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

[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?