This is not rhetoric, this is an ultimatum.
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Yes it is. It reminds me of the warnings that Red China issued as UN forces drove north to the Yalu. Those too were ignored.
Lavrov’s comments about defending Russian citizens in Ukraine is just a repeat of what Putin's been saying more than once. Dangerous to think Putin's bluffing.....he's been several steps ahead all along....I doubt should he invade, it will be as most think.
'Jet-tag' is already being played over there.....dangerous to imagine this is not building up for whatever Putin determines he will do or not do. Remember Obama said we would not go to war over Ukraine.....and now we have over 600 of our troops in Poland alone....not to mention those they are telling us about.