visionary Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 At the same time a few thousand are protesting for Russia in donestk Ukraine tens of thousands are marching against war and Putin in Moscow. Interesting developments. Also the parliament in Kiev voted to dissolve the parliament in the Crimea. Not sure that changes anything though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/15/russia-vetoes-un-resolution-crimea/6456495/ Russia vetoes UN resolution on Crimea's future Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution declaring Sunday's referendum on the future of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula illegal, but its close ally China abstained in a show of Moscow's isolation. Supporters of the U.S.-sponsored resolution knew that Russia would use its veto. But they put the resolution to a vote Saturday morning to show the strength of opposition to Moscow's takeover of Crimea. The 13 other council members voted "yes." The resolution would have reaffirmed the council's commitment to Ukraine's "sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity." Supporters of Ukraine's territorial integrity had hoped to demonstrate the strength of opposition to Russia's takeover and possible annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in the vote. The resolution would also have declared that Sunday's referendum on whether Crimea should become part of Russia "can have no validity, and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea." http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2-dead-shootout-eastern-ukraine Ukraine says Russian forces move outside Crimea Russian forces backed by helicopter gunships and armored vehicles Saturday took control of a village near the border with Crimea on the eve of a referendum on whether the region should seek annexation by Moscow, Ukrainian officials said. The action in Strilkove appeared to be the first move outside Crimea, where Russian forces have been in effective control since late last month. There were no reports of gunfire or injuries. The incident raises tensions already at a high level before Sunday's referendum. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry denounced the foray outside Crimea, and said Ukraine "reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia." The village is on a long spit reaching northward from the main part of the Black Sea peninsula, about 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the border between Crimea and the Kherson region. A spokesman for the Ukrainian border guard service, Oleg Slobodyan, told The Associated Press the Russians, about 120 in all, took control of a natural gas distribution station in the village. The Foreign Ministry said the force consisted of about 80 and didn't mention the station, but said the village was seized. http://ukrainianpolicy.com/russia-sanctions-lithuania-for-supporting-ukraine/ Russia Sanctions Lithuania for Supporting Ukraine Russia has imposed sanctions against Lithuania and embargoed the port of Klaipeda in response to its foreign policy with Ukraine On Thursday morning the Lithuanian parliament condemned the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine and its occupation of the territory of a sovereign country. The parliament said that it strongly supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine and expressed political solidarity with the new Ukrainian authorities; they also supported sanctions against Russia, while favoring visa liberalization and the early signing of the European Union Association Agreement with Ukraine slated for next week. In response, Russia has temporarily suspended the import of food products into the Customs Union. If a Western (specifically, American) company wants to deliver goods through Lithuania to Russia or a Customs Union state, Russian officials will order it to go “through other ports which do not belong to Lithuania [or] to certain other countries,” according to Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius. Russian media calls Lithuania’s pro-Ukrainian policy “anti-Russian.” http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_15/Russia-to-consider-Ukrainian-civilians-requests-for-protection-from-radicals-Moscow-2066/ Russia to consider Ukrainian civilian requests for protection from radicals - Moscow Russia has received numerous requests from Ukrainian civilians to protect them from radicals, including those from the Right Sector group, and has promised consider them, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement says. Gunmen, including those from the far-right group Right Sector, continue their rampage in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, March 15. "We are getting alarming reports that a column with armed mercenaries from Right Sector has left Kharkov for Donetsk and Lugansk. Right Sector leaders have declared the opening of the 'eastern front' and one of the clothing factories is hurriedly sewing Russian military uniform," the ministry said. "Russia is receiving many appeals from peaceful citizens who are asking for protection. These appeals will be considered," the ministry said. Uh oh.... https://twitter.com/mike_giglio Protester in Donetsk: "Obama has committed a crime by financing the Maidan. He should go before a court, in America and internationally." 6:53 AM pro-Russia protesters in Donetsk say local biz owners, loyal to oligarchs, prevent workers from joining. "They're afraid to lose their jobs" 7:34 AM Protesters in Donetsk say they're going to the govt building here to demand that authorities set a date for a Crimea-style referendum 7:47 AM Mood in crowd marching in Donetsk is peaceful and almost festive; people of all ages. 7:51 AM Pro-Russia march in Donetsk is large, several thousand, + has closed down some major city streets. Sending a loud message to residents here 8:08 AM https://twitter.com/mike_giglio Crowd smashes windows at Donetsk security hq entrance. But have not entered pic.twitter.com/pXxCtOjHAV 9:11 AM Classic case of man addressing angry crowd: "All your demands will be met in due time." from security HQ in Donetsk pic.twitter.com/rYcEDsyQ1a 9:27 AM Security official to pro-Russia crowd massed at Donetsk HQ: "I give you my promise to serve Ukraine [jeers] and the region of Donetsk." 9:28 AM Trying to break through at Donetsk security HQ. Through doors, but not grates pulled down to block entry pic.twitter.com/tGCt7oLi8l 9:54 AM Some protesters in Donetsk are now walking right past police and intro security HQ pic.twitter.com/JxeKQRYPS3 9:57 AM https://twitter.com/mike_giglio now some protesters walk calmly out of Donetsk HQ, having had a look around the lobby. Things haven't boiled over yet pic.twitter.com/kvUeEbNSVD 9:59 AM Crowd has thinned at Donetsk security HQ; some people want no part of whatever's happening here now 10:01 AM Cops at wrecked entrance of Donetsk security HQ as crowd leaves to march back to square. They have a hell of a job pic.twitter.com/06Fjzdn9bU 10:07 AM The wrap on today's pro-Russia protest in Donetsk is that it looks to be ending peacefully. But organizers say they expect a bigger day tmrw 10:20 AM One organizer of today's pro-Russia demo in Donetsk: "tomorrow will be a much more interesting day." 10:24 AM https://twitter.com/IvanCNN Ukraine's foreign minister says Kyiv is in "diplomatic war" w/Moscow, ready to discuss Crimean autonomy but not while guns are on streets 7:41 AM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR From the stage of Russian action 'March of the Peace' announcer says that 50 000 protesters are there 7:49 AM https://twitter.com/RezaMac Ukraine slams Russia for consistently blocking UN Sec Council action to uphold international peace & security, including in Syria. UNSC 12:14 PM https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk Ukraine at UN: what was said today at UNSC wasn't a voice of Russia, but of USSR.Real voice of Russia heard on the streets of Moscow today 12:15 PM https://twitter.com/markmackinnon Me: Can I buy some yogurt? Lady: Where are you from? Me: Canada. Lady: Canada is with Ukraine. We're all with Russia here. Me: So, yogurt? 