Maybe Trump is interested in seeing how declaring martial law to ward off an election works out. People are saying it's necessary.
1
One of the greatest ironies here is that if Ukraine had retained the nuclear arsenal that it housed as a Soviet Republic, it would have emerged as the third largest nuclear-armed power in the world in the wake of the USSR's dissolution. Ukraine's agreement to divest of these weapons was one of the most challenging aspects in negotiating the final separation of the constituent Soviet Republics into independent nations.
Ukraine acceded with an understanding of substantive assistance from the West to help establish its democratic institutions and assurances of no-interfernce in internal affairs by Russia. Russia, as the former dominant Soviet Republic, acceded with an understanding that NATO would not expand into the former Warsaw Pact membership let alone into the former Soviet Republic themselves. Regrettably, those mirrored assurances both proved false and now we do not have even a facsimile of statesmen to repair this increasingly dystopian situation.
6
How is this not the top story today? And, no, the core of the story is that the Ukrainian government is clearly trying to use this event, if it's even a real, as opposed to pseudo, event, to lock the entire country down and stay in power. An authoritarian/fascist takeover--and, pray, why? Even if there was some altercation, how does that begin to justify the total destruction of any hint of democracy inside Ukraine?
Will anyone in the West, especially deeply ethical liberals, care about that, or has everyone learned that Russia is the focus of evil in the modern world because troll farms? Most likely not.
3
As Gen Mark Carleton-Smith, new UK Army chief has truly
warned yeasterday, Russia is now “indisputably” a greater threat to the security of Britain and her allies than Islamist extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
Russian aggression in Kerch Strait is a strong proof.
3
This is really simple, although Americans are largely clueless and our government, on a decades-long mission to surround, isolate and squeeze Russia, is wholly in league with the right-wingers and actual neo-Nazis we brought to power in the 2014 coup.
> Crimea is Russian. It has been Russian since 1783, when Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet were both founded, under Catherine the Great.
> The vast majority of Crimeans have *always* thought of themselves as Russian and, on multiple occasions since the breakup of the Soviet Union, attempted, in fair voting, to distance themselves from Kiev, but were blocked until after the 2014 American-supported coup.
> The transfer of Crimea to Ukraine, by Khrushchev, was an internal Soviet matter and is meaningless in every way today, except as a silly talking point for the Ukrainian oligarchs, right-wing crazies and their American and NATO enablers.
> Sending warships through the Kerch Strait to maneuver aggressively is a transparently provocative move by Kiev. It can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to create just this situation.
> The United States continues to lead its allies in an extremely dangerous and unnecessary game of chicken with a nation that possesses nearly 8,000 nuclear warheads. The people who insist upon playing this game are beyond reckless -- they are as dumb as a bag of unusually-stupid hammers.
3
This follows on the heels of the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and the flaccid response from our Commander in Chief in which he showed, once again, that America has lost it's moral leadership in the world and, if you're a friend of Trump, you can get away with any aggression and be assured that Trump will make up some excuse for you. This proves the adage that I posted the day after Trump was elected. When you reward bad behavior, worse behavior will follow.
4
Traitor Trump has Putin's back. I'm sure this never happened.
3
The information warriors are thick on the ground here, as they always are when Russia murders and steals from its usual victims. The US could learn a thing or two but unfortunately, Putin has locked up the internet and news in Russia so that warfare is asymetrical.
Just don't be a dupe. XYZ from "San Francisco" and ABC from "UK"? Does Putin really believe that kind of scam still works anymore?
#TagTeamTroll
4
Russia is a planetary cancer. Unfortunately, there is neither Churchill nor Reagan among the modern politicians of the Western world who have both the will and the determination to cure this infection.
3
This is a calculated attempted to try and economically and thus politically pressure Ukraine by blocking its ports. Russia claims Ukrainian vessels are moving dangerously and yet it is Russian ships that ram Ukrainian vessels. There is clear international law and a bilateral treaty that protect access by both Russian and Ukrainian ships through the Kerch Strait. Russia should be clearly and loudly rebuked for acting illegally in a bullying manner. President Poroshenko should be clear that his taking advantage of the situation for personal political reasons will not be tolerated.
3
The Kiev ethnic sectarian Slavic Orthodox Ukrainians have deep historical ethnic sectarian Slavic Orthodox ties to Moscow Russians. They deserve each other. Ukraine is not part of NATO nor the EU. Ukraine is not an American ally.
1
The entire bridge across the Kerch strait should be destroyed. Make it an expensive Putin boondoggle project that finally bankrupts Russia. For every Ukrainian killed by Russians, a section of the bridge is destroyed. Perhaps the Dutch can help as payback for the Russian slaughter of innocent Dutch civilians flying overhead.
