gerri: hello, and welcome back. we are waiting for the president @onight to address the situation in the ukraine. we have a developing crisis there. i'm going right to peter barnes for details. peter if. >> well, that's right, gerri. we're monitoring developments here in washington, waiting for the president to comment on latest developments in ukraine, where there are reports ukrainians and ukrainian ambassador to the united nations of an illegal crossing by russian military personnel of the borders into crimea. the russian, the ukrainian ambassador saying that transport aircraft, around 10 of them,

plus another dozen or so military helicopters have crossed into the area. there are reports of these aircraft landing at an airport in crimea. right now the pentagon is not prepared to characterize this movement but officials do tell fox they see evidence of air and maritime movement into and out of crimea by russian forces. we're waiting for the president on the latest, gerri. gerri: peter, to you, as we listen to the details that are only slowly coming out here, why can't we get some kind of a characterization of how the government regards these movements? what do they make of them? do we have any details at this point about what the government is willing to say how they review what is a developing crisis? >> well, as you know this is a very sensitive topic between the united states and russia. the president has talked to russian president vladmir putin about it in the last week.

just on wednesday we heard secretary of state john kerry say that the united states was not looking for a rerun of the cold war here but he did say that there would be an international backlash. there would be consequences to the russians if they decided to take this tack. it is especially sensitive since the russians opposed any military intervention in syria or in iran, to, where the united states of course is trying to advance its, its agenda, its policy agenda, but right now i don't think we know much more than what the officials are telling us on background and we're waiting for the presiient to clarify the situation for us, gerri. gerri: we're waiting for the president and presumably he will be moving to that podium at any minute to give us details on this developing crisis. you know, peter, we talk about this kind of issue and have been talking about the reining on a lot this week. let's talk a little bit what's

led up to today, the kinds of events, the kinds of protests, the kind of unrest that we've seen. what do you say? >> well, actually, gerri, we do have a little bit more news here. the russian ambassador to the u.n. is talking to reporters right now and he is saying that quote, the people who found themselves in power in the ukraine were pushing their agenda against the will of the people. intimidation on various political factions and he is discussing the situation in crimea. we did see in 2008 the russians sent troops into neighboring georgia to protect ethnic russians there because of unrest in certain parts of georgia. i wouldn't be surprised, this sound like the russian am ambassador to the -- ambassador to the u.n. may be teeing up that kind of argument if we indeed can confirm from the president and other that is,

that there is a military intervention of some kind going on by russia in crimea, which is, where there are lots of ethnic russians. crimea was once part of russia. a lot of inhabitants there consider themselves russian, gerri. gerri: a country against itself as we've seen. as you say the russian ambassador is saying they are pushing the agenda against the will of the people. peter, you've covered a lot at the white house and we're waiting for the president. he will be out i'm sure momentarily here. you cover ad lot at the white house. is there almost a surprise development to you? this seems like things have happened so quickly? >> you know, i don't know, i'm not sure what surprises me when, when vladmir putin is involved. he has shown himself to be very aggressive in trying to re-establish russia's preeminence on the world stage. obviously with the olympics just

finishing up there, trying to raise the profile of the country and trying to assert russia's power and influence in the former countries of the soviet union like the ukraine and the others and as you know the ukraine was considering an if i ages with the european -- affiliation with the european union. that went up and suddenly reversed itself. that is what led up to this crisis and that still remains a point with the new government but there are large numbers of ethnic russians in the ukraine and again i wouldn't be surprised based on comments from the ukrainian ambassador it u.n. -- gerri: here is the president. president barack obama. listen in. >> over the last several days the united states have been responding to events as they unfold in ukraine. throughout this crisis we have been very clear about one fundamental principle, the

ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future. together with our european allies we have urged an end to the violence and encouraged ukrainians to pursue a course in which they stablized their country, forge a broad-based government and move to elections this spring. i also spoke several days ago with president putin and my administration has been in daily communication with russian officials and we made clear they can be part of an international community's effort to support the stability and success of a united ukraine going forward which is not only in the interests of people of ukraine and international community but also in russia's interests. however we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the russian federation inside of ukraine. russia has historic relationship with ukraine, including cultural and economic ties and a military facility in crimea, but any

violation of ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destablizing which is not in the interests of ukraine, russia or europe. it would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the ukraineian people. it would be a clear violation of russia's commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of ukraine and of international laws. and just days after the world came to russia for the olympic games it would invite the condemnation of nations around the world. and indeed the united states will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in ukraine. the events of the past several months remind us of how difficult democracy can be in a country with deep divisions. but the ukrainian people have also reminded us that human beings have a universal right to determine their own future.

