Moscow Playing for time in Crimea - Ukraine Latest

The New York Times: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Russia said Monday that it cannot accept the “fait accompli” of the new Western-backed government in Ukraine and was preparing diplomatic counterproposals.. ".

Lets Get Real:

The Kremlin is playing for time, its increasing its troops presence in the Crimea, its forces are trying to push Ukrainian troops out of their bases, its increasing pressure on the East of Ukraine, the Kremlin wants to build up a picture that the East Ukraine is under threat from the extreme right, thus move their extra troops from the Crimea up to the East, hell it could even be a full invasion, Moscow must be thinking if the West will only throw sanctions why not go for gold and take over the whole Ukraine, that would push Russia right up to Poland and the Baltic States.   Of course if that happened one can expect the Military forces of Ukraine to fight, the Oval would have to support them, it would mean start of a new Cold War.  Interesting days ahead for the Ukraine and the West. 

UK Sanctions on Russia - Ukraine Latest

Guardian: Reports on the Statement by PM David Cameron on the crisis in the Ukraine, " Details of sanctions against Russia to be finalised in London....David Cameron indicates asset freezes and travel bans will be imposed within days as tensions continue to escalate in Crimea ".

Lets Get Real:

Those rich and close to President Putin will have smelled the coffee, they did not get rich by being slow, they would  have moved their money off shore to areas not covered by the US or the EU.   The assets such as houses will be frozen but they should get them back when the crisis is over, and at some it will be over, so as to the sanctions, its far to late, the EU has to cut itself off from Russian gas, that would really hurt Russian and those rich Russians close to Putin, there should be talks about giving West Ukraine some security ties that would place it under NATO, that would force Putin to back off and fast, the Russian bear sometimes needs his claws clipped while his claws are in the honey. 

Protecting NATO Countries - Ukraine Latest

BBC News: Reports that, " Nato is to deploy reconnaissance planes in Poland and Romania to monitor the Ukrainian crisis. ".

Lets Get Real:

If the Obama Administration had sent US fighters to Poland and the Baltic States and the latest reconnaissance planes to Easter Europe before the Russians had taken over the Crimea this might have prevented the present crisis, at least the Oval has moved, it has showed its teeth, Putin one suspects would be worried about taking over Eastern Ukraine as this would force the Oval to increase its military presence in Eastern Europe to counter Putin and to keep his Republican critics off balance, the Countries of the former Warsaw Pact that are in NATO must at least be confident that should Putin go mad and try anything there the Oval would have no choice but to defend its allies.   Lets see what happens when the Crimea formally joins Russia, HOW will the West react to this latest development.