"Naval clash"?! This isn't a "naval clash". Russia strafed and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels. The only "law of the sea" violated by Ukraine was Russia's claim to exclusive ownership of the Kersh Strait, which is the only access to the Black Sea from Eastern Ukraine. That's not a violation of a "law of the Sea", it's a violation of Russia's military strategy for invading and conquering a sovereign nation.
Trump is going to let Russia take possession of Ukraine and the American media is going to conceal it in weasel words until, once again, it's too late and the truth won't matter.
3
"President" Donnie the Disturbed continued:
I have spoken to my dear friend Vladimir and
he strongly and emphatically denied Russian navy ships attacked pirate Ukrainian vessels.
He denied it 4,382 times during our conversation.
He also denied that Russia has a navy.
We may never know.
1
Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, Erdogan, Duerte, the saudi prince and other International Mafia Robber Barons are doing their best to start WW3 by creating chaos around the world.
Hate-anger-fear-chaos- death-destruction have caused every war in HIStory. No one wins.
WE THE PEOPLE - average people around the world - must not let OUR supposed "leaders" take us down that path if we want to continue to prosper and live in relative peace. WE are the only ones who can/will stop them and NOW is the time.
5
Although the treaty does give Ukraine access to the Sea, it seems that the Ukrainian government decided to send two gunships through the straight without any prior warning to Russia. It seems logical that Russia would be concerned and enact safety measures.
All of a sudden this is an “act of aggression” and Ukraine wants to enact martial law. Seems to be an extreme escalation on Ukraine’s side, especially since Ukrainian boats have crossed the straight in previous months WITH PRIOR WARNING to Russia...
Rather than pointing fingers we should look at the facts and sense that something is amiss, especially with Poroshenko’s election coming up.
11
"Ukraine, After Naval Clash With Russia, Considers Martial Law"
I must be missing something here! No matter how much it is stretched, a naval encounter at sea should not lead to martial law in the cities. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!
14
@Eddie B.
Oligarch Poroshenko, with approval rates in single digits, is worried about losing the upcoming election.
I expect that he thinks martial law will help his cause -- perhaps by, umm, postponing the election?
This is very dangerous. Ukraine was destabilized during the illegal coup launched by right wing nationalists in 2/2014. The coup unleashed nationalist Ukrainian resentment of ethnic Russians. These Ukrainians have neo Nazi connections. Russia annexed Crimea and so the Sea of Azov has become a flashpoint for escalating tensions.
6
Once again Russia shows it won't hesitate to use deception, disinformation, distortion and deliberately misleading explanations for their treacherous behavior.
Russia knows NATO won't dare come to the rescue of anyone in that part of the world. It continues to manufacture crises in order to get ordinary Russians to support this diabolically corrupt regime.
10
I think that NATO should ban Russia passage through all straits which they are in charge for.
4
Putin knows that the US will turn a blind eye to his aggression, especially in light of not condemning the killing of Kashoggi. There is NO limit to what we will ignore now, with the emperor walking around naked every day.
8
What could the US possibly have done? Attack Russia in defense of Ukraine? Are you even certain of which party engineer the provocation to have expected intervention on the side of one? Why do you Americans term every action by Russia as aggression? Is Russia not permitted to have interest that it should protect? What do you term your country's military adventurism in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan? What is the US doing in Syria, a UN member country? While I don't agree with Trump on many things, especially the Kashoggi murder issue, it is wrong and premature for you to fault him on this.
1
This situation is tricky, there is a tendency to see Putin's actions as nakedly aggressive and self-serving, but with upcoming elections and Poroshenko's unpopularity, he would have plenty of incentive to be provocative as well. It makes it hard to decipher who is truly instigating here.
Russia's recent history is one of muscular, and at times, outright aggressive foreign policy. The action certainly has a lot of payoffs for Russia; Russia solidified its ties with Crimea by creating the bridge, ups the economic pressure on Ukraine, and also chokes off Ukranian access to the Black Sea with this action. Yet Poroshenko may also be simply capitalizing on the situation to solidify his own control and derail elections.
I think it is too early to rule out either possibility, or some sort of combination of events.
4
Other new sites are not reporting that Poroshenko *has* now announced that he is imposing martial law.
What seemed like from the beginning is now abundantly clear: President Candy Oligarch and his extremely-unpopular government, terrified that they will lose the upcoming election, are moving to secure their grip on power that was, in truth, seized in a coup over four years ago.
Think about it. What sense does it make to declare martial law over a relatively-minor naval conflict, with a neighboring nation, in international waters? It only makes sense if the conflict is actually an excuse -- an obviously-phony excuse.
