Merkel warns of massive damage as Russia masses forces
Stephen Brown

BERLIN: -- Showing no signs of backing down in its confrontation with the West, Russia has launched new military exercises near its border with Ukraine as the interim government in Kiev announced plans to raise 60,000 volunteers for a new National Guard force.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a stark and emotional speech to her parliament warning of "massive damage" unless Russia changes course, while in eastern Ukraine a man died in fighting between rival protesters in the mainly Russian-speaking city of Donetsk.

Dr Merkel removed any suspicion that she might try to avoid a confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if Russia continues on its course of the past weeks, it will not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine," she said. "We, also as neighbours of Russia, would not only see it as a threat.

And it would not only change the European Union's relationship with Russia. No, this would also cause massive damage to Russia, economically and politically."

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/world/merkel-warns-of-massive-damage-as-russia-masses-forces-20140314-hvijp.html

-- Sydney Morning Herald 2014-03-14

I just hope Poutine is clever enough to understand the situation , on the first day of the tension , the Russian stock exchange lost 60 billions dollars. And the rubbles was at his lowest .... Gaz and oil doesnt make the country more efficient , see what happen in Venezuela , lots of oil but empty supermarket....

Putin reminds me of Hitler. Hitler started by taking back Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) and Austria, both territories that the German Reich has lost in the First World War in much the same way as Putin has taken land in Abzhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia and next the Crimea. In the 1930s, other world leaders allowed Hitler to take back Sudetenland and Austria, taking the attitude that it was just poor little Germany trying to get back land that they had (possibly unfairly) lost. In the same way, world leaders have allowed Putin to take whatever land he likes, but the Crimea seems to be a Poland moment. When Hitler tried to take back Poland, World War II broke out. Tolerance came to an end. I think Merkel is now saying that tolerance of Putin's actions have come to an end too.

Remember Hitler was also elected by the people. He was not a dictator proper. Again Putin is the same.

People have no clue what's going on, just like in Syria....

Putin is the last line of defense against the new Hitler, from the west.

Putin reminds me of Hitler. Hitler started by taking back Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) and Austria, both territories that the German Reich has lost in the First World War in much the same way as Putin has taken land in Abzhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia and next the Crimea. In the 1930s, other world leaders allowed Hitler to take back Sudetenland and Austria, taking the attitude that it was just poor little Germany trying to get back land that they had (possibly unfairly) lost. In the same way, world leaders have allowed Putin to take whatever land he likes, but the Crimea seems to be a Poland moment. When Hitler tried to take back Poland, World War II broke out. Tolerance came to an end. I think Merkel is now saying that tolerance of Putin's actions have come to an end too.

Remember Hitler was also elected by the people. He was not a dictator proper. Again Putin is the same.

I don't generally like Hitler comparisions, those come too easy and are usually somewhat awkward.

However you see things, you're quite off on Austria. No "retaking" there, they joined the Reich by popular vote because it seemed such a good idea after loosing WW I and all the contemporary blood and honour theories. Please don't draw up comparisions with the Krim now, it's all totally different.

Putin is the last line of defense against the new Hitler, from the west.

Putin is someone real. Mafia or not he's not some puppet that could not fight his way out of a paper bag. We got plenty chicken hawks destroying country after country and people keep buying the BS. State backed terrorism and I'm unhappy to support it while I pay tax. There is a lot of public info about it dear admin/mod, so let's not delete this please

Does this mean Russians will no longer be able to come to Thailand

Does this mean Russians will no longer be able to come to Thailand

yes, that's an unfortunate fact

Putin reminds me of Hitler. Hitler started by taking back Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) and Austria, both territories that the German Reich has lost in the First World War in much the same way as Putin has taken land in Abzhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia and next the Crimea. In the 1930s, other world leaders allowed Hitler to take back Sudetenland and Austria, taking the attitude that it was just poor little Germany trying to get back land that they had (possibly unfairly) lost. In the same way, world leaders have allowed Putin to take whatever land he likes, but the Crimea seems to be a Poland moment. When Hitler tried to take back Poland, World War II broke out. Tolerance came to an end. I think Merkel is now saying that tolerance of Putin's actions have come to an end too.

Remember Hitler was also elected by the people. He was not a dictator proper. Again Putin is the same.

I don't generally like Hitler comparisions, those come too easy and are usually somewhat awkward.

However you see things, you're quite off on Austria. No "retaking" there, they joined the Reich by popular vote because it seemed such a good idea after loosing WW I and all the contemporary blood and honour theories. Please don't draw up comparisions with the Krim now, it's all totally different.

I agree, people throw the H word at anyone these days. At least throw it in the right corner:

" The most prominent among these groups is an organization called Svoboda. The Svoboda party which traces its roots to the Ukrainian partisan army of World War II, was loosely allied with Nazi Germany. Until 2004, Svoboda had been called the Social-Nationalist Party, a deliberate reference to the National Socialism of the Nazis.

