he is on it.
Photo of President Obama talking on phone to Russian President Putin today from the Oval Office: http://t.co/tfuiVKHsq3
— petesouza (archived) (@PeteSouza44) March 1, 2014
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