COUP IN KYIV?

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Russia's U.N. ambassador says Ukraine's fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych asked President Vladimir Putin to use Russia's armed forces "to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine."

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the U.N. Security Council Monday he was authorized to read a statement from Yanukovych - and show members a copy - which says that "as the legitimately elected representative" he believes "Ukraine is on the brink of civil war."

Russia has effectively seized control of Ukraine's strategic Crimean peninsula.

Churkin quoted Yanukovic, who fled to Russia, as saying "the life and security and the rights of people particularly in the southeast part in Crimea are being threatened," and continued: "So under the influence of Western countries there are open acts of terror and violence."

If there is NO violence against the Russians at all, Putin would find it very difficult to justify incursions further than Crimea.

Its all so disillusioning.

I don't know a whole lot as can be evidenced by some of the things I say, but even I can see how easy it would be Russia to keep the reigns on the rest of Ukraine if Crimea is just considered gone and everybody goes about their business. Russia troops would probably remain in Crimea which would be an intimating act towards Ukraine's sovereignty. From the little I have read, Ukraine's military is almost laughable in comparison to Russia. Do you honestly think all Putin's wants is Crimea and has no interest in the politics of the rest of Ukraine and would not use his military might to intimidate the Ukrainians from Crimea?

Putin reminds me of an abusive husband who has kept the reigns on his wife by keeping her depended on him financially and food and shelter, and the minute she starts to look for alternatives, starts using physical threats and then finally actual physical abuse.

Do you just tell the wife to be a good little girl and knuckle under?

A rift appeared to be opening up on Monday night between the US and Europe on how to punish Vladimir Putin for his occupation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, with European capitals resisting Washington's push towards tough sanctions.

With the Americans, supported by parts of eastern Europe and Sweden, pushing for punitive measures against Moscow, EU foreign ministers divided into hawks and doves, preferring instead to pursue mediation and monitoring of the situation in Ukraine and to resist a strong sanctions package against Russia.

If Yatsenyuk and Turchinov send the Ukrainian army up against the vastly superior Russian military, a bloodbath looms. But if they submit to the Russians, the radical nationalists will accuse them of betraying the country.

All signs point to Russia annexing Crimea and possibly eastern parts of Ukraine, which will have dire consequences. In the long run, it will weaken moderate powers in Ukraine and could pave the way for the nationalists to take power. And if they do, revenge will be on their minds.

In addition, Putin still holds too many trump cards. Currently, Obama relies on Russia in both the nuclear negotiations with Iran and the Syrian crisis. According to critics, the White House is giving off the impression that it doesn't know itself what will come after the provocation and the threats. For numerous Republicans in the US Congress, the US has not yet gone far enough.
"The lesson of America's weakness is really becoming pervasive and will spread worldwide," said John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations. "I think Putin at this point holds all the high cards, and I think all we have to offer from President Obama is rhetoric."