right the situation remains very fluid. vice president biden spoke with prime minister, the prime minister of ukraine to assure him that in this difficult moment that the united states supports his governments efforts and stands for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic future of ukraine. i also commend the ukrainian government's restraint and its commitment to uphold its international obligations. we will continue to coordinate closely with our european allies. we will continue to communicate directly with the russian government and we will continue to keep all of you in the press corps and the american people informed as events develop. thanks very much. >> mr. president -- crimea, are they russian forces? gerri: so that was the president addressing what is a rapidly developing situation in the ukraine. what is described as developing crisis. the president himself saaing he

is deeply concerned about russian military movements in that region. finds it deeply destablizing. i will go to kt mcfarland who has a lot of experience with these kinds of events. what do you make of the president's statements and what do you make of the events going on right now in the ukraine? >> first of all the president really didn't say anything. please don't do this. we hope everything works out well. he didn't lay out any red lines. which is good news. couple things you need to watch. we think it is political but it is economic. it is economic for the following reasons. ukraine needs a massive bailout nobody is stepping forward to bail them out. european union doesn't have any money and don't feel like they have. the united states may bail out. president's offer ad billion dollars. that is chump change. they need 30. imf may bail them out. they have the money but they will have strings attached. they will say you got to fix corruption.

you have got to have reforms and got to raise taxes and got to end subsidies. if you're you drainian politician you don't want to run for office, vote for me, i'm on the austerity budget. ukrainian political leaders are in a real mess. guess who offered to bail them out and got turned one? the russians. russia at end of the day they have the deep pocket and interests. militarily what are they doing? if they're trying to do some kind of a separatist movement with crimea he is set it up very nicely. why? , yanukovych, nobody seen him for days, he came out this afternoon. they have a potential leader of crimea if they break away. gerri: get back to the events of last few hours, david. i know you've been following this intensively. david asman spent a lot of times covering international stories. >> i was working for "the wall street journal" covering emerging markets when the soviet union came to its end and people like vladmir putin have great regret that it did

come to an end. they want to severe vile of the soviet union. putin has been very brunt about that. said one of the worst things that happened in the 20th century was demise of the soviet union. one of the first places expanded soviet union would want is ukraine. that ain't for nothing where stalin focused atrocities in the 1930s. they were the breadbasket of europe. what happens to ukraine and other parts of the seven soviet union putin wants back? there is latvia, estonia, lithuania. they have deepwater ports russia would be very interested in. they deeply regret lost them to independence as well. not just ukraine, the other parts of the old soviet union. gerri: obviously a story that can go on and get broader. >> oh, sure. gerri: more geography. i want to bring in ashley webster that covers many of these stories for us.

what are your thoughts? what did you think of the president's comments? what is going on. [. >> kt is right on two front. president didn't say anything, and b, it was about the economy. everything that sparked everything in the ukraine was the belief that kiev was looking towards the european union and people who are ethnic ukrainians were excited about that prospect. unfortunately yanukovych came in at the time and said no, we'll look east to moscow. that is what sparked the protest and ultimately his demise. kate t is right i things are perhaps primed to come into crimea and greeted by separatists, ethnic russians who always believed they are russia. as i said earlier there is banner hanging over the crime mean parliament building now, says crimea is russia. what does russia get out of this? they have the black sea naval fleet there. been there over 200 years, critical to the russian military but you know there was a comparison made earlier to the

russians going into georgia to protect ethnic russians there. i think this is totally different story. this is much bigger country. much more divided country. i think if russia had any ideas of going in on a full-scale level i think it would just disintegrate into a very bitter civil war, probably not what they want. gerri: kt, to you, you know you talked about the president's response, how he really said nothing. one of the current concerns we talked about on this network a lot, doesn't seem like the u.s. government seems interested in being a leader. what kind of position might we pursue here? >> only thing might threaten sanctions against the russians. gerri: really? >> no military response. we will not scramble jets over this. what is important to watch next day or two, what happens to the gas? natural gas comes from russia through ukraine into europe. russia has shown in the past they're very comfortable ruthlessly turning off the gas to ukraine. that means ukraines are

