FILE: Aug. 31, 2010: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks at the American Legion convention in Milwaukee, Wis.AP
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicted Sunday that Russia will take control of the Crimea region of Ukraine during its political upheaval and suggested that section of the country is lost to Kiev and the Western world.
"You think Crimea's gone?" “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace asked.
"I do," Gates replied. "I do not believe that Crimea will slip out of Russia's hand."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has in recent days taken control of Crimea and is attempting to annex the region, as the Crimea parliament prepares a vote on whether to join Russia.
Putin has been criticized by Western leaders, including President Obama, who talked to him twice by phone and argued the move violates Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Putin has said as recently as Sunday that Ukraine's new leaders seized power through an unconstitutional armed coup and that Russia has the right to invade Ukraine to protect Russians living in that former Soviet republic.
Gates also said the taking of Crimea appears to be part of Putin’s long-term strategy of creating a “Russian bloc” that includes taking full control of Ukraine, which last month ousted its pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
He also said he supported Washington efforts to put more sanctions on Russia.
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