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oldcatholicguy
Guest
Yes, apparently Putin can do no wrong and any criticism of Russia is just propaganda from the immoral and decedent West. I wonder what excuses people will come up with next time.
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pepipop
Guest
Another ‘rumour’ squashed. I cannot locate any other media sources, at present, as they’re still running with the other story line. e.g. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2579168/Ukraine-warns-scale-invasion-Russia-moves-artillery-close-borders-Kiev-security-chief-says-Putins-troops-run-three-hours.html
rt.com/news/russia-allows-flight-ukraine-374/
Russia allows Ukrainian surveillance flight to confirm no troops near border
*In a confidence-building step, Russia’s Defense Ministry has given permission for a surveillance flight by Ukraine over Russian territory near the border between the countries. Kiev had claimed Moscow was building up its military presence there.
“The Ukrainians have asked for an unscheduled observation flight over our territory,” Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters in Moscow.
*Russia and Ukraine are entitled to surveillance flights over each other’s territories following the Open Skies treaty signed in 1992, but Antonov said that Kiev had never asked for one before, and that Moscow was “under no obligation” to allow it immediately.
“We have decided to allow such a flight. We hope that our neighbors are assured that there is no military activity that threatens them on the border.”
Antonov vehemently denied a statement Tuesday by Igor Tenyukh, defense minister for the Kiev coup-appointed government, that Russia had amassed more than 220,000 troops, 1,800 tanks and over 400 helicopters in regions adjacent to eastern Ukraine.
“Ukrainian military officials know full well that the entire [Russian] Southern and Western Military Districts put together don’t have that much equipment. The only way you could arrive at that number of soldiers would be if you counted their families,” Antonov said.**
rt.com/news/russia-allows-flight-ukraine-374/
Russia allows Ukrainian surveillance flight to confirm no troops near border
*In a confidence-building step, Russia’s Defense Ministry has given permission for a surveillance flight by Ukraine over Russian territory near the border between the countries. Kiev had claimed Moscow was building up its military presence there.
“The Ukrainians have asked for an unscheduled observation flight over our territory,” Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters in Moscow.
*Russia and Ukraine are entitled to surveillance flights over each other’s territories following the Open Skies treaty signed in 1992, but Antonov said that Kiev had never asked for one before, and that Moscow was “under no obligation” to allow it immediately.
“We have decided to allow such a flight. We hope that our neighbors are assured that there is no military activity that threatens them on the border.”
Antonov vehemently denied a statement Tuesday by Igor Tenyukh, defense minister for the Kiev coup-appointed government, that Russia had amassed more than 220,000 troops, 1,800 tanks and over 400 helicopters in regions adjacent to eastern Ukraine.
“Ukrainian military officials know full well that the entire [Russian] Southern and Western Military Districts put together don’t have that much equipment. The only way you could arrive at that number of soldiers would be if you counted their families,” Antonov said.**
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Miserissima
Guest
Fine, I give.
If it ever comes to pass that Crimea becomes its own true republic:
Without a Russian puppet government,
With their own internal economic structure
Business not run by Russian citizens in Russia
Full control of their own warm water port
The option to have international businesses with Russia, OR anyone in the EU, or some obscure island nation,
Create/revive, and maintain their own ethnic culture (language, food, customs),
A defined national identity,
They provide for their own common defense and enforce domestic peace,
Then I’ll eat my hat. And Josie’s, and anyone else’s for that matter.
…tell me how Russia is setting Crimea up for any of this, please.
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pepipop
Guest
I’m not privy to their negotiations, however Crimea stated yesterday they are not the autonomous republic of Crimea, after declaring their independence, that they are now the Republic of Crimea. Either way, rest assured they’ll be getting a lot more from the deal than if they remained with Ukraine, and that’s all they will be aiming for. For all I know all the above will be part of the bargain. Russia pay 98 million / year to Ukraine for their access to the port, so no doubt they’ll pay a fee to Crimea.
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gilliam
Guest
rt.com is the mouthpiece of the Kremlin. So until we hear from a more reliable source that will tell us the “rest of the story” it has little value
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josie_L
Guest
I have quite a few hats.
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Miserissima
Guest
Err…hat, singular, please!!!I have quite a few hats.
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gilliam
Guest
US President Barack Obama has welcomed Ukraine’s interim prime minister to the White House and pledged to “stand with Ukraine” in its dispute with Russia.
He warned Russian President Vladimir Putin the international community “will be forced to apply costs” if Russia does not remove its troops from Crimea.
Earlier, leaders of the G7 group of nations issued a similar threat.
Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking after meeting Mr Obama, said Ukraine “will never surrender” to Russia.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to have Russian boots on the Ukrainian ground in the 21st century, violating all international deals and treaties,” he said.
bbc.com/news/world-europe-26552279
He warned Russian President Vladimir Putin the international community “will be forced to apply costs” if Russia does not remove its troops from Crimea.
