COUP IN KYIV?

Monitors from the United States and 14 other nations are on their way to Ukraine, at Kiev’s invitation and under the aegis of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

A U.S. official said the team planned to leave within 24 hours, the Associated Press reports:

Russia is losing the Media war, this is the most telling example. All the focus has been on legitimising Russia's actions and making them legal.

The World's media just isn't buying it. Kerry made sure he was accepting Kiev's argument, and dismissed Putin's out of hand, and Kerry's message is the one getting out. BBC News was full of Russian speaking Ukrainian politicians telling Russia to back off, and one Crimean soldier saying his Russian parents couldn't believe he was prepared to fight for Kiev.

Jesting:
We could sell them the new portion of the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

(by way of saying I'm still reading - I appreciate this thread, thanks to all re the information)

The latest, at long bloody last.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26444747

UK will not curb trade with Russia.

Yet again, an idiot has strolled into a Downing Street meeting (where dozens of Press photographers take pictures of their arrival) with a briefing document clearly on show.
Laughably, this person, as yet unnamed, is supposed to be a 'Security Advisor'.

From the BBC News article......

"The government will not curb trade with Russia or close London's financial centre to Russians as part of any possible sanctions against Moscow, according to an official document.

But it confirms ministers are considering - along with other EU countries - visa restrictions and travel bans on key Russian figures.

The document was photographed as a senior official carried it into a meeting in Downing Street.

The government refused to comment.

The document says ministers should "discourage any discussion (eg at Nato) of contingency military preparations" and support "contingency EU work on providing Ukraine with alternative gas" and oil supplies "if Russia cuts them off".

'Generic'
Up until now ministers have made no specific threats of action against Russia and Downing Street has stressed the need to keep open the possibility of de-escalating the crisis.

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday that Russia would face "diplomatic, political, economic and other pressures" to send a "clear message" about its actions in the Ukraine.

Public statements should for now be kept "generic", the document says, whereas specific threats should be "contingent and used for private messaging".

This is in contrast to the specific hard-line threats made by US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday.

One senior government source said: "We prefer to speak softly and carry a big stick."

He stressed that European countries were pursuing a deliberate policy of showing to Russia that de-escalation was still possible while being clear that "significant costs" would follow if Moscow did not seek a peaceful conclusion to its dispute with Ukraine.

The BBC understands that Mr Cameron hopes to speak to Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel later.

The German attitude is regarded as crucial since that country is generally in favour of a less confrontational approach to Russia and is heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil.

Downing Street is refusing to comment on the document, though it is understood that other scenarios were considered at a meeting of the National Security Council on Monday."


One would almost be forgiven for believing that they intentionally wanted this thing leaked .

Walter, is there any way of finding out what Putin's idea of a 'traditional Ukranian partner' is?

Are they the same people who fired warning shots as per Putin's orders yesterday?

I think so ...

Source: OSCE

I bet there'll be some drinking contests in the hotel where they're staying.

senior government source said: "We prefer to speak softly and sroke our little dicks or uncle sam's big one."

And now, there's the leaked phone call between EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Estonian foreign affairs minister Urmas Paet



(Especially) Russian media say that it proves, the Kiev snipers were hired by Maidan leaders (now the new government)

Listening to it, it doesn't prove anything, apart from a rumour flying around that a sniper or snipers were working independently, and firing on both sides.
I wonder who would profit most from that tactic? Someone who wants to blow the whole thing sky high and cause it to be called an armed coup, perchance?

Not intending criticism, but my purpose of reading the thread is to sort out the facts and avoid the proliferation and the sensational speculation and rumors of snipers, etc.

This tension reminds me of the tension similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis...only this time USA is not quite 'in the soup' as then.

The Estonian foreign ministry said in a statement:
Foreign minister Paet was giving an overview of what he had heard the previous day in Kiev and expressed concern over the situation on the ground. We reject the claim that Paet was giving an assessment of the opposition’s involvement in the violence.


A spokeswoman for Ashton’s office said:
We can’t comment on leaks but our position on violence is very clear - that it should be investigated.

UN's envoy Robert Serry's convoy was stopped and threatened by unidentified armed men ("pro-Russian militia") in Simferopol. (He is safe back in the hotel, various sources report.)

If one gives credence of a Euroasia, as a continent, then Russia's actions can be compared to the U.S.'s Monroe Doctrine from an earlier era, perhaps.

Can anyone really think Russia would allow an EU country, on their border, solidify a new identity with becoming a full-fledged NATO member? In a way, since Kiev goes back to a medieval identity that was more Russian than European, it might really be a case of nationality confusion, perhaps similar in psychological ways to gender confusion? The comparison might be apropro, considering Russia's anti-gay concerns?

Western Ukraine might just focus its future on growing grain for Europe, considering climate change can shorten many planting seasons?

How charming; however, I am a product of the U.S. educational system. Fine with me.