New Cold War 11 - US vs. Russia - Ukraine Latest

Telegraph: Reports the following on the London meeting between the US and Russia, " John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov reach no agreement on the Ukraine crisis, with the Russians saying they would respect an independence referendum in Crimea and the Americans vowing to impose sanctions if they do ".

Lets Get Real:

The Russian Bear has to be taught a lesson, the hard way is always the best with a bully, the West should place harsh sanctions on Putin's Russia, make the billionaires around Putin scream with pain with losing their money either by being blocked in Western markets or having their assets frozen.   The West should be ready to place Military personnel in Ukraine and around the border with Russia.  The Oval has to make it clear that ANY military action by Russia will face opposition from the US and its NATO allies.   The Crimea is lost, lets not lose the entire Ukraine.   Interesting days ahead for the Ukraine and the West. 

Kerry Depressed after Russian and US talks - Ukraine Latest

Guardian: Reports the following on the US/Russian meeting in London, " Kerry, looking tired and dejected, said he had put forward proposals from Barack Obama, but Lavrov replied that Vladimir Putin was not prepared to consider them until after the referendum. ".

Lets Get Real:

This blog noticed that Secretary Kerry looked down after the talks with the Russian Foreign Minister, it seems that even Kerry gets the fact that logic does not work with the Kremlin, they do not care what President Obama wants or says, they see him weak and easy to roll over, thus IF Obama wants any respect out of Moscow its time for him to find his inner Rocky, that means man up and DO SOMETHING that will get the attention of Moscow, send a thousand US troops on a good will mission to the border between the Ukraine and Russia, fully backed by NATO, to make sure that the Russian bear does not cross the line, anything else is just hot wind, this is the crossroads for POTUS, either be  a great leader or be another Carter, his call, lets hope he makes the right choice for the US and for Europe. 

NO Breakthrough in TALKS between Russia and the US - Ukraine Latest

BBC News: Reports on  the London meeting between the US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Ukraine Crisis, the article notes the following, " Russia and the US have "no common vision" on the crisis in Ukraine, Russia's foreign minister has said,.. ".

Lets Get Real: 

The Kremlin is not going to give up the Crimea, no way no chance, the problem is do they have an interest in the East of Ukraine, there have already been pro Moscow protests by protesters who want to join the Crimea and become part of Russia.    This could be a covert way for Moscow to keep its hands clean while either getting the East or keeping the Kiev Government off balance.    The West needs tough sanctions, sanctions that bite Putin on the backside and more hurts his rich friends.   This is not the time for President Obama to play nice, he has to toughen up, be POTUS, hold a big stick and not be afraid to use the power of the US. 

In the Oval, Obama and the Ukraine's PM

For the Historical record:

Russian THREATENS Ukraine ? - Ukraine Latest

Telegraph: Reports the following from Moscow, Russia, " Moscow says 8,500 troops are involved in practice for 'combat missions on unknown territory' ".

Lets Get Real:

Hardly the most subtle of threats from Moscow, the question that the West has to ask is the Crimea the only target, is Moscow also after the East of the Ukraine, at what point do the forces of the Ukraine fight back, if Russia invades then Ukraine has to fight, lets hope that the West supports the Ukraine, not with troops but with arms and supplies, if Russia was to be defeated in the Ukraine it would be the end of Putin in Russia, hardly a BAD thing for Russia and the West.  One can postulate that Putin is bluffing, he will take the Crimea and keep low level pressure on the rest of the Ukraine, if he is mad and goes for the whole of the Ukraine, ALL bets are off for the outcome. 

Russian THREAT to Eastern and Southern Ukraine - Ukraine Latest

BBC News: Reports the following from the Ukraine Government on the Russian threat, " warned on Wednesday of a "critical situation" on the country's eastern and southern borders...Russian 80,000 troops were now massing. ".

Lets Get Real:

This is the time for the Oval Office to bring the hammer down on Russia, it should state that any invasion of the Ukraine would be seen as a direct threat to the national security of the US, in other words if Russia moves it comes in to direct confrontation with the US.    The one thing that President Obama can not do is allow the Ukraine to be taken over by Russia, his Presidential legacy would go down the toilet, being the 1st African - President would not be enough, the Oval has to stand up to Putin, even at the risk of a new Cold War, Obama's polls are in the mid 40%, when the leader is unpopular he shows his leadership status by making the tough decisions, a security cover for Ukraine would not be popular with the left wing, but it would show Presidential leadership, time for Obama to make his choice, greatness or another Jimmy Carter. 

Russian Military ON the Ukraine and Russian Border - Ukraine Latest

Guardian: Reports the following on the Ukraine Crisis, " Russia announces start of military exercises near Ukrainian border...Move comes as Ukraine backs creation of new force to keep Russian troops from advancing beyond Crimea ".

Lets Get Real:

One can postulate that President Putin might be thinking, lets go for gold, the take over the whole of the Ukraine, this would be popular in Russia, it would make up for the breakup of the USSR and would place Putin in the history books as the President that bought back the old Russian Empire.   The question does Putin think that the West would not react to this move, the whole of the Ukraine in Russia would bring Russia close to Poland, a NATO country and the Baltic States, also NATO countries, could President Obama allow Putin to bring back the Russian Empire by force, that kind of thing does not go down well in history, just ask Chamberlain.   The Ukraine crisis has been has fallen off the lead in the news in  the past few days, lets see what happens after the Sunday vote for the Crimea to be come part of Russia, events could get out of control fast, who is bluffing, we shall see in the days ahead.