Thread: What Is Happening In Ukraine Is Far More Important Than Most People Realize

Warning Shots Fired At OSCE Mission In Crimea; Russia Warns Of Treaty Force Majeure Over "Unfriendly NATO Threats"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/08/2014 09:21 -0500

Perhaps it is time to finally admit that anyone who thought Putin's Tuesday press conference, which the market so jubilantly assumed was a case of "blinking" and de-escalating tensions with the west, was wrong. If there is still any confusion, following yesterday's news that Gazprom officially threatened Ukraine with cutting off its gas supplies, as well as the storming of a Ukraine base by Russian troops - luckily with no shots fired so far - then today's developments should any remaining doubts. Moments ago AP reported that as the latest, third in a row, group of OSCE inspectors tried to enter Ukraine, they were not only barred from doing so, but warnings shots were fired to emphasize the point by pro-Russian forces.

From AP:

An Associated Press reporter says pro-Russian forces refused to let a foreign military mission enter Crimea on Saturday.

After the officers had stopped, the armed men fired warning bursts of automatic weapons fire into the air to make other unidentified vehicles halt. No injuries were reported.

The multinational group of military officers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was attempting to enter the embattled peninsula from the north. The armed men told them they had no authorization to enter Crimea.

The OSCE mission will likely return to the Ukrainian city of Kherson where it had spent the night, the AP reporter said.

Russia and Ukraine are locked in a tense standoff over Crimea.

the OSCE tweeted:

OSCE ✔ @OSCE
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Military assessment visitors from OSCE States returning to Kherson to plan next steps after being denied entry to Crimea at Armyans'k today


9:14 AM - 8 Mar 2014 from Vienna, Austria

Bloomberg adds:

OSCE tried to enter Crimea for third day, warning shots were fired as it attempted to do so today, Tatyana Baeva, OSCE spokeswoman, said by phone from Vienna.

Nobody injured in incident, OSCE mission is now back in Kherson, southern Ukraine.

OSCE 29 member states that provided people for Crimea mission may meet today or tomorrow in Vienna to discuss further action: Baeva

Then there was this overnight escalation as reported by Ukraine's TV5 station (of questionably credibility), via Bloomberg:

Pro-Russian armed men today captured building in Simferopol, capital city of Crimea, TV5 private news channel reports, citing Vladislav Selezniov, spokesman for Ukraine’s defense minister in Crimea.

Russian soldiers seized Ukraine’s state border guard division in Shcholkino near Kerch Strait, Ukraine’s border service says in statement on its website

Russian soldiers stormed Shcholkino unit last night, seized weapons storage, beat Ukrainian border guards, took away their mobile phones and forced them and their families to leave

Currently, 11 border guard units are being blocked: Ukraine border service says in separate statement

Ukraine denied entrance to 513 “extremists” from Russia during last 24 hrs, state border guard service says in another separate statement on its website

Remember, all it takes is for one stray bullet to hit a human target, on either side of the conflict, for the market to grasp just how wrong its assessment of de-escalation has been.

Elsewhere, while inspectors were trying to make their way into Ukraine - unsuccessfully - Russia announced it was considering a further freeze of U.S. military inspections under arms control treaties in retaliation to Washington's decision to halt military cooperation with Russia, news reports said Saturday.

Interfax blasted earlier:

• UNJUSTIFIED U.S., NATO THREATS SEEN AS UNFRIENDLY GESTURE, ALLOW TO DECLARE FORCE-MAJEURE - RUSSIAN DEFENSE SOURCE
• RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY CONSIDERING SUSPENSION OF RECEIVING INSPECTION GROUPS UNDER START TREATY, VIENNA DOCUMENT 2011 - SOURCE

​

AP has more:

Russian news agencies carried a statement by an unidentified Defense Ministry official saying that Moscow sees the U.S. move as a reason to suspend U.S. inspections in Russia in line with the 2010 New START treaty on cutting U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals and the 2011 Vienna agreement that envisages mutual inspections of Russian and NATO military facilities as part of confidence-building measures.

A Defense Ministry spokesman wouldn't comment on the reports, which are a usual way in Russia to carry unofficial government signals.

The U.S. and the European Union have introduced sanctions over Russia in response to its move to send troops that have taken control of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.

So if the START treaty is suspended how long until its anti-proliferation clauses are scrapped completely once more, and the Cold War arms race returns once again.

