Russia's 'invasion and occupation' of Ukrainian territory.

[Monseratto]

With Ukraine in the brink and Putin's Army already running Crimea. Should the US and NATO even try to interfere?

Simferopol, Ukraine (CNN) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared Saturday to dismiss warnings from world leaders to avoid military intervention in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, even amid growing evidence that pro-Russian forces were already in control of the region.

The rhetoric escalated Saturday night, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemning what he called "the Russian Federation's invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory" despite a statement by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that no decision had been made on whether Moscow would dispatch forces.

Russia has not confirmed it deployed thousands of troops to the region following reports that armed, Russian-speaking forces wearing military uniforms -- without insignia -- patrolled key infrastructure sites.

It was the latest in fast-moving developments that saw Russia's Parliament sign off on Putin's request to send military forces into Ukraine, raising the stakes in the escalating game of brinksmanship.

Putin cited in his request a threat posed to the lives of Russian citizens and military personnel based in southern Crimea, a claim Ukrainian officials have vehemently denied. Despite Putin's claim, CNN crews in and around Crimea's regional capital of Simferopol have not seen a Ukrainian military presence.

Putin's move prompted world diplomats to call for a de-escalation of tensions that have put the two neighbors on a possible path to war and roiled relations between Russia and the United States.

In what appeared to be an illustration of the growing schism between the two world powers, U.S. President Barack Obama and Putin spoke for 90 minutes -- with each expressing their concern over the mounting crisis, according to separate statements released by their respective governments.

According to the Kremlin, Putin told Obama that Russia reserves the right to defend its interests in the Crimea region and the Russian-speaking people who live there.

"President Obama made clear that Russia's continued violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia's standing in the international community," according to a statement released by the White House.

Lean to the West, or to Russia?

Ukraine, a nation of 45 million people sandwiched between Europe and Russia's southwestern border, has been plunged into chaos since the ouster a week ago of President Viktor Yanukovych following bloody street protests that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded.

Ukraine has faced a deepening schism, with those in the west generally supporting the interim government and its European Union tilt, while many in the east preferring a Ukraine where Russia casts a long shadow.

Nowhere is that feeling more intense than in Crimea, the last big bastion of opposition to the new political leadership. Ukraine suspects Russia of fomenting tension in the autonomous region that might escalate into a bid for separation by its Russian majority.

Ukraine acting President Oleksandr Turchynov took to the airwaves late Saturday to warn any Russian military intervention would lead to war.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said his country was ready to mobilize its forces to protect strategic locations, including nuclear power plants.

Meanwhile, Obama's message to Russia also reached Congress, where the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee called for an immediate response to Russia's move.

"Every moment that the United States and our allies fail to respond sends the signal to President Putin that he can be even more ambitious and aggressive in his military intervention in Ukraine," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said in a statement.

He called on Obama to "make clear what costs Russia will face for its aggression and to impose those consequences without further delay."

Senior White House officials say they are looking at a wide range of possible economic and diplomatic measures to present to Obama that would show Putin there is a cost to his actions in Ukraine.

The White House has already announced the United States will suspend participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8 Summit that will bring world leaders together in June in Sochi, Russia.

"Going forward, Russia's continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation," according to a statement released by the administration.

Pressure was mounting on Russia as leaders from the EU and the UK joined an international outcry, with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton deploring Russia's "unwarranted escalation of tensions."

[vinj]

Dang just like in the last TC book i read.

[jonski]

Dang just like in the last TC book i read.

nabasa ko din. Sobrang similar ang nangyayari sa Ukraine sa nakasulat sa last book ni Tom Clancy.

[rollyic]

^^^ baka pwedeng mag kwento ng konti kung anong nangyari sa story ng book.

[jonski]

Sad ang Ukraine kasi si Obama ang POTUS and hindi si Jack Ryan

[vinj]

^^^ baka pwedeng mag kwento ng konti kung anong nangyari sa story ng book.

A Russian strongman basically decides to invade the Ukraine, in cold war and old KGB fashion.

