do we know what's going on in crimea? >> i'll tell you what we do know tonight is the air space over crimea is closed. a commercial airport has canceled all flights until tomorrow evening here. there are armed men at the airport today. i tried to talk to them, but they wouldn't tell us if why they were where, where they were from, if they were russian or ukrainian. there is nothing to identify them as russian or ukrainian. we saw the same thing at the airport now that's a military airport about an hour from here. we did see there is a youtube video showing helicopters heading towards that airport earlier today we're not exactly sure who these men are. television showing even more troops at the airport, which is as i said, closed. very uncertain situation here in crimea. home to russia's black sea fleet, and a number of russian military bases here. >> well, that permanent presence of russian military on crimea peninsula, does that make it implicated to understand who is supposed to be there and whose not? >> the fleet is p

let's go crimea. just heard fred say, diana, that a lot of the people in crimea, they see themselves as ethnic russians. they're very sympathetic to russia. clearly there's a split between the people in crimea, which is part of ukraine, and the government in kiev, which is condemning russian involvement. >> very clear split. and in are a way, wolf, what you have had in crimea in the last couple of days is almost a mirror image of what we saw in ukraine over the last three months. they ousted their pro-russian government and replaced it with an eu westward looking government. yesterday armed gunmen stormed the parliament, invited in pro-russian mps who swiftly got rid of the previous administration and appointed a pro-russian leader who is supported by the majority of this region who are ethnic russians. and when i talked to people at the airport in simferopol today, it is being guarded, if you will, by a pro-russian self-guarded militia who say they're trying to defend their region from any kind of ex

the one station here in crimea or coming from elsewhere. >> what about the prime minister of crimea who did indicate a couple hours ago he believed he should be or would be able to talk to those who have taken the buildings? >> reporter: well, he gave his numbers for contact. that's pretty much all we have heard. some of the deputies are said to be going back into the buildings. this may be the continuation of yesterday's events. yesterday's demonstration were initiated by the supporters of the new authorities in ukraine who were trying to block the session of the regional parliament in crimea. the deputy announced some succession. whether they are now coming back to continue with those plans, we don't know for sure. >> let me ask you to broaden your thought here. you are seeing the emotions where there are strong russian population. there is also an anti-russian tata population. and now the clear suggestion from moscow that it will protect uncompromisingly, to use moscow's words, uncompromisingly russian human rights across ukraine. >> reporter: yes. this is tightening, and tightening

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 wat

a secessionist impulse in the crimea area. yesterday gunmen stormed thee a administration and a new pro-russian administration is being put in and on the same day as national elections in this country, a right to decide in a referendum where they want to stay part of the ukraine or form their own independent state. and when you add that kind of political dimension all of a sudden to this armed invasion, well, you know, it almost looks as though the course is already set. >> yeah. these are russian helicopters flying over crimea. we're going to follow the breaking news. right now, this report on "i "impact your world." >> thought i'd try out my sea legs. >> reporter: long before vietnam lieutenant dan in forest gump, he was a passionate supporter of the military. >> i have a long history with the military starting with the l relations i have in my family. my mom and dad served and my grandfather served in world war i. >> reporter: wounded veteran ts began to identify with senise. >> how many veterans do we have here tonight? >>

the port city in crimea. in fact, there are two naval fleets, the russian black sea fleet, which has been there, and in balaklava there's a ukrainian fleet. the russians historically had a presence here. they are going to the airport. we believe that inside the military airport that maybe ukrainian services, but russian services surrounded it. in the civilian airport, there's an ad hoc press conference going on by the director of security at the airport. in the last minute or two, there are ukrainian appearance inside the airport even though there are these other soldiers outside the airport, and if they are russian, that they won't be allowed in. you have a bizarre situation going on at the moment, where it appears very much to us as if, on the ground, russian or pro russian forces are in control and there's no move made to shift them. >> thank you. as we mentioned earlier, gunmen have occupied government buildings in the center of the city. our correspondent is there. what is the latest where you are, robin

the crimea. he always used to be a russian and was passed over to ukraine unlawfully it's time for justice to prevail the square in front of the a local administration building here in secret all we have was. division was a political changes and it was slowly swinging and gulf war pro russian with the russian flags there for ukraine wags here and the tensions are we seeing the boiling point. even though i knew several lesser extent most of the crimean tartars have been siding with the ukrainian nationalist but they were never able to agree on much i was opposed to tatars want their own crimean tartar government as it was but the idea is too far fetched to me at this point however nationalism is far more important than logic of the majority here are expecting the local crimean authorities to exercise the political will and not allow a new ethnic conflict in europe to break out. you go to school for reporting from the crimea. we're coming to you live from moscow it's aussie international let's delv

