Europe, the US and the Eu want to force to back down Vladimir Putin in the Crimean crisis. But the options are limited. Where is Moscow sensitive? And what steps would be dangerous ?

The rhetoric of these days is to convey determination: “All options are on the table,” says US Secretary of State John Kerry. President Barack Obama wants to take steps to “isolate Russia”. And the EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton calls for Moscow: “We want to see that the troops returned to their barracks again.”

The West wants to get serious and bring Russia in the Crimean crisis to the negotiating table. Some rhetoric is not sharp enough: In the US, Republicans criticize Obama already, that the foregoing is not resolved against Russia. But quite so easy it is not, because the options are limited Obama.

How can the West Moscow in their place? What penalties are realistic, which could fall back to Europe? The overview.

 * Diplomacy: Washington and Berlin throw Russia before the violation of international law. For this, the United Nations would be responsible , but the UN Security Council fails in the Crimean conflict – Russia will veto power to block any resolution on Ukraine conflict. Then there’s the G8 , the merger of the seven leading industrial powers and Russia. The seven have already canceled in June, the preparatory conferences for the next summit in Sochi. Kerry brought even the exclusion of Russia from the G8 to the game – a move that would hurt Russia, because it would really internationally isolate the country . But then ? The West needs the Russians urgently to resolve the conflicts with Syria and Iran . And so the federal government holds an exclusion for false. It probably remain only diplomatic gestures , such as the suspension of cooperation in other fora such as the NATO -Russia Council or a reaction at the Paralympic Games , which start on Friday , the U.S. and London will not send officials to Sochi , the athletes but participate . From a boycott is (still) the question.

* Sanctions : Sanctions have the advantage that they can be decided arbitrarily and relatively quickly. The disadvantage is that Russia would certainly respond with punitive measures against Western companies . Trade relations with the EU are intense, especially in the energy sector can Moscow countries such as Germany take sensitive. The Federal Republic imported from Russia more than one third of its gas and oil needs . Part of exports flows in transit through Ukrainian pipelines to the west. The U.S. would hurt less : The Russian share is no two percent of U.S. foreign trade volume. So far it has remained with the suspension of trade negotiations between the U.S. and Russia. Are also conceivable sanctions against individuals and companies , in the diplomatic speech “targeted measures.” Sanctions against the business elite would possibly have the effect that the pressure on Vladimir Putin worsened . However, the economic elite is difficult to make personally liable for the Crimean course of the Kremlin. Are conceivable sanctions against government officials and MPs have approved a bet against Ukraine . Here travel restrictions and the freezing of assets abroad are possible. The question is whether enough pressure generated to influence the conflict in the Crimea quickly .

* Military: Although Kerry said the standard rate that all options on the table subject – and in fact the U.S. government is under pressure domestically to show a strong reaction. But even a hawk like U.S. Senator John McCain admits that there is not currently these military option. The freezing of military cooperation, as it has, in the night to Tuesday, the U.S., currently seems to be the most extreme measure. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, a dispatching warships to the Black Sea would be a threatening gesture, the consequences of which can not be ignore. The goal of the West is more likely to demilitarize the conflict over Crimea. Therefore, there are in fact currently but not all options are on the table.

* So What to expect: It is likely that soon first sanctions are imposed, which can then worsen progressively. This is intended to Russia show that you’re serious, and at the same time can call channels open. The US is likely to faster decide on sanctions, in Europe until the 28 EU members must agree on a model which itself does not harm them excessively.

Crimean Crisis:Russia’s Surrender Threat

The ultimatum came from Alexander Vitko, commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which has a base in Crimea where Russian forces are now in control.

According to Russia’s Interfax agency, it reads: “If they do not surrender before 5am (3am UK time) tomorrow, a real assault will be started against units and divisions of the armed forces across Crimea.”

But in a conflicting report, Interfax quoted an official representative for the Russian Ministry of Defence as saying the ultimatum was “total nonsense”.

America said any threat by Russia to Ukraine forces would represent a “dangerous escalation” in the crisis, and Moscow would be responsible.

Hundreds of Russian soldiers have surrounded a military base near the Crimean capital Simferopol, preventing Ukrainian soldiers from going in or out.

Russian forces have also seized a border checkpoint on the Ukrainian border between Russia and Crimea, Reuters reported.

Ukraine’s defence ministry said two Russian fighter jets violated the country’s air space in the Black Sea on Sunday night and that it had scrambled an interceptor aircraft to prevent the “provocative actions”.

US President Barack Obama said Moscow was “on the wrong side of history” on Ukraine.

His State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “At this point we are not just considering sanctions given the actions Russia is taking, it is likely we will put those in place and we are preparing that.

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