shivering in the dark. what if russia decides i want my black sea fleet, i want my crimea, and i want defense industries in eastern ukraine? what are you going to do, ukraine? i will raise your price of gas to make it very hard for you or shut it off. gerri: wow. >> the pressure is really going to be on the united states, if something like that plays out, what kt just mentioned right now, we'll have to do something. may be a repeat what happened with the berlin crisis in the late 1940s. >> airlift. >> we may have to do something like that if russia declares this is part of russia. gerri: great conversation. unfortunately we'll get wendell goler at the white house. unfortunately kt has to leave us. she i will be on lou dobbs later tonight where i know you will talk all about that. thank you so much. great to see you. go to the white house and wendell goler. are you there, sir? what are you doing? >> unfortunately we'll get wendell goler into this? listen the president just

addressed this as you well know, you aired it, mr. obama spoke after ukraine's united nations ambassador confirmed earlier reports that folks with russian ties were involved in seizing the airports and a couple of biddings in ukraine. he called them russian groupies. it is still unclear whether they are actually russian soldiers though few people doubt they are anything but. they're not in russian uniform. the president said that the u.s., said that russia would face costs. there will be costs in his words for any military intervention but as you note, he did not point out what those costs might be. it is not really thought likely that the president would threaten any kind of military response here. nato made no plans for any military response. there is unlikely to be one between the two strongest nations in the world arguably, if you want to exclude china from the top two.

the president did however say that russia has international obligations that it must and he called for ukraine's sovereignty to be respected and will of the people in ukraine to be respected. the problem here is that where this is going on, crimea, is an area, largely populated by ethnic russians who are perhaps more sympathetic to moscow than to kiev. gerri? gerri: wendell, no big surprises i guess then out of what the president had to say. the signals you're getting from washington, other departments, now, anything, any other detail here? you know that we were, didn't want to talk about how to describe this action by the russians. we called it a developing crisis. what do you think, what is the moniker, what is the description that will evolve on this, in your view? >> the white house and the in% the form of jay carney, the press secretary, who was behind me about four or five hours ago

dealing with reports of russian intervention did not want to coon firm them. that appears to have been done by the united nations ambassador. the president announced that vice president biden had spoken to ukraine's prime minister today but mr. obama has not spoken to president putin in a week or so. it is likely that will happen if not later today soon but that would appear to be the next step. a personal appeal to vladmir putin to be reasonable here. the president noting that all this is coming after russia had a global spotlight, the olympic games in sochi and now this, which certainly will not bode well for their international stature. gerri? gerri: wendell, always a pleasure to have you on. not unfortunate to go to you. thanks for being with us and talking about this very important story tonight. thank you. >> thank you. melissa: here we are. just heard from the president on what is developing crisis in

ukraine. we're investigating that story right now. on the phone with me now, jessica golaher, from fox news radio. she is in the region. jessica, what can you tell us? >> what you can tell you i arrived here in crimea yesterday and basically the road from the airport which is basically been closed. russian-speaking armed men basically encased it. the road to my hotel was blocked by, what appeared to be giant russian tanks. we were stopped. the men had armed guns. there was a russian flag flying high. machine guns and riot police, riot gear. we had to roll down our windows. i asked if they were russian or ukrainian. of course there was no response. other of my colleagues have also seen like tanks running down the streets here. we've tried to question authorities. are they russian, are they ukrainian? there is no response. definitely a tense situation.

ukraine's border guards are also saying that some 30 russian marines are stationed outside the coast guard here in crimea. they're quoting the marines as saying they are in place to make sure, quote, unquote, extremists don't get ahold of weapons. ukraine's interim president is very, very upset. he has been making announcements saying that russian president vladmir putin needs to stop the provocation. there of course has been no response from the kremlin except to say they are in favor of a u.n.-brokered cease-fire put into place last week but unfortunately was basically broken when the riot police in kiev shot and sniperred some 50 individuals and unfortunately thhy were killed. a very tense situation there. gerri: jessica, you're on the ground in the crimea area? just how intense is this? how much do you personally see? are you nervous?