6
Interesting. Same old Camel's-Nose-In-The-Tent story that has been used by dictator regimes for ages to justify their piecemeal gobbling up of their weaker neighbors. Now its Putin saying that his Navy needs to take over the Kerch Strait in order to prevent Ukraine's ships from "Sailing erratically" through the Straits.
Just wondering what Putin's excuse will be when he sends his T-90 Armata tanks rolling into Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania? And will little Donny T. still be so preoccupied marshalling our military against the next rag-tag border caravan to respond convincingly -with a show of support- for another NATO ally?
5
Yes, American Isolationism and Trump's taking the knee before authoritarianism is as irrelevant as the report on pollution and its impact on the environment and the economy. Bad days ahead.
2
Whatever ones feeling regarding the current Ukrainian government, the most relevant geo-strategic lesson of the last 30 years is on display.
What is that?
Quite simple, the Ukrainian acquiescence in dismantling their nuclear program in exchange for territorial guarantees.
That historical record has not gone unnoticed in Pyongyang and it is why Kim Jong-un will never surrender his nuclear deterrent no matter what.
5
If Ukraine had kept those nuclear weapons, it wouldn't have completely stopped conflict from breaking out between the two countries, it would only have made the kind of current situation more dangerous.
3
Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union so they did indeed own the nukes and if they could go back in time I’m sure they would have kept them. Germany was never part of the US so that comparison makes absolutely no sense.
2
The United States and the EU needs to speak up and strongly demand that the Russians give back the three ships that they have taken from the Ukrainians and to remove the blockades in what is a sudden escalation of their aggression towards Ukraine.
If the Russians refuse to do these two things the United States and EU need to impose additional sanctions and give more assistance to the Ukrainians.
11
How is giving more military assistance to Ukraine going to help in de-escalating the problem?
2
@Sally
And one of the things the EU and the US, and others, could do would be to provide military escorts for all Ukrainian ships that pass through the Kerch strait. At least until Russia understands that they do not control the Azov Sea.
1
The situation seems simple, there are groups in Ukraine that are a threat to the Kerch bridge and Russia must be sure no threat leads to action against the bridge. A diplomatic settlement should be sought, but Russia will protect the bridge.
10
@Nancy
Well, but Russia constructed that bridge over the bottleneck of the Kerch Strait despite having signed treaties that recognize the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait as waters belonging to both Russia and Ukraine.
Cutting off the strait cuts off Ukraine from its eastern seaports and further cripples Ukraine economically. That’s the main goal. Sure, protecting the bridge is one goal, but I seriously doubt it’s the primary motivator.
Like you, I hope for a diplomatic solution but don’t see one forthcoming. The Kerch Strait has been an issue for months now with Russia wanting to assert complete control over the strait despite the treaty. Yesterday’s incident is a dangerous escalation of those ongoing tensions. I hope cool heads prevail, but... who knows what will happen.
5
@Nancy - No. That's ridiculous. Not even Russia is pretending that the vessels it attacked threatened the Kerch bridge. This had nothing to do with protecting it.
2
@Nancy
You mean the bridge Russia built to connect its mainland to the exclave Crimea that it stole from Ukraine?
Surely you do not wonder why some Ukrainians would like to destroy the bridge.
2
Wonder what Russia's ally Trump will do ?
5
@tbsHe will say "maybe they did and maybe they didn't".
The crisis highlights one of the fundamental principles of naval warfare: Denial of access. Russia's refusal to acknowledge Ukrainian access to the Kerch Strait is an act of military aggression. Conversely, Ukrainian access to the Kerch straight despite Russian denial is a denial of denial and therefore perceived as an act of military aggression.
Russia has intentionally created a Catch-22 by claiming territorial waters in a strategically vital bottle neck. There's now way the two countries could avoid direct conflict over the issue. This one reason why so many wars start over naval disputes. Both sides can claim victim status in the pursuit of military retaliation even when they are in fact a hostile aggressor. We see something similar playing out in the South China Sea.
This is why we have the United Nations Law of the Sea. The question is whether NATO is capable of enforcing international law without starting a war. With President Trump in Putin's pocket, the answer is probably no. In which case, Russia has successfully annexed another regionally important territory with little or no international response. That's a bad precedent for international law.
16
@Andythe answer to a simple question-the United States annexed Texas from Mexico?
8
Who will enforce the law when NATO break it by invading non-NATO countries and annexes their territory? Doesn't that set bad precedent?
10
Someone from England discussing American annexation of part of Mexico is right on. England is the expert in annexations and they would know one. They built an empire that way - way to go England. Or is it the UK. I want to be correct here.
