Vitali Klitschko, the heavyweight boxing champ who gave it all up to play a leading role in the Ukraine protests, called on his country to resist any possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that both the military and ordinary citizens must act to “save Ukraine as a state, and Ukranians as a free people.”
A member of Ukraine’s parliament since 2012, Klitschko urged the legislators to mobilize the country’s military after Russia’s parliament authorized that country’s president Vladimir Putin to use force against Ukraine — as well as for the United Nations security council to convene immediately and take action on the Ukraine crisis.
Claiming “real threats” to Russia’s citizens , Putin sent Russian troops into Crimea, an self-governing province of about 2 million people on the Ukrainian coast of the Black Sea. In a phone call Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama warned Putin against “any interference elsewhere in Ukraine.”
“President Obama made clear that Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community,” said an official statement issued by the White House.
In Ukraine, Vitali Klitschko — whose brother Wladimir is still an active boxer who also holds heavyweight championship belts — not only called for the military to mobilize against any Russian incursion, he reminded ordinary Ukranians that, in his view, they are also responsible for defending the country — and pleaded with the often-violent ultra-nationalists who play a prominent role in Ukraine politics to put aside their extremist views for the good of the state.
“I appeal to all citizens in the south and east, in the west and centre,” said Klitschko in video statement posted on line. “I appeal to all political parties who cherish the sovereignty of our country, peace, order and calm; you are obliged to demonstrate the will and strength to save Ukraine as a state, and Ukrainians as a free people.”
Russia currently has an agreement with Ukraine to maintain a naval base in Crimea. Vitali Klitschko called on Ukraine’s acting president Oleksandr Turchynov to cancel that agreement.
The 42-year-old Vitali Klitschko quit boxing last December to join the Ukraine protests against the now-ousted President Viktor Yunakovych. He plans to run for Ukraine president in the elections which, originally scheduled for 2015, have now been called for May 25 of this year.
Yunakovych fled Ukraine after parliament voted to strip him of the presidency. He is now being sheltered in Russia. Vitali Klitschko said that Russia was making “a mistake” by supporting Yunakovych.
“Yanukovich has to take responsibility for what has happened in this country,” Vitali Klitschko said Saturday. “We have a huge political and economic crisis as a result of four years of his rule. He promised to listen to the people and he did not. It’s all a result of his total corruption in Ukraine.”