are people worried on the street? are people on the street? >> honestly when i very first got here there was a lot of quite frankly and not very funny, a lot of joking at airport. oh is russia going to invade, ha, ha. now it is in a different story. i'm staying in a hotel basically right on the black sea. they have a giant water park. mostly for little kids and a lot of families staying here basically vacated. as we understand now, the all british citizens to leave. i have not left my hotel since. we have guards at the hotel but speaking with other colleagues, they have tried to go out and about but it is nearly impossible now because a lot of the roads are blocked. i mean you're seeing giant tanks running around. i quite frankly feel safe. this is. >> i job but you know, that is today. five minutes from now, ask me a different question. earlier this evening i was in my room filing some reports and i heard a lot of jelling in

russian. oh maybe people are having a good time. holiday are coming up. then i saw flashes of light. that kind of squared me. that since subsided. it is a fluid situation as lot of people understand. gerri: fluid indeed. jessica, thanks for helping us out tonight with your bird's-eye view what is going on in the crimea. we'll turn back to peter barnes who has reaction from the russian ambassador for the u.n. you heard what he had to say, peter? >> the russian ambassador to the united nations just finished briefing reporters in the last few minutes and he appears to confirm that something has been happening over there. he told reporters and i'm quoting now, of course as you know we have an agreement with the ukraine on the presence of russian black sea fleet with a base in crimea. and we are acting within the framework of that agreement. acting within the framework of that agreement. i understand that my ukrainian colleague who had, the ukrainian

ambassador to the u.n. spoke to reporters a few minutes before the russian ambassador. my ukrainian colleague tried to distance himself from this definition of aggression. if in fact he were to use that definition that would of course be completely unacceptable. reading between the lines here, it looks like vitale cherkin in crimea, reportedly with russian troops, gerri. gerri: peter, thank you for that. i turn now, david asman, to you. boy these comments, these reports, conflicting in some case. hard to understand what is going on. i'm sure you've been through that before in a fast-moving store overseas. >> the question is whether it is an invasion or not. that is what the russian ambassador was getting into. ukrainians it is in their interest to call it an invasion becauue they want all the help

they possibly can get to maintain inddpendence from russia. vladmir putin wants all he can do to maintain control. the black sea fleet is extraordinarily for russian defense and perhaps russian offense as well, but those ports in the black sea, you see it down there on the map that is the black sea. they have a very important part of the russian fleet is based there. they have very important parts of the fleet based in other parts of the old soviet empire. that leads to concerns whether this is just the first step. the question of whether it is an invasion or not which is one will soon be answered. but that the is biggest question. gerri: you heard peter say the russian ambassador say we have agreement with the ukraine. there is some kind of a framework of an agreement. i wonder if that is hyperbole, forward thinking or if it is reality? >> the ukraine right now is many parts. they may have an agreement with some russian, what some people might untimely call puppets and that may be an agreement they're

talking about but i doubt seriously whether they have an agreement with the independent ukrainian leaders right now in kiev. melissa: all right. you know we were talking earlier about the economic issues going on for the ukraine and how much money, what deep trouble they are in. what does that stem from? >> it stems from the fact they are trying to make it an independent nation out of what used to be one that was joined at the hip with the soviet union. they have had much less success than other parts of the old soviet union, other parts of eastern europe, poland and czechoslovakia, much for success. ukraine not so much so partly because of corruption. you saw the former prime minister, making a comeback in kiev. she herself has baggage from the past. she was involved in the energy industry with her husband and some people say she was corrupt. so the problem with ukraine has always been corruption. it is a very corrupt country. has history of corruption dates back to the soviet union but

continues since the demise of the soviet union. for that reason it maybe easierr russian puppets of, other puppets of the old soviet union to say, we need to go in there and we need russian troops to make sure that this country doesn't dissolve into chaos. gerri: that is obviously a possibility. let's bring in back ashley webster who is following the story closely. ashley, do you see conflict? do you see dissolution? what do you see in your crystal ball? >> this is a different cut one and as david said what are we calling this? is this an invasion? certainly appears that way but who are the troops in unidentified uniforms? as i said earlier there are those who speculate, everyone does that when she these events move at such a fast pace, private security firm that the kremlin uses from time to time and uses them to take out actions where technically they're not actually using their own troops. that could be the case but the bigger picture is what is the

