US ON Crimea Vote - Ukraine Crisis Latest

The White House: Has released a Statement by the President Obama's Press Secretary, " The United States has steadfastly supported the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine since it declared its independence in 1991, and we reject the “referendum” that took place today in the Crimean region of Ukraine.  This referendum is contrary to Ukraine’s constitution, and the international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law.

No decisions should be made about the future of Ukraine without the Ukrainian government.  Moreover, this vote was not necessary.  The Ukrainian government has made clear its willingness to discuss increased autonomy for Crimea, and the presidential elections planned for May 25 provide a legitimate opportunity for all Ukrainians to make their voices heard on the future of their country.

In addition, Ukraine, the United States, the EU, the OSCE, the UN, and others have called for Russia to allow international monitors into the Crimean peninsula to ensure that the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine are being upheld.  Russia has spurned those calls as well as outreach from the Ukrainian government and instead has escalated its military intervention into Crimea and initiated threatening military exercises on Ukraine’s eastern border.

Russia’s actions are dangerous and destabilizing.  The UN Security Council recognized this in a vote yesterday that only Russia opposed.  As the United States and our allies have made clear, military intervention and violation of international law will bring increasing costs for Russia – not only due to measures imposed by the United States and our allies but also as a direct result of Russia’s own destabilizing actions.

In this century, we are long past the days when the international community will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another.  We call on all members of the international community to continue to condemn such actions, to take concrete steps to impose costs, and to stand together in support of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. ".

Lets Get Real:

As the Russian Bear said to the American Eagle , " Are you tough enough, will you take me on, lets see your claws, or are you full of hot air ".  That is the question that Moscow will be asking, and the Oval better man up, no more Mr Nice Guy, time to be a Super Power. 

Is Crimea NOW part of Russia ? - Ukraine Crisis Latest

Telegraph: Reports the following from the Crimea, " landslide victory for Russia in Crimea vote

Rising tensions in Ukraine as Russia claims victory in Crimea referendum ".

Lets Get Real:

Thus what next for President Putin, the West will impose sanctions, what does Putin do, scale back the gas that Russia sends to Europe, withdraw from some of the nuclear treaties it has signed under the old USSR and modern Russia.   The game is afoot, and Putin has the cards at the moment, if he is smart he will take the Crimea and back off, he can keep the Kiev Government and the West off balance with trying to think what HIS next move will be without doing much, on the other hand he just might take over the whole of the Ukraine, showing up the West as weak and getting good press in Russia and some good write ups in Russian history books in Russia.   Interesting days ahead. 

Donetsk and Kharkiv - Ukraine Crisis Latest

Guardian - Ukraine Live: Reports the following in its 5.47pm post, " Pro-Russian crowds in Donetsk and Kharkiv have seized several buildings and begun burning Ukrainian-language books, Reuters reports ".

Lets Get Real:

The Kremlin in Moscow is working to a very subtle plan, it first needs the vote in the Crimea then it will  work to build up tensions in the East of the Ukraine, the problem for Moscow is that in the East the Russian population is not the majority ethnic population, thus Moscow will have to send in more people in to cause trouble.   This has risks, the West knows Moscow's plans and if Russians are caught causing problems then Russian loses the moral argument from their point of view to take action.   Putin might not care, he wants to bring back the Russian Empire of the old USSR and Tsarist Russia.   The West of the Ukraine will fight should Russia invade, the NATO countries one way or another might supply them, this could be Putin Afghanistan if he is not careful, Moscow has to remember that Western TV news will cover any invasion, Russia of today is not the old USSR or the Tsarist Empire. 

The Crimea Vote - Ukraine Crisis

BBC News - Ukraine Live: Reports in its 5.16pm post the following, " There is no carnival atmosphere in Kiev's Independence Square, which has now become a memorial site for those killed by snipers a month ago. People here are looking to see how strong the response to the referendum will be from Europe and the US. ".

Lets Get Real:

Russia can go either way, just take THE Crimea and keep the Kiev Government off balance or go for gold and take over the entire Ukraine, Putin it seems is not worried about Western sanctions, he thinks the West will back off after some time of shouting and sanctions, he could be right, of course that depends on his actions, if he invades the entire Ukraine the people of the West can be expected to fight, that will not be great pictures for the Kremlin, the Oval would have no choice but to go back to a Cold War mind set, Obama's foreign policy already weak would fall apart, as from his perspective he needs the help of Russia with Syria and Iran.  The next three years could be VERY frosty for the US and Russia. 

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.