Also while escalations such as these threaten to transform the new Cold War into a Hot one, the clock is ticking, and in favor of Russia, because the longer Ukraine remains without western aid, the quicker its foreign reserves will run out, and the faster the country will become a vassal state of Gazpromia. Add the ticking countdown to the March 16 Crimean referendum, which the west and Ukraine have both declared illegitimate yet have no power to stop, and suddenly one can see how Putin once again outsmarted everything the west had to throw at it. WSJ explains:

Gazprom's demand raises the prospect that some of the aid Western powers have guaranteed could end up flowing into Moscow's coffers to pay Ukraine's gas bill. Virtually all of the country's natural-gas imports come from Russia. Late last year it was granted a discount that Moscow has threatened to rescind since the fall of Mr. Yanukovych.

"This now becomes an EU/U.S. problem: Who is going to lend Ukraine the money to pay the gas bill? If so, what will be the conditions?" said Jonathan Stern, an analyst at the Oxford Energy Institute.

A spokesman for Gazprom said that the threatened cutoff wouldn't affect supplies to Europe, which gets about a third of its gas from Russia, much of it via pipelines that run through Ukraine.



In 2009, after the Russian energy giant switched off the supply to Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities began using the supply transiting their territory that Gazprom said was destined for customers in Europe. Gazprom then cut off the flow altogether, causing shortages and price increases for end customers.

"The EU, U.S. and IMF have just about three weeks to resolve this," Mr. Stern said.

At which point it's game, set match Putin once more.

Finally, what certainly helped Putin is that, as expected, China took the side of Russia, not of the "free world", in what is now a very distinct and clear axis of power the New Normal dipolar world.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...majeure-over-u

http://www.alipac.us/f9/obama-using-...5/#post1398846

Obama, Biden stick to vacation schedules despite Ukraine crisis

Published March 07, 2014 FoxNews.com

Video at the Page Link:

The White House brushed off concerns Friday that, with the crisis in Crimea intensifying, now might not be the best time for President Obama -- and his vice president -- to go on vacation.
The travel schedules of both the president and Vice President Biden have come under scrutiny, given the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine. Obama, already in Florida to talk about education, was planning to spend some family time this weekend in Key Largo, Fla., where he arrived late in the day. Biden, meanwhile, will be in the Virgin Islands.
Despite some apparent discussion over cutting the president's trip short, White House spokesman Josh Earnest indicated the president would be able to handle the crisis from out of the office.
"The president over the course of a very busy week has maintained his schedule and his ability to monitor ongoing events in Ukraine. I would anticipate that he'll do the same thing this weekend," Earnest said. "And the fact of the matter is what the president is doing this weekend in Florida is essentially what the president will be doing if he stayed back at the White House. It's just that the weather will be a little warmer."
He said Obama plans to spend time with his wife and daughters while in the Keys. "There are some recreational amenities on the property, including workout facilities, tennis courts, a couple of golf courses," he noted.
But he also said Obama is keeping in touch with allies in Europe and other world leaders. "So if there is an opportunity for the president to enjoy some of those amenities, then he'll do that. But we'll have to see," he said. He noted that Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken is traveling with the president. And Obama has "the regular assortment of communications tools that will allow him to convene in a secure fashion meetings with his national security team, if necessary."
Obama spoke Thursday with Russia's Vladimir Putin for the second time since the crisis erupted, but Russia showed little sign of backing down.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that sanctions over Russian actions in Crimea could backfire, the ministry said in a statement. In a telephone conversation, Lavrov urged the U.S. not to take "hasty, poorly thought-out steps that could harm Russian-U.S. relations, especially concerning sanctions, which would unavoidably boomerang on the U.S. itself," the statement said.
Meanwhile, a military truck broke down the gates of a Ukrainian base in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol and the installation was under siege by pro-Russian troops on Friday, the Interfax news agency reported. No shots have been fired.
About 100 Ukrainian troops are stationed at the base, Interfax reported, citing a duty officer and Ukraine's defense ministry.
In the week since Russia seized control of Crimea, Russian troops have been neutralizing and disarming Ukrainian military bases on the Black Sea peninsula. Some Ukrainian units, however, have refused to surrender.
Crimea's new leader has said pro-Russian forces numbering more than 11,000 now control all access to the region and have blockaded all military bases that haven't yet surrendered.
The Pentagon estimates there are actually about 20,000 Russian troops in Ukraine, as additional forces have gone into the country over the last week.
Rear Adm. John Kirby said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Ukraine Defense Minister Ihor Tenyuh on Friday. He said Tenyuh asked Hagel to consider having the U.S. military provide Ukraine with technical advice, including on humanitarian and disaster relief operations. Hagel said he would consider the request. The U.S. has already sent fighter jets to the region to boost its NATO presence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...kraine-crisis/