endgame? what are they doing? those that believe vladmir putin is trying to aggravate, irritate kiev into some sort of military conflicts allowing russia to annex crimea. that is again one possibility. as for corruption in the government, david's right. it is right out of the old soviet playbook. julius tim shank co, as david was talking about, spent arrest for her ties, corruption ties to an energy company, you're absolutely right. we hear yanukovych, the president just run out of town, there are millions of dollars, apparently reportedly found in document that is he left behind showing money being funneled into local bank accounts, to offshore accounts and accounts in switzerland and austria, all over the world. but it is a part of the culture. and i think the move for those ethnic ukrainians that wanted to move more towards the european union and perhaps believe in

more democratic and less corrupt atmosphere, the fact that yanukovych looked back to moscow was the final, you know, the straw that broke the camel's back and that's what fueled all of this how this will all play out, i don't know. putin is certainly playing a heavy hand but how far is he prepared to push it? gerri: and the beat goes on here. we've been covering this for the past hour. the president just speaking on the situation that's developing in the ukraine. peter barnes in washington now, has congressional reaction to this story. peter? >> that's right, gerri. republican majority leader eric cantor has a statement out right now saying that the reports of the russian military forces in, going into crimea are quote, of grave concern to of grave concern to, in international peace and stability. he goes to say it is essential that the united states, our european and nato partners and international community stand up to any aggression. we need strong american and

european leadership now to forestall any further threats to international peace and stability. russia's leaders must understand that military intervention and further interference in ukraine's affairs are unacceptable and would result in significant consequences for russia. eric cantor there echoing, in part the president's comments just moments ago in the white house briefing room saying there will be costs for, to russia for any military intervention in the ukraine. gerri? gerri: peter, thanks for that. big impacts here in the u.s. as well today. take a look at the dow. we have an intraday chart. look at that plummet. late in the day, late in the trading day, when the news came out started leaking out what was going on in the ukraine. it had a big impact on traders. a big impact on markets. we will continue to cover this story right after this break coming up.

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gerri: welcome back. recovering the developing situation in the ukraine. we just heard the president speak on the situation. he has been saying that a developing crisis concern about what might happen next. we've heard from a "fox news" radio reporter who was in the describing what is going on there. the view from the street where she said that russian troops appear to be in the streets. tanks that she saw, big concerns. and people pulling away from public places she said as the concern mounts. david, you count -- covered this for a number of years. you said it echoes. >> it has echoes. you wonder the echo czech when they tried to stop the freedom movement or whether it goes back

even further. there was something called -- not many people remember back in the '30s hitler used the presence of germans in places like czech czech as a pretex for an invasion. he claimed it was being repressed and not allowed to -- i don't want to get ahead of myself here. it is clear that putin is using the pretext of the russians that settled in that part of the world by stalin as part of his plans to knit together the soviet union. using the pretext of nose russians as a reason for an invasion. again, the use of that word is a hot button topic. it's not invasion. the ukraine said it is an invasion. >> the president described it as military movements. we are concerned about military

movement. he's not saying it's an invasion right now. and of course, all eyes on the region right now as we determine what is happening and coming next. big questions about the u.s. response and what we can do. i think earlier in the show kt mcfarlane saying there aren't a. >> particularly if you have a policy known as leading from behind. that's part of the problem. if you set it as a goal post for the way in which you deal with crises. it's not a very effective moons of -- meaning of stopping somebody like putin who is determined to do what he thinks needs to be done. it's not a man once he made decisions to do something specifically that can be turned around by a soft coerce such as leading from behind. >> ashley. you are with us. let's talk about putin. he's the big actor here. [laughter]

he's been outspoken. he has been an interesting player in the last few years. >> yeah. gerri: your view. >> well, i mean, he's wanting to @% back to the days of old soviet union the old kgb man, i think, when he first came to power talking about wanting to restore pride in to the russian they were respected, a super power, of course, it fell apart with the republics breaking off as caved was talking about earlier. hemmed love to see the good old days. as for what happens now. i think he's -- he's not easily deterred. often, i think, seems to outwit or certainly president obama who is reluck about it to make any moves at all other than let's say go to the u.n. i think mr. putin knows that. i think it's fair to say that

