Russia declares war on Ukraine. Live updates from inside Ukraine

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#USNavy USS Taylor arrives in Batumi, Georgia for scheduled port visit 1.usa.gov...

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Foreign Ministry: Kyiv ready for second round of talks on Ukraine, against changing Geneva format www.kyivpost.com... …

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UK foreign secretary reveals Russia's trace in events in southeastern Ukraine www.kyivpost.com... …

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Russian defense minister states permanent readiness of nuclear triad www.kyivpost.com... …

It all seems very weird at the moment. Rhetoric is coming from all sides and it's increasing day-by-day. It's going to be a very interesting few days because the tension is very high between all parties concerned. In my opinion Vladimir Putin is eyeing up more than Ukraine. In a way, it's a strange standoff between NATO and Russia.

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Kremlin refrains from commenting on #Donetsk Oblast's refusal to postpone 'referendum' www.kyivpost.com... …

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UK deploys destroyer to track Russian aircraft carrier

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it had deployed a destroyer to track a Russian aircraft carrier sailing close to its coastal waters, the latest in a series of such incidents and a reminder of underlying tensions between London and Moscow.

A spokesman from Britain's Ministry of Defense said HMS Dragon had been "activated" on Wednesday in response to the approach of a Russian task force including the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier. "It was activated yesterday to meet the Admiral Kuznetsov task force," the spokesman told Reuters.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is capable of carrying up to 26 fixed-wing fighters and 24 helicopters. A Russian naval spokesman said last month the vessel had completed a deployment as part of Moscow's naval force in the Mediterranean and was on its way back to its base of Severomorsk in north-west Russia.

HMS Dragon, a modern air-Defense destroyer, was deployed in similar circumstances just last month to shadow another Russian warship, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov, as it sailed past Britain.

Britain last month also scrambled Typhoon fighter jets to see off Russian military planes flying close to its airspace off the coast of Scotland.

Defense Secretary Philip Hammond has said that recent events in Ukraine have increased awareness of Russian military activity, but that Britain's military has long routinely intercepted, identified and escorted Russian planes and warships travelling through "areas of interest".

Putin clearly does not want to invade Ukraine or to be further isolated from the international community through economic sanctions. I believe that Putin and Russia would be satisfied with a Ukraine that is aligned with Moscow and without NATO and western influence being dominant in Ukraine.

It is a country that borders Russia, they seem to have legitimate security concerns, why not have all sides work toward a diplomatic resolution all sides can live with?

I think a diplomatic approach that can save lives and deescalate the tensions over time is the only way this ends without war... There has to be a compromise that is workable here.

Is it really worth a war that could grow into a world war?

Once the violence escalates to shooting and direct military confrontation there will be no going back, all out war until one side wins and the other loses... In that scenario we all lose... IMO

Food for thought only.

originally posted by: ausername
Putin clearly does not want to invade Ukraine or to be further isolated from the international community through economic sanctions. I believe that Putin and Russia would be satisfied with a Ukraine that is aligned with Moscow and without NATO and western influence being dominant in Ukraine.

It is a country that borders Russia, they seem to have legitimate security concerns, why not have all sides work toward a diplomatic resolution all sides can live with?

I think a diplomatic approach that can save lives and deescalate the tensions over time is the only way this ends without war... There has to be a compromise that is workable here.

Is it really worth a war that could grow into a world war?

Once the violence escalates to shooting and direct military confrontation there will be no going back, all out war until one side wins and the other loses... In that scenario we all lose... IMO

Food for thought only.

Russia has no legitimate security concerns. From day one of this crisis they have been regurgitating the same pretext which is absolute nonsense. Vladimir Putin said he would protect the rights of Russian speaking people in Ukraine but did they need to be protected? The OSCE said no and produced many reports suggesting that Russian speaking people were not being mistreated and their rights have never been infringed upon.

If every single country went by Putin's ideology then countries would be invading other countries like no tomorrow. I still can't believe Putin is still managing to play the West like puppets.

Russians,Brits and NATO -getting rather crowded in the east

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk... -or-something-far-less-controversial-30244105.html


Heard other stories of what looks like Ukraine army talking to each other in Italian :-/

originally posted by: Whereismypassword
Russians,Brits and NATO -getting rather crowded in the east

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk... -or-something-far-less-controversial-30244105.html


Heard other stories of what looks like Ukraine army talking to each other in Italian :-/

The link to the story is dead!

Russia has no legitimate security concerns. From day one of this crisis they have been regurgitating the same pretext which is absolute nonsense. Vladimir Putin said he would protect the rights of Russian speaking people in Ukraine but did they need to be protected?

a reply to: ProfessorT

Hitler said 'the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it'.

The biggest lie/denial in this crisis is "Nato expansion eastwards to crush Russia". That is the main reason why Putin is acting up for this or that excuse.

Ukraine and NATO declare that there will not be any NATO membership for Russia's "near abroad" countries and all the crisis will be solved.

Russia DOES HAVE legitimate security concerns because of NATO's encroachment on its borders.

en.ria.ru...


OPINION: Russia Forced to React to NATO’s Eastward Enlargement

Russia will have to react if NATO is foolish enough to set up bases in western Ukraine, Asia Times correspondent Pepe Escobar told RIA Novosti Thursday.

“If NATO is foolish enough to attempt to set up bases in Western Ukraine, for instance, make sure there will be a forceful Russia reaction,” Escobar said. “So Russia's policy will continue to be defensive and reactive – but that does not mean surrendering. Georgia was a red line. Crimea was a red line,” he said.

originally posted by: victor7

Russia has no legitimate security concerns. From day one of this crisis they have been regurgitating the same pretext which is absolute nonsense. Vladimir Putin said he would protect the rights of Russian speaking people in Ukraine but did they need to be protected?

a reply to: ProfessorT

Hitler said 'the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it'.

The biggest lie/denial in this crisis is "Nato expansion eastwards to crush Russia". That is the main reason why Putin is acting up for this or that excuse.

Ukraine and NATO declare that there will not be any NATO membership for Russia's "near abroad" countries and all the crisis will be solved.

Russia DOES HAVE legitimate security concerns because of NATO's encroachment on its borders.

I'm sorry, I disagree.

Ukraine said very early on they have no interest in joining NATO but obviously that fell on deaf ears. It is clear what Vladimir Putin wants and it isn't just Ukraine. NATO is not a threat to Russia but there again it goes against their pretext. NATO is purely about defense unless it is attacked whereas Russia is about attack as we have seen in Crimea and now in mainland Ukraine.

NATO is purely about defense unless it is attacked

a reply to: ProfessorT

NATO countries apply covert means to create problems in countries and topple governments. When Russia did the same, NATO is full of tears and whines.

Stop overt and covert means of attacking/interfering/disturbing other nations. Don't whine when you find yourself under the same treatment.

Seems days of dogged armor and infantary battles for invasion are done with. Cyber, NGO, Protest etc. are the way to go.

originally posted by: ProfessorT

originally posted by: victor7

Russia has no legitimate security concerns. From day one of this crisis they have been regurgitating the same pretext which is absolute nonsense. Vladimir Putin said he would protect the rights of Russian speaking people in Ukraine but did they need to be protected?

a reply to: ProfessorT

Hitler said 'the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it'.

The biggest lie/denial in this crisis is "Nato expansion eastwards to crush Russia". That is the main reason why Putin is acting up for this or that excuse.

Ukraine and NATO declare that there will not be any NATO membership for Russia's "near abroad" countries and all the crisis will be solved.

Russia DOES HAVE legitimate security concerns because of NATO's encroachment on its borders.

I'm sorry, I disagree.

Ukraine said very early on they have no interest in joining NATO but obviously that fell on deaf ears. It is clear what Vladimir Putin wants and it isn't just Ukraine. NATO is not a threat to Russia but there again it goes against their pretext. NATO is purely about defense unless it is attacked whereas Russia is about attack as we have seen in Crimea and now in mainland Ukraine.

I think what the gangster Putin wants to achieve is two fold:

Do some quick land grabs..thus antagonising NATO.. causing them to
to Take prudent defensive measures.

(This creates a pretext for Putin)


Second and more importantly
Create an external enemy (NATO) to focus the minds of the Russian people
outward rather than looking *cough* closer to home.

Just my thoughts

originally posted by: victor7

NATO is purely about defense unless it is attacked

a reply to: ProfessorT

NATO countries apply covert means to create problems in countries and topple governments. When Russia did the same, NATO is full of tears and whines.

Stop overt and covert means of attacking/interfering/disturbing other nations. Don't whine when you find yourself under the same treatment.

Seems days of dogged armor and infantary battles for invasion are done with. Cyber, NGO, Protest etc. are the way to go.

I think you are tarring every country who is apart of NATO with the same brush when in reality it's individual countries who have had involvements in recent conflicts (not including Afghanistan). The US for example, has many legitimate interests overseas and they have a right to protect those just like Russia has a right to protect its interests as long as they are legitimate. I'm not suggesting the US, or the UK have been squeaky clean with their decision making recently (Iraq is a perfect example) but Russia's excuses for invading Crimea and covertly invading mainland Ukraine are ridiculous.

a reply to: ProfessorT

Now you come to the right line.....but only somewhat!!

Sorry pal, Russia has every right to be concerned and act upon covert efforts in its near abroad. Just like US would be concerned if problems start to rise in Mexico regarding some communist movement or some country aiding their drug lords etc.

NATO is 75% US funded and follows its orders. As to if Denmark or Portugal are clean does not mean a squat. US calls the shots in NATO.

Like mentioned before, I am not an indirect debater. Hit the core of the problem for quick solution and move to another one.

Core of the problem is NATO's demeanor vrs Russia. Until that changes, CNN, RT, BBC etc. will have some hot items to gain viewer ratings around the world.

a reply to: ProfessorT

Here you go another one for you...



It's not in Ukraine but it is a good one.

Thanks for the video...

I'm just wondering how can NATO be expanding when the US pulled out ALL of it heavy Armor Tank units in 2013?
www.stripes.com...

Granted they did return about 29 tanks to Germany this year as part of a training brigade.
But that's no where near Cold war numbers.

At the height of the Cold war NATO had 30 Armored Divisions and 6,000 tanks.
I don't think all of NATO combined is anywhere near that now.
Claiming NATO expansion and doing the actual logistics of it are two different beasts.

a reply to: mash3d

I wonder if that is the way they normally refer to the area or if, as far as they are concerned, they have already broken away and formed their own country.

I am pretty sure they only recently started calling it that.

I also think they are wanting to be part of Russia, but I can't say for sure.

a reply to: tsurfer2000h

Thanks, I'm under the impression they, Donetsk, want to be part of the Russian "Federation" but still be Donetsk.

Sort of like Texas is part of the United States but if you ask them they are still Texans first.