German Chancellor Merkel warns of massive damage as Russia masses forces

[Mudcrab]

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

tell us the whole story then. Why do the free people of Ukraine have to fall under the spell of Russia again against their will? No videos...just words I can understand

[maximillian]

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 ??????

Merkel knows very well what's going on, but she has her head so deep in Obamas arse, she can't just do what is right.

As a German I am very much ashamed of our new Big Coalition of CDU&SPD. Ashamed also of my stupid countrymen

who voted for them.

[whoisyourdaddy]

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

tell us the whole story then. Why do the free people of Ukraine have to fall under the spell of Russia again against their will? No videos...just words I can understand

Free people of Ukraine do not have too, only Free Russian people living in Crimea want too.

[wwest5829]

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!

So, bottom line. Individual nation's should take unilateral action and send in their military? That is the answer to international need for action? I care less about politician's showing up in other countries than I do troops on the ground in a unilateral military action.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted. Some posts really are not worth responding to.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

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.

Just for the record President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor of Germany. Hitler was not elected.

[samuidave]

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 ??????

What Merkel is talking about only fuels the propaganda-filled heads of the west. You think she makes sense because you believe the stories of America, Britain and the western forces.

The problem is, you fail to consider exactly who is causing the majority of the warfare, death and destruction around the planet for the last 110 years, and who is profiting from that carnage.

Merkel is not the story. The story is whether more BS like this can continue to sway the marginal or unknowing believers to rally behind the western war-mongering propaganda.

Edited March 14, 2014 by samuidave

[techboy]

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

Didn't see that one coming. But you have it wrong. Actually he is a 'good guy alien' who is here to protect us from super intelligent giant amoeba invaders from a distant galaxy!

[MESmith]

Time to confiscate Chelsea FC from that russian fella & tell him to pack his bags

[pmugghc]

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.

Perhaps you can provide some facts regarding your statement "EU/US are lining the borders of Russia with nuclear missiles"?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[zydeco]

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 ??????

Merkel knows very well what's going on, but she has her head so deep in Obamas arse, she can't just do what is right.

As a German I am very much ashamed of our new Big Coalition of CDU&SPD. Ashamed also of my stupid countrymen

who voted for them.

Because you want to be different?

[ABCer]

Chill out TV hot heads.

Putin is not reincarnation of Adolf. Neither is Merkel.

There is no threat of a WWIII yet.

It is business as usual. US didn't cope with Russian missiles in Cuba. Neither Russia is going to cope Ukraine in NATO (rockets or no rockets).

Ukraine has several options. It can pay for energy to Russia and play independence games based on national sentiments. Or pay attention to the fact that its most vital part (East) is populated by Russians.

Or go nuclear and have another Chernobyl. But whichever course they will choose they must recon with Russia's interests.

Not only because there are so many Russians among them, but because Russia is a very powerful immediate neighbor. And an aggressive neighbor to boot.

Crimea is lost to Ukraine. It was never Ukrainian anyway. And if their numerous thieving, stupid and overly nationalistic governments weren't so stupid this Crimea business wouldn't had happened.

Does anybody (Merkel, Obama or others) think that Russia will give back Sebastopol? Lunacy!

I have no idea what Russia will do. But I know this much:

Sanctions will not work.

Putin is smarter than Obama.

Military actions are not even on the table.

And just as Ukrainians have several options so do Russians.

They can start doing business for gold instead of the paper dollar - this will re-elect Obama.

They can form a close alliance with Chinese - this will re-elect Obama.

They can split Ukraine in East and West - without sending in military (at least formally).

Than Ukraine will be left with half polish half nationalist population.

I am not exactly a Russian sympathizer. But I feel US Administration have gone too far in their efforts to destabilize the East.

Going back to Merkel - in this particular speech she is out of her depth. German business will not re-elect her again. Just wait and see.

Edited March 14, 2014 by ABCer

[Saradoc1972]

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".

You're right, I forgot about those critters. Maybe because they're on the receiving end of aggression. I remember reading they even send a delegation to our good and proper German Neonazi-Party.

Well, it's what you get when there is political uproar: little splinter-groups getting more attention than they deserve beacuse they tend to be much louder and radical than the rest. I would suppose them getting in the interim govenrment was a Ukrainian knee-jerk reaction to the EU-treaties failing because of Russian influence, hopefully without wasting any thought to their other utterances as to their other perceived enenmies. But you'd have to ask a Ukrainian here.

If they stay in parliament after proper elections, good luck trying getting any emergency funding from the EU and Germany. It's not like there are not enough problems.

Anyway, I can't see Russia giving up on the Krim. For internal political reasons (did you know Russians hate Gorbatchev for "giving away their empire" to the West?) as well as for military (it's their access point to the mediterraneans) and they are trying to establish an Eurasian Union with Kasachstan and down to the Near East to control some oil flow and build an economic counterweight (plus a military arm) to the EU. That's why they are not giving up on Syria to the point of alluding to their nuclear armament. And the US backing down here. It's their last shot at regaining Super Power status.

It's a bit of a pickle Ukraine is in here. Best scenario for them would be keeping their territorial integrity and remaining outside the EU and any Russian organisation. They will obviously stay dependend on Russian gas and have a big military base inside their borders. There is no military option here, not for the West against Russia and certainly not for Ukraine. And there is very limited room for sanctions as even Germany depends on Russian gas (our beloved ex-chancellor Schröder is even sitting on the board of some Russian gas firm. Considers Putin a friend, got a cute Russian adoptive daughter and called Russia a "lupenreine Demokratie" (perfect democracy) when still in office).

Or Ukraine will end up divided but sort-of embrace the EU as our new poor-house (most likely not member for years to come).

On a lighter note, I just read a Spiegel article concluding Russia had lost the battle for Ukraine as he had driven it towards the West when formerly it was a satellite-state firmly under his influence. And he wouldn't be able to go through with anncting the Krim because Russia was wedged between the West and China and on the whole economically dependend. Interesting times.

[Jingthing]

...

They can start doing business for gold instead of the paper dollar - this will re-elect Obama.

They can form a close alliance with Chinese - this will re-elect Obama.

...

Re-elect Obama?

Here's some advice -- don't quit your day job to be a political pundit.

[3NUMBAS]

if she gets to tetchy he will shut down the gas supply sending German industry into collapse .

putin holds the trump card so they call the shots

[Saradoc1972]

if she gets to tetchy he will shut down the gas supply sending German industry into collapse .

putin holds the trump card so they call the shots

Collapse? Not by a long shot. They'll have to step up efforts to get liquid gas terminals in the harbours and use up some of the big reserves till then, but that's about it. Lose some exports. maybe.

And Putin cannot do that because there will be no money coming into Russia and then full-blown sanctions will be on the table.

[Jingthing]

Again, Putin really isn't as clever as he's bluffed so many people to believe:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fareed-zakaria-on-ukraine-obama-must-lead-from-the-front/2014/03/13/10b9359a-aaea-11e3-af5f-4c56b834c4bf_story.html

...

But let’s not persist in believing that Moscow’s moves have been strategically brilliant. Vladimir Putin must have watched with extreme frustration in February as a pro-Russian government was toppled and Ukraine was slipping from his grasp. After the Olympics ended, he acted swiftly, sending his forces into Crimea. It was a blunder. In taking over Crimea, Putin has lost Ukraine.

...

I have generally been wary of the calls for U.S. intervention in any and every conflict around the world. But this is different. The crisis in Ukraine is the most significant geopolitical problem since the Cold War. Unlike many of the tragic ethnic and civil wars that have bubbled up over the past three decades, this one involves a great global power, Russia, and thus can and will have far-reaching consequences. And it involves a great global principle: whether national boundaries can be changed by brute force. If it becomes acceptable to do so, what will happen in Asia, where there are dozens of contested boundaries — and several great powers that want to remake them?

...

[whoisyourdaddy]

if she gets to tetchy he will shut down the gas supply sending German industry into collapse .

putin holds the trump card so they call the shots

The only reason why NOW some EU countries are getting worried is because they already pledged their support for Ukraine and aid.

Comes winter, not only EU countries need Russian gas but also would need to pay for Ukraine's

And i am guessing Ukrainian gas will cost much more than EU

[whoisyourdaddy]

if she gets to tetchy he will shut down the gas supply sending German industry into collapse .

putin holds the trump card so they call the shots

Collapse? Not by a long shot. They'll have to step up efforts to get liquid gas terminals in the harbours and use up some of the big reserves till then, but that's about it. Lose some exports. maybe.

And Putin cannot do that because there will be no money coming into Russia and then full-blown sanctions will be on the table.

You forgot full Chinese support in all aspects

[Loptr]

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 ??????

Merkel is reading the EU party line on the Ukrainian situation. The EU wants expansion into the Ukraine for access to billions of cm of gas, therefore cutting Putin out of the energy market to western Europe and the UK. Russia will not give up this advantage. We have already seen EU reluctance to support sanctions against Russia, because they know that Putin will simply turn off the gas / oil pipelines to the west. The unrest in the Ukraine was instigated by the west who supported and financed the radical right-wing nationalists and had hoped to install a new moderate government. When it went down, the neo-nazis took over. The west is supporting a losing position in this game and they are too f'ing stupid to realize it. Imagine that!!!! The west is pissing in Russia's back yard. What would you do if you were Putin, roll over? Not likely.

If Putin really wanted to put the screws to the west, all he has to do is demand payment for gas / oil in either rubles or gold. No more petrodollar.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Loptr

[fvw53]

Let us also add to the debate that the tensions with Russia about Ukraine have given new life to NATO which was loosing coherence certainly after the US - UK invasion of Iraq.

The appearance in Crimea of "self defense units" disguised as bank robbers with heavy machine guns and driving around in trucks from which they initially forgot to remove the Russian registration plates was enough to unite NATO again.

Not only German Chancellor Merkel did use strong language but also Swedish Foreign Minister Karl Bildt was very outspoken.

[Saradoc1972]

...

They can start doing business for gold instead of the paper dollar - this will re-elect Obama.

They can form a close alliance with Chinese - this will re-elect Obama.

...

Re-elect Obama?

Here's some advice -- don't quit your day job to be a political pundit.

Don't mean to burst ABCer's bubble... but you can only be President two times in a row. Same reason Medwedjev was Russian President after Putin's second term.

Or am I giving away the pointe here ?

[Beetlejuice]

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.

Also remember that during WW2 many Ukrainians supported Hitler. The scenes of violence in their streets today is reminiscent of the times when the Ukrainian nationalists beat the Jewish population to death in the streets and beat or burned Jews to death in their homes. Many of the concentration and death camps were staffed by Ukrainian guards.

Many were ultra right then and many are still ultra nationalistic today. In my opinion I would say that the between the Russians and the Ukrainians, the Russians are the best of the two evils and are justified in keeping the Ukrainians in hand and under control.

[Jingthing]

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.

Also remember that during WW2 many Ukrainians supported Hitler. The scenes of violence in their streets today is reminiscent of the times when the Ukrainian nationalists beat the Jewish population to death in the streets and beat or burned Jews to death in their homes. Many of the concentration and death camps were staffed by Ukrainian guards.

Many were ultra right then and many are still ultra nationalistic today. In my opinion I would say that the between the Russians and the Ukrainians, the Russians are the best of the two evils and are justified in keeping the Ukrainians in hand and under control.

This sounds crazy to me. The Poles were horrible too. So Poland should be a Russian puppet too? Come on now, most of the Jews are long gone. I'm all for remembering WW2, but don't use Jews as a lame excuse for why Ukraine doesn't deserve independence.

[Baerboxer]

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.

Your knowledge of history is appalling.

In WW1 Austria was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, certainly not part of the German Reich, although part of the axis powers.

Why don't you read a little about things first rather than making inane comparisons. You'd perhaps like to read up on the history of the Crimea and see just how long it's been part of the Ukraine. Checkout what happened to the Crimean Tartars after WW2, who actually gave the Crimea to Ukraine and when this happened and the % of the current Crimean population that are ethnic Russians.

Then you might be able to make an intelligent comment about a complex situation created by a series of corrupt Stalin style leaders rather than slag Putin off.

[Beetlejuice]

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.

Also remember that during WW2 many Ukrainians supported Hitler. The scenes of violence in their streets today is reminiscent of the times when the Ukrainian nationalists beat the Jewish population to death in the streets and beat or burned Jews to death in their homes. Many of the concentration and death camps were staffed by Ukrainian guards.

Many were ultra right then and many are still ultra nationalistic today. In my opinion I would say that the between the Russians and the Ukrainians, the Russians are the best of the two evils and are justified in keeping the Ukrainians in hand and under control.

This sounds crazy to me. The Poles were horrible too. So Poland should be a Russian puppet too? Come on now, most of the Jews are long gone. I'm all for remembering WW2, but don't use Jews as a lame excuse for why Ukraine doesn't deserve independence.

I`m not, but only making a point from history that the Ukraine is a fascist country and are ultra nationalistic that goes way back. They also hate the Poles and the Russians.

As far as I am concerned, without some sort of intervention, the EEC would be letting an ultra nationalistic country into the European Union.

[Baerboxer]

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.

Also remember that during WW2 many Ukrainians supported Hitler. The scenes of violence in their streets today is reminiscent of the times when the Ukrainian nationalists beat the Jewish population to death in the streets and beat or burned Jews to death in their homes. Many of the concentration and death camps were staffed by Ukrainian guards.

Many were ultra right then and many are still ultra nationalistic today. In my opinion I would say that the between the Russians and the Ukrainians, the Russians are the best of the two evils and are justified in keeping the Ukrainians in hand and under control.

This sounds crazy to me. The Poles were horrible too. So Poland should be a Russian puppet too? Come on now, most of the Jews are long gone. I'm all for remembering WW2, but don't use Jews as a lame excuse for why Ukraine doesn't deserve independence.

The Ukraine does deserve independence. But the Crimea was given the the former Ukrainian Soviet republic in the 1950's by Kruschev who happened to be half Ukrainian himself. The Crimean Tartars were kicked out by Stalin after WW2. Why should the predominantly Russian ethnic population of an autonomous region with its own parliament be forced to stay part of Ukraine?

It's been the same all over the Balkans since the break up of Jugoslavia and the USSR. The Soviet rulers like deporting whole peoples thousands of miles from their homelands, and redrawing borders to suit themselves. We seen the often violent results of this as peoples seek to regain their independence and borders.

The West supported Bosnia and Kosovo against Serbia a traditional Russian ally. Now the West supports Ukraine against the Crimea, which gets support from Russia.

Looks like some are still playing East / West politics.

[Jingthing]

Some?

Oh, please.

This IS an east-west conflict.

Duh.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html

A way out for Putin?

American historian Timothy Snyder, author of "Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin," said Putin has put himself in a difficult position, but there may still be an exit route.

"All of the official claims that have been made by Russia have been met. Their bases are secure, Russian speakers are not under any threat, so there is in theory a way out for the Russians, since none of their reasons for intervention are actually true," he said.

But the blitz by the Russian "propaganda machine" may make it harder for Putin to scale back Russia's activities, he said, with many Russians believing the claims made of a fascist threat to Russian speakers in Ukraine.

"Putin has now put himself in a very exposed position, has staked his leadership and his popularity on some kind of victory here, so it seems that he has unleashed a process that is now beyond his control," he said.

Some people here are actually buying Putin's propaganda about why he invaded Ukraine. I find that hilarious coming from non-Russians. It's understandable from unsophisticated actual Russians brainwashed by Putin's propaganda machine. This invasion was based on LIES. Yes, Crimea is probably lost. But then what?

Putin talks about western hypocrisy. That's hilarious too. So Bush's actions in Iraq were wrong and based on lies (all true) so that supposedly justifies Putin acting the same way? How does that work?

Edited March 14, 2014 by Jingthing

[whoisyourdaddy]

Some?

Oh, please.

This IS an east-west conflict.

Duh.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html

A way out for Putin?

American historian Timothy Snyder, author of "Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin," said Putin has put himself in a difficult position, but there may still be an exit route.

"All of the official claims that have been made by Russia have been met. Their bases are secure, Russian speakers are not under any threat, so there is in theory a way out for the Russians, since none of their reasons for intervention are actually true," he said.

But the blitz by the Russian "propaganda machine" may make it harder for Putin to scale back Russia's activities, he said, with many Russians believing the claims made of a fascist threat to Russian speakers in Ukraine.

"Putin has now put himself in a very exposed position, has staked his leadership and his popularity on some kind of victory here, so it seems that he has unleashed a process that is now beyond his control," he said.

Some people here are actually buying Putin's propaganda about why he invaded Ukraine. I find that hilarious coming from non-Russians. It's understandable from unsophisticated actual Russians brainwashed by Putin's propaganda machine. This invasion was based on LIES. Yes, Crimea is probably lost. But then what?

Putin talks about western hypocrisy. That's hilarious too. So Bush's actions in Iraq were wrong and based on lies (all true) so that supposedly justifies Putin acting the same way? How does that work?

Jing I am sorry but your fixation with Putin and blind trust in US propaganda is simply silly and tiresome.

Are you denying US was intervening way prior to escalation ?

What rights in your opinion did US have in making decisions who should run Ukraine ?

Are you denying snipers were not Russian backed but a set up by the EU or the US?

If you are, why would Estonian FM bring it up?

Are you denying Crimea has the right to decide its faith??

Do tell what does all of Ukraine have to do with Crimea and why should the opinion of people who do not even live in Crimea have a say?

If EU and US were so pro Ukraine , is there any reason why Russia has been aiding it instead of EU or US?

Also why did NOT EU or US make a better offer to join EU prior to escalation?

Is there any reason why it is US who is making the threats of sanctions and not EU??

Might be time to try to think independently , instead of following US propaganda and posting links ONLY to US propaganda.

The more US or EU put pressure on Russia the harder line Putin will take.

Only an idiot or war monger will not understand and continue down the same path.

Russia has lived in isolation for years and has no fear to do so again.

Question is, is US and EU ready to deal with the consequences which would involve china as well?!

[Jingthing]

I agree Crimea is lost. Thing thing now is to stop Putin there. That IS possible.

Funny talking about war mongers. Putin is the AGGRESSOR in this conflict. The world doesn't believe his lies about protecting Russians. I know many Russians do. That's what happens when your press is controlled by a dictator.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Jingthing