Putin mocks the West and threatens to turn off European gas supplies...





http://drudgereport.com/

Joe the Plumber
I am not meaning to sound like bully, but Uncle Vladi will have to boot you on back side of your “mommy” pants if you continue to push for economic sanctions against Russia.


Memo from Moscow: What Happens in Ukraine, Stays in Ukraine

Posted by Molli Nickell, Granny Guerrilla on Mar 7, 2014 in Email, Foreign Affairs, Humor, Politics, Uncategorized

Follow Joe For America on Facebook!

The following memo was leaked by a California high school student who accidentally tapped into NSA communication files while hacking into bank records of her computer science teacher.

TO: Barack Obama
FROM: Vladimir Putin
SUBJECT: In Appreciation

Dear Barack-ski,
During our long phone conversation, I am forgetting to thank you for reminding me to be stand-up guy and send humanitarian aid to country when peoples cry out for help. You remind me about how America helped Libya. But, instead of bombing Ukraine back into stone age, I decide to use different technique. And I am thanking you for setting up entire situation so Uncle Vladi could step up and help the peoples of the Ukraine.

My Parliament give “OK” to deliver humanitarian aid and protection against neo-Nazis and extremists. I am not remembering if your congress gave you OK for Libya bombing, or did Hillary Clinton make that decision? No matter, other than this action make you and America look pitiful in eyes of the world . . . what difference did it make?

Uncle Vladi also recall occupy Wall Street movement and decide to follow your example and take advantage of potential for photo ops. I am directing similar <acronym title="Google Page Ranking"><acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym></acronym> program in Ukraine. Freedom-loving citizens wave flags and signs and beg for Russian soldiers to protect them from enemies of freedom. This makes for excellent TV and social media propaganda.

Uncle Vladi got big worry about democracy outbreaks in other countries. I’m remembering how this cause you big time headache in Eqypt when military realize your Muslim Brotherhood pals are not so much about freedom as they are about chaos and oppression.

I might have same problem if Ukraine breaks for NATO and European-style democracy. Might spread throughout my country like Russian flu. So, I am making sure Ukrainian peoples not do breakaway. I remind them they have no real army and no real allies and could not push back against real Russian military who is really there to protect them.
I am not meaning to sound like bully, but Uncle Vladi will have to boot you on back side of your “mommy” pants if you continue to push for economic sanctions against Russia.

Maybe you need to reset your memory. Who has hand on oil spigot for Europe? Who has missiles pointed at break-away states on Russia’s fringe? And, who doesn’t have missiles because you cancel agreement to build a missile defense system in Poland? And who can reconstitute former Soviet Union borders if parliament decides is OK action to take?

One last thing Barack-ski. I’m not even little bit insulted by your teleprompter performances. In fact, is amusing when you show angry face and point finger to make position about Ukraine “perfectly clear.”

Russians laugh their a**es off listening to political double speak from Mr. Kerry Wind Bag. Especially when he accuses Russia of telling lies and violating agreements.

(Funny thing though, you do same thing when you lie to citizens with promises about shovel-ready jobs, “like healthcare, keep healthcare,” and “like doctor, keep doctor.” You also are very fond of violating United States Constitution with your pen and phone. Is great puzzlement why citizens don’t storm White House and send you on permanent vacation?

But, not to worry, if that happens, Russia’s heart is welcoming to you and family. Can put you up in nice mansion next door to your countryman, Mr. Snowden.)

Barack-ski, I insist you stick to our agreement to keep nose out of Russia’s business. Period. About the G8 Economic Summit in June? You announce to world you won’t attend? Is OK. No big deal. I’m plan to go on hunting trip in June anyway.

I tell you, play your cards right if you want Uncle Vladi to help you with little distraction, like smallish war or terrorist attack in the fall, just before your November elections.

You need major diversion to take citizen’s minds off your failures so they don’t vote all jackass politicians out of office.

