The Ukrainian government is withdrawing its soldiers from Crimea as Russian forces continue to seize military bases. The announcement from Ukraine marks an acknowledgment it’s ceded control of Crimea in the aftermath of this week’s referendum vote and subsequent Russian annexation. At least one Ukrainian soldier has been killed as Russian forces take over Ukrainian bases around Crimea. Earlier today Russian troops reportedly released the commander of the Ukrainian Navy, who had been seized in his own headquarters. At a United Nations hearing today in Geneva, a Ukrainian diplomat warned Russia is preparing “a full blown military intervention in Ukraine’s east and south,” a claim Russia denies. On Wednesday, President Obama ruled out U.S. military intervention while condemning Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

President Obama: “We are not going to be getting into a military excursion in Ukraine. What we are going to do is mobilize all of our diplomatic resources to make sure that we’ve got a strong international coalition that sends a clear message, which is: The Ukraine should decide their own destiny.”

The Crimea standoff has sparked the worst East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War. Speaking during a visit to Europe, Vice President Joe Biden said the U.S. is considering sending ground troops to its Baltic allies for military exercises. On Wednesday, a U.S. Navy warship conducted a one-day military exercise in the Black Sea with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies. Meanwhile in Moscow, the Russian government said it is considering changing its stance on Iran’s nuclear talks in response to newly imposed U.S. sanctions.