Earlier, leaders of the G7 group of nations issued a similar threat.
Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking after meeting Mr Obama, said Ukraine “will never surrender” to Russia.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to have Russian boots on the Ukrainian ground in the 21st century, violating all international deals and treaties,” he said.
bbc.com/news/world-europe-26552279
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pepipop
Guest
**Public Opinion Survey, Residents of Ukraine , August 27-September 9, 2013, reported by USAID and Gallop. **Page 10 and 16 are quite interesting.
Carried out just before it all kicked off.
iri.org/sites/default/files/IRI_Ukraine_August-September_2013_Edited%20Poll.pdf
Carried out just before it all kicked off.
iri.org/sites/default/files/IRI_Ukraine_August-September_2013_Edited%20Poll.pdf
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pepipop
Guest
Interesting take on the oligarchs, Ukraine government and Yanukovich’s fall.
spiegel.de/international/europe/how-oligarchs-in-ukraine-prepared-for-the-fall-of-yanukovych-a-955328.html
*That is how politics in Ukraine is done: Whereas Putin took power away from the oligarchs in Russia, they are still at the controls in Ukraine.
There are, of course, differences between Akhmetov and Firtash. For one, Firtash is worth less than a billion dollars, in contrast to the monumentally rich Akhmetov. Furthermore, he works closely with partners in Russia whereas Akhmetov’s business empire is more focused on Europe.
That’s how Akhmetov and Firtash built up options for a possible future without Yanukovych. When the protests broke out on Independence Square in November and both oligarchs saw how obstinately Yanukovych reacted, they began to distance themselves. It was clear to both of them that if worse comes to worst, and the West imposed sanctions on Ukraine, their businesses would be the first to be affected.
Last Tuesday’s bloody conflicts tipped the scales. On Wednesday both Akhmetov’s and Firtash’s TV stations changed their coverage of Independence Square: Suddenly the two channels, Ukraina and Inter, were reporting objectively on the opposition. The message of the oligarchs was clear: We’re letting Yanukovych fall.*
spiegel.de/international/europe/how-oligarchs-in-ukraine-prepared-for-the-fall-of-yanukovych-a-955328.html
*That is how politics in Ukraine is done: Whereas Putin took power away from the oligarchs in Russia, they are still at the controls in Ukraine.
There are, of course, differences between Akhmetov and Firtash. For one, Firtash is worth less than a billion dollars, in contrast to the monumentally rich Akhmetov. Furthermore, he works closely with partners in Russia whereas Akhmetov’s business empire is more focused on Europe.
That’s how Akhmetov and Firtash built up options for a possible future without Yanukovych. When the protests broke out on Independence Square in November and both oligarchs saw how obstinately Yanukovych reacted, they began to distance themselves. It was clear to both of them that if worse comes to worst, and the West imposed sanctions on Ukraine, their businesses would be the first to be affected.
Last Tuesday’s bloody conflicts tipped the scales. On Wednesday both Akhmetov’s and Firtash’s TV stations changed their coverage of Independence Square: Suddenly the two channels, Ukraina and Inter, were reporting objectively on the opposition. The message of the oligarchs was clear: We’re letting Yanukovych fall.*
I just cannot believe how hypocritical America is being with all this. Not only do they invade countries for differing reasons but America even has laws that state it won’t help leaders that have taken over a democratic country via a coup.
Obama knows America couldn’t win a war with Russia which is why they keep talking of freezing peoples assets.
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pepipop
Guest
Viewpoint from a Ukrainian, her first paragraph is interesting - history continually repeating itself.
**
Ukraine and the west: hot air and hypocrisy**
theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/10/ukraine-and-west-hot-air-hypocrisy-crimea-russia
*Unfortunately, someone in the new Ukrainian government flexes his anti-Russian muscles, and the Russian language is stripped of its official status throughout Ukraine. Fortunately, someone else sees sense and the move is cancelled. But if you were a Russian speaker, wouldn’t you be rattled? Wouldn’t you look around for support? Sixty per cent of Crimea’s population is Russian. Suddenly, Russian troops appear in Crimea. Is it an annexation or a rescue? It depends on your point of view. Is there any evidence that Russia was behind the Crimean move to secede from Ukraine, or was it a homegrown initiative, as in 1993? The Russian Black Sea fleet had been docked on territory controlled by anti-Russians. And rumour has it that Nato is sniffing around for a new place to park its ICBMs. (But that’s OK, because Nato is on our side.)