then why couldn't crimea do the same thing?hose are the views which would reflect i think it would warn western governments who back them quite a lot. but at the same time we know mr. putin and his prime minister have been in touch with western governments throughout this crisis and have been trying to reassure them that the kremlin has no negative intentions towards kiev. so it's a little difficult to read what's coming. but the omens do not look encouraging. >> they have just announced they will ask for mr. yanukovych to be extradited from russia. this literally an hour before we arrives just north of the border to show he's in russia and he's put into position. >> i don't suppose the russian authorities will respond to that favorably, especially given the comments i just quoted from a senior parliamentarian. they have allowed him to have a statement read on russian television in which he declared he's a lawful president of the ukraine. they announce they are sympathetic towards him, even prepared to look after him. reportedl

it seems strange that the team and eliminates that sets the awesome it's a small hand at all in crimea chinese they say it but never rested. i suspect that the courts in the file on the box. rachel to fall. when companies running the state since nineteen ninety three apology wartime slaves. will you be examined and eight. i thought it was made in china is fast becoming complacent asia pacific region. welcome to cctv news on the tuning in banking least not seen climbing and now the center of the critical stall in ukraine ukraine's kneeling carry many staff awesome novel called sis iraq to me the trees blocking an apple in the black sea port of a seven step though in crimea me in the russian naval base man on man at the chilling another and forth in the regional capital. and the unidentified armed group took control of the appellant's have not seen rough road. witnesses say around fifty alms man just admit it really full speed down to recognize a built in sink me as we put me with the russian navy slacks to renovate the airport's domestic flight terminal at the appeal to the undying the

crimea is that region obviously very close to russia.itary aircraft, that are indeed russian, have landed there. more than a dozen aircraft, with russian troops, near appear to be accurate. these reports appear to be accurate. we have a fox news reporter, radio reporter on the ground. we're waiting to establish a connection with her. pentagon officially not prepared to characterize this movement. the minute he comes out we'll tell him about that. meantime a startup, that analyzes online platforms and all kind of breaking news that would develop, like the situation in ukraine. anything that goes on twitter or blogs this can help you the investor to see what is trending an making news before it hits newswires. this company received $1.5 million in funding. how can session media give you, the investor the competitive edge? joining us now he runs eagle alpha. ceo and founder is just fascinating. you call it social sonar for the high invested, investor. i think this is fascinating. first, tell us how it works. >> eagle alpha uses a range of d

it has to be underlined that crimea is an autonomous region.here has been a call for a referendum to be held on the same day as the national presidential elections on may 25, even though there is talk for that to happen earlier, and that referendum would be about giving crimea more autonomy from kiev. this is the situation as we are now people here do want to go ahead with the autonomy and also want to protect what they already have. >> ok, thank you very much. let's take you over to the ukrainian capitol in kiev and find how this is viewed over there. that's where the anti russian government is supposed to be in control. let's go to kiev. how much are they in control, and what is the reaction to first of all what's going on in crimea? >> what they desperately want to achieve here in kiev is stability throughout the country. now, obviously, events in crimea have shaken them, because there is obviously a pro russian movement there, and they are asserting themselves. now, in kiev, they see it this way, they acknowledge that it is an out to know m

coming up, we discuss crimea and theukraine, 121 taking over parliament building iiin crimea, next. ♪yone, "bloomberg surveillance." an important guest an interview tomorrow. he is worried about inflation. will join us of the philadelphia fed. he will express his concern about the yellen consensus at his reserve. >> this is "bloomberg surveillance," i am scarlet fu with adam johnson and tom keene. of guest is robert kaplan, harvard business school and the author of "what you are really meant to do." investigating possible security breaches at 2 retailers, this is similar to what took place at target and neiman marcus last year. huawei,rediction from the chinese filmmaker says they will sell 100 million units, the second strong year of strong growth at huawei. last year there was growth of 68%. the push for smartphone users is baidu, who sayt that revenue will reach $100 billion as advertisers spend more to reach mobile phone users. that is the latest from the files of "bloomberg west." crimea. watching >> ian bremmer with the asia group is looking at the entire region. from brussels t

coulds to crimea?ch a thing as a bit from president obama but the president doesn't have a lot of options. what we're really looking for is some clarity. who those forces are on the ground in crimea and does the united states view that as a provocative move by the russians. >> i want to go now to kiev ich. cnn's ian lee is live there. you've been reporting about this all day. what can you tell us? >> reporter: well, jake, as far as the ukrainian officials are concerned, these are russian troops making intrusions on to crimea soil. they talked about it all day saying that this is an armed incursion by the russians. we've had a ukrainian official say that ten planes have landed in the crimea. they are planting a picture of what appears to be a russian takeover of the area. they've also said that civil administration buildings as well as communication centers have been -- the russians are trying to take those over as well and to block any of ukraine's military in the area from activating. now, the acting

>> confusion in the crimea. ukraine's acting president accuses russia of being directly involved in the region's conflict. ready to act. new cpi data is released today. we will get some pin codes and the info on what mario draghi should do next week. pimco is coming back into the black. the revamp of iberia continues. welcome, you are watching "the pulse." i am guy johnson. francine is off today. she will be back next week. inditexp this hour, fashions a tax loophole. we begin with our main subject of the morning. the situation in the ukraine is developing quickly. isted president yanukovych holding a press conference today from russia. the u.s. government tries to pull together international funding to avoid a default. let's go to kiev and our reporter there, ryan chilcote. walk us through what has been happening in the south of the country in the crimea this morning. >> it is certainly seizing headlines. i am at the ukrainian central bank with the prime minister and the head of central bank are giving a joint

is in crimea. the crimean parliament has released the local prime minister from his duties basically dispersing the the government as well and has set a date for a referendum over whether or not to stay with you crane and this date is may twenty fifth which is the same day when the new authorities in kiev are planning to hold nationwide presidential elections in fact they've said that crimea is have no rights to hold any sort of referendums independently under new laws which have been passed recently in kiev and now in the meantime over and over the night here in the capital of the crimea a group of unknown pro russian activists got inside the building of the local parliament and race russian flag on top of that they however did allow deputies to enter inside and there are no reports of any sort of aggression from them now also several thousand people gathered outside of the palm and as well a pro russian activist with russian flags and well the people that i've spoke with they're very concerned ab

russia has a major interest in crimea. and unlike in key eve where russia had very few instruments of power, and the west had many more instruments in crimea. russia controls situation on the ground. and we have done to understand that we either would have to develop a solution together with russia, or there would be a military conflict. and in a military conflict the stakes would be much higher for russia than for the united states. so who is going to bring-- is an interesting question. i would be president obama, i would not be talking about-- in crimea for the united states. >> brown: explain, fill in that, russia controls the situation on the ground in the crimea. >> it does have a lot of leverage there because the majority of the population not all of them, but majority are russian and they want more autonomy for their region. even know they did vote in 1991 to be part of an independent ukraine, they do want a special status. i think the other thing we have to realize is we don't know whether this interim government i

you go to school of reporting from the crimea. protests against and in support of ukraine's new leaders are gathering steam in crimea where pro my john run is a large lead by the local muslim top top community which is in the minority that most of the area's population are russians and over seventy percent of the people are russian speakers that even so foreign media attempting to lay the blame on mosco for stirring up people who are unhappy with the upheaval that as international relations expert moxley about explains we've seen a habit among the western mainstream media that if we see armed insurgents that are anti russian there are identified as legitimate or peaceful protesters or the like whereas if we have. protesters or people taking norms as it appears that some groups of people within the crimea have done with a pro russian orientation it is obviously the fault of lattimer putin personally. so there is a degree of the show is a subjective narrative being formed then demonization which is entirely understandable from a nat

ukraine southern republic of crimea sets a date for a referendum on further autonomy from kiev as thousands rally against the rise of ultra nationalism. new clues to the whereabouts of the else to present as he announces a news conference to be held in southern russia after dismissing ukraine's interim leaders as illegitimate and asking moscow for protection. under international law accuses israel of using excessive force against palestinian protesters in the occupied land saying some killings could be tantamount to war crimes. from the city center in moscow this is art international with twenty four hours a day the iranis of ultra nationalism in the capital is causing tensions in southern ukraine the center of unrest is now in the capital of the autonomous region of crimea and local parliament there was voted to hold a regional referendum which could push them even further away from kids control you have this kind of is there for us. crimean parliament has released the local prime minister from his duties basically dispersing the government as well and has set a date for a referendum over

