International relationships cannot stand emotional statements. Diplomacy requires a balanced approach, especially when it comes to the military presence of one country in the territory of another one. Today, there is no consensus on this issue. However, the latest events taking place in Ukraine draw attention of the major world powers. If previously the parties had a muted response, now they openly declare their position. In a phone conversation to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that “continued military escalation and provocation in Crimea or elsewhere in Ukraine, along with steps to annex Crimea to Russia would close any available space for diplomacy." Thus, Kerry gave Lavrov a diplomatic ultimatum. Kerry urged Russia to “exercise utmost restraint” and offered “to continue intensive contact with the aim of settling the political crisis in Ukraine”. Moreover, Barack Obama convened a conference call with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Latvian President Andris Berzins, and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. "The president reaffirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to our collective defense commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty and our enduring support for the security and democracy of our Baltic allies," the White House said in a statement. Obama also made his call week to British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The leaders agreed that the upcoming referendum in Crimea contradicts the Ukraine’s constitution, and therefore the results will not be recognized by the world community. After lengthy phone consultations, Obama called Putin and offered to discuss the scenario of "diplomatic resolution to Ukraine crisis”. The Russian Foreign Ministry has not commented yet on how the Russian president responded to the request for direct talks between Kiev and Moscow.
