President Obama warns Putin 'there will be costs' for military intervention in the Ukraine as he confirms that Russian troops in Crimea

The President confirmed the Russian military forces have moved into the Ukrainian region of Crimea

Issued a stern warning that any military intervention would be 'deeply destabilizing' and prompt worldwide 'condemnation'

'We are now deeply concerned,' Mr Obama said about latest reports

Comes after a week of political turmoil in Ukraine and Russia seen as threatening the sovereignty of their former territory

Crimea is made up of largely pro-Russian residents while other portions of the country, including capital Kiev, are pro-Europe



President Obama has issued a harsh warning to Russia against intervening in the political turmoil in the Ukraine.

He confirmed that the United States is 'deeply concerned' about the presence of Russian military forces in Crimea, solidifying earlier reports that Russian troops had been spotted in the area.

'There will be costs for any military intervention in the Ukraine,' Mr Obama said in an unscheduled press statement Friday afternoon.



Scroll down for video



Issuing a warning: President Obama said that the U.S. was 'deeply concerned' about the reports of a Russian military takeover in the Ukrainian town of Crimea

Disapproving: The President said that any Russian military intervention would be 'deeply destabilizing' for the Ukraine and would incur worldwide condemnation

The Ukrainian government accused the Russians on Friday of attempting to over take Crimea amid the country's ongoing political turmoil following fatal protests and the disappearance of their president.

Russia has been carefully watched throughout as there are fears that they will try to take over the country amid the turbulence.

Mr Obama stressed that the United States has told Russia that they can play a role in the situation but should only have the same type of involvement as all other international players.

Under watch: Putin has not confirmed or denied any connection to the troops but they are widely understood to be Russian forces

'They can be part of an international community's effort...However we are now deeply concerned about reports of military movements taken by Russian forces,' Obama said.



'We have been very clear about one fundamental principle: the Ukrainian people deserve the right to determine their own destiny.'



'Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing.



'It would invite the condemnation of world.'



Mr Obama said that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin two days ago and Vice President Joe Biden had called Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov today to express America's solidarity with them, saying that the United States 'supports his government's efforts'.



'Right now the situation remains very fluid... I commend the Ukrainian government's restraint,' Mr Obama said.



Throughout the day Friday, men described as Russian troops deployed at airports and a coast guard base, giving ominous signs of the Kremlin's iron hand in Ukraine's confrontation.

The sudden arrival of men in military uniform patrolling key strategic facilities prompted the Ukraine to accuse Russia of making 'a military invasion and occupation'.

Armed men took control of two airports in the Crimea region on Friday in what Ukraine's government described as an invasion and occupation by Russian forces, stoking tension between Moscow and the West

President Obama's unscheduled press conference came after American United Nations ambassador Samantha Power issued her own strong warning, saying the the United States 'calls upon Russia to pull back the military forces'.



'The United States stands with the Ukrainian people in determining their own government,' Ms Power said.

Secretary of State John Kerry delivered blunt warnings to Moscow against military moves in Crimea that could further inflame tensions.



Kerry and White House spokesman Jay Carney both said any Russian military intervention in Ukraine would be a 'grave mistake'.



They did not, however, spell out any consequences for such an intervention.



Kerry said he called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for the second time in two days to press the Kremlin to keep its promise to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Scary situation: A turbulent political crisis turned even more frantic as the first appearances of masked guards in the Crimean city of Simferopol on Thursday

Questionable: The masked soldiers do not have any identifying insignia but are believed to be Russian in origin, and President Obama confirmed that during his Friday afternoon press conference

Kerry told reporters that Lavrov had once again repeated Russian President Putin's pledge to do just that while also pointing out that Russia has broad interests in Ukraine, including a major naval base in Crimea.

But Kerry, in comments that highlighted Washington's rising suspicion of Moscow, said the U.S. is watching to see if Russian activity in Crimea 'might be crossing a line in any way.'



He added that the administration would be 'very careful' in making judgments about that. Carney echoed Kerry's comments at the White House.



'While we were told that they are not engaging in any violation of the sovereignty and do not intend to, I nevertheless made it clear that that could be misinterpreted at this moment,' Kerry said.

Two soldiers stand on top of a Russian armoured personnel carrier as it is parked on a road near Bakhchisarai, in the Crimea

A solider on board a Russian armoured personnel carrier, one of a convoy of up to nine vehicles which was spotted on the move in the Ukraine, around 20 miles from Sebastapol on Friday

'There are enough tensions that it is important for everybody to be extremely careful not to inflame the situation and not send the wrong messages.'

Oleksandr Turchynov, who stepped in as president after Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev last weekend, said the Ukrainian military will fulfill its duty but will not be drawn into provocations.



The news comes as the UN Security Council announced it was holding private consultations to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.



However, any action by the Security Council is highly unlikely because Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member and can block any enforceable measures.



Ukraine's ex-President Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being ousted, telling a news conference that he was going to fight for his country's future

Rhetoric: Secretary of State John Kerry made his own warning at an earlier Friday press conference

On his way into the meeting, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said 'I have no idea' what could come out of the session.



British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the private meeting would be about de-escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, and guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity.



Meanwhile, Ukraine International Airlines says it has canceled flights to and from the regional capital of Crimea due to the closure of the airspace over the peninsula.



The airline said it has canceled flights to and from Simferopol airport on Friday evening and Saturday.



British Prime Minster David Cameron said today he is concerned by the situation in Crimea, and it is important that Russia respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.



'We are particularly concerned by the situation in Crimea - every country should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