crimea is the on the ukrainian region with an ethnic russian ridge rc. so we can get more on russia's reactions to the crisis in you ryan. this time we joined the lineout calls on the daria on to choke in most car. i did aria decide what what has been russia's reaction to ukraine's new government's way of various some manners is sola possibilities of maneuvers to which of the d a new person was talking about school had awarded this or anything you can confirm about to back to take emma. developments. well of russia has indeed launched stamp the image a jail cell for the western pa doubled its army and it has been put in thailand to come but so far this is just the trails of russia says this has nothing to do with the situation on ukraine in ukraine and on the crimean peninsula. i know russia does have a naval base a large naval base in the city of sanaa still put them in the crimea on in and sit down past the keeper he only sent to twenty twenty four. now the dean of the ukrainian president has warned of russian troops were on the station said to remain

bar more grain here in the crimea national slogan. i love how far more grey here in the crimea national slogans are being shouted alongside pro russia once they share the same went but definitely not the same political views was. there were there was a little we all came out today to show that without our approval no decisions will be made we see the crimea as a part of our grains or the sea is the majority of people here support russia in the u.s.s.r. the crimea belongs to the russian soviet republic until nine hundred fifty four when the then soviet leadership decided to transfer it to the administration off so he did crane and when the u.s.s.r. collapsed in one thousand nine hundred one and the crimea was left as a part of independent ukraine but the last few centuries mainly ethnic russians have been living on these lands alongside minorities including the muslim crimean taught ours will the crimea always used to be russian and was passed over to the crane unlawfully it's time for justice to prevail the square in front of the a lo

i think russians at the moment to hold all the cards in crimea. there's nothing very much that the ukrainian government in kiev about the situation. they cannot really come charging down the troops because that is almost certain to provoke a conflict. i think at the moment, the russians can sit tight and see what happens next and then into negotiations further down the line. >> how are people where you are responding to the presence of these forces loyal to russia on the street? dangerous tos generalize about these types of things, but there are certainly large numbers of russian speakers who feel very strong links to russia and were very worried when the new government came to power in kiev supporting these far right activists, and we are very concerned that the far right activists would dissent here. that may have been a false concern, but it was a genuinely felt concern. but there are other groups here who are very supportive of the kiev government. crimean's are also very distrustful. they were thrown out of crimea during the soviet union, but

the situation in the crimea. with a society more polarized than ever there's no better time for the president to speak out according to international relations expert. while technically still the having rights as the president of the ukraine after being driven out by this putsch in kiev he's released a rather powerful statement we have seen a complete deterioration of the situation in kiev this putsch has shown that they really have no power. to control what is going on certainly not in the entirety of the ukraine but even more locally the ultra nationalist mobs which which they cynically made an attempt to ride the tiger of their violence into power are now in control of the streets so. i guess at this point must feel he has no alternative except to try to restore order to the country. and if the rise of ultra nationalists that's leading to trouble in ukraine founds with the forefront of an raf now in big capital of the autonomous region of crimea and that's where a group of local activists has entered the regio

meanwhile protests against and in support of ukraine's new leaders are gathering steam in crimea will prob my down rallies are largely led by the local muslim todd community which is in the minority that most of the area's population are russians and over seventy percent of the people that are russian speakers and early on thursday a group of local pro russian protesters entered buzz the cabinet and parliament buildings in crimea. is following the events in the region. well a group of unidentified people entered the local administration buildings in the capital of the crimea and raised a russian flag on top of them and reportedly they are allowing local deputies inside but nevertheless the new authority is in kiev for specifically the acting president has named the situation an attempt at the crimean independence and said that they are sending some sort of security forces to the crimea to what they say will be preventing any violence from erupting and keeping safety here all this happens after clashes erupt it's a very in the center of fire seems that operated in the same town between

you go to school of reporting from the crimea. and in a bid to gain ground there local muslim tata communities has been holding rallies for the new kiev leadership in the region however the group is a minority most of the area is populated by ethnic russians and over seventy percent of the people consider russian their native language. meanwhile headlines across america and europe as well as in ukraine are speculating russia is on the brink of getting involved in crimea some are directly linking russia's military drills with the tense situation on the peninsula however russian military officials have denied that there is any connection saying the maneuvers are being held hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away and are simply routine they have also been alarming reports of the russian military moving its troops around crimea explanation is that they are not and regular forces serving of the local russian navy base that has been permanently stationed in sevastopol for decades nato and e.u. officials have regardless send warnin

they want to seize crimea away from ukraine or looking to have a completely independent crimea or a crimeak in russian territorial control. >> reporter: robin walker roberting and thank you, robin and let's go to the capitol kiev and tim friend is monitoring it there, how is this temporary government and i say temporary because the election is in may dealing effectively what is two crisis, one economically in kiev and secondly the threat from separatism in the crimea? >> well, of course, the fire fighting effect. they were only sworn in on thursday in parliament. they have a huge economic crisis and now this in crimea. it's nothing less really than ensuring that ukraine stays united, at least that is the way they see it. and just to reaffirm what you were saying earlier the interior on the facebook page has tipified this as an armed invasion down there at the military airport and says it's a violation of all international agreements and norms and parliament is calling on the international community to ensure the integrity of the budapest memorandum signed in 94 saying the uk, us and will e

