Russia Has "Really Isolated Itself in A Global Community"Hagel Says

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) shington April 10 - US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that Russia has "really isolated itself in a global community that Russia needs." ..."We all need to be part of a global community for our own economic interests as well as security and stability" he said in an interview with the CNN late Wednesday. Hagel said the United States and NATO remained "vigilant" about the Russian troop buildup along the Ukraine border adding that "we are always looking at the options that we need to take." The United States and others have accused Russia of fomenting the separatist unrest in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for military intervention. So far the Western allies have boosted the number of jet fighters patrolling the region and suspended all military cooperation with Russia. Hagel rejected any finality to the Crimea annexation saying the United States and most of the world didn't accept it. When it comes to Russia's annexation of Crimea and possible further expansion in eastern Ukraine Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is taking the long view. "This isn't a matter of one or two days or one or two weeks" Hagel told CNN's Jim Sciutto in an interview Wednesday during a visit to China. "When Russia has taken the action it has to violate the integrity and sovereignty of a nation there will be long-term consequences." "Russia has done great damage to its standing in the world" Hagel said adding that the sanctions will hurt. "There may be more consequences so I don't agree that they have gotten away with this" he said. "Yes they are still in Crimea. Yes they still have troops on the border but these are long-term dynamics that need to play out." Hagel's visit to China came amid tensions between Beijing and U.S. ally Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea as well as American concerns over China's role in cyberattacks on U.S. businesses. In the interview he said that despite differences with China a series of steps continued to expand contacts and improve cooperation between the armed forces of the the two nations. As an example he noted eight new military-to-military initiatives he signed with China's defense minister. "Now this doesn't resolve every difference every challenge and question that we have" Hagel said. "But it continues to build a floor a confidence and trust in each other opening up more dialogue opening up more conversation direct clear conversation about controversial issues." In addition Hagel became the first foreigner allowed to board the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning an event he called "a big deal." The United Nations overwhelmingly condemned the move he noted and the United States and its European allies imposed new economic sanctions with more pending if the situation worsens