Putin closes off access to Black Sea after Biden’s about-face on Ukraine

NY Post ^ | 4/15/2021 | Mark Moore

[marcusmaximus]

Russian President Vladimir Putin took advantage of the Biden administration’s decision to abandon plans to send two destroyers to the Black Sea by closing off the Kerch Strait, connecting Crimea to Russia, to foreign warships until next fall.

The action comes as Russia warned the US on Tuesday to stay away from the area “for their own good” after the Biden administration said it was going to send two destroyers – the USS Roosevelt and the USS Donald Cook – to the Black Sea in response to Moscow’s increasing its military presence near Ukraine.

Putin will close the Kerch Strait beginning next week until October, blocking foreign warships that are conducting military exercises, including the US, the Ukraine foreign ministry said Thursday.

[caww]

It isn't Biden calling the shots.....there's a reason we n longer see the press reporting about Obama’s whereabouts as they've loved to do..

[ETL]

“In 2018 Ukraine purchased 210 missiles and 37 launchers.[57][58]

No details beyond the confirmation of the delivery (on 30 April 2018) have been provided.[57]

At the end of 2019, Ukraine announced it had signed contracts to purchase another 150 missiles and 10 launchers.[59]

On June 21 2020 they were sent to Ukraine.[60]”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FGM-148_Javelin#Current_operators

[Mariner]

That’s what you would do differently?

[ETL]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/3951000/posts?page=100#100

[ETL]

Re: 2014 Russia invasion of Crimea

“After Russia seized Crimea and later sent troops into eastern Ukraine in 2014, Gen. Breedlove recommended that the U.S. sell Javelins to Ukraine.

The Obama administration opted instead to provide nonlethal assistance, including medical equipment and radar gear to pinpoint enemy artillery and mortar fire.

The Trump administration moved forward with an initial sale of 210 Javelin missiles and 37 launchers in December 2017.

Those weapons have been delivered and are kept in bunkers from which they could be quickly dispensed to Ukrainian troops in a crisis.

The new Javelin sale [2019], first reported Tuesday by Bloomberg [News], is separate from the $250 million in congressionally approved military assistance that was delayed until after Mr. Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.”

—Wall Street Journal, Oct 2, 2019

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-sell-ukraine-javelin-missiles-a-hot-topic-of-trump-zelensky-call-11570043798
_______________________________

October 2019

U.S. to Sell Ukraine Javelin Missiles, a Hot Topic of Trump-Zelensky Call

Sale of 150 missiles follows earlier shipment of 210 Javelins

“The Trump administration plans to sell more Javelin antitank missiles to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Wednesday, moving forward with a sale that Ukraine’s president sought in his July 25 call with President Trump.

The sale of 150 Javelin missiles and 10 launchers, for $39.2 million, was approved late last week by the State Department [Oct 2019]...”

—Wall Street Journal, Oct 2, 2019
__________________________________

Re: 2014 Russia invasion of Crimea

“During the Ukrainian prime minister’s visit to Washington last week [Mar 2014], his government urgently requested military assistance.

The [Obama administration] Pentagon refused. It offered instead military [food] ration kits.

Putin mobilizes thousands of troops, artillery and attack helicopters on Ukraine’s borders and Washington counters with baguettes, American-style.

One thing we can say for sure in these uncertain times: The invasion of Ukraine will be catered by the United States.

Why did we [Obama admin] deny Ukraine weapons?

Because in the Barack Obama-John Kerry worldview, arming the victim might be taken as a provocation.

This kind of mind-bending illogic has marked the administration’s response to the whole Crimea affair.

Why, after all, did Obama delay responding to Putin’s infiltration, military occupation and seizure of Crimea in the first place?”