let's look at the crucial crimea peninsula. let's look at how ukraine's history is effecting this current crisis. >> tony, it's a long and complicated history with a nation divided between those who want closer ties to russia and those who don't. >> for more than three centuries crimea has been linked to russia. in the 18th century katherine the great conquered the tatars. >> one thing we can say about crimea, most people there do not consider themselves ukrainians. the majority consider themselves russians. >> the majority of crimea's residents are ethnic russians. before his ousting, viktor yanukovych signed a deal with russia to keep the fleet in crimea. >> it has been part of the russian navy since peter the great founded it. it is the flagship, literally to speak, of the russian navy. it is a point of pride. it is not necessarily military taylor for them. there have been contingency plans for them to move it on the russian black seacoast if that became necessary, but i think it would an very severe below to russian pride t

the crimea always used to be russian and was passed over to the crane unlawfully it's time for justice to prevail the square in front of the a local administration building here in secret all we had was a. division. for political changes and if you are brilliant and gulf war pro russian with the russian flags there for you great works here and the dangers are reaching the boiling point. even the news about this week's that most of the crimean tartars have been siding with the ukrainian nationalist but they were never able to agree on much elizabeth tartars one of their own crimean tartar government as it was but the idea is too far fetched to reach this point however nationalism is far more important than logic the majority here are expecting the local graveyard authorities to exercise the political will not do well in new ethnic offered in europe to break out you go to the school of reporting from the grey mirror. in a bid to gain ground through local muslim ta-ta community has been holding a raw is for the new king of leadership in the region however the group is a minority most of t

are they going into crimea or other places? and whether your government has control over the two airports in crimea? >> so, where is the name. here. unitkrainian coast guard was blocked by a group of armed people on the command of a , captain of captain the first rank. so this is his title. captain alexander, who tried to explain his action by recent decisions of crimean authorities. still, we do not have full control of the airport. along with that, what we got .rom kiev center hasr control by the armed forces of the russian federation . and so looking at the paper, again, all the signals are being suppressed by the equipment to control the air movement. so -- here we are. i was looking to find the papers where we have enough. >> what is your response to the yanukovych press conference held in russia? government'syour to the international monetary fund, where does it stand, how long of a time frame are you looking at? >> thank you. luckily, i had a chance to listen to mr. yanukovych. comedy.een told this is even if you look ba

heading into crimea itself. which are some of the indications that there is some kind of russian involvement in what's going on here. >> you know, it's important to point out there are some 10 million ethnic russians or russian nationals in ukraine. that's about 20% of the population of 45 million in ukraine. so some of those russian troops are probably welcome, especially in that area. but you have the current ukrainian authorities saying that this is the beginning of an invasion or an invasion. how is this action being received on the ground? >> well, within crimea itself, of course, there are certain people who, yes, would like to see unification or would like to have a russian presence here. there are other people who really don't -- you know, they consider themselves russians and are proud of being russian, but they don't really want the russian style of government, which everyone is familiar with, and for that reason, having really been going through unification. >> what about the president's statements, a

jennifer glass is live for us in the crimea capitol. jennifer, who are these armed men at the airport? who are they taking their orders from? >> reporter: they won't talk about who they are. tonight we have a new development. the air space in crimea is closed. no flights going in or out for the next 24 hours. we're not sure who these men are. there are no insignia on their uniforms. there are no license tags on their trucks. no identifying marks, paperwork, passes. if you ask them they won't say who they are. but we understand that they are russian troops. ththere is reports that as manys 2,000 russian troops may have come in the region in the last 24 hours. >> jennifer, i have to ask. i wonder if there has been any reaction to these armed men. to these developments over the last day or so at the airport, and yesterday, the russian essentially war games along the border. any reaction? >> reporter: actually, many crimeanians are happy about the men at the airport. they said they don't know who they are, but they're glad they're here. the