11:26 AM Nothing on Russian TV on troops outside Crimea, or Moscow Peace March. Instead covering bizarre "international observers" of referendum. 12:28 PM Crazy Crimea monitors asked if they being paid. Said if wanted money, would have turned to CIA, Soros, NED. Instead "poor as church mice." 1:05 PM AFP reporting Catholic priest Mykola Kvich - who was abducted at gunpoint earlier today in Sevastopol - has now been released. 1:11 PM Crimea referendum monitor. RT @maxseddon American Chronicle guy: ex-Respublika Serbska spox, banned from Canada en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sr%C4%91a_Trifkovi%C4%8 1:12 PM https://twitter.com/lindseyhilsum Flemish separatist referendum observer:'I'm interested in what's happening here bcs I want this for my own country.' Objective, then. crimea 1:08 PM Frank Creyelman of 'Flemish Interest'. He leads Flemish referendum observer mission to Crimea. 1:27 PM Flemish separatist election observer: "The soldiers - Russian or not - are not foreigners here." More objectivity. crimea 1:11 PM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Dutch_dialects http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_movement Protest in Donetsk March in Moscow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Part of me wants Ukraine to apply for NATO membership. (And be approved. Quickly.). But then, part of me wants a military confrontation, too. Might not be a good idea to listen to that part of me. Just thought I'd repeat myself. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'm thinking that, if we don't make a strong, (meaning "militarily effective") move, quickly, then the USSR is gonna be reborn, over the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/03/14/from_chess_player_to_barroom_brawler_vladimir_putin_drunk_on_power From Chess Player to Barroom Brawler There's increasing evidence that Vladimir Putin is dangerously drunk on power -- and reckless. It is too easy to forget that beneath Vladimir Putin's glossy and faintly plastic exterior of chilly abstraction beats the heart of a truly red-blooded homo sovieticus. While Russian airborne forces gather at airfields near the Ukrainian border and artillery shipments roll into Crimea, it seems -- to the naked eye -- that the real battle is on the ground. In truth, it's being fought inside Vladimir Putin: namely, the Russian president's head and heart. The head says that Crimea is just a bargaining chip -- something to make a deal that protects Moscow's interests in Ukraine without precipitating sanctions, which could cripple the Russian economy and alienate the elite. But the heart says that Ukraine is not a real country -- just a lost portion of a Greater Russia -- and that the West and its Ukrainian cohorts are cowards who will never make good on their brave words. This is perhaps why it has proven so difficult to predict Putin's next move -- his ultimate game plan. He himself does not seem to know, or at least appears torn. https://twitter.com/NickBryantNY French ambassador strong line - 'Russia has just vetoed the UN charter.' 11:28 AM https://twitter.com/IvanCNN In Kyiv, John McCain tells CNN he's speaking up for "people living under a corrupt, kleptocratic gas station that calls itself a country." 1:52 PM https://twitter.com/RolandOliphant About a dozen masked men with silenced assault rifles just stormed into the hotel Moscow in Simferopol. They've run upstairs. 2:12 PM Camo-gear, masks, red triangular shoulder patches on some, which I think is Ukrainian Alfa group or Berkut swat. 2:13 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RansomthePasserby Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'm thinking that, if we don't make a strong, (meaning "militarily effective") move, quickly, then the USSR is gonna be reborn, over the next few years. And the more things change, the more they stay the same... If Russia decides to go USSR on us, I think it'll be a mistake on their part. They don't have the resources to maintain an empire AND compete with us and Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 https://twitter.com/RolandOliphant Heavies talk to concierge who then comes and tells us it is a training exercise pic.twitter.com/8viaMLhc19 2:27 PM Seventh fourth sixth floors blocked and flooded with gunmen. Can't photograph these guys 2:52 PM Gunmen have told jounros this is NOT a drill. I understand from Brit security sources that is exactly what they wd say if it was a drill. So 3:09 PM Some leaving now. They've grabbed a couple of flash drives off hacks on upper floors pic.twitter.com/AThPNuUm95 3:15 PM This guy - general kuznetsov of the Crimean armed forces - promises to get hacks memory cards back pic.twitter.com/XEyIRqmwtY 3:29 PM https://twitter.com/shustry Right, so my hotel is besieged by gunmen with silenced Kalashnikovs. Hotel Moskva, Simferopol 2:33 PM Some are masked commandos in camouflage, others plain clothes with black beanies and jeans, seem to be special forces 2:35 PM Gunmen are searching everyone who comes out of their rooms or out of elevator, commander on 6th floor has handgun, 3 other with AKs 2:37 PM Commando: "There is an armed criminal in the building. We are carrying out a special operation" 2:48 PM Gunmen have released me from 6th floor after patting me down for guns. Now in the lobby, no one armed down here 2:59 PM https://twitter.com/shustry When commando told me they are looking for "armed criminal," his fellow gunmen tried to hush him. "What, just tell it like it is," he said 3:04 PM I've seen no insignia on any of the gunmen seizing my hotel in Simferopol. Most in jeans and leather jackets, only one in full military camo 3:11 PM A few more gunmen just arrived at hotel Moskva in Simferopol, masked and in camo pic.twitter.com/wEginic0IC 3:22 PM Crimea defense Minister Kuznetsov: His troops are responding to a threat made by Kiev govt as part of its information war against Crimea 3:39 PM Siege appears to be over, hotel floors clear. Crimea defense minister came and ordered them out. Says his men didnt find any "armed criminal 3:43 PM https://twitter.com/lindseyhilsum At entrance of Moscow hotel. Man fm interior ministry says armed men burst in on 'anti terror training.' pic.twitter.com/sVd2qTQrEB 2:39 PM Armed masked men on 4th floor of Moscow Hotel Simferopol. We're in reception. Won't let us out. No panic, nothing too dramatic. 2:47 PM https://twitter.com/lindseyhilsum Minister of defence of Crimea in Moscow hotel says 'nothing is happening'. That wld be why armed masked men are in our hotel. 3:25 PM Min if Defence of Crimea says there is 'false alarm'. Says number of armed men in hotel is secret. 