War: Russia gives Ukrainian forces ultimatum to surrender

March 3, 2014 - Russia's Black Sea Fleet has told Ukrainian forces in Crimea to surrender by 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Tuesday or face a military assault, Interfax news agency quoted a source in the Ukrainian Defence Ministry as saying.

The ultimatum, Interfax said, was issued by Alexander Vitko, the fleet's commander.

The ministry did not immediately confirm the report and there was no immediate comment by the Black Sea Fleet, which has a base in Crimea, where Russian forces are in control.

"If they do not surrender before 5 a.m. tomorrow, a REAL ASSAULT will be started against units and divisions of the armed forces across Crimea," the agency quoted the ministry source as saying.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's first president, Leonid Kravchuk, has slammed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said he would take up arms to defend his homeland if Moscow does not retreat.

In an op-ed written for Russian website snob.ru, Kravchuk said that Putin had gone too far.

"They have gone beyond their base and occupied Crime – it is conquered territory," he said.

"Russia violated the Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine has every reason to go to international arbitration."

As the Soviet Union neared its end, Kravchuk signed an agreement that faciliated the birth of the Ukrainian nation and became its first independent president. He held office from 1991-94.

He warned that Russia's actions could provoke a catastrophic conflict in Europe.

"I call on the Russian authorities to stop. Between our peoples should not be war. Does Russia not understand that this is the beginning of World War III?" he warned.

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