Sad ang Ukraine si si Obama ang POTUS and hindi si Jack Ryan

And no John Clark to the rescue either. :D

Clancy hit it head on with at least three current or recent issues: the eerie similarities to 9/11, China being a PITA, and now the Ukraine.

[awing]

This could spark a war and occupation

[CVT]

Ohhhh Man!!!

[awing]

Sumagot din ang Ukraine

------------------------

Ukraine mobilizes troops amid crisis with Russia

Leaders of a shaky new government in Ukraine were mobilizing troops Sunday amid signs of Russian military intervention in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
The Ukrainian National Security Council ordered the mobilization as Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to dismiss warnings from world leaders to avoid military intervention in Crimea, a senior Ukrainian official, Andriy Parubiy, said. The news came as evidence mounted that pro-Russian forces were already in Crimea, an autonomous region of eastern Ukraine with strong loyalty to neighboring Russia.
Ukraine's parliament met behind closed doors Sunday. At the closing of the session, acting Defense Minister Ihor Tenyuh said Ukraine does not have the military force to resist Russia, according to two parliamentary members present at the meeting.
Tenyuh called for talks to resolve the crisis with Russia, they said.
A sense of escalating crisis swirled Saturday night, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemning what he called "the Russian Federation's invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory" despite a statement by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that no decision had been made on whether Moscow would dispatch forces.
Russia has not confirmed it deployed thousands of troops to the region following reports that armed, Russian-speaking forces wearing military uniforms -- without insignia -- patrolled key infrastructure sites.
It was the latest in fast-moving developments that saw Russia's Parliament sign off on Putin's request to send military forces into Ukraine, raising the stakes in the escalating game of brinksmanship.
Putin cited in his request a threat posed to the lives of Russian citizens and military personnel based in southern Crimea. Ukrainian officials have vehemently denied Putin's claim.
According to a tweet from the official Russian government account Sunday, Medvedev discussed the crisis in Ukraine in a telephone call with interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
According to a second tweet, Medvedev says Russia is interested in maintaining stable and friendly relations with Ukraine but reserves the right to protect the legitimate interests of its citizens and military personnel stationed in Crimea.

Path to war?....

Ukraine mobilizes troops in Russia crisis - CNN.com

[badkuk]

so i guess if they can't install a puppet government, they'll just go in and grab it.

i don't get Putin's latest move, it just may galvanize the warring opposition factions. Maybe he thinks the opposition can't defend Ukraine, and will be forced to put Yanukovich back in charge.

[Monseratto]

More likely they'll chop it up in two like what they did to Georgia. And the west didn't do anything there either...

[ADAA73]

double post sorry

[ADAA73]

A Russian strongman basically decides to invade the Ukraine, in cold war and old KGB fashion.



And no John Clark to the rescue either. :D

Clancy hit it head on with at least three current or recent issues: the eerie similarities to 9/11, China being a PITA, and now the Ukraine.

No R6 either. the first time i saw the news footage i thought it was a trailer, until i realized i was watching CNN.
---
Germany ups and grabs countries in europe and Japan followed suit...then came WW2.
What will China do now after this move of Russia? The UN better bare whatever fangs it has left...if it ever had fangs in the first place.

[Red Advent 04]

sa aking munting sapantaha, hindi na dapat natin problemahin pa kung anu kaguluhan ang nagaganap sa bansang russia at ukraine kase problema na nila yaon, kung ang problema nga natin sa mga intsik dahil sa pambubuli nila sa atin e di natin maresolba yaan paba pupublemahin pa natin yaan. hindi ba ang russia ang talagang nakakasakop diyan tapos ngayon e ginugulo na naman nila. anu bang meron sa ukraine at ganun din sila ka desperado sakupin ere..

[confused shoes]

^ Boss, hindi lang sila ang may problema dyan. Pati tayo madadamay kung sakali. Una na dyan ang pagtaas ng gas.

Pero maaring bye bye na ang Crimea.