the not under the influence of kiev. i think russian shut it down. has it under the control. the question is what happens next. we know the u.s. is limited as far as the military options. it's not going in there. the question is what rhetoric are we going to hear now. do they want to become part of russia. independent nation? ukraine -- there a lot of questions. putin has the upper hand if there is an upper hand. >> i'm curious. the importance of the ukraine globally is it an important energy area. what kind of role does it play? >> it has the potential of being so. again, ashley was speaking to this perfectly moments ago when he was mentioning the recent history of ukraine. the inability to get back on the feet. not only politically but economically.

the way old satellite of the soviet union. because of the fact that it doesn't have -- doesn't mean it doesn't have the potential of being -- and ukraine politicians have been saying i think correctly you probably know it better. the potential of the country is wonderful. whether a bishop from the ukraine catholic church which is part of the affiliate, if you will of the roman catholic church. he was appointed bb pope benedict. he has a university within a ukraine. u.s.-educated a lot of ukraine begans from the united states went back after the end of the soviet union. tried to make it work. never could get their feet working. one they do and hoping it was an occasion where perhaps they could start from scratch again, the potential of ukraine is great. don't you agree? >> i do. absolutely david. it's difficult for the country to get out of the shadow of the soviet union. it broke away in 1990. it has some had success.

you mentioned poland. it's a country an old satellite that has done well. the polish in europe is one of the strongest ironly -- ironically. the inability to form a government not corrupt that looks at ways of expanding the economy without looking at ways to expanding their own pockets for those in powers. it's been difficult. that's, you could say is a playbook from the old soviet regime. those in power had everything and those on the street trying to make a living didn't. as we stand now, the ukraine is close to bankruptcy. the $35 billion to favor off bankruptcy. no need to panic. gerri: all right. >> believe they could put the reform in place. gerri: hang tight. we have a guest on the phone.

bishop boris. the president of the ukraine catholic university. i believe he's in the ukraine right now. sir, are you there? >> caller: i am. i'm in ukraine. gerri: tell us what is going on and what you seeing and what you make of the events of today. >> caller: ukraine is a big cub. there's many different things going on in different places. it you're talking about cimea, we have, you know, the shops of government building being occupied by not fully identified armed people and some voting in numbers that don't reach quorum-making certain decisions. but most of ci, mea is quite stable. people are at home, people are working, people do not want unrest. i venture to say most people there are happy with the fact that the peninsula is part of

ukraine. this move that we're seeing today is clearly a russian provocation. we'll see how far it can go. most ukraine -- including the ethnic russian, and russian-speaking want a future of peace. they are sick of the corruption that was represented. they want no part of that in the future in any move that will bring back anything similar to the old regime i think will be pushed back in all part of the ukraine. gerri: we're looking at live pictures here of the ukraine. kiev in particular. bishop, to you, you said people there want peace. i think that's a universal feeling. unfortunately in the cimea right

now we have tanks, we have troops. the origin unconfirmed at the point. we think they are russian. what do you make of that. you're in the country right now. >> caller: well, there is tension in the country. fortunately, there hasn't been any new bloodshed. we're burying almost every day people who were killed in the wanton violence that former president let loose last week in the country, and the country is still reeling from traumatic shock of people being shot on broad daylight on the main square of the capital with cameras going. all of this available on the interret to citizens of ukraine and people globally. what -- i an argue teen began friend

here who said i can't believe the break down of police and everything there's almost no luting. that people are moving around peacefully in ukraine. if it happened happened in argentina, we would have had a total mayhem. there are points of extreme tension and extreme danger. generally in the country, people are peaceful, they are peace-loving, and i believe they will come together, if as they have in the last three months. every week in the last three months, basically, ukraine defied people's expectations. they withstood below zero temperatures in the winter, dangerous assaults at night, these sniper attack in the square last week, and come

together to support principle. to support democracy, to support a new ukraine, which will be less corrupt, which will be more just. and i think the resolve and fortitude to move forward is only getting stronger day by day. gerri: we have a long way to go tonight. it feels like it be a long way to go. bishop, thank you for being we us tonight. you have a birds' eye view. we are looking at live picture of kiev as what we believe to be russian troops in the crimea we are hearing live report from the country right now as the situation becomes more and more uncertain and crisis develops. we're coming back on the other side of the break. lou dobbs will join us on his lou dobbs will join us on his thoughts of the developinge stay witht us.