armed men on guard in crimea with its ethnic russian majority. in uniform without identifying markings. pro-russian, no doubt. but is there anything more to it than that? with word of similar developments, ukraine's new interior minister has spoken of a home invasion. outwardly it looks calm. the airport has been operating more or less normally. but whoever these men are they are making clear their unhappiness with the dramatic upheavals taking place elsewhere in the ukraine. >> translator: radicalism and fascism is not welcome. this is our slogan. we don't want radicals from ukraine and other areas to visit us in crimea. >> reporter: all this is certainly fueling fears, a push for more autonomy, even a breakaway by crimea. the ukraine's parliament which installed a new western government has appealed to the u.n. security council to monitor the situation. on the streets of kiev, there's new unease among the protesters. >> translator: the situation is very complicated. firstly, we look at the law seriously, we have to take strict measures. and thi

crimea is a part of grains this is the majority of people here support russia in the u.s.s.r. the crimea belongs to the russian soviet republic until nine hundred fifty four when the then soviet leadership decided to transfer it to the administration of saudi do crane and when the u.s.s.r. collapsed in one thousand nine hundred one and the crimea was left as a part of independent ukraine but for the last few centuries mainly ethnic russians have been living on these lands alongside minorities including the muslim crimean tatars to the crimea always used to be russian and was passed over to the crane unlawfully it's time for justice to prevail the square in front of the a local administration building here in secret all we have. division. was a political changes and what role ukrainian and gulf war pro russian with the russian flags there for you was waste year and the tension was reaching the boiling point. even though i knew several lesser extent order of the crimean tartars have been siding with the ukrainian nationalist but they were never able to agree on much i was about

the crimea belongs to the russian soviet republic until nine hundred fifty four when the then soviet leadership decided to transfer it to the administration off so he did crane and when the u.s.s.r. collapsed in one thousand nine hundred one and the crimea was left as a part of independent ukraine but for the last few centuries mainly ethnic russians have been living on these lands alongside minorities including the muslim crimean tatars they share the same land but definitely not the same political views i. was. there were there was a little we all came out today to show that without our approval no decisions will be maint we say the crimea is a part of a grain business the majority of people here support russia the local authorities were planning to decide which way the autonomy is republic should move forward closer to kiev or to moscow but clashes on the streets prevented any decisions from being made the square in front of the a local administration building here in secret all we had was a. division had died. for a political changes and you were pro ukrainian and gulf war pro ru

as for russian military presence in crimea and movements, they do have right to be stationed in crimeaey do have right to move around crimea. but at the same time these troops and u.s. navy s.e.a.l.s are one of the best troops that russia has. that's why there is so much concern here. >> olga, thank you very much indeed. and bridgett in moscow, many thanks. >>> right now the german chancellor angela merkel is on a visit top london. in fact, she's just about to address -- well, both houses of parliament. let's take you to the house of commons. following in the footsteps of several other leaders. she has just started speaking. we're going to listen in. >> i am the third representative of the federal republic of germany following federal chancellor brant in 1970 and german federal president vie sick ka to speak to you. this is an expression of the close relations between our countries. not only the governments but also the people of our two countries are linked by close partnership. i shall never forget my first visit to london in the spring of 1990. very soon after the fall of the berlin

i address the people of crimea. they have to be very careful not to - not to allow violence in crimea. people are the same everywhere, and they have the same rights, and they are responsible for what is taking place in the crimea. >> so that is what is going fon in ukraine's -- going on in ukraine's parliament. while the parliamentary session is under way to appoint the new government, there are reports that armed men have seized government also in the southern region of crimea, and even that the russian flag has been flying above some of those buildings and a challenge -- in a challenge to the new leadership. the acting president appealed for calm and said he has given order for security structures to take all measures to protect citizens in that southern region. >> now, the trial of the sop of a former libyan leader muammar gaddafi will continue. he will appear in court, charged with corruption, murder and rain. rebels refused to hand him over to the international criminal court to face charges of war crimes. >> a

lawrence lee, al jazeera, crimea. >> and what happens in crimea could be critical for ukraine and russia. >> good evening, john. this is the region we are talking about. you can see ukraine bordering the black sea. and there's this giant neighbor russia to the north and to the east. here is the russian capital moscow. all the way up here is kiev. we have been hearing so much about in the news lately. and here now is where the story has shifted to today. this is the crimea peninsula with the port right there on the southern tip. we have a bit of history for you. crimea was concurred by the russians when this woman, catherine the great was in charge of their army. crimea became part of the ukraine back in 15954 when the then soviet leader transferred jurisdiction for it from moscow down to kiev. after the collapse of the soviet union in 1991 is when the iron curtain came down. crimea ended up in the newly independent ukraine. in 1996 when they drew up the constitution they recognized crimea as an autonomous republic. now as we heard in lawrence lee's report, russia still has a port in ukra

