Posted on 08/13/2008 8:29:59 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Ukraine threatened to blockade the Russian Black Sea Fleet yesterday in an act of solidarity with Georgia that risked escalating the conflict.
After flying to Tbilisi to assure Georgians of his country’s support, President Yushchenko signed an order imposing tough restrictions on the Russian fleet, which is based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. Mr Yushchenko’s decree instructs Russia to give 72 hours’ notice of any movement of ships, aircraft or personnel in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities were given the power to alter those plans.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had already warned Russia that it will bar ships from returning to Sevastopol if they take part in military action against Georgia. Moscow responded furiously, accusing Ukraine of a “serious new antiRussian step”.
Like Georgia, Ukraine’s pro-Western leadership is seeking membership of Nato in December. The democratic Orange Revolution that swept Mr Yushchenko and Yuliya Tymoshenko, the Prime Minister, to power in 2004 has long been loathed by Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister.
The Ukrainian Security Council issued a statement yesterday declaring that the presence of foreign warships in its waters “poses a potential threat to Ukraine’s national security, particularly if parts of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet are used against third countries”.
Russia and Ukraine are already at loggerheads over the future of the Crimean base, which Russia must vacate in 2017 under a 20-year lease agreement signed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Most of Crimea’s population consider themselves to be Russians and are strongly pro-Moscow. Tensions have mounted over calls by politicians in Moscow not to surrender control of the territory, regardless of Ukraine’s wishes. Mr Yushchenko insists that the Black Sea Fleet must leave on time and that there is no prospect of extending the lease.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Russia just can't find a friend these days.....Wonder why?.............LOL:-)
Ukrainians demanding notice from Russia for ship, aircraft or personnel while in their port ,or not allowing them to return if they engage against Georgia is not anti-Russian.
That's how Russia sees and tells it though. Defend your country, defend your ports, it's anti-Russian.
It is only anti-Russian if the Russians intend to mess with the Ukrainians. Otherwise it is pretty harmless.
Even though these exercises have already occurred, I'd say Pooty Poot has reason to be concerned.
Where is Batman when we need him?
the outcome of any war is NOT predetermined. This is going to be interesting.
As with the Rhineland or do you prefer the cool Western heads that met at Munich?
This whole thing reminds me of a line from “Rings” trilogy
“I will NOT have a war!”
“War is upon you...whether you would have it or not”
For what it’s worth, Kiev was the Capitol of Old Russia.
***South Ossetia = Sudetenland***
Yep, but they won’t expel the Russkis the way the Sudentenland government rid itself of the nazis after WWII.
Good map. Thanks.
BALLS
Russia today is not comparable to Germany back then.
Iran is today’s Germany, that is where I would like to see real pressure applied, not all these useless sanctions.
Hitler did not have thousands of nuclear weapons, and the capability to deliver them to any locale in the USA. Not that I don’t want action, but a certain measure of discretion must be applied.
bttt
Obama Promises to Dismantle Our Armed Forces
by Robert Maginnis
('Mr. Maginnis is a retired Army lieutenant colonel, a national security and foreign affairs analyst for radio and television and a senior strategist with the U.S. Army')
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=25942
Hmmm, how would the US fleet like a port in the black sea at Ukraine?
I guess you don’t believe in self defense.
I don't know about that. They seem to have a few right here on FR.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.