I am no fan of Vladimir Putin, who is, in my opinion, a loathsome, anti-democratic tyrant with physique issues. But the EU and the US have played right into his grubby little hands. His popularity has soared enormously, because he has been doing exactly what a leader is supposed to do: he has been sticking up for the interests of his people. Would any western government allow its fleet to fall into the hands of its enemies? I hope not, though given the level of incompetence we have witnessed so far, anything is possible. Would any western government allow its enemies to station missiles a few miles off shore? Kennedy was hailed a hero for putting his foot down over Cuba. And Putin is being hailed a hero over Crimea. Whether the threats are real or not is irrelevant at this point.*
**
Ukraine and the west: hot air and hypocrisy**
theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/10/ukraine-and-west-hot-air-hypocrisy-crimea-russia
*Unfortunately, someone in the new Ukrainian government flexes his anti-Russian muscles, and the Russian language is stripped of its official status throughout Ukraine. Fortunately, someone else sees sense and the move is cancelled. But if you were a Russian speaker, wouldn’t you be rattled? Wouldn’t you look around for support? Sixty per cent of Crimea’s population is Russian. Suddenly, Russian troops appear in Crimea. Is it an annexation or a rescue? It depends on your point of view. Is there any evidence that Russia was behind the Crimean move to secede from Ukraine, or was it a homegrown initiative, as in 1993? The Russian Black Sea fleet had been docked on territory controlled by anti-Russians. And rumour has it that Nato is sniffing around for a new place to park its ICBMs. (But that’s OK, because Nato is on our side.)
I am no fan of Vladimir Putin, who is, in my opinion, a loathsome, anti-democratic tyrant with physique issues. But the EU and the US have played right into his grubby little hands. His popularity has soared enormously, because he has been doing exactly what a leader is supposed to do: he has been sticking up for the interests of his people. Would any western government allow its fleet to fall into the hands of its enemies? I hope not, though given the level of incompetence we have witnessed so far, anything is possible. Would any western government allow its enemies to station missiles a few miles off shore? Kennedy was hailed a hero for putting his foot down over Cuba. And Putin is being hailed a hero over Crimea. Whether the threats are real or not is irrelevant at this point.*
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asnate
Guest
I am quite surprised about how many people on Catholic forum support Russian Nazi. This ‘rescue’ of Crimea - ever heard about Hitler rescuing Sudetenland?
We all living in neighbouring countries consider Ukraine conflict as repeating pattern of German Nazi politics in 1939.
Also I am worried about priests and sisters located in Crimea, some of them I know personally.
We all living in neighbouring countries consider Ukraine conflict as repeating pattern of German Nazi politics in 1939.
Also I am worried about priests and sisters located in Crimea, some of them I know personally.
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AnastasiaRomano
Guest
“Kremlin Massing Armed Forces Near Eastern Ukraine”
nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/ukraine.html?hp
nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/ukraine.html?hp
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AnastasiaRomano
Guest
Indeed, it is definitely a threat against the Tatar community, and they are interpreting it as such. So who exactly needs protection?
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AnastasiaRomano
Guest
“Air Links Are Severed as Russia Tightens Its Grip on Crimean Peninsula”
nytimes.com/2014/03/12/world/europe/ukraine.html
nytimes.com/2014/03/12/world/europe/ukraine.html
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Miserissima
Guest
No worries. It’s only to “keep peace” from Ukrainian agitators during the referendum. Right? Right? Right?
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josie_L
Guest
Scotland will hopefully one day secede from England without intervention.
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josie_L
Guest
I do not, but yes, there are quite a few. And I am worried about the priest/sisters too, well, all Catholics really, i.e., Catholics are not treated so well in Russia. And I’m not so sure how the Tatars will fare?? But it doesn’t look good.
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Vouthon
Guest
On a purely personal level, I just want to say that most Scots are Unionists. The only reason we voted - not me personally but as a populace - for the Scottish National Party, was as a protest against our traditional Labour Party and its incessant failures. The SNP are expected to lose the referendum. I will be voting “no” in the referendum later this year. I detest nationalism, especially ethnic nationalism: which has been a vehicle for more human suffering than anything else.
The United Kingdom was about different ethnicities - English, Scots, Irish and Welsh - joining together and transcending their racial, cultural and linguistic differences through an attachment to common institutions such as the monarch, parliament and a sense of shared values. It has lasted for more than 300 years and is a striking example to the world.
An independent Scotland would be a much more ethnically homogeneous state. That is not a good thing in my book. In the middle ages there was a transnational Christendom. Religions are universal and unite people beyond race and boundaries. Nationalism is a curse from the era of 17th absolute monarchies that creates division in the human family and leads to friction between brothers worldwide. It has never done anything beneficial for the human race.
I believe that nation-states should be created not on the basis of ethnicity but rather on the foundation of common values, institutions, citizenship, political practices and so on. Consider the United States constitution, “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” This is a constitutional patriotism whereby citizens of different ethnic groups are unified by one common political creed.
The French Republic is another example of this “constitutional patriotism” which is set against ethnic nationalism, which defies race and one culture as superior to others.
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