BRUSSELS
The European Union (EU) will hold an emergency presidential meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss Ukraine's crisis.
According to EU sources, the majority of the countries’ Foreign Ministers demanded an upper level discussion, where they will jointly respond to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine's autonomous region Crimea.
The ministers are expected to urge Russian troops to withdraw from Crimea back to their bases.
Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that Russia's intervention in Ukraine will result in a real threat of a European division.
Russia’s Parliament authorized military intervention in the Crimean peninsula on Saturday, to allegedly ensure political stability and protection of its Russian ethnic majority. Russian troops have reportedly taken control of Crimea as several thousand troops are stationed in the peninsula.
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday morning.
According to the White House, Biden urged Russia to pull back its forces from Crimea, support an international deployment of monitors to the region, and begin a “meaningful” dialogue with the Ukrainian government.
Biden’s call comes one day before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is set to meet with Ukrainian officials in Kiev.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
