In case you hadn't noticed, the Obama administration has aggressively countered Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine by creating a new Twitter hashtag:
To echo @BarackObama today-proud to stand #UnitedForUkraine World should stand together with one voice pic.twitter.com/VeMt578UdY
— Jen Psaki (@statedeptspox) March 26, 2014
Naturally, the Russian government decided to annex the hashtag and use it to troll the Obama administration:
#Lavrov: Our US counterparts must compel the acting officials in Kiev to bear responsibility for the current situation #UnitedForUkraine — MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) April 24, 2014
New York Times Propaganda Photos on Ukraine Exposed http://t.co/8xzl3xTS76 via @grtvnews #UnitedForUkraine — RussianEmbassyCanada (@RussianEmbassyC) April 24, 2014
The U.S. State Department responded by "welcoming" Russia to the hashtag game, and even produced a VOX DOT COM-style video explaining the crisis in Ukraine:
Welcome to the #UnitedForUkraine hashtag @mfa_russia! 2 steps to join in: First watch an intro video http://t.co/gbM5jUGlGa, then RT! — Macon Phillips (@macon44) April 24, 2014
The U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom showed his media savvy by creating this Vine clip:
State Department spokesperson Jennifer Psaki issued a forceful statement urging Russia to "live by the promise of [the] hashtag."
The world stands #UnitedforUkraine. Let’s hope that the #Kremlin & @mfa_russia will live by the promise of hashtag
— Jen Psaki (@statedeptspox) April 24, 2014
You might think it's silly, but the Obama administration is actually following in the footsteps of some of history's greatest leaders, such as:
@WinstonChurchill
@RonaldReagan
@GeorgeHWBush
@GreatestLivingPrez
