Just days after Russia and Ukraine made a deal on a ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, tensions are threatening to flare up again, on news that the Ukrainian spy agency the SBU has seized a Russian tanker, the Nika Spirit, from a port near the Black Sea coast.
An estimated 15 crew members, all Russian citizens, were seized in the move, though they have subsequently been released, following a Russian warning that they wouldn’t stand for their citizens being taken hostage.
Ukrainian officials are trying to justify this move related to a naval confrontation with Russia in the Sea of Azov in November. They claim this tanker was the one blocking access to the Sea of Azov during the Russian closure. When Ukrainian boats forced their way into Russian-claimed waters at the time, they were seized by Russia’s Navy.
Even though nothing the tanker did in the course of that crisis was actually illegal, and at best it could be said to be adjacent to something that happened, Ukrainian officials made a big deal, accusing the Nika Spirit of having changed its name to avoid connection with that matter, and also claiming Russia snuck it back into commercial circulation to try to distract attention.
Russia is still holding the Ukrainian Navy boats, and sailors, from November, and initially this move was seen as an attempt to try to set up an exchange. With Russia having already gotten their crew released, however, it may just delay matters by increasing hostility between the two nations.
Oh Baby, here we go!
These Ukies are morons.
What makes me think that the Ukrainians were “encouraged” to do this?
The whole point of this Russia Hoax was to stop Trump from making peace with Russia. The real story is how Ukrainian crooks dumped many millions into Hillary’s camapign. They also gave Hunter Biden a sweetheart deal. We have no business in Ukraine!
Maybe “we” dont, but our controllers do.
Delusion x excuses = trump support. Nothing was/is preventing trump from better relations with Russia.
Nothing but his faulty ego and well established cowardice, which the deep state took full advantage of to insure their new cold war would continue on unmolested. Trump is a pig, but he’s also a wildcard. The Pentagon and intelligence establishment needed to hedge their bets by stoking Russophobic hysteria. It worked. Trump has become this generation’s most anti-Russian president in order to prove he’s not Putin’s bitch. Now, if only we could have a Saudigate….
Of course, because Trump is an all powerful God Emperor and has the intelligence, charisma and power to overturn an entrenched political and media system that has been closely cooperating for at least 70 years with his little finger. Thank you for confirming the might and glory of Trump and that he just chooses not to do the impossible. Thank you, and bless you for believing in his almighty power.
The whining screams over the sarcasm. Obama, soon after inauguration, went to work on the START treaty with Russia. Above the braying of “coward and traitor” from the right, much louder then, than what passes for criticism of the victim trump. Difference ? One went to work, the other sniveled and made excuses. Instead, trump has destroyed existing arms treaties, made war on russian allies, escalated deployment of forces threatening Russia, and, reinvigorated the arms race. These are all things he himself can address, if he actually wanted to “get along with Russia”…just don’t want to.
This reads like a Donald tweet and is equally fact-free.
How has Trump improved relations with Russia? Or attempted?
Missile defense in Poland. Tactical nuclear weapons (I read here how the doomsday clock is ticking later and later). A complete overhaul of our nuclear arsenal. The newly approved Pentagon budget. Pompeo and Bolton. While the Ukraine and Russia are seizing each other’s ships.
There’s nothing peaceful about this admin.
Russia should seize the coastline all the way to Odessa.
Does this have anything to do with the present president’s probable different interests
Its becoming obvious the driving force behind these tanker seizures is Israel. Gibraltar has close links to Israel and the pro Zionist donors behind the conservatives in UK would explain lack of override on Gibraltar.
Similarly Israel has considerable influence in Ukraine.
Hey, Britain used to own Gibraltar!
That’s real, and much clearer than your Israeli connection to Gibraltar, which you don’t explain at all as you feel we should know this obvious non-fact already. Ditto for your claim that Israel has close ties to Ukraine.
Check out the Hassan law firm then check out the mayor of Jerusalem. Note also the change of law the night before Gibraltar seized the tanker. Came straight from the Hassan law firm.
Stupid Ukies, they where in the middle of making a deal to get their sailors released.
Transit of Russian gas through Ukraine contract expires at the end of 2019, with no new agreement in sight.
Why would I think that the new Ukrainian president had nothing to do with this stunt?, that it was done behind his back by Neocon/CIA stooges paid to disrupt the emerging Russian/Ukrainian rapprochement?
So much for the new comedian President making peace with Russia. I knew all that stuff was so much nonsense, even if Putin said it.
Trump is a bad joke, but he’s no comedian.
Heh, I was referring to the new President of Ukraine, who used to be a professional comedian.
America supports Nazis which tells us just how far America has fallen and how low it is willing to go. Just as in the 20th century it was Germany that had to be stopped, in the 21st century it’s America.