Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Georgia: [Ukraine] blockade threat risks escalating conflict
The Times ^ | 8/14/2008 | Tony Halpin

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 ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: 2004; 2017; blacksea; caucasus; geopolitics; georgia; orangerevolution; putin; russia; russiannavy; sovietunion; ukraine; war; yuliyatymoshenko; yushchenko
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-120 next last
To: gaijin
The Russian ministry said Black Sea countries can independently, without outside interference, solve Black Sea security and stability issues.

Surprise, surprise! I guess Russia just showed us how that idea is supposed to work!

81 posted on 08/14/2008 5:12:00 AM PDT by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: UCFRoadWarrior
If the US does not act now, and yes militarily in some form (at least supporting Georgia with weapons)....Russia will go after another former satellite.

Your comment is worth repeating.

82 posted on 08/14/2008 5:18:28 AM PDT by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: bruinbirdman
I was watching Fox & FRiends this morning.

They had a couple from NJ whose two young daughters are in Georgia visiting their grandmother.

It was difficult to watch the segment both parents barely able to contain their fear and heartbreak.

They have been in contact with their children but the children are in a region that requires them to cross over a highway controlled by the Russian. The grandparents attempted to get them to the capital but were turned back by the Russians.

The father implored the American government to send in a humanitarian mission to bring their children home.

He specifically mentioned Chris Smith (R-NJ Congressman) as helping to locate their children. He also asked John McCain if he could help in some way.

83 posted on 08/14/2008 5:20:23 AM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E. That spells free. freerepublic.com baby)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rjp2005
Let the Ukrainians make their first step (port restrictions). If Russia moves pieces in response, then we move pieces.

If Russia's response to Ukraine is similar to their action against Georgia it's too late.

84 posted on 08/14/2008 5:21:36 AM PDT by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Old Sarge
Another line from LOTR.

"For all you hold dear on this good Earth. I bid you stand men of the West.

85 posted on 08/14/2008 5:25:32 AM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E. That spells free. freerepublic.com baby)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Hawk1976

Exactly. If country A is attacking country B from country C’s territory, then Country C becomes a target for B.


86 posted on 08/14/2008 6:10:18 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Ramzi Al Kaboom

That’s interesting . . . the first I’ve seen of a Sauron/Putin connection. It seems to fit.


87 posted on 08/14/2008 6:12:54 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Xenophon450
I was thinking of open engagement, as proposed on some other threads.

OK. Let's do open engagement; I'll play the part of Russia, and I'll go first.

My first move is to take Tbilisi, set up a puppet government, and have that government thank me profusely for saving them and tell you to butt out.

Your move.

88 posted on 08/14/2008 6:38:00 AM PDT by SampleMan (We are a free and industrious people, socialist nannies do not become us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Ramzi Al Kaboom

Who said:

“We were given a choice between war and dishonour.
We chose dishonour... and, we will get war”.


89 posted on 08/14/2008 7:05:34 AM PDT by SMARTY ('At some point you get tired of swatting flies, and you have to go for the manure heap' Gen. LeMay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

In the vain hope of preventing further military conquests, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flew to Ger­many for consultations with Hitler, and came back with his famous “peace for our time” announce­ment. Churchill told him, “You were given the choice between war and dishonour . . . you chose dishonour and you will have war.”


90 posted on 08/14/2008 7:32:13 AM PDT by Ramzi Al Kaboom ("An opinion can be argued with...a conviction is best shot"..T. E. Lawrence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

Comment #91 Removed by Moderator

To: Ramzi Al Kaboom
I guessed it was Churchill, but was not sure. Anything worth remembering or repeating was said by Churchill!
92 posted on 08/14/2008 7:42:55 AM PDT by SMARTY ('At some point you get tired of swatting flies, and you have to go for the manure heap' Gen. LeMay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: bruinbirdman
The Ukraiias are insae to provoke Russia right now.

Same holds true for talk of NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia.

Russia will not tolerate NATO directly on it's border, they will insist on a buffer zone...and will fight with everything they have to preserve it. Everything.

Is putting Ukraine and Georgia into NATO worth WWIII?

This administration is pursuing a catastrophe.

93 posted on 08/14/2008 9:23:25 AM PDT by Mariner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner
Russia will not tolerate NATO directly on it's border, they will insist on a buffer zone...and will fight with everything they have to preserve it. Everything.

Ukraine and Georgia are not "buffer zones", they are sovereign democratic nations.

This is the 21st century, Russia should join the civilized world.

94 posted on 08/14/2008 9:47:37 AM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

Comment #95 Removed by Moderator

Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

We should arm up the Ukraine.


97 posted on 08/14/2008 11:23:35 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March ("The internet needs a gatekeeper," The Cackling Comeback Witch aka Hillary Rod-ham [Clinton])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: FreeReign

The Ukraine is quite capable of defending itself in a conventional war against Russia. This is precisely why they are getting in Russia’s face.


98 posted on 08/14/2008 1:13:01 PM PDT by agere_contra ("We are all Georgians" - John McCain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: BurbankKarl

She has to get the hell out of there now the Chechen are there! Fast! The horde is on the loose.


99 posted on 08/14/2008 1:52:46 PM PDT by redstateconfidential (A man who lets his friends down, is no man at all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Old Sarge
Russian Army, only with guns and alcohol...
100 posted on 08/14/2008 1:56:18 PM PDT by redstateconfidential (A man who lets his friends down, is no man at all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-120 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson