Posted on 12/30/2014 1:47:42 PM PST by Berlin_Freeper
Ukraine's president signed a bill Monday dropping his nation's nonaligned status but signaled that he will hold a referendum before seeking NATO membership.
Using a news conference to sign the legislation, which parliament had adopted last week, Petro Poroshenko vowed to reform Ukraine's economy and military forces to meet European Union and NATO standards.
But he also said he will leave it up to Ukrainian citizens to decide in a popular vote whether to join NATO or not.
"When we are able to conform to these criteria, the people of Ukraine will make up their mind about the membership," Poroshenko said, adding that this will likely happen in the next five to six years.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Followed shortly thereafter by the complete Russian Invasion before a single NATO troop can get there.
Sarajevo 1914, Kiev, 2014...
There was a reason George Washington warned us of ‘foreign entanglements’..................
You’re right! And so was George Washington!!!!
NATO was doing military exercises in Ukraine just a few months ago.
Sarajevo involved the assassination of the Austrian Crown Prince and his wife. The equivalent would be the assassination of the leader of a major NATO power by a Russian ally. Not the same thing at all. The Russians will always have a reason for territorial expansion - that's what Russians do.
Frankly, it doesn't appear NATO is prepared to lift a finger in response, so the appropriate analogy isn't Sarajevo 1914 - it's Budapest 1956. Except this time, while NATO won't send troops, it will send weaponry. And Ukraine will either rerun the Ukrainian Insurgent Army's losing campaign in the 40's and 50's or the Afghan insurgency's victorious war in the 80's. Either way, Ukrainians will pay a heavy price and Russian military suppliers will do a brisk trade in body bags.
Yes, I am aware of that. I just wish we were not so anxious to move our armies right up to their chests.
I agree with you. I was just making an easy analogy due to the centenary.
I work with some Ukrainians. Both are very pro western and pro Nato, but I also know Russians and Serbians and other East Europeans...
There is a lot of hatred. I do t think a shooting war could happen again. Well outside of Ukraine where it already is.
What effect Nato has in it, is up in the air...
Just as in 1812, sometimes war finds you.
Actually it was Ukraine that had Russia move "right up their" Donbas.
WHAT??? They are doing that to us, they are invading and conquering to move their Army right up to our chest.
What are you guys smoking?
The new American republic was supplying the French big time in the Napoleonic Wars. I am Irish so rooting for anyone who fights or did fight the British are my heroes but you can’t blame the British for attempting to stem the military supplies going to the French from across the Atlantic. The stories you have heard otherwise about the causes of the War of 1812 are just propaganda.
Not even the Russians want that welfare case.
Nevertheless, NATO troops WERE in Ukraine, but they left their ammo on the other side of the border. It included a full Regiment of US troops.
Yes, I know, NATO was conducting exercises in Ukraine, as they should have been.
NATO is a mid, long term goal for Ukraine. It’s at least 10 years away and even then, I can’t imagine that anyone in Ukraine would think that US would send troops to protect the country against Russia. (see Budapest Memorandum)
Military co-operation, training, and sharing of military of intelligence is the most that Ukraine can really expect from US and Nato
So you think NATO is fake, and that we will all submit if Russia invades NATO members?
lol
I don’t want it to be tested
No one does, but most of us would never serve in it if we thought that we were just cowards and faking it, and that we would surrender to Russia without a fight.
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.