—Washington Post, March 20, 2014
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-obamas-pathetic-response-to-putin/2014/03/20/6ef35b9c-b065-11e3-95e8-39bef8e9a48b_story.html

[Mariner]

“Ukraine received about 30% of the Soviet military industry, which included between 50 and 60 percent of all Ukrainian enterprises, employing 40% of its working population. Ukraine was, and still remains, a leader in missile-related technology,[152] navigation electronics for combat vessels and submarines, guidance systems, and radar for military jets, heavy armoured vehicles. “

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_Ukraine

Looks to me like they don’t need our hardware. They just want us to help them fight.

[ETL]

Re: 2014 Russia invasion of Crimea

“After Russia seized Crimea and later sent troops into eastern Ukraine in 2014, Gen. Breedlove recommended that the U.S. sell Javelins to Ukraine.

The Obama administration opted instead to provide nonlethal assistance, including medical equipment and radar gear to pinpoint enemy artillery and mortar fire.

The Trump administration moved forward with an initial sale of 210 Javelin missiles and 37 launchers in December 2017. ..."
_______________________________________________

Philip Mark Breedlove (born September 21, 1955)[1] is a retired four-star General in the United States Air Force who served as the Commander, U.S. European Command, as well as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, from May 2013 until May 4, 2016. ..."

NATO Supreme Commander

In May 2013 Breedlove assumed command of U.S. European Command and NATO Allied Command Operations as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In that capacity, he was stationed at SHAPE Headquarters outside Mons, Belgium.

He is regularly quoted in western media. In July 2013, he told the BBC about his views on the longevity of the Afghan war.[12]

In April 2014, he spoke with CNN regarding the Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border.[13]

In March 2015 he spoke on Ukrainian 1+1 channel on which he said that Russia has militarized Crimea.[14]

In May 2015, he told the Atlantic Council that freedom is being challenged by “a revanchist Russia embarked on a reaching revision of what once were shared hopes for a stable and mutually beneficial partnership.”[15]

In February 2016, during his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, he said that “the U.S. military must rebuild in Europe to face a more aggressive Russia, which has chosen to be an adversary and poses a long-term existential threat to the United States”.[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_M._Breedlove#NATO_Supreme_Commander

[jdsteel]

“ If you want to close off the whole Black Sea, you’d better take Istanbul (formerly known as Constantinople).”

Hey...you one of the Four Lads?

https://youtu.be/Wcze7EGorOk

[Cronos]

The Kerch Strait cuts off the Sea of Azov - which is a part of the Black Sea. It doesn't cut off the Black sea as a whole.

Besides the south-Eastern (not the whole southern) part of the Ukraine will be Russian in any case.

this is coming from someone who isn't a Russophile (heck, I live in Poland)

The people in Donetsk are mostly pro-Russian, though not overwhelmingly Russian like in Crimea.

Also, if Russia takes over this part it is GOOD for the West because then the rest of Ukraine becomes stridently ANTI-Russian.

Ukrainians and Russians and Belorussians are sister nations, descended from Kievan Rus, but with different histories over the past 700 years. They were ok being linked, but not ruled by Moscow.

[Cronos]

Taiwan is a completely different kettle of fish.

Firstly - it’s an island. That’s going to make invasion far, far more difficult than invading the flat land next to you

Secondly - the south-east of Ukraine is somewhat in the flux between Russia and Ukraine - a sprachbund. The allegiances are mixed. Mostly it is “jesteśmy tutajsi” in response to what nationality i.e. “we are from here only”

Thirdly - the Russians are battle hardened. The last war China faced was 60 years ago.

Even if the US doesn’t do anything for Taiwan, China will lose thousands or more troops. And in modern China that’s not going to fly

[Liz]

Biden is the face of weak vacillating DEMO/RATS Vile filthy subhuman baby-killing, vote-stealing yellow-bellied cowards.
Brave only when using massive federal power on some lone innocent citizen strolling through the House.
When faced with a real opponent, like Putin, they crap out and run for cover.

[RoosterRedux]

“Taiwan is clearly one of their ambitions before that. And I think the threat is manifest during this decade, in fact, in the next six years,” he [Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific forces] told a US Senate armed services committee hearing. Source

I repeat, Xi is going to move on Taiwan soon.