We're not throwing the term Neo-Nazi around as an empty slur here. The leader of Svoboda, Oleh Tyahnybok, has openly targeted Jews and ethnic Russians in Ukraine for many years. In 2004 he was kicked out of Viktor Yushenko's government for a speech calling for Ukrainians to fight against a "Muscovite-Jewish mafia", and in 2005 he signed his name to an open letter to the leadership of Ukraine entitled "Stop the Criminal Activities of Organised Jewry".

People have no clue what's going on, just like in Syria....

OK, not that I buy into this broadcast without many questions...the bottom line is that Russia is acting unilaterally against a recognized sovereign nation. As pointed out Russia is supported by China. If so, both are members of the UN Security Council and could have called for international observation of the escalating violence in the Crimea and Ukraine in general. If we are to thwart actions by whatever nation to destabilize, then multinational not unilateral action needs to be taken. Yes, there are many interests involved, including but not limited to Russia's political and economic interests.

Russia is protecting its citizens against an unconstitutional government of neo Nazi thugs.

Bravo Mr. Putin.

People have no clue what's going on, just like in Syria....

OK, not that I buy into this broadcast without many questions...the bottom line is that Russia is acting unilaterally against a recognized sovereign nation. As pointed out Russia is supported by China. If so, both are members of the UN Security Council and could have called for international observation of the escalating violence in the Crimea and Ukraine in general. If we are to thwart actions by whatever nation to destabilize, then multinational not unilateral action needs to be taken. Yes, there are many interests involved, including but not limited to Russia's political and economic interests.

Could you tell me how many times the UN have saved the day? If you look at the list of fail by the UN you could conclude the game is rigged. What if we use the Ukraine to target Russia? Did you know snipers targeted both parties? Did you know insane mcain showed up there just like he was seen with rebels in Syria? Do you know high officials are only business and law man? Do you know how much income vanished when the Cold War ended? Think about it... I think its time to wake up!

Russia is protecting its citizens against an unconstitutional government of neo Nazi thugs.

Bravo Mr. Putin.

Thank you for confirm that, whatch my vid earlier. The worst part is we support it unknowingly. Regime change... Is the most fair statement maybe...

The topic is about Angela Merkel

.....and TinoThailand writes

QUOTE

People have no clue what's going on, just like in Syria....

UNQUOTE

...so Angela Merkel has no clue what she was talking about ??????

The topic is about Angela Merkel

.....and TinoThailand writes

QUOTE

People have no clue what's going on, just like in Syria....

UNQUOTE

...so Angela Merkel has no clue what she was talking about ??????

I would not put her under common "people"... Let's try to keep it interesting shall we? Maybe we can create a guide with facts so people can choose for them self instead of playing "suck up".

Putin reminds me of Hitler. Hitler started by taking back Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) and Austria, both territories that the German Reich has lost in the First World War in much the same way as Putin has taken land in Abzhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia and next the Crimea. In the 1930s, other world leaders allowed Hitler to take back Sudetenland and Austria, taking the attitude that it was just poor little Germany trying to get back land that they had (possibly unfairly) lost. In the same way, world leaders have allowed Putin to take whatever land he likes, but the Crimea seems to be a Poland moment. When Hitler tried to take back Poland, World War II broke out. Tolerance came to an end. I think Merkel is now saying that tolerance of Putin's actions have come to an end too.

Remember Hitler was also elected by the people. He was not a dictator proper. Again Putin is the same.

Euroz ... Your comparison to Nazi Germany is an insult to all the Russian people. Russia lost over 30 million souls to Hitler and his zombie supermen. I'm American, and I don't give a hoot what Washington, London, Brussels, or Berlin says. I support Putin 100%.

Let's please stick a little closer to the topic of the OP.

Let's please stick a little closer to the topic of the OP.

Right! Well I can strongly backup why I think Merkel is playing in the dirty game. And I highly recommend watching the vid I posted.

Besides that I'm stunned with the hypocrites that were never against the illegal rape of Syria for example.

Russia is just responding far more closely... Let's not forget this is NOT just some economy story, there is more to it.

The topic is about Angela Merkel

.....and TinoThailand writes

QUOTE

People have no clue what's going on, just like in Syria....

UNQUOTE

...so Angela Merkel has no clue what she was talking about ??????

She is very much a part of a cabal of EU leaders who have undermined the legitimate Ukraine government and then get upset when their installed (fascist or Nazi-leaning?) group is challenged by Russia - declares it a potential disaster. OH and not to overlook the US involvement too.

Putin is no angel but neither is he willing to allow the Crimea become under the NATO umbrella - which is what the US wants - and he's quite right there. Neither side is coming out of this with flying colours & don't mention democracy - it's been a facade there just like another nameless country.

Now the ethnic Russians in East Ukraine are "attacked" ....preparing another glorious arrival first of disguised "self defense units" and then of course the Russian army itself ("training" is going on already..-

Next could be stirring up incidents within ethnic Russians of the Baltic States and then we are really again the cold war.

 

Do not misunderstand me, I am in favour of Russia taking complete control of Ukraine ....so that they face the debt situation rather than the EU countries.