15
What the West did to Russia in the 1990s was very similar to what Allies did to Germany in 1918. Now you have the Ukrainians mess around with Russia, ignoring the dictum that a small nation often should be careful in it's dealings with a powerful neighbor, expecting Western nations to come to their help. The British don't have their hands full with Brexit, they are sending royal navy ships to the Sea of Azov. What happens if Russia simply lays pretense aside and declares war on Ukraine? How many European countries will send their soldiers to die against Russia? How many Americans want their own children to die for Ukraine? Plenty of globalists want the children of others to die for Ukraine, but not their own.
Some may compare the situation to "why die for Danzig" but anyone with serious knowledge of the region knows this is not true. Russia's position today remains the same as it did in the 1990s - keeping it's immediate neighborhood of ex-Soviet Republics outside of Western military alliances. Putin's position is no different from Yelstin's, but the West has continued to support the eastward push - cost free for now, but till when?
14
@MRPV "Russia's position today remains the same as it did in the 1990s - keeping it's immediate neighborhood of ex-Soviet Republics outside of Western military alliances. Putin's position is no different from Yelstin's"
So, which immediate neighbors of Russia did Yeltsin grab pieces of? With the Putin reign (including the legal ploy of now super-wealthy Medvedev's interlude as President), Georgia and Ukraine have had lands seized and stolen by Russian troops.
Naturally, they said the seizures were needed to protect Russian-speaking people. Well, the Soviet Union spread a lot of those, so where does this land grab stop?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupied_territories_of_Georgia
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/08/opposite-of-opsec-russian-soldier-posts-selfies-from-inside-ukraine/
Boris didn't take other people's territory.
3
@MRPV
The west did nothing to Russia. The USSR collapsed on its own. There's no comparison to 1918 post-war Germany. None at all. Putin is KGB (or whatever it's known as today, they see fit to change the name every 10-20 years) and always will be.
5
@MRPV
So what if Russia doesn't want the former Soviet republics to join NATO or the EU? These are independent countries and they are quite capable, and able, to chart their own paths.
Russia does not get veto power of what Ukraine, and other countries, decide to do.
4
As long as Trump stands by and turns a blind eye to Putin's aggression in Eastern Europe, he will continue to send unmarked troops into any poorly defended area, calling them local rebels and attempt to steal more land and resources.
The citizens caught in this undeclared illegal war have gone without power, shortages of food and water for years. But we do nothing because...?
10
The Crimea was not historically part of the Ukraine. It was transferred to the Ukraine by Stalin in post WWII. The population is overwhelmingly Russian. The Ukrainian government has been a mess since independence. It is no wonder that ethnic Russians want out. The significance of this incident is that the Ukraine president wants to use this event to declare martial law. (Gulf of Tonkin anyone?) NOT OUR PROBLEM.
16
@cleo Crimea was transferred to Ukraine by Kruschev in 1954.
10
Actually it was Kruschev, who was Ukrainian, who gifted Crimea to Ukraine.
6
@cleo Crimea historically is not part of Russia before 1783. Since 1991 it is indivisible part of Ukraine, not Russia. This was confirmed by UN resolution. By the way, Crimea was developed from a dessert into a resort and urban area by rich Soviet Ukrainian republic during 1954-1991, not by Soviat Russian republic.
Do not share fakes.
4
This is business as usual for the Russians. Why would they want to block steel and coal shipments from Ukraine? Why would they lie about what happened? Why would they invent a reason to close the strait? Why would they break a treaty? Why would they commit an act of war under the guise of keeping a waterway safe? The answers to all of these questions is simply because they believe it helps their interests and that they can get away with it. They've been getting away with these kinds of things for years. If you think the US should do something about it, then you better have a plan that addresses the underlying causes that permit Russia to get away with these things. If that plan does not start with getting rid of the president that Russia chose for us, then the Russians will continue to believe that they can conduct business as usual.
19
@Rusty Carr What business to you to border of Russia? And the suddenly Russia wants to place their missiles on Cuba or Venezuela....)))) Moreover, the location shows that Ukrainian warships entered without permission into the territorial waters of Russia. Rating Poroshenko 6% and soon in Ukraine elections, he needs to introduce martial law that would cancel the elections. I'm sorry,what height it's easy to be fooled by such provocations.
7
@Max Bingo!
First, if Crimea is not part of Russia, then the USA should give Texas back to Mexico. Second, Ukraine cannot become a normal country if it is the front line of a proxy war. There is potential for a diplomatic settlement of this dispute. The EU and US should recognize that Crimea is Russian. Ukraine becomes officially a neutral country, essentially a kind of 1950's Finland, neither aligned with the EU/NATO nor Russia. In return, Russia stops supporting rebