British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Saturday condemned the Russian parliament’s decision to authorize military action in Ukraine and summoned the Russian ambassador to register his concerns.
“This action is a potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine,” Hague said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The foreign secretary will visit Kiev on Sunday for talks with the interim Ukrainian government on the rapidly escalating situation in the Crimea.
Hague said: “I am deeply concerned at the escalation of tensions in Ukraine, and the decision of the Russian parliament to authorize military action on Ukrainian soil against the wishes of the Ukrainian government.”
He said he spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov “to urge steps to calm this dangerous situation”, while the Foreign Office also summoned the Russian ambassador to London.