Posted on 02/26/2014 5:52:42 AM PST by kristinn
President Vladimir Putin put Russian combat troops on high alert for a drill on Wednesday, the Kremlin's most powerful gesture yet after days of sabre rattling since its ally Viktor Yanukovich was toppled as president of Ukraine.
Thousands of ethnic Russians, who form the majority in Ukraine's Crimea region, demonstrated for independence for the peninsula that hosts part of Moscow's Black Sea Fleet. They scuffled with rival demonstrators, mainly from the Tatar minority, who support the new authorities in Kiev.
With the political turmoil hammering Ukraine's economy, the hryvnia currency tumbled 4 percent on Wednesday, with ripples spreading to Russia where the rouble fell to five-year lows and bank shares took a hit.
Ukraine's central bank, which has been rapidly burning its hard currency reserves to protect the hryvnia, said it has abandoned a managed exchange rate policy in favor of a flexible currency, a senior official told CNBC TV
Moscow also denounced what it described as the rise of "nationalist and neo-fascist sentiment" in the country's mainly Ukrainian-speaking western areas, where it said Russian speakers were being deprived of rights. It has repeatedly expressed concern for the safety of Russian citizens in Ukraine.
"In accordance with an order from the president of the Russian Federation, forces of the Western Military District were put on alert at 1400 (0500 ET) today," Interfax news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
CandyLand....or MYSTERY DATE.
Crimea is not Russia's to "give up".
They might have a light brigade that's willing to charge in and fight the Russians.
They’ll only get half a league.
True. But I suspect they'd make the Cossacks and Russians reel from their sabre-like assault.
The real prize here is the eastern Ukrainian sections of the country, especially the nickel mines.
Worst case scenario is Ukraine loses the provinces south and east of the Dneiper, including Crimea, which becomes a Russian state.
“If Putin was never in the KGB, why do all his biographies say he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the KGB and served 16 years in the KGB?”
I interpreted the earlier comment as saying that it is wrong to consider Putin a “former” KGB officer, and that he is effectively still a KGB (or SVR/FSB) officer.
Unfortunately, your worst-case scenario is the most likely outcome.
Seriously.
They fought over the Crimea many times over the centuries, have a large amount of military forces there, not to mention the majority of the population self identifies as “Russian.”
Nations are not the same as borders in geography.
Interesting creditable report from Reuters repoters Blamforth and Prentiss. Offering observations of the restive Tartar minority from the sundry “stans” placed there by resultant “resettlement pogroms. Now opposed to the “ethnic Russians” and supporting the Ukrainian “central” governemt.
The last stumbling blocks to the evil New World Order agenda are Russia, China & to a much lesser degree, Iran. Always remember that, fellow FReeper. Tragically, the US gov’t no longer stands for what it once did. :((
Putin is playing Risk while Obama is playing with himself!
So are you saying Putin doesn’t have the right to protect the safety of Russian citizens? Or that there really isn’t any threat...or both. Just asking.
Ask a Russian. Seriously. They fought over the Crimea many times over the centuries, have a large amount of military forces there, not to mention the majority of the population self identifies as “Russian.” Nations are not the same as borders in geography.
That's a different issue. If the Crimea wants to break away from the Ukraine then more power to them. But as I said, the Crimea is not Russia's to "give up".
Solid prediction. This is exactly what happened when Georgia tried to defend itself against Russian aggression in 2008. Over 20% of Georgia is now effectively annexed to Russia. If Ukranians think that the West will do anything to assist them against Russia, they should speak to the Hungarians (1956) and Czechs (1968).
I have o good friend in Russia who told me the same thing. Part of Ukrainian opposition against Russia are, in fact, Nazis.
No....takes alot more than that to get Putins pants in a knot.....Putins concern, and what he will arm the borders for...is the Islamists are already on the move there and he’s not about to let them do to the Ukraine what they’ve done to Syria. He needs Ukraine to remain stable no matter who’s in control...and Europe needs them to also remain stable as much as possible.
If “Russian” citizens are living in Ukraine, and they are suddenly afraid for their safety, maybe - just maybe - they’re living in the wrong place.
Ukraine has been under one form or another of Russian domination for a long time. The people there aren’t too happy with the prospect of that happening again, and are probably willing to go to war over it. And they don’t have a lot of love for Russian anything.
Hitler used the exact same pretext of German citizens living in the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia being “threatened” and sent in the troops in 1938.
Putin does NOT have the right to violate the sovereignty of an independent nation. If he is concerned for these “citizens” - he can request through diplomatic channels that they be protected and maybe even escorted back beyond the borders of Ukraine - and foot the bill for it too, if he’s so concerned.
Sort of like illegal Mexicans in this country. If they’re not here legally, they’re violating our laws, and have no business BEING here.
And the port angle adds a hint of Danzig to the recipe.
My thoughts exactly. I moved to SC from NY well over a year ago to gain more freedom & independence. But unfortunately, about every day I wake up I see planes spraying chemicals on us, as I did in NY. It’s blatantly obvious now, which huge trails, cris-crossing the sky, spreading into full overcast. I thought I’d escape it, being in the south, but apparently it’s now a worldwide operation. There is no where to run, unfortunately. :(
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