OK, I give it until March 16th

[blackburn_stevie]

By that date, either nuclear weapons will have been deployed on Moscow and other strategic Russian cities or Kiev will be back in Ukrainian hands. The fact that it's also my birthday is pure coincidence.

[dark_castle1]

Quite a cheery kind of person aint you Stevie ! . Although I do agree this latest scenario could escalate further but do not think nuclear weapons will be made ready.

[tommy.irene]

You could be right Stevie ..If Haig has his way.. He will do anything to have another War. 

[electric*mayhem*band]

Is this a crafty ploy Steve, to inform all and sundry that March the 16th is your birthday, in the hope that you will be showered with gifts, cash, and greeting cards ?

Nice try mate, but I doubt it'll work.

[sir_arthur_strebe-grebling]

Didn't you hear Milibean say the Ukraine problem is all a ruse by Michael Gove to teach people about the Crimean War?

But no, Steve, I'm not buying you a nuclear weapon for your birthday.

[Anonymous]

[5129frederick]

What about Hoon the loon?  He was itching to take things further a few years ago!  

[joe_bloggs*]

The US Secretary of State John Kerry said today: “You just don’t invade another country on phony pretext in order to assert your interests,”

That would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.

“Since when does the United States government genuinely subscribe and defend the concept of sovereignty and territorial integrity? They certainly are not doing that at the moment in Syria,” Marcus Papadopoulos, commentator for ‘Politics First’ told RT. “They certainly did not do that when they attacked Libya. They certainly didn’t do that when they invaded Iraq. They certainly didn’t do that when they attacked Serbia over Kosovo and then later on recognized Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. The United States government merely pays lip service to sovereignty and territorial integrity, it picks and choses.”

http://rt.com/news/kerry-russia-us-pretext-494/

[spawnjohnuk]

can anyone tell me why william hague ,the minister told to get lost by the public (supposedly) can now blab on about g8 summits and what we as a country intend to do with the big bad russians ?

the russians are protecting their interests as USA and its cronies want a pipeline through syria to cut the russians out of the energy market. That simple. Who thinks either side gives a rats about people getting maimed or killed when loads of money is at stake ?

I didn't even know willy knew how to decide whats best for a conseritive english party let alone whats best for the Ukrainians.

Send George Galloway to sort it I say 🙂

[lhasa.two]

This is the second time President Obama has made 'red line' statements. He needs to BUILD his relationship with Putin, not constantly break it down imho. I think it's mad to cancel the G8 as that's a great opportunity to put pressure on Putin to withdraw troops on the Crimea border by the other member nations. It's just typical of the US and the UK to make war type threats rather than use verbal diplomacy. Of course Putin is a tricky character, all the more reason to try and reason with him and give him some ground to back track without losing too much face, rather than issue deadlines and military type threats. I note Hague is taking the more diplomatic route today... according to the BBC Live Feed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26413953

I think this is much more to do with money in the longer term. Russia pays Ukraine for the use of the Crimea port of Simferopol for its northern ship fleet. Russia is also owed over a £billion (or equivalent) by the Ukraine for use of the gas pipelines and has defaulted on some payments. 

The biggest threat to Europe and us, is the power Russia would have over us by controlling the gas pipelines, which all currently run through the Ukraine. 

Ukraine has reminded me of the Hungarian uprising in 1956 when I was at school and we took in a Hungarian refugee called Marta. She left after a while and I wondered what happened to her.  

[spawnjohnuk]

I don't think dick hague should be anywhere near volatile situations tbh

I cant see it giving the russians more clout winning the Ukraine pipe lines if usa end up with their Qatar /syria one.

Bottom line I'm reading (on Ukraine people) is Ukraine is basically half n half  so im with you Ihasa on a big sit down needed to discuss and sort it out for the best outcome for all Ukraine people and certainly not more of the same consequences rhetoric from US and allies .

If however the russians end up with syria and crimea then we had all better buckle up for some cold winters.

[lhasa.two]

Probably Putin became very worried when President Yanukovych was ousted (anti EU/pro Russia) because he's afraid the Ukraine will move further towards joining the EU and if that happens he'll never be able to claim back Crimea and he'll have NATO on the border as well. It's a now or never situation for him I think. I imagine It's all propaganda that there are Ukrainian ultra-nationalists who want to suppress the Russians living in Crimea which is his excuse for sending in the military. 

I do feel very sorry for the Ukrainians (and Russians) who just want to get on with their lives and make it a better one for themselves.

[spawnjohnuk]

Agreed on the people who probably actually dont care whos who so long as they can live in peace.

this will help relations....not

''The UK is to give £10m to Kiev to support economic and political reforms.''

Thats what kicked the whole thing off ''economic and political reforms'' sheesh,

ps I thought the our gang was skint ?

[tommy.irene]

Lets see what happens if Russia stops sending Gas

to the EU..and UK..

[spawnjohnuk]

I know what will happen tommy if that happens...............arabs will get a lot richer and a full scale war for control of syria will kick off.

[tommy.irene]

The USA have a cheek to tell the Russians to back off..    http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/04-03-2014/126998-kerry_kiev-0/

[spawnjohnuk]

The UK has a cheek sending mr I failed hague to speak for it 🙂

[spawnjohnuk]

Well stevie ,you must have some form of esp as the 16th march is when they intend to hold an election to join russia ,which the west is saying illegal,so probably thats the date it may end or kick off worse.