3:29 PM 3 armed men just left as journalists filmed. Said 'We've broken one camera, do you want us to break more?' 3:31 PM More masked armed men leave hotel Moscow Simferopol. But still some inside. pic.twitter.com/UZDAXnqShi 3:38 PM Another blurry shot of armed masked men leaving our hotel. Simferopol. Still some on floors above. pic.twitter.com/3kVsK4vywM 3:47 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/ukraine-crisis-merkel-idUSL6N0MA15920140313 UPDATE 1-Merkel warns Russia of "massive damage" if it persists BERLIN, March 13 (Reuters) - Germany's Angela Merkel warned Moscow on Thursday that it risked "massive" political and economic damage if it refused to change course on Ukraine, saying Western leaders were united in their readiness to impose sanctions on Russia if necessary. The chancellor, using her strongest language since the start of the crisis and removing any suspicion that Germany might seek to avoid a confrontation with President Vladimir Putin, said his actions would lead to "catastrophe" for Ukraine and much more. "We would not only see it, also as neighbours of Russia, as a threat. And it would not only change the European Union's relationship with Russia," she said in a speech in parliament. "No, this would also cause massive damage to Russia, economically and politically." Merkel has acknowledged that her efforts to persuade Putin to negotiate via a "contact group" with the transition government in Kiev - which he accuses of ousting Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovich unlawfully - have failed and time is running out. http://news.yahoo.com/simferopol-gears-crimea-referendum-day-033357318.html;_ylt=AwrBJSDlHSVTdXsAgaPQtDMD Simferopol gears up for Crimea referendum day In the main hall of a school in Simferopol, voting booths and ballot boxes stand ready for Sunday's referendum, which is all but certain to decide Crimea should become part of Russia. Tatyana, an accountant who prefers not to give her last name, is part of the electoral commission in this neighbourhood of the Crimean capital and patiently waits for worried voters in front of the large registration lists. "People are coming to check their name is really on the list," she tells AFP. "Others tell us the name and address of elderly or sick people who will not be able to make it to the polling booth. The commission will send somebody with a ballot box so they can vote at home." https://twitter.com/shustry The Ukrainian Orthodox church in Simferopol. Woman came up to me, weeping, and said: "Write that we don't want a war" pic.twitter.com/AnVxppClfG 3:40 AM https://twitter.com/markmackinnon Russia 24 mixing reports from Crimea referendum with still photos of pro-Russia protests in Donetsk, Lugansk and Odessa from recent days. 4:01 AM They took a break from that message for a short "documentary" about what bad place Latvia is. 4:02 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Just thought I'd repeat myself. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'm thinking that, if we don't make a strong, (meaning "militarily effective") move, quickly, then the USSR is gonna be reborn, over the next few years. Unfortunately, I kind of agree with this. Therefore, we're ****ed. The west isn't going to be able to do jack in this matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 https://twitter.com/maxseddon Ballots in Sevastopol. Seemingly all a resounding DA for Russia. Mother proudly declares her two small children voted pic.twitter.com/dZWyvrARox 5:27 AM Locals keen to impress on foreign media how peaceful, calm, and friendly it is in Crimea. "Even little children are voting!" 5:32 AM https://twitter.com/inglesi Horizontal snow in Lenin Square Donetsk. Hard core separatists only ones out for now. ukraine pic.twitter.com/lsktQmWona 5:37 AM http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Ukraine_liveblog/109355001 Mobile ballot boxes were taken to the homes of voters who could not make it to polling stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Unfortunately, I kind of agree with this. Therefore, we're ****ed. The west isn't going to be able to do jack in this matter. Oh, I don't see the West militarily kicking Russia out of Crimea. They probably could. But no way they'd be willing to pay what it would cost. (And, frankly, I don't think the Ukrainians would want to pay, what it would cost them.) But, in my "Captain Kirk makes a bold, decisive move that gambles millions of lives, and makes things better before the end of the episode" mind, I do see a different kind of military response. In my fantasy, the President orders a large, rapid deployment force to the Ukraine, (I'm thinking like the 82nd Airborne), with orders to prevent military incursions outside Crimea. He schedules a speech, after he's done it. (Hopefully, after they're in place.) (Obviously, he does this after consulting with, and being requested by, the Ukrainian government.) He points out to the world that the 82nd is not there to assault Crimea. They aren't strong enough for that. This is not an offensive move, it's a defensive one. To prevent the Russian invasion and conquest, which they've already accomplished in Crimea, from continuing. And he announces that he is drafting proposals, to send to Congress. 1) For the Ukraine to join NATO. Or, if he can't do that unilaterally, then for some other form of mutual defense treaty. 2) To construct sufficient bases, within the Ukraine, to present a credible defense of the Ukraine. 3) And to offer to extend such protection to any nearby democracies who, upon viewing the recent Russian invasion of a neighbor, may have come to the conclusion that they need some protection, too. In short, I want Putin to come to the realization that 1) No, he can't do this, then wait a few years for the bad press to die down, then do it again. That, when you invade and conquer somebody else's country, then people don't go back to trusting you, a few years later. That yeah, you got away with it. Once. (Actually twice, if you count Georgia.) But if you try it again, there's gonna be an immediate, and very military, response. 2) And that this conquest cost him. It cost him turning countries which used to be pretty neutral on that whole East-West thing, firmly into the "West" column. And that it cost him a major military presence, right on his border, where he didn't used to have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/15/russian-commandos-invade-ukraine.html Russia's Special Ops Invasion of Ukraine Has Begun Putin appears to be using elite commandos—Spetsnaz—to spearhead his stealth move into Crimea and, perhaps, beyond. Forget the military forces massed on the border and brief incursions into Ukrainian territory and airspace. Russia is invading Ukraine in the shadows. The same special operations forces that appear to be rigging the election in Crimea are quietly escalating tensions inside other parts of eastern Ukraine. This week the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested a group of people led by a Ukrainian citizen who were said to be scoping out three of its most crucial military divisions in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. In Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, press reports from the ground say that Russian provocateurs have attacked Ukrainians who organized anti-Russian street protests. The forces behind these operations, according to U.S. officials briefed on the updates in Ukraine, are likely the Spetsnaz, the Russian military’s highly trained saboteurs, spies and special operations forces who may change the face—and the borders—of Ukraine without once showing the Russian flag on their uniforms. Or, for that matter, without wearing any particular uniforms at all. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/crimean-vice-premier-says-over-80-percent-will-support-seceding-on-referendum-admits-troops-are-russias-339589.html Crimean vice premier says more than 80 percent will support secession in vote, admits presence of Russian troops Crimea's Vice Premier Rustam Temirgaliyev was all smiles as he spoke to journalists near the autonomous repbulic's parliament building in Simferopol, boasting that some 82 percent of people here will vote for joining Russia in today's referendum. "About 58 percent of persons in Crimea are ethnic Russians. And our sociology says that approximately 50 percent of Ukrainians want to join Russia and some 38 percent of Crimean Tatars want it as well," he said adding that the referendum was conducted transparently and fairly. His comments are in strict contrast, however, to those in the Crimean Tatar community, who have said they will boycott the referendum as it does not include an option to keep the status quo. Several the Kyiv Post spoke with over the past two weeks in several cities and villages across Crimea told stories of intimidation at the hands of pro-Russian militia units, and said that some within their communities have already fled the Black Sea peninsula for mainland Ukraine, seeking safe harbor in Kyiv and western cities such as Lviv and Ternopil. https://twitter.com/mike_giglio And now the crowd cheers as protesters push inside security building in Donetsk 10:30 AM Protest leader asks crowd to leave Donetsk security hq. "We have shown we are serious." They don't agree, until someone says gov office next 10:39 AM Weirdest protest ever. Marching around to Soviet hymns blaring from speakers, busting into buildings, leaving. 10:42 AM Donetsk protesters at gov building again moving on. No confrontation. Police do everything possible to avoid it 11:06 AM So that's a tentative wrap on another weird day in Donetsk. One takeaway is that authorities are not able to stand up to pro-Russia crowds 12:01 PM https://twitter.com/MahirZeynalov Crimea referendum is illegal and illegitimate and outcome will not be recognized, EU's Barroso, Van Rompuy and Kerry say. 1:05 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR BREAKING Crimean Tatar man was found killed with clear signs of torture. He was missing 4days ago -Mejlis of CrimeanTatarPeople 1:09 PM https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR Two priest were captured by unknown in Crimea today - channel 5 1:12 PM Mustafa Dzhemilev said that in reality the voter turnout in Crimea illegal referendum was 30%. Around 99,9% of Crimean Tatars did not vote 1:36 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/16/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 Ukraine crisis: Early results show Crimea votes to join Russia "We are going home. Crimea is in Russia," Crimea's Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov told crowds celebrating in Simferopol's Lenin Square. Music blared as they cheered and waved Russian flags. The United States has already said it expects the Black Sea peninsula's majority ethnic Russian population to vote in favor of joining Russia. Moscow has strongly backed the referendum. The White House released a statement that said the vote was "administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law." Lavrov said in a statement Saturday that Crimea's referendum conforms to international law. http://bnowire.com/inbox/?id=2241 White House readout of Obama call with Putin Readout of the President’s Call with President PutinPresident Obama spoke this afternoon with President Putin of Russia. President Obama emphasized that the Crimean “referendum,” which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under duress of Russian military intervention, would never be recognized by the United States and the international community. He emphasized that Russia’s actions were in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that, in coordination with our European partners, we are prepared to impose additional costs on Russia for its actions. President Obama underscored that there remains a clear path for resolving this crisis diplomatically, in a way that addresses the interests of both Russia and the people of Ukraine. He noted that the Ukrainian government continues to take concrete steps that would allow for the de-escalation of the crisis, particularly as it prepares for elections this Spring and undertakes constitutional reform, and he asked that Russia support the immediate deployment of international monitors to help prevent acts of violence by any groups. President Obama reiterated that a diplomatic resolution cannot be achieved while Russian military forces continue their incursions into Ukrainian territory and that the large-scale Russian military exercises on Ukraine’s borders only exacerbate the tension. President Obama said that Secretary Kerry continues to be prepared to work together with Foreign Minister Lavrov and the Ukrainian government to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. https://twitter.com/ajamlive Official Crimea referendum results http://alj.am/OuhIdl - Join Russia: 95.5% - More autonomy within Ukraine: 3.5% - Discarded ballots: 1% 4:27 PM https://twitter.com/markknoller WH says it's "long past the days" when world "will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another." 4:30 PM US urges all members of intl community to "impose costs" on Russia for it's breach of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. 4:32 PM https://twitter.com/RichardEngel new head of "Russia Today" said on state TV "Russia is the only country in the world that can turn the USA into radioactive dust". 4:33 PM https://twitter.com/pwaldieGLOBE First to recognize Crimean referendum result? President of Abkhazia, that bit of Georgia Russia rescued a few years ago. 5:47 PM http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/03/16/chance-donetsk-rally-sunday.cnn.html Pro-Russian sentiment in Donetsk Added on March 16, 2014 CNN's Matthew Chance has more on a pro-Russia group that stormed prosecutor's offices in Donetsk, Ukraine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RansomthePasserby Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 What a circus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A.C.O.L.B. Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 What a circus... Prefect way to put it. A ****ing circus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/17/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html Crimea votes to break off from Ukraine, join Russia An overwhelming 96.7% of Crimea residents voted to break off from Ukraine and join Russia, according to final results of a referendum that has put the United States and Russia on the kind of collision course not seen since the end of the Cold War. Moscow strongly backed Sunday's referendum in the Black Sea peninsula where the majority of the population is ethnic Russian. The United States and the European Union considered it illegal. The EU said it's looking at sanctions against Russia. The White House said it won't recognize the outcome, saying the vote was "administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law." Christopher Hill, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Iraq and Poland, described Sunday as a bad day for East-West relations. "Putin has left our president with no choice. He needs to impose sanctions. I know Putin will come back and impose his own," he said. "I think the end of this is going to be to cast Russia out into the cold. And the problem is, I don't think Putin really cares. I think this is where he wants to take Russia." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/17/crimea-declares-independenceseizesukrainestateproperty.html Crimea declares independence, seizes Ukraine state property The United States, European Union and Ukraine's new government do not recognize the Crimean referendum, saying it violates both Ukrainian and international norms. Moscow, however, considers the vote legitimate. Russian President Putin was set to address both houses of parliament Tuesday on the issue. The Crimean parliament declared that all Ukrainian state property in the region – a strategically located peninsula on the Black Sea – will be nationalized and become the property of the Crimean Republic. Lawmakers also asked the United Nations and other counties to recognize it, and began work on setting up a central bank with money from Russia. Crimean lawmakers said they were flying to Moscow later Monday to discuss annexation by Russia. The possible U.S. and European sanctions that Russia and Crimea face over the issue include travel bans and asset freezes for 21 politicians deemed responsible for calling for and organizing Sunday's referendum. Meanwhile, Moscow has urged Ukraine to adopt a federal system, giving parts of the country more autonomy, as a way of resolving the polarization between Ukraine's western regions — which favor closer ties with the 28-nation EU — and its eastern areas, which have longstanding cultural and economic ties to Russia. In a statement Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry urged Ukraine's parliament to call a constitutional assembly that could draft a new constitution to make the country federal. It also said the country should adopt a "neutral political and military status," a demand reflecting Moscow's concern about the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. Moscow is also pushing for Russian to become Ukraine's state language. Crimea was already autonomous and that didn't help things there (probably was part of the problem) and Russian is an official state language already.... http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/russia-sanctions-ukraine-obama-executive-order-104728.html Obama announces new sanctions on Russian officials President Barack Obama directly sanctioned 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials Monday, the latest escalation in the ongoing crisis in Crimea — and the president’s latest attempt to make good on his repeated threats of additional costs on Russians for the situation. Speaking from the White House, he warned that he’s prepared to go even further if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t reverse course on Crimea. “Further provocations will do nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world,” Obama said at the White House. “We can calibrate our response on whether Russia chooses to escalate or de-escalate the situation.” Obama repeated the American position: Russian troops must return to their bases in Crimea, and Putin must accept international monitors and start a dialogue with the new government in Kiev. Neither the United States nor the rest of the international community, he repeated, will accept a Crimean referendum Sunday that showed a suspiciously high figure, greater than 95 percent, voting in support of joining Russia. “Throughout this process, we’re going to stand firm in our unwavering support for Ukraine,” Obama said, citing “a range of ways we can help our Ukrainian friends” in coordination with Congress and international partners. Administration officials said Monday that Putin, as a head of state, is for now out of bounds for sanctions. But they’re hoping that he gets the message that his current position is now not only hurting his national economy, but the fortunes of those close to him. American officials stressed Monday morning that they were going after only the private finances of the people targeted, and not their business interests, with the hope that this strategy — done in coordination with travel restrictions and parallel moves by European Union member countries — will increase pressure on Putin. http://euromaidanpr.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/over-123-of-sevastopol-residents-vote-to-join-russia/ Over 123% of Sevastopol residents vote to join Russia! https://twitter.com/maxseddon On the US sanctions list: Mizulina, Slutsky, Surkov, Rogozin, Matvienko, Glazev, and Andrei Klishas. Big names but not shooting for the top 9:43 AM Surkov: Kremlin gray cardinal, on Ukraine team. Glazev: far-out guy running Ukraine account. Matvienko close to Putin. Rogozin a big shot. 9:45 AM Notably absent from sanctions list: Gazprom's Miller, Rosneft's Kremlin dark lord Sechin, security officials, Putin chief of staff Ivanov 9:47 AM Mizulina, the author of the "gay propaganda bill," must be on it retroactively - she doesn't seem to have had anything to do with Ukraine. I stand corrected: Mizulina authored a bill making it easy for Ukrainian citizens to get rush Russian passports. http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2014/02/27/n_5979089.shtml … 9:55 AM None of the officials on the list are thought of as major power brokers. They're also not very likely to be affected by US sanctions. 9:51 AM https://twitter.com/andrewsweiss Trying to grasp strategy behind US sanctions vs Russia? First round on 3/6 was invitation to move assets, not hit individuals. 10:23 AM Today's move is gradual escalation: most targets are Kremlin ideologists and talking heads, not decision makers or inner circle 10:25 AM WH fact sheet explicitly states large economic interests of the state not targetted, just personal assets of named individuals 10:28 AM Unresolved: can (will?) US/EU mobilize political support for meaningful financial/banking/energy sanctions after Russia annexes Crimea? 10:30 AM https://twitter.com/RikardJozwiak the highest ranking person from Russia on the EU sanction list is Mironov. Finland blocked the addition of Kiselev 10:24 AM https://twitter.com/maxseddon US official: "These officials are the key ideologists and architects of [Russian] Ukraine policy." Simply not true 10:03 AM Obama can huff & puff but not blow Putin's house down. Sanctions have big names, but no inner circle figures or anyone whom sanction'd hurt 10:29 AM it's a pretty meek half-measure, though: it's not going to intimidate Putin not to endorse Crimea's annexation tomorrow 10:34 AM for sanctions' sake it's also weak in not revealing where these assets are (if they even exist) or going after the families 10:47 AM https://twitter.com/andrewsweiss Focus has to be on deterring further moves in eastern Ukraine. Sanctions just won't cut it (remember Gates's comment?) 