[Feyerick:] We're following all the new developments for you on the crisis in Ukraine. President Obama being briefed today by his national security team. He's also expected to call U.S. allies. In Ukraine, the country's newly appointed navy chief has been accused of treason. Today he declared his loyalty to the pro-Russian leaders of Crimea and said that he's not going to take orders from capital city, Kiev, that's now pro-western. That comes just one day after he was appointed to the job by those people in Kiev. Well, NATO ambassadors have been meeting today on the crisis. NATO secretary-general said that Russia's actions are threatening peace and security in all of Europe. Today U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry described Russia's actions sending troops into the peninsula as nothing more than just an invasion. That's called point-blank. Ukraine calling it a declaration of war. It's worth mentioning that all of this is happening while athletes from around the world prepare for Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. Those Paralympics, which include U.S., starting on Friday. CNN has the story covered from every angle, correspondent, Phil Black is live in Moscow, senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, is live in the city of Simferopol in the Crimea region of Ukraine. We are going to go first to Phil Black in Moscow. Phil, what is the situation there? What are you hearing from the kremlin?
[Phil Black, Cnn Correspondent:] The latest announcement from the Kremlin is confirmation that President Putin spoke with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel about the situation in Ukraine. These are two world leaders that have famously had some testy conversations in the past. We don't know the German side of this conversation, but according to the Kremlin, President Putin made the point that he believes that Russian citizens, Russian speaking Ukrainians are under threat from ultranationalists in the country. He believes given the extraordinary situation that Russia's actions so far are entirely appropriate. Meanwhile here in Moscow, we've seen a big gesture of support for the president's actions in getting involved militarily in Kiev, some 20,000 people on the streets rallying in support of the Russian government and in support they say of their Islamic brothers across the border. In Ukraine, a much smaller protest, about 50 people or so who oppose the Russian policy at the moment was broken up by police. They were arrested and detained for violating public rules Deb.
[Feyerick:] What was incredible is that the deposed president, there's a warrant out for his arrest now. His estimated net worth is $12 billion and he has no legitimate business except being a politician. He's now in Russia. Is there anything to the claim that in fact he remains the legitimate ruler? Again, you've got two governments, one in Kiev, one in Crimea. Is there any legitimate claim that in fact he's still the president of Ukraine?
[Black:] Well, I think the Russian view of what took place in Kiev is that a democratically elected president and government was deposed. That he believed that right wing nationalists, the mainstream opposition and even European governments, even the United States, conspired together to arrange this overthrow of the democratically elected president. That said, Russia has given shelter to former President Viktor Yanukovych. He is in Russia. That he has personal protection here, but there has been no sign from the Russian government that they are prepared to back him up, to support him, to try and reinstall him as president or support him in his claim that he is the one true elected leader of Ukraine.
[Feyerick:] And so interesting because the paralympics are taking place in Sochi starting Friday. So we've got a lot of athletes who were in that region. Just quickly, any indication that they are pulling out?
[Black:] Nothing from the athletes so far, but the British government has indicated, the British prime minister, David Cameron, said he's not comfortable with the idea of British government ministers traveling to Sochi for the Paralympics. The Paralympics obviously not as prestigious internationally as the Olympics were for Vladimir Putin. But if this becomes a more widespread snub of this event, that's not something he's going to appreciate. It could be a beginning of a more widespread sense of isolation for Russia. We already know United States and Britain again have already said that they are pull out of the setup talks in Sochi leading up to what is supposed to be the G-8 Summit of world leaders in Sochi in June.
[Feyerick:] All right, Phil Black for us there in Moscow, thank you so much. We're going to turn now to Ukraine, get a view from Crimea, Ben Wedeman is there in the city of Simferopol. Ben, earlier, the Ukraine leadership accused Russia of declaring war. You're there. You saw some things that were happening. Tell us what you experienced.
[Ben Wedeman, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] What we did today was we went down to a base about 20 kilometers south of the capital of Crimea. It's the base of the 36th brigade of the Ukrainian army. What we saw there were hundreds of armed men in dark green camouflage uniform surrounding this base of the 36th brigade. Of course they don't have any insignia. Their vehicles don't have license plates. You speak to anybody on the spot there and they will tell you these are Russian troops. The Russian troops are surrounding this base, where we saw Ukrainian soldiers inside the gates, they are vowing not to give up. Not to surrender to the forces on the outside. In the late afternoon we saw as many as 10 large military-colored trucks arriving there bringing more reinforcements to the forces on the outside. We assume, of course, they are Russian forces. This is just one of three standoffs taking place outside Ukrainian military installations involving these soldiers we presume are Russian. Now, we also saw there were civilians there. Some older men bringing Russian flags to voice their support for what we assume are Russian forces saying that Crimea should be a part of Russia. There were also Ukrainians there, women singing and praying for the Ukrainian soldiers inside the base. One woman saying we have sons the same age in the military, and we're very concerned for them. But there was not any violence. There's not even any violence among the crowd outside. But certainly a good deal of attention Deborah.
[Feyerick:] Absolutely. All right, Ben Wedeman, we're going to be checking in with you a little later on in the broadcast. So much we want to know, including whether Ukraine will pull the lease it now gives to Russia to actually be at that naval base. Well, the situation in Ukraine has Washington's undivided attention. But what options, if any, does the administration have. We're going to explore the tough decisions it is facing and that lie ahead.