I think most of you have no idea why Russia is doing what they are doing. I believe (from everything I have read and researched) that the EU and US are placing in power another puppet government so they can bring in more nuclear missiles to line Russia's borders.

If we recollect, back in the early 60's Russia pulled the same stunt. Russia positioned nuclear missiles in Cuba and that did not go over well with the USA. It about started WWIII! Now, the EU and US are lining the borders of Russia with nuclear missiles and we expect Russia not to do ANYTHING!?!?! Russia is doing what is best for his country and I would expect your country would do the very same thing.

I think most of you have no idea why Russia is doing what they are doing. I believe (from everything I have read and researched) that the EU and US are placing in power another puppet government so they can bring in more nuclear missiles to line Russia's borders.

If we recollect, back in the early 60's Russia pulled the same stunt. Russia positioned nuclear missiles in Cuba and that did not go over well with the USA. It about started WWIII! Now, the EU and US are lining the borders of Russia with nuclear missiles and we expect Russia not to do ANYTHING!?!?! Russia is doing what is best for his country and I would expect your country would do the very same thing.

Huh???!!! Bizarre people in this world. No one is "now" lining any Ukranian Russian border with nuclear missiles. Time for your meds so you can crawl back under your rock. US does not need to line that border with any nuclear missiles.

Stop reading the Internet if that is the best research you can come up with. I can provide you with conclusive proof that Bigfoot is an alien based on research on the Internet. Love how the net and the whacky people posting on the net are educating the world and shaping the way impressionable people think.

Unless you think that a catapult is used to send nuclear missiles into Russia, I think there are a places for them, and some aren't very far away. Ukraine is way, way too unstable to be a safe place for weapons.

Putin reminds me of Hitler. Hitler started by taking back Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) and Austria, both territories that the German Reich has lost in the First World War in much the same way as Putin has taken land in Abzhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia and next the Crimea. In the 1930s, other world leaders allowed Hitler to take back Sudetenland and Austria, taking the attitude that it was just poor little Germany trying to get back land that they had (possibly unfairly) lost. In the same way, world leaders have allowed Putin to take whatever land he likes, but the Crimea seems to be a Poland moment. When Hitler tried to take back Poland, World War II broke out. Tolerance came to an end. I think Merkel is now saying that tolerance of Putin's actions have come to an end too.

Remember Hitler was also elected by the people. He was not a dictator proper. Again Putin is the same.

So maybe soon we will see William Hague standing on the aircraft steps at London airport, waving a paper in the air, and announcing that he has brought a letter from Mr Putin, guaranteeing that Russia has no further territorial claims in Ukraine, now that the Crimea has been allowed to go back.

He can use the soundbite "Peace in our Time"

Putin reminds me of Hitler. Hitler started by taking back Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) and Austria, both territories that the German Reich has lost in the First World War in much the same way as Putin has taken land in Abzhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia and next the Crimea. In the 1930s, other world leaders allowed Hitler to take back Sudetenland and Austria, taking the attitude that it was just poor little Germany trying to get back land that they had (possibly unfairly) lost. In the same way, world leaders have allowed Putin to take whatever land he likes, but the Crimea seems to be a Poland moment. When Hitler tried to take back Poland, World War II broke out. Tolerance came to an end. I think Merkel is now saying that tolerance of Putin's actions have come to an end too.

Remember Hitler was also elected by the people. He was not a dictator proper. Again Putin is the same.

It's just ridiculous to compare Putin with Hitler. And Putin isn't Stalin either.

Things in Kiev and the crimea are not that simple as it seems.

EU and NATO are expanding to the east closer and closer to Russia; USA deploying nuclear missiles in Czechia and Poland.

Putin has to defend Russia's safety and interests. The aggression has been started by the West.

The new Ukrainian government is not legal. It hasn't been elected in a democratic manner. Many of the new government are

Nazis. (Svoboda fraction) Better compare them to Hitler and his followers

Next elections were due in 2015. EU & US couldn't wait that long.

About the crimea: Majority there are ethnic Russians. There will be a referendum to ask the people of the crimea if they want to

be with Russia or Ukrainia. No doubt they will vote for Russia.

They better try to solve the dispute in a peaceful way. Merkel should be the very last one to risk a big mouth on Russia.

I am somewhat tempted to compare her to old Adolf H.

Eurozhong, you may be well informed about history but you seem to close your eyes on the ongoing crisis.

An off-topic post has been deleted.

People need to learn a bit of history. The 'conquest' of Crimea by Catherine the Great may not have been one of the

high points of Russian history: but

Crimea - historically, culturally, sentimentally - is Russian, conquered by Catherine the Great from the Ottomans in 1783. Sevastopol was founded by Catherine.

Lot of US/European nonsence...Fine to exterminate Native Americans, fine to finance Kosovo, fine to carve up

South Sudan and Pakistan......etc

Putin can do anything he wants England and Nato will do nothing and are waiting for George Bush too do something. We are known Obama and Nato and England will just cry and beg