reporting from the crimea. meanwhile as some media outlets have raised the alarm over military drills across central and western russia linking them to ukraine russia's defense minister says the drills have nothing to do with the mall of the neighboring country and are all part of a plan to retain. the grandmothers of the chief military commander has such a task to test the combat readiness of troops in dealing with crises situations that threaten the military security of the country as well as with antiterrorist santa tree and medical emergencies or technological disasters now the candidates for ukraine's top jobs have been chosen by activists in my down one of the key figures of the form opposition to send the same york was booed after being suggested as prime minister. oh i even then. suggested cabinet as that of a comic government the whole process of putting together but ministers list has appeared a struggle limit the shouting crowd sharing and jeering the suggested candidates and many protesters are alre

crimea is about the size of sicily. it became part of russia in seventeen eighty three which was incorporated into the soviet union in nineteen twenty two the key to a christian to kauai in moscow was to stalin died in nineteen fifty three the following key in the soviet need to make a move that many russians to debut as a huge mistake. i was just transferred the administration of crimea from russia to ukraine that's men's when the ussr broke apart in nineteen ninety one. and it became part of independent ukraine some sixty percent of india's population are ethnic russians. just twenty five percent on ukrainian. in nineteen ninety two to diffuse into ethnic tensions tanya was given wide ranging autonomy the government is based in central poland. said constable special status and is home to russia's black sea fleet the lease for the base runs until twenty forty two from russia. it is akin to having a foot in the tool of ukraine. and now tensions are again on the rise with the change of government in kiev. russia's fear o

groups in ukraine's crimea. over fears the country's new authorities which they refuse to recognize. brigades. war. china condemns america's human rights record saying washington's failing to live up to its own standards. left in the cold europe struggles to deal with hordes of homeless millions of houses across the continent empty. this is r.t. international with. a day. in his first news conference since being elster from power ukraine's embattled president viktor yanukovych has vowed to fight on speaking from southern russia he insisted he was still ukraine's legitimate leader and accused the opposition of stage a coup with the help of pro fascists forces. here the words of defiance from which . he is ukraine's legitimate president he says he hasn't been impeached he hasn't resigned and he's still very much alive and these are the only three conditions by which he could not be considered a legitimate ukrainian president given this. yes you know when deposed me i was forced to leave ukraine because of a threat

and once again are not recognize here in the crimea. cutting city of two thousand he offends a passing all these last two mini qc as a team the russian once and it's it's it's clear that sell and that shows the hour the unfortunate. are they not only skeptical but the very critical off of the new building or with a teeny bit that it is right now the news conference out that nest egg in a cottage at the asa president of ukraine is about to stocks of cold so we'll be talking to you today chelsea sixty s at speaking he is and he repeats the nothingness in trouble the comfort of crimea. thank you very much see a bias of you and that lets not addison say the news conference of that presents a unique rubbish is this. france is doing. we must promote the book. if you don't mind we were finished we organize our land conference and the falling late mr yanukovich alone first. i like to tell you if you're a student was addressing them to you and the whole torah was an event. we'll have to question time. ecu agreement they seem to have the far east

so is crimea on the brink of war or separation? it's hard to know, but here the russian block aren't listening to a word their new leaders in kiev have to say. >> ukrainian politicians agreed on a new interim national coalition. many challenges lie ahead, not least a looming economic crisis. we report from kiev. >> they were supposed to be confirming a new government, but events in crimea initially overwhelmed the ukraine parliament, increasingly nervous about their overthrow of viktor yanukovych may unleash. it brought this warning from the acting president. >> anyone who tries to and i stress, anyone, to take over government buildings in ukraine's east, west, center, south and north is going to be treated as having committed a crime against the government of ukraine. >> it was an historic day in parliament, the election of a new cabinet promising that the victims of violence in independence square have not died in vain. the newly elected prime minister said that the country was on the brink of economic and political collapse, a s

as tensions grew in the ukrainian region of crimea. locals in the abs independence quest but to your news about how their friends in crimea in view of recent developments in ukraine. women would come to school. estimates of the crimea is situated close to russia. we watched russian tv channels met a friend of mine who lives there tell me there was no news about what was happening here make them look like he said. cullen said he knew and it has not been climbing it don't even know about fast they were given the wrong information it was awesome. the builder shall not see it we did the very kids but we have at least some government denied let's talk like this summit of the crimea a lot depends on climbing in this themselves as they will behave what they think about this. i think it's better if everything happens peacefully not like in kiev. this all depends on from the ends of their views to me. crimea is in the ukrainian region with a laugh with which the majority. it's the last great bastion of opposition to the new leadership in kiev u

the caf enough brings us more on how the west is responding to the situation in crimea. nato defense ministers are expressing a lot of concern over ukraine as well as their perception of the kremlin's response the nato secretary general anders fogh rasmussen called on russia not to do anything that would quote escalate tension or create a misunderstanding he told a meeting of the nato ukraine commission in brussels the latest developments in the crimea were quote dangerous and irresponsible also raising the alarm of the new german defense minister no she weighed in at her very first nato summit in brussels let's take a quick listen to the situation in the ukraine particularly in crimea fills us with great concern it is of the utmost importance that we prevent a breakup of the ukraine and that special forces in the country are strengthened so a lot of concern about whether ukraine remains in one piece or not the russian foreign ministry meanwhile issuing a statement in response to all this saying that the nato defense ministers were sending a quote wrong signal in their s

you call them freedom fighters the one that happens in crimea. they become pro russian gunman for me to go around organizing your thoughts on that there's a huge difference to the violence was used against people weigh in kyiv and air the sun off of a fool for now there's no violence used in creamy yet. and they will be no schism creamy and these tulips were protesting the streets and gains the menu of torah to self off of concrete so it is a huge difference. first and what we heard just a couple of minutes to go on and i y c i i see that as russia's official position so pressure which to stop cleaning creamy a car thief the twenty first february and agreement he's so weak the visitors in reverse so that's what i understand and i know why we see that russia has in the influence and has the possibility to two to calm down these profits that are going on leading indian in ukraine in the story in crimea. but there will want what we see now is that some russian. parliamentarians politicians going there and that instead of calming down there they are

estimated about 2,000 troops landing in crimea. now, the current administration, the authorities on the ground, as you mentioned, the election has been set. that they are saying that this is an invasion by russia. already, we've heard from the u.s. ambassador to the united nations, saying and teaming up with the president of the united states in this statement. we've heard warnings from secretary of state john kerry saying that russia should not invade the sovereign space of ukraine. we've heard defense secretary chuck hagel speaking for the united states in nato, saying this should be a time for caution and wise, diplomatic moves. but we have yet to hear, until now, from the president of the united states on this situation. president barack obama in the white house briefing room. >> over the last several days, the united states has 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

to monitor the situation in crimea to ensure ukraine's territorial integrity all u.n. security council members about to respect ukraine's territorial integrity but cave is considering the option of declaring a state of emergency in crimea and potentially cracking down on the protesters there so we see a role shifting in kiev we see people who took power in kiev adopting a call which is roland roles are shifting here in the west as well so we heard secretary kerry say everybody needs to step back and avoid provocations and that is a post to as opposed to washington's very hands on approach to my don protest so when he was my don it was legitimate aspirations of ukrainian people now that it's a different part of ukraine where some politicians focus on the issue of territorial integrity and international law but you don't hear much about the legitimate aspirations in the will of the people living in the crimea or you know the parts of ukraine that have not supported the takeover of power in kiev washington has focused all its attention now on moscow issuing warnings again

we are joined live from the crimea. a russian flag flying from government buildings. >> tell us what is happening now? >> that's right. the russian flag flying from the building behind me. about 200 metres away. that's the parliament building you can see over my shoulder. inside armed men, professionals. we don't know who they are, but they are understood to have come in overnight. security was not strong, was not strict, and they are occupying that building. we are hearing that they'll expect a parliamentary session later. it's possible that mps will meet in there despite all that is going on. adding to the mix, police who have cordoned off the area seem incredibly relaxed as if they know who is inside the building. we are not getting details. there are clues. the burr cute, the so feared military police that were disbanded recently are treated as heroes. there's some speculation that they may be involved. that is speculation at this stage. at the same time, we have been hearing reports of russian military vehicles, ar

is crimea on the brink of war? it's hard to say. >> secretary of state john kerry has a message for russia as it begins military exercises near the border of ukraine. he says this is no time for russia to interfere. russia says the military exercises were scheduled in advance of upraises. he was assured by russian foreign minister that russia will report ukraine sovereignty. we believe that everybody needs to step back and avoid provocations, and we want to see in the next days ahead, obviously, that the choices russia makes conform to this arm nation that we received today. this comes as president viktor yanukovych is getting ready to come out of hiding. he scheduled a press conference on friday. viktor yanukovych is asking russia to protect him from extremists. if any country, ukraine was wondering about, there's a display going on right now. vladimir putin put two of russia's four military districts on high alert. land, sea and air power, tested for readiness. moscow insists the war games are not connected to th