Russia threatens Ukraine on accession to NATO

Saturday, April 5, 2014, 10:15

Russia does not like the initiative of Ukraine’s new leadership on possible changes to its non-aligned status. This announcement comes in a release from the Foreign Ministry of Russia. Russian diplomats pointed to a statement from Acting President Turchynov that Ukraine is considering changing its neutral status. Russia also mentioned a bill submitted to Parliament that suggests excluding the non-alignment provisions from Ukrainian legislation.

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Detlev Preusse: Die Russland-Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Detlev Preusse: Die Russland-Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

viaDetlev Preusse: Die Russland-Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

Interview with Mustafa Dzemilev at the UN Security Council

Mustafa Dzemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar community, Speaking at the UN Security Council.

MUSTAFA: The topic of the meeting is “Human Rights in the Occupied Territories”.

Mostly we focused on this issue, and particularly Valentina Samar. I spoke about the situation in general, about the legal grounds of the occupation, about Russia’s faulty reasoning, and about my concerns. Among them, first of all, is the fact that sanctions against this aggressor are like pinpricks to an elephant. If nothing changes, it is highly doubtful that Russia will leave the territory it occupied. Should this approach prevail, Ukrainians will feel cheated, and rightfully so. There is already a growing narrative that we were cheated and we need to return our nuclear status.

JOURNALIST: What more assertive actions would you like to see from the West? Military actions?

MFA: Ukraine should be part of Europe’s collective defense

Thursday, March, 27, 2014, 17:43

Security guarantees for Ukraine do not work, so the country is forced to look for other ways of protection, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Danylo Lubkivskiy announced. He made this statement ​​in response to a question about whether Ukraine could promise Russia to remain a non-aligned state.

“Non-aligned status is a decision that should be taken by the Ukrainian nation. But when the safety of the country is put in jeopardy and when guarantors of security do not fulfill their obligations, we will be looking for other ways of protection and defense, and of course, the collective system … Of course, Ukraine should be a part of the collective system of European defense, ” said Lubkivskiy.

Russian “blitzkrieg” from North and East-North, U.S. intel on Ukraine is lagging behind

by Vitalii Usenko, based on recent news reports

Picture from: http://ukraineinvestigation.com/development-around-ukraine/

Russian forces keep on coming to Ukrainian borders and now not only the Crimean peninsula but also Northern and Eastern parts of Ukraine are endangered of the future possible attacks from the Russian side.

A new classified intelligence assessment concludes it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine, CNN has learned. But it is so? Isn’t this just a diversion to hide the area of main assault? This comes to mind taking into consideration recent developments and the Russian troops building up alongside the northern and north-eastern borders of Ukraine. 

Ukraine worried about wartime threat to nuclear facilities

A possible war with Russia in Ukraine represents a threat to nuclear facilities in the country and to Europe as a whole, said Volodymyr Horbach, analyst at the Institute for European-Atlantic Cooperation, in an appearance on Espreso TV on March 24.

Russian troops near Ukraine could reach Transdnistria – NATO

Monday, March, 24, 2014, 17:32

The Russian troops concentrated near the Ukrainian border are numerous enough to get to Transdnistria. CNN reports that the news comes from Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe Philip Bridlov.

The general expressed his concern that the army focused on the border with Ukraine can pose a threat to Transdnistria and Moldova. “(The Russian) forces located on the eastern border with Ukraine are very large and in full readiness,” said Bridlov. “There’s absolutely enough troops on the eastern border of Ukraine to reach Transdnistria – if such a decision is taken – and it is very disturbing,” – he said.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine is very high, because the Russian troops have withdrawn from the border, but have not returned to their bases.

Poland Fears Russian Aggression and Doubts NATO Help

Poland is greatly concerned about a possible attack from Russia, reports Yuriy Shcherbak, Ukraine’s former ambassador to the US, after a recent trip to the country. Shcherbak took part in an international conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the revival of the Solidarity movement in Poland and shared his experiences with Espreso.TV on March 18.

“There is a great concern there,” he said. “They are thinking primarily about themselves now. No wonder [American Vice-President Joe] Biden traveled to Poland. No wonder they are now demanding American presence in Poland. They think that Lithuania may be next.”

Shcherbak also spoke of one “terrible thing” that happened after his presentation. A vote was held on the question “Do you believe NATO will help Poland in the event of military aggression? And 80% of the participants said ‘No,’ and they are members of NATO,” he concluded.

Ukrainian defense-related update from Stefan Korshak

First the rumor: I have heard from several people that supposedly Ukraine has sent two brigades of its best troops to the SE border opposite Russia’s Glukhov province, and that the Russians are now pushing force to their side of the line. Absolutely no media reports, however, past news said the two brigades were in motion. So that might be something to watch.

As to other developments, some of you will have heard that NATO decided yesterday to send AWACS planes to fly the alliance’s eastern frontier. The planes doing the job will fly from one base in Germany and one base in England, and the route will be the Polish and Romania borders.