Though no real agreements appear to have been reached, French officials dubbed today’s Paris talks, the first between NATO members and Russia on the Ukraine crisis a significant step “in the right direction.”
Much of the discussion centered around pressing Russia to recognize the “interim” government in Ukraine, installed after protesters chased President Yanukovych out of the country. Russia has yet to recognize them, insisting the new government was installed following an extra-constitutional coup.
The other Western demand was for Russia to order all Crimean troops back to their bases in a step toward ending the secessionist movement there. Russia spurned that demand out of hand, saying they don’t have the authority to order Crimean troops to do anything in Crimea.
The situation within the Crimea itself appears basically unchanged, with the autonomous region still moving toward a referendum on secession from the Ukraine.
According to RT news the following is happening
1-Russia has slammed NATO for applying “Cold War” stereotypes and double standards after the alliance announced it will review its relations with Russia while stepping up engagement with the Ukrainian military.
2-We have suspended the planning for our first NATO-Russia joint mission. The maritime escort for the US ship Cape Ray, which will neutralize Syria’s chemical weapons. Let me stress, this will not affect the destruction of chemical weapons, but Russia will not be involved in the escort of the US vessel,” Rasmussen said.
3-Nevertheless, NATO is willing to “keep the door open for political dialogue. So we are ready to maintain meetings of ambassadors in the NATO-Russia Council, as we have done today,” Rasmussen said.
NATO has decided to “intensify our partnership” and “strengthen our cooperation” with Ukraine in order to “support democratic reforms.”
“We will step up our engagement with the Ukrainian civilian and military leadership. We will strengthen our efforts to build the capacity of the Ukrainian military, including with more joint training and exercises. And we will do more to include Ukraine in our multinational projects to develop capabilities,” Rasmussen clarified.
The supply of Neo, old and Ok’d fascism by the EU Neo liberal fascism government is what Ukraine is about, NATO is eager to have a military base in cooperation with their entity as Rasmussen clarifying whom they are. Rasmussen himself is a member of right wing Neo fascist political party in Denmark, he was the prime minster of Denmark before, he have a very good understanding of Swedish-English and Danish cooperation with the European liberal fascism as they have declared war on humanity and united themselves with fascism all over Europe.
GOOD.
The referendum is on March 30 and it will be a glorious day for Crimea. They don't want to be a part of the bankrupt, illegitimate Banderite government in Kiev.
Why should Crimea pay taxes to an illegal regime they find abhorrent which has basically de-legitimized the Russian language, raised the decades old ban on Nazi Symbology & toppled WW2 monuments in an attempt to eradicate Russian culture.
Maybe the Russians should also press for elections in the Ukraine as well as the Crimea. Be interesting to see the Ukrainian electorate sees the takeover. let the people directly affected choose rather than flapjaws in Paris.
Since it's now established that the troops in Crimea are not part of the Russian Armed forces, it's hard to see how Russia could give them orders. Thus, saying that Russia spurned the idea out of hand is a bit unreal. Probably the other countries would like Russia to used sailors from the Black Sea Fleet (there are 11 000 of them quite legally in Crimea under a treaty with Ukraine) together with Ukrainian forces to clear out what seems to be the remnants of Nuland's private army.