it we're covering the developing situation in the ukraine. we heard the president speak moments ago. going back to washington to peter barnes who has more reaction from congress. it's an interesting one, peter. >> that's right. it's from congressman adam shiv. democrat of california. top democrat on the appropriations subcommittee that funds the intelligence, state and foreign operations. he's coming in behind president obama, who said earlier just a little bit ago there will be cost to russia for an intervention to in the ukraine. congressman saying he applauds the president's strong statement on this. and warning against the russians against any violation ukraine territory. he said, congress stands ready to work with the president and our european allies to impose substantial costs on russian for any violation of ukraine began

sovereignty. it sounds like a top democrat in congress hinting at sanctions against russia in fact all is confirmed that russia acted militarily in the crimea and crimea. the congressman, as i said, coming in behind the president who said there will be costs -- here's what the president said earlier. >> we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the russian federation inside of ukraine. russia has a historic relation with ukraine including culture and economic ties and a military tie in crimea. it would be deeply destablizing which is not the interest of ukraine, russia, or europe. it would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined bit ukraine3

began people. it would be a clear violation of russian's commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and border of ukraine. and of international laws. >> and we did also hear from a top republican in the house majority leader eric cantor in a statement earlier. he said the united states and european and they know partners need to stand up up to any aggression by the russians in the ukraine. gerri: thank you for that. i'm urning to lou dobbs who watching development of the day and hour. what did you make of this imposing sanctions? lou: i don't mean to take exceptions with anybody who believes it proper course. i don't think it is practical or possible. we have to remember that the ukraine provides a significant amount of energy, particularly in the form of natural gas to the europe to the pipelines as cothe ukraine in to europe.

europe is dependent. ukraine is the bread basket for russia and has been and remains through the course better than a century. this sanctions are impractical. because the russians can exact an even greater penalty against our allies in europe. as you know, they have been very, very quiet. the united nations met in security council. nothing is done -- nothing is said. the president acknowledges today after nine days of out are silence on the part of our president on the issue of ukraine since he made a warning. he said nothing and continue to keep us informed. thank you very much, mr. president, the fact islet be honest with everyone. we have known precisely what russian troops are doing. we knew who the 60 special forces troops who were entered crimea and seized the regional

administrative buildings. it's a lot of blather imminenting from capitol hill and the white house. the reality is there is nothing the united states can do. gerri: now we hear reports on the street in crimea troops on the ground, tanks, we heard from a "fox news" radio reporter moments ago. the situation is escalading. >> i would not, in any way, suggest it's not escalating. i'm saying simply the united states does not have a coherent strategy. we have heard from the leaders of our military they do not have contingency plans. there is no preparation. there is no basis for a response. our closest allies, our european allies have no way in which to intervene here. and to create a counter vailing force to the russian. putin wins, europe loses, and i believe, president obama loses

again. gerri: mr. obama and the u.s. as a result. david, do you agree? >> the question is where does putin go beyond crimea. invasion or not. i think it's seamannics. the important thing is the russians are there. putin put the russians russians in crimea. the russian troops do. they spread? do they go to kiev to ukraine proper. when we talk about crimea it's a little knob yule of the peninsula of the southern coast of ukraine. as you see, it looks like part of the land mass is actually separated by water like the cape cod. it's the separate part. do they have gumption -- does putin have the gumption to go to kiev and keep them there. i wonder if the russian people are prepared for that. >> i don't think there's any

doubt the russian people are prepared for that. for a long-term occupation of all of ukraine -- , by the way, russians and americans are alike in this. as we could not contemplate 13 years of conflict in afghanistan. they are not -- what they see is an affront. crimea as they put on the posters across the crimea russia and the crimea are one as far as they are concerned. ukraine is the minds of most russians. part of russian. i have no doubt whatsoever, they will try to restore -- to the presidency effectively and soon. >> it's going to be take more than 3,000 troops. it's all the number of troops we know. they sent -- the ukraine people were brave. it was a brave confrontation that got him out of power.

