World press on Crimean situation (March 24, 2014)

"The nuclear summit that brought Obama to the Netherlands has been overshadowed by Russia’s rapid move to absorb Crimea within its borders, and heightened concern about whether Moscow intends to push further," write Howard Schneider and Carol Morelloatthe beginning of their article in Washington Post, headlined "Obama in Europe with Ukraine high on agenda; Kiev orders Crimea withdrawal."

"Obama said Europe and the United States must approach that challenge “united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far” and prepared to go further if the situation escalates," the article reads.

"Obama is to meet in the Netherlands with top world leaders including Chinese president Xi Jinping on Monday, and also with other major industrial nations in a session of the Group of 7. That gathering — including Japan, Canada and large European powers — will pointedly exclude Russia, which has typically joined sessions of an expanded “Group of 8.” Russian president Vladi­mir Putin is not attending the summit, but sent the country’s foreign minister," the article continues.

The author explain that, however, it remains to be seen whether this kind of diplomatic isolation matters. "Ukrainian interim president Oleksandr Turchynov said in the national parliament on Monday that he had told the defense ministry to issue withdrawal orders for any remaining military personnel in Crimea, the disputed region where government installations have steadily fallen into Russian hands," they write, adding that Russian troops are now in control of the entire Ukrainian marine base at Feodosia, said a defense ministry official, and two senior commanders have been taken into custody."

"The commander of a Ukrainian base in Belbek, Yuli Mamchur, has been held by Russians since his base was stormed Saturday. Ukrainian television has reported it is believed he is being held in a jail in the port city of Sevastopol," the article continues.

"Russia’s defense ministry announced Sunday its troops have taken control of 189 Ukrainian bases and facilities in Crimea. It is not clear how many, if any, still have a Ukrainian flag flying, the article's authors write. They add: "With Crimea now fully in Russian hands, both sides have looked towards economic and diplomatic tools to pressure the other."

"Russian news services quoted Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov as saying Sunday that Russia is complying with all international agreements on troop limits near its border with Ukraine," the article reads. "In Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, members of a visiting U.S. congressional delegation said Ukrainian officials were determined to prevent any further Russian incursion into their territory," the authors add.

The article concludes by quoting the statement of the Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), who said at the news conference: “This would be no Crimea" and added "Ukraine is ready to fight."

The article specifies that Will Englund in Moscow and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report, while Morello reported from Simferopol, Crimea.