A day after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced he was ending a ceasefire with the ethnic Russian rebels in the east, Ukrainian troops launched airstrikes and artillery barrages against rebel positions, and Poroshenko vowed to see the offensive rid Ukraine of “the parasites.”
The ceasefire lasted only a week, and talks were limited, as Poroshenko continued to demand the disarmament and surrender of all rebels as a condition for any negotiations on reforms. Poroshenko complained, on announcing the end of the ceasefire, that the rebels weren’t serious about accepting this “offer.”
The US State Department cheered the announcement of the ceasefire’s end, saying Ukraine’s military has a “responsibility” and “obligation” to respond to the eastern rebels militarily.
Russia, which sought to see the ceasefire extended, was harshly critical, and accused the US of “influencing” Poroshenko’s decision to restart the war. President Vladimir Putin also reiterated his intention to protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine from being wiped out militarily, and urged the EU to help them get back to peace talks.
Putin will soon invade Eastern Ukraine. What other choice does he have?
Looks like it,
These 100'000 refugees fleeing to Russia must all be terrorists fearing Putin's regime. Or maybe not.
If Putin is going to live up to his intention of protecting ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine, he better do it damned soon before the Kiev junta does wipe them out.
I think that the situation is more complex than most people seem to realise.
Firstly, at this stage the Russians still have some hope that the Europeans particularly the Germans, Austrians, Slovaks and Czechs will come to their senses and realise that this whole Ukrainian affair is aimed at them almost as much as it is at the Russians (The Europeans must realise that there is no way that the US can replace the Russians as suppliers of gas, not now, not ever) Overt military action in the Southeast of Ukraine will remove that hope.
Secondly, what of Russian minorities in other eastern European countries? It would be much easier to paint them (falsely) as a potential pretext for a Russian invasion if Russia intervenes militarily in Ukraine. It seems likely to me that Russian speakers in places such as the Baltic states might be targeted, spreading the conflict and greatly increasing the chances of a major war.
It seems that Putin is quite understanably playing for time. Ultimately, if the situation continues to deteriorate and Russia's restraint goes unrewarded, then Putin will have to intervene or be replaced by someone who will.
I sure hope Putin will them outright what's up. These europians seems too busy brown-nosing Nobel Peace Prizer to notice that the whole affair stinks.
I doubt if Putin will be fool enough to invade now. He realises that the US has no choice but defend Ukrainian sovereignty, not for Ukraine's sake but for Israel's. The US is Israel's only possible protector and, for obvious geographical reasons, that protection can be provided only from Europe via NATO. Alreday seriously discredited by the capitulaltion over Crimea and the lingering doubts as to whether the US would actually defend the Baltic republics if the crunch came, NATO simply cannot afford to let Ukraine be invaded. I note that he talks about "defending the INTERESTS of ethnic Russians abroad". That sounds like diplomacy, not war. Any having sent jet fighters to Iraq for use against rebels there, he can't object if Ukraine uses its Sukhois for the same purpose! Putin has painted himself into a corner and he has no choice but to back down, however slowly and with however much bad grace.
Hi Mikey, why aren't you with Nazisraelis and Neocons on CNN giving interviews? You definitely are rolling on the right track, these churnalists would lap it up.
> NATO simply cannot afford to let Ukraine be invaded.
NATO would not be able to do shit about it even it happened.
Ukraine isn't a NATO member. NATO has no obligation to Ukraine. This is bear baiting in what appears to be an attempt at dragging Russia into war. It is the same ploy used in the Middle East against the Shia. The goal is to make Russia bleed or better yet spark a new World War for the merchants of death. The million dollar question is in a new world war where would you want to be to avoid the nuclear fall out.
I just hope Russia "accidentally" crushes a couple of NATO countries along the way – would serve that tyrant scumbag President Change right.
Ukraine is in it's right to destroy the Russian terrorists in the eastern part of the country. These scumbags have no morals to kill everyone who disagrees. The Führer Putin should be constrained with NATO military might. The warmonger wants to recreate the former Soviet Union as much as possible. Starting with Ukraine as New Russia and extending to the Baltic Republics. Only military force will prevent Putler's plans to become reality.
Troll/10, would not troll with.
The Cowardly NATO can do nothing, If you are that gong ho then volunteer your city for Russians to obliterate, others want peace. Finally how does it feel to stand with a president that calls his people parasites?
Russians are master planners, one false move and the Russian bear will maul NATO. Chew on this with your ignorance, maybe yowl learn something.
Poroshenko do not want to understand that there are several ethic group in Ukraine for some centuries.Cleaning one of this group is called genocide.There is blood on him,Obama and leaders of eec.
Ukraine will have to pay top dollar for gas, forever. They will become dependent on U.S. taxpayer handouts.
If he had really wanted to rid Ukraine of parasites, he should have executed the whole junta in Kiev, as well as Kolomoisky, Yarosh, Tyagnibok, and then hanged himself. Parasites are in power now, trying to crush the people whose blood they used to drink figuratively, and now drink literally.
Did you notice that every country where the US brings "democracy" ends up becoming Somalia?