100 people were killed. 28 professor was killed. one of those slain. they stood up to the power, and it is going to take thousands and thousands more troopses that are in crimea now. they may be coming. who knows. the ukraine has a total military force in excess of 160,000. that's navy, that's pilots, that's all soldier. they don't have a sufficient force to stand up militarily to the russians. as the russians are to the united states military, i have to tell you, the ukraine begans are to the russians. >> the point is what we have seen so far is the tip of the iceberg. it there's going to be a full occupation, full-out occupation @% ukraine, you're going need tens of thousands not 2,000 troops which is what we have now. gerri: i want to ask you what you were mentioned before the what president could do what was possible at the point.

how does it reflect on us? it's obviously not in our but doesn't the stature of the u.s. depend how we conduct ourselves in times like this? >> i think it does. and the only thing left often to leaders, effective, powful, national leaders is the respect they are held by other nations and other alliances. whether asia or europe. the president doesn't have the sanding to reach across the atlantic, across europe, and to bring putin to the recognition that what he is doing is so destructive of everything that has been attempted to be built between europe, particularly, and russia, over the course of the last several decades. it is, at this particular moment, it's a reversal we won't

see. >> do you agree? >> 100%. the philosophy leading from behind. we can't avoid the phrase. they were clear about the phrase. the obama administration from the beginning that was their plan. we've seen now how it works in polices like iran, we have seen how places in like venezuela, and how it works in ukraine it duct work very well. when you are standing up to somebody with a resolve of putin, a former kgb hospitals that model back again. when you are standing up to somebody like with the power and money he has. you can't lead from behind. gerri: i want to bring in ashley webster to the conversation. ashley, what do you make of this and what we're talking about. is it a problem for the u.s.? >> could be, you know. lou was saying absolute think could move full force to ukraine because they don't have the military power to prevent it.

i don't know putin who does whatever he wants and certainly he knows the reaction he's going get from president obama, i just don't know whether the ukraine it could really dissent or it a nasty bitter civil war. where he wants that. it if he has dreams of regaining the old soviet empire. it would be the time. don't forget after that you have belarus to the north, all the old republic. i'm sure in his dreams he would love to bring them back to mother russia. is this the moment he begins? we'll see. lou: the idea expressed by the foreign minister, just a few days ago, the russian foreign minister, was there should be team operates and maryland -- moderation and constant. after all, the ukraine are all part of the greater europe. and those really expansive, and in, constructive remarks.

it was putin's vision. it is all part of europe. and i think to ashley's point is expansion imperial, and follow no stall quick -- and that europe will be, if putin has his wade certainly partly russian dominanted. and the ukraine, as a matter of, you know, to consider. app people ready for civil war. despite what we have seen over the last two weeks. gerri: we only have a couple of minutes here. where would you take it from here? luis words are frightening me. as i think about the implications what is going on. we have a leader em boldened in putin willing to do anything he wants to, you know, bring to fruition his vision of a future.

what should americans be thinking about tonight? >> americans should be thinking of their own foreign policy and the resolve of their own president of the united states is he -- does he have the muster to stand up to pew fin. i think the united states is more powerful than russian. i know, lou believes the same thing. the question is who the more powerful leader. is the point. i -- it is a chess game going on. the russian are famous for chess. sister a big move. it's a move by the queen. it's a big move. it's not just about the ukraine. the mistakes are far higher as pitiful as the situation in the ukraine is in right now. this is more thannjust about the ukraine. gerri: unfortunately, we're about out of time here. we've been following for the entire hour here we've been talking about the situation developing in the ukraine. we covered the president's statements on that, the president talking about just how concerned he is about what is

going on. neil is coming up with his show next. please tune in to lou dobbs. he's going to be covering this intensively in his hour. stay with us. thank you for being here. neil: welcome. i'm neil. that is not what got my attention. it was what really a of said after that. not of the president but why we keep choosing the same kind of guy for president. think about it. senators, governs, politicians by prevention to the exclusion of others. why not venture outside that political dish. go outside the capitol to look at folks who are pretty good, you know, capitol. how about billionaire and f