The Associated Press sent out an alert suggesting that Vladimir Putin was seeking permission to use the military in “Crimea.”
BREAKING: Kremlin: Putin has asked parliament for permission to use Russian military in Crimea.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 1, 2014
Surprise!
So weird that Putin would have listened to that strong statement from the Pres, then gone ahead and pursued military action anyway.
— Brian Faughnan (@BrianFaughnan) March 1, 2014
Many are noting Putin’s “request” is for the use of Russian armed forces in all of Ukraine.
Yup. Not just Crimea: "appeal for use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine": http://t.co/hVEegK8C9T
— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) March 1, 2014
Putin's statement actually says Russia will avail itself of the right to send troops to ALL of Ukraine: http://t.co/miteKMWCpT
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 1, 2014
Notice Putin did not say Crimea in his request for permission to use military force. He said Ukraine. Deliberately bullying/scaremongering
— Tim White (@TWMCLtd) March 1, 2014
Yesterday we called it a "fluid situation" and an "uncontested arrival." Today, Putin asks to invade the rest of Ukraine too.
— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) March 1, 2014
AP’s follow-up to its initial tweet:
MORE: Putin asks parliament for permission to allow use of Russian military in Ukraine: http://t.co/WFuDIvJE6D
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 1, 2014
From the AP report:
Putin said the move is needed to protect ethnic Russians and the personnel of a Russian military base in Ukraine’s strategic region of Crimea.
“I’m submitting a request for using the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine pending the normalization of the socio-political situation in that country,” Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin.
Will that be an “uncontested arrival” too?
[Update]
As expected:
Unanimous vote in #Russia's Federation Council to send Russian troops to #Ukraine.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 1, 2014
Russia has officially decided to send troops to #Ukraine but they've already been on Crimea territory for well over a day
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) March 1, 2014
"I think we're wasting the president's time!" says a senator. Then they vote for Putin's Ukraine invasion unanimously pic.twitter.com/jGIal2xJa6
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 1, 2014
Russian senators applaud themselves for passing legislation to send Russian troops to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/nvvYE5cVLk
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 1, 2014
Reminder: Obama said “there will be costs.”
[Update]
https://twitter.com/DRUDGE_REPORT/status/439794826804854784
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.