[Ry_Tower]

so i guess if they can't install a puppet government, they'll just go in and grab it.

i don't get Putin's latest move, it just may galvanize the warring opposition factions. Maybe he thinks the opposition can't defend Ukraine, and will be forced to put Yanukovich back in charge.

I think yan din iniisip ni Putin. To establish a dummy gove't kasi may ineterst sila dun, may mga russian speaking peopl din nga and of course they are flexing muscles and trying to pretend they are still world superpowers just like their a-hole friends from asia.

[Monseratto]

United Nations is as useless as the League of Nations before it. With Russia being a permanent memberthe Security Council w/ veto powers, any resolution condeming its action will surely die. Don't forget the US isn't exactly with clean hands when it unilaterlly invaded Iraq under false pretense, then leaving it in a big mess.

Just remember what Putin did to Georgia and the West did nothing but issue condemnation...

But how might the West respond? There must surely be little appetite for Nato to react militarily.

Possibly, it might take steps to secure the Polish-Ukrainian border. More likely the West would look to take diplomatic and economic measures to isolate Russia and suspend co-operation with it.

But even if the West did impose sanctions or other measures, President Putin may gauge that - as with Georgia - it would not last.

In a year or two, Western governments would change and new leaders would repair relations with Moscow, recognising that Russia is too powerful and dangerous, and too crucial to international stability to have as an enemy for long.

Think no further than the impact a new East-West hostility would have on the Iran nuclear talks, the war in Syria, or the precarious uncertainty over North Korea.

High stakes
In any case would, say, Iran-style sanctions even be an option? Possibly Russia is too intertwined economically with Western partners, especially in Europe.

After all, Russia could always in theory retaliate with the Gazprom card - Europe's reliance on Russian gas makes it vulnerable.

What is so dangerous about this confrontation is that unlike Georgia in 2008, the stakes are so much higher on both sides.

For Western powers, this is not just about standing up for a small country in the far-off Caucasus. It is a military crisis taking place on Europe and Nato's border.

For President Putin, this is not just a geopolitical battle for influence over a country in Russia's backyard. It is to protect land which for him is, historically and culturally, an essential part of the idea of Russia.

Kievan Rus was where, over 1,000 years ago, the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox faith began. That is why he will do his utmost not to let it go, whatever the cost.

In Georgia, the Tbilisi government lost South Ossetia and Abkhazia, annexed by Russia.

Though unrecognised as separate new countries by most of the rest of the world, the two territories have effectively moved from Georgia to Russia's control. UN talks to try to resolve the dispute have got nowhere.

So in Ukraine is that what Russia intends to do too? Take Crimea and Russian speaking regions under its control, effectively dividing Ukraine in half?

BBC News - Ukraine crisis: What next for both sides?

[claRkEnt]

so Roman Talanov and Seven STrong Men coming up soon?

[awing]

G-7 Leaders Statement

We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States and the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission, join together today to condemn the Russian Federation’s clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in contravention of Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine. We call on Russia to address any ongoing security or human rights concerns that it has with Ukraine through direct negotiations, and/or via international observation or mediation under the auspices of the UN or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We stand ready to assist with these efforts.

We also call on all parties concerned to behave with the greatest extent of self-restraint and responsibility, and to decrease the tensions.

We note that Russia’s actions in Ukraine also contravene the principles and values on which the G-7 and the G-8 operate. As such, we have decided for the time being to suspend our participation in activities associated with the preparation of the scheduled G-8 Summit in Sochi in June, until the environment comes back where the G-8 is able to have meaningful discussion.

We are united in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its right to choose its own future. We commit ourselves to support Ukraine in its efforts to restore unity, stability, and political and economic health to the country. To that end, we will support Ukraine’s work with the International Monetary Fund to negotiate a new program and to implement needed reforms. IMF support will be critical in unlocking additional assistance from the World Bank, other international financial institutions, the EU, and bilateral sources.

G-7 Leaders Statement | The White House

[cardict]

G-7 Leaders Statement



G-7 Leaders Statement | The White House

Will the Russian macho step back?