Gotta run. It’s time for my daily swim before scheduled parade, flag-waving demonstration, and long-range missile test.

Stay in touch. Uncle Vladi
*
*
P.S. Want a little more snark in your day? Additional fables are posted on Molli’s blog, grannyguerrillas.com. You’ll enjoy the story about Prince Hope-n-change and his ascension to the throne. Molli tweets @grannyguerrilla. She also helps writers, as a Book Doctor, to achieve their publishing goals at getpublishednow.biz

http://joeforamerica.com/2014/03/mem...stays-ukraine/

Fox News

Central European nations are appealing to Capitol Hill leaders to get the U.S. to increase its natural gas exports should Russia cut off its supply to Ukraine, amid the political turmoil in that country.

Central European nations appeal to Congress for faster exports of US natural gas

Published March 08, 2014 FoxNews.com


March 8, 2014: Members of a pro-Russian self-defense unit in Simferopol, Ukraine.REUTERS

Central European nations are now appealing to Capitol Hill leaders to get the United States to increase its natural gas exports should Russia cut off its supply to Ukraine, amid the political turmoil in that country.
Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic sent a letter Friday to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. And a similar letter is expected to be sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.

Ambassadors from the four countries -- known as the Visegrad Group -- want Congress to support faster approval of natural gas exports, arguing the supply is essential to the region’s economic stability.
“The presence of U.S. natural gas would be much welcome in Central and Eastern Europe,” they told Boehner. “And congressional action to expedite [liquefied natural gas] exports to America’s allies would come at a critically important time for the region."
The concern has grown over the past few months amid the political upheaval in the Ukraine that resulted last month in residents ousting President Viktor Yanukovych and became a major concern several days ago when Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into the country’s Crimea region.
"I hope President Obama will heed this call from our allies to use his 'pen and phone' to direct the secretary of Energy to immediately approve pending natural gas export requests and do everything possible to use American energy to reduce the dependency on Russia for our friends in Europe and around the globe," Boehner said in response to the letter.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on Russian natural gas, and previous disputes between Ukraine and Russia have led to gas supply cuts. Russian state gas company Gazprom has increased the pressure on Ukraine's new government, which now owes $1.89 billion for Russian natural gas, by warning that if Ukraine doesn't pay off its debt, there could be a repeat of 2009, when Russia cut off supplies to Europe because of a pricing dispute with Ukraine.
Recent advancements have made it possible for gas that normally flows through Ukraine to the EU to instead flow the other direction, so that nations like Poland and Hungary can supply gas to Ukraine if Russia were to cut off its supply. But with gas supplies limited, the region is still vulnerable unless the U.S. makes it easier to import American natural gas, the ambassadors argued.
Boehner and Republicans have been urging the Obama administration to clear the way for more exports amid a natural gas boom in the U.S.
The Energy Department has only approved six export licenses in recent years out of about two dozen pending.
"The ability to turn the tables and put the Russian leader in check lies right beneath our feet, in the form of vast supplies of natural energy," Boehner wrote this week in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal.
The White House has argued that Russia's dependence on gas revenues makes it unlikely that the country will cut off supplies to Europe despite the ongoing crisis in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, where the Russian military has intervened in what the U.S. regards as a violation of international law.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday that because Europe has had a relatively mild winter, gas supplies are at or above normal levels. He said even if the U.S. did approve more export licenses, it would take until the end of 2015 for gas to be delivered.
"Proposals to try to respond to the situation in Ukraine that are related to our policy on exporting natural gas would not have an immediate effect," Earnest said.
His argument has been supported by industry experts who say only one U.S. company is even far enough along in development to begin thinking about exporting liquefied natural gas.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...s-natural-gas/

US Foreign Policy (In One Cartoon)

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/09/2014 15:32 -0400

Deja vu all over again...




Source: Sunday Funnies


http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...cy-one-cartoon

Former US Defense Secretary Gates Admits "Crimea Will Not Slip Out Of Russia's Hands"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/09/2014 13:44 -0400

"I do not believe that Crimea will slip out of Russia's hands," former Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Fox News this morning adding that there is little chance Ukraine will be able to get back control. When asked in this brief clip "You think Crimea's gone?" Gates responded clearly, "I do." Gates then goes on to explain why Obama's foreign policy didn't "embolden" Putin and perhaps more importantly defends Obama's "taking the weekend off in the middle of a crisis" golf trip...



http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...-russias-hands

illuminati card game