10:44 AM Any/all moves need to be evidence-based to survive possible court challenges. That fact alone explains silence about families 10:50 AM https://twitter.com/BrunoBrussels Ukraine: foreign ministers back down from cancelling EU-Russia summit at Sochi in June. Decision to be taken by EUCO on Thurs 9:17 AM No Kremlin aides on the EU sanctions list unlike the US 10:00 AM Confirming surkov, glazyev, rogozin NOT on EU sanctions list because of objections. Poles had proposed names. 3 diplos confirm. 9:58 AM asked about disparity of EU & US sanctions, Hague said UK had supported addition of Putin aides to list, they can be added later 10:57 AM Sikorski [Polish FM] blames weaker EU sanctions on geography & slower decision making. Clearly disappointed 11:07 AM I think we will likely see more sanctions and other moves if Russia officially annexes Crimea tomorrow, and then again if escalation occurs in Eastern/Southern Ukraine. Regional foreign policy folks seem to be mostly unimpressed so far though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/ U.S. Freezes Assets of Russian Officials Over Ukraine The United States slapped new sanctions on Russian officials, including top aides to President Vladimir Putin, for encouraging a vote in Crimea Sunday that resulted in overwhelming support for secession from Ukraine. https://twitter.com/KentUNCBC UN's Ban Ki-moon is 'deeply disappointed and concerned that the Crimea referendum will only exacerbate' an already tense situation 12:35 PM https://twitter.com/BryzaMatthew Russian market rallied at this pathetic, toothless gesture by the U.S, with EU "sanctions" even lamer 12:28 PM https://twitter.com/DanielePinto Ukraine acting president Turchinov says country is ready for negotiations with Russia over Crimea but will never accept annexation. 12:29 PM https://twitter.com/slmmoscow Reaction to sanctions so far: Rogozin and Mizulina say they have no assets abroad. Klishas says he likes the company he's in. Markets rise. 12:36 PM https://twitter.com/WilliamJHague I'm pleased EU have agreed on asset freezes & travel bans on individuals not just in Crimea but Russia as well. 12:32 PM Sanctions agreement is important statement of EU unity & resolve on Ukraine, coinciding with measures taken by USA 12:33 PM It will be possible to add to EU measures, depending on how Russia reacts to referendum in Crimea. 12:33 PM EU have started discussing longer term; the need to reduce EU dependence on Russian energy over many years to come 12:35 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I think at this rate, we will have escalated to sanctions that are actually meaningful, about the time Russian troops reach the border of Poland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/17/crimea-crisis-russia-propaganda-media Russian propaganda over Crimea and the Ukraine: how does it work? The occupation of Crimea by pro-Russian forces has been accompanied by a remarkable propaganda push by Moscow – an effort that has infiltrated western media and helped redefine the debate in Russia’s favor. On Sunday, a referendum in Crimea decided the peninsula’s fate. Media pressure has mounted. By shutting down independent press, Russia controls more of the story; by spreading half-truths and rumors, the Kremlin not only confuses opponents but also sows unwitting support for its cause; finally, by pushing the boundaries with its version of events, Moscow’s leadership can force other countries to play by its own very pliable rules. Win the “information war”, as one Russian MP calls it, and you can gain the upper hand without ever firing a shot. http://euromaidanpr.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/crimean-tatars-ask-for-status-as-indigenous-people/ Crimean Tatars ask for status as indigenous people The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars and all the Tatars of Crimea ask the Ukrainian government to grant them recognition as a indigenous people, deputy head of Mejlis Nariman Dzhelyal told Radio Svoboda, on March 17. “We know the Russian government is preparing to annex Crimea. This is why we turn to the Parliament of Ukraine with the request to recognize the status of Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people and to immediately ensure the free self-expression of the Crimean Tatars,” said Dzhelyal. He added that an all-Ukrainian referendum could serve as the means to guarantee the rights of the Crimean Tatars to self-determination. According to Dzhelyal, this decision will ensure the presence of Ukrainian statehood on the Crimean peninsula regardless of further developments in Crimea “Everyone knows that Crimean Tatars have been consistent defenders of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and this is why we turned to the Parliament of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people to give us the opportunity to enhance our status, the status of an indigenous people, and to recognize this status in Ukraine through a resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. This would strengthen us and we could better defend the Ukrainian nation and Ukrainian sovereignty in Crimea,” Dzhelyal said. https://twitter.com/courtneymoscow Moscow financial community delighted on sanctions. "It's not scary. It's actually market positive right now," one broker tells me 2:12 PM Moscow investment banker on US sanctions: "It's as innocuous as we'd hoped" 2:13 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/131289/crimean-tatars-in-bulgaria-worried-for-their-people Crimean Tatars in Bulgaria worried for their people 140 Crimean Tatar families who were exiled from their homeland to Bulgaria's Vetovo region 150 years ago have expressed their fears that their people may be the subject of violence, after the mainly ethnic Russian population of Crimea voted to join Russia. Crimean Tatar community leader Hosgun Nasuf told Bulgaria's state-run BTV that the pain of the tragedies they suffered at the hands of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in 1944 is still fresh in their minds. 'We are in close contact with our brethren,' he said, adding 'the people in Crimea are very scared. Russiam soldiers are able to walk around Ukrainian cities freely. We fear renewed oppression and a repear of the 1944 exile.' Community member Erhan Useyin also said 'We are fearful for our brethren in Crimea and share their concerns. We are not happy with the situation there. What the Russians are doing in the peninsula is not acceptable.' http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/japan-to-impose-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-1 Japan to impose sanctions against Russia over Crimea Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognising Crimea as an independent state following a weekend referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a move that has fanned the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War. "It's deplorable that Russia recognised the independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a move that violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday. "Japan will suspend negotiations on easing visa requirements, and will not begin talks on a new investment accord, an outer space accord and an accord aimed at preventing risky military activities," it added, without elaborating. http://blogs.state.gov/stories/2014/03/17/united-states-increases-costs-russia-actions-ukraine United States Increases Costs on Russia for Actions in Ukraine President Barack Obama announced a series of measures today that will continue to increase the cost on Russia and on those responsible for what is happening in Ukraine. As authorized by the Executive Order (E.O. 13660), issued on March 6, the United States is imposing sanctions on specific individuals responsible for undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and government of Ukraine. Today, President Obama signed a new executive order that authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on named officials of the Russian government, any individual or entity that operates in the Russian arms industry, and any designated individual or entity that acts on behalf of, or that provides material or other support to, any senior Russian government official. We fashioned these sanctions to impose costs on named individuals who wield influence in the Russian government and those responsible for the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. We stand ready to use these authorities in a direct and targeted fashion as events warrant. In addition to the new executive order, the Treasury Department today imposed sanctions on four other individuals under E.O. 13660 for their actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine and in undermining the Government of Ukraine. They are Crimea-based separatist leaders Sergey Aksyonov and Vladimir Konstantinov; former Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Viktor Medvedchuk; and former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 http://news.msn.com/world/putin-approves-draft-bill-for-annexation-of-crimea Putin approves draft bill for annexation of Crimea Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday approved a draft bill for the annexation of Crimea, one of a flurry of steps to formally take over the Black Sea peninsula. Crimea on Sunday voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and seek to join Russia. The West and Ukraine described the referendum which was announced two weeks ago as illegitimate. The United States and the European Union on Monday announced asset freezes and other sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian officials involved in the Crimean crisis. President Barack Obama warned that more would come if Russia didn't stop interfering in Ukraine. Russian troops have been occupying the region for more than two weeks. The decree signed by Putin and posted on the official government website Tuesday morning is one of the steps which would formalize the annexation of Crimea. Russia, however, still has a room to back off. The treaty to annex Crimea has to be signed by leaders of Russia and Crimea, approved by the Constitutional Court and then be ratified by the parliament. Putin is set to address both houses of the parliament at 3 p.m. Moscow time (1100 GMT) in a nationally televised speech where he is widely expected to stake Russia's claim on Crimea. http://news.yahoo.com/biden-poland-russia-tightens-grip-crimea-093748637.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory Biden in Poland as Russia tightens grip on Crimea US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Poland for talks with regional allies Tuesday as Russia tightened its grip on the Ukraine's breakaway region of Crimea. Biden will hold talks with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as the presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- meeting the latter two in Vilnius on Wednesday. The White House has said the talks will focus on "steps to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and affirm our collective defence commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty". Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said Biden's visit was "a clear signal to those who are interested in destabilising the situation in the region". "We see his visit as yet further proof that NATO allies, and notably the US, are keeping up their commitment to collective defence," he told Lithuanian national radio. http://www.defencetalk.com/former-soviet-satellites-sign-joint-military-pact-59053/ Former Soviet satellites sign joint military pact Four former Soviet satellites in Central Europe signed a military pact Friday to coordinate defence planning and to create a joint combat unit to operate under NATO and EU auspices, in response to the Ukraine crisis. “The current situation in Europe shows that unfortunately a military conflict, previously considered unthinkable, could happen,” Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said at a meeting of the Visegrad 4 (V4) group of countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Speaking in Visegrad, Hungary, he said the Ukraine crisis showed the importance of “more dynamic cooperation” between the V4 countries within NATO and the European Union. The “V4-EU” combat unit would only be ready to take part in NATO or EU operations by 2016, however, he said, adding that V4 military cooperation was “unique” within the NATO miliary alliance. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/10/us-ukraine-crisis-moldova-idUSBREA2918I20140310 Moldova alarmed over 'contagious' separatism in Ukraine's Crimea Moldova's prime minister expressed alarm on Monday at the crisis in Ukraine's Crimea region, saying it was "contagious" and could stoke separatist sentiment in his country's rebel Russian-speaking territory of Transdniestria. Moldova, an ex-Soviet republic wedged between Ukraine and Romania, with a population of about 4 million, is planning to sign a landmark trade deal with the European Union. The pact is similar to that which Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich dumped, sparking the crisis which brought him down. "If we do not find a decision to the problem of Transdniestria, then this sickness (of separatism) will become dangerous and contagious," he said. "A new hotbed of separatism has sprung up here (in Crimea). In Crimea, Ukraine is confronting the same problem that Moldova did 20 years ago." Transdniestria, with a population of half a million, has run its own affairs since 1992 after fighting a brief war against the Moldovan government over fears that it might join Romania, with which it shares a language and culture. The rebel Russian-speaking territory regards Moscow as its patron. Its independence is not recognized by the world community and Russia too has so far refused Tiraspol's pleas to be taken into the Russian Federation. https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR 500 National Guard volunteers are trained inNoviPetrivsti outside Kyiv. Mastering grenade launchers, Kalashnikov, close fight. radiosvoboda 4:09 AM https://twitter.com/courtneymoscow Who's who on sanctions list via @FT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/eafe8370-adf8-11e3-974d-00144feab7de.html#axzz2wIr7eVQP 5:58 AM Most interesting person on list- Andrei Klishas. Ex-president of Norilsk Nickel, with ties to Cyprus, Switzerland. On both EU & US lists. 5:59 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 https://twitter.com/AJELive Putin: "300,000 Tatars are also looking forward to being with Russia" | http://aje.me/NqtXqt 7:09 AM https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7 Putin now says there will be THREE equal official languages in Crimea - Russian, Tatar AND Ukrainian - previously they've said two... 7:11 AM We'll see. https://twitter.com/courtneymoscow Putin tries to reach out to Crimean Tatars, mentions "cruel unfairness" of Stalin deportations 7:11 AM Crimean situation "absolutely identical" to Kosovo which west deemed legitimate VVP says 7:25 AM https://twitter.com/myroslavapetsa With Russia's G8 membership being suspended, Putin's spox Peskov says sanctions won't change Kremlin's foreign policies 6:24 AM Putin: We couldn't even imagine Russian and Ukraine would become independent. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union collapsed 7:13 AM Putin: we didn't use armed forces in Ukraine. Russia didn't have its troops in Crimea. We had our Black Sea Fleet based there. 7:25 AM https://twitter.com/russian_market Putin is blaming Khrushev who gave Crimea to Ukraine as excuse for deportation of Crimean tatars. 7:14 AM https://twitter.com/AFP BREAKING Putin says Crimea was and is 'inseparable' part of Russia 7:17 AM https://twitter.com/McKenzieCNN "Vladimir Putin hails Crimea referendum, saying 96% vote in favor of joining Russia was "extremely convincing figure."" via @cnnbrk 7:25 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 http://www.buzzfeed.com/miriamelder/buzzfeed-interviews-secretary-of-state-john-kerry?bftw BuzzFeed Interviews Secretary Of State John Kerry A live town hall at 1 p.m. ET, conducted by BuzzFeed’s Foreign Editor Miriam Elder. Kerry will answer questions about the crisis in Ukraine, and America’s role in the world, from Elder and from students at the event. http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.580468 Putin signs treaty making Crimea, Sevastopol part of Russia U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Russia's move a land grab and underscored Washington's commitment to defending the security of its NATO allies on Russia's borders. Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw after meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Biden said collective security guarantees remained the bedrock of NATO, and that Washington will take additional steps to strengthen the alliance in the future. He said the United States stood by its commitment to complete a missile defense system in Poland by 2018. Biden said Russia will face additional measures from the European Union and United States if it goes ahead with a plan to make Crimea part of its territory. White House spokesman Jay Carney, speaking to reporters, said the United States was preparing to add to those targeted for asset freezes and travel bans under a sanctions order announced on Monday. "More is coming," Carney said, adding that he did know when the action would be taken. "Work is being done to make further designations" under the sanctions. https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7 Striking EvgenyFeldman shot from funeral of Tatar who went missing and was found with signs of violence on body pic.twitter.com/7TWuALofen 12:04 PM Hours after Putin said no shots fired in the annexation of Crimea, sounds like a Ukrainian serviceman has been shot in the neck, killed. 12:30 PM My Ukraine military source in Crimea confirmed to me death of a junior officer, wounding of a captain. Sounded distraught on phone. 1:03 PM https://twitter.com/WilliamsJon State Dept says JohnKerry spoke with Russia's FM Lavrov this morning - post Putin speech & annexing of Crimea. No details yet on call. 1:32 PM https://twitter.com/nickschifrin Back from Ukrainian military base 2174. Ukraine mil saying soldier shot and killed by Russian sniper. Locals told us base was mapping center 1:11 PM We saw what appeared to be Russian snipers leaving positions from building overlooking Ukrainian military base. 1:11 PM We also saw evidence of cross fire. Marks on wall and broken windows of adjacent, unfinished apartment building show incoming bullets. 1:13 PM Crimean govt: pro-Russian militia members shot by Ukrainian soldiers. But no evidence of any anger among militia members I spoke with. 1:18 PM Russian troops and pro-Russian militia completely in control of base. Russian flag flying. Militias completely surrounding it. 1:20 PM https://twitter.com/IvanCNN Ukraine MoD authorizes Ukrainian troops to use weapons in Crimea after shooting death of officer in Semfiropol http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua∂=news⊂=read&id=33099 1:52 PM https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak Reuters: Interfax news agency reports European Union's Herman Van Rompuy to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin tomorrow 1:58 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/eric-cantor-russia-crimea-ukraine-104772.html Eric Cantor calls on committees to punish Russia House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has asked the chamber’s committees to explore ways to punish Russia for what he sees as unacceptable acts in Ukraine. The Virginia Republican cited Russia’s actions in Syria, Iran and, most recently, Ukraine as examples of how the nation has “not been a constructive world partner under Vladimir Putin’s leadership.” “Next week, the G-7 leaders should decide to revoke Russia’s membership in the G-8,” Cantor said in an emailed statement. “The U.S. should assess what military support we can provide Ukraine and the U.S. must work in concert with its NATO allies to reassure other countries threatened by Russia. We should also assess what support we can give to Ukraine’s energy production and to increase our own exports to weaken Russia’s stranglehold, and put long-term pressure on their economy.”The House has passed an aid package for Ukraine with broad bipartisan support but the measure has stalled in the Senate, where lawmakers are considering a more comprehensive piece of legislation http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/crimea-economy.html?hp&_r=0&gwh=0050DF9B29D0A21A0575F7320D799DC9&gwt=pay Tourism Dollars Dry Up, Alongside Crimea’s Bank Funds Russia’s own revenue has slowed, leaving Crimea to face potential financial collapse, especially if Ukraine decides to further isolate the remote area. https://twitter.com/RolandOliphant Putin today went on and on about how the intervention [which he weirdly still denies] prevented bloodshed in Crimea... 2:35 PM Earlier one man - apparently murdered, though not clear who by - was buried. Now someone else seems to have been shot. Nervy here. 2:38 PM https://twitter.com/MaximEristavi The level of public anger/frustration is rising dramatically in Ukraine, as social media filled w demands for the govt to fight for Crimea 2:45 PM https://twitter.com/MaximEristavi Watch MPs from far-right vo_svoboda beat, humiliate a state TV-channel CEO, forced him to write a resignation letter http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/45037911 2:55 PM Ukraine's far-right MPs not only attacked 1tvua CEO, forced him to resign, but also kidnapped him later, ukrpravda news reports 3:03 PM Lots of tension and growing anger in Ukraine now. People are angry at a lack of response to Russia's actions by the government. Some burning tires in the street out of protest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FanboyOf91 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Putin: Don't worry, guys, you'll still be Ukrainian, Russian, or Tatar.By the way, you're all Russian now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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