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The Ukrainian government is making preparations to evacuate its troops from Crimea after more
Ukrainian bases were taken over by Russian forces on Wednesday.
Western leaders say they will slap even more sanctions on Moscow... if Russian forces encroach
further into eastern Ukraine. Shin Se-min starts us off. The head of Ukraine's
national security and defense council told reporters in Kiev Wednesday that Ukraine was
planning to relocate 25-thousand service personnel and families from the region, effectively
surrendering the disputed territory. His comments came after pro-Russian forces
stormed two naval bases in Crimea on Wednesday night and raised the Russian flag.
These were just the latest in a series of takeovers by Russian troops and local self-defense
forces using a mixture of attrition and threats.
The attacks on the bases in Crimea came as the United State and Europe sought ways to
increase pressure on defiant Russia.
Speaking from the former Soviet republic of Lithuania Wednesday,... U.S. Vice President
Joe Biden declared that the U.S. was "absolutely committed" to defending its allies.
"I want to make it clear we stand resolutely with our Baltic allies in support of the Ukrainian
people and against Russian aggression. As long as Russia continues on this dark path,
they will face increasing political and economic isolation."
The Obama administration and its allies said Wednesday that they are working to devise
new and tougher economic penalties to stop Russian President Vladmir Putin from moving
forces further into Ukraine's eastern territory. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will also
meet Putin in Moscow on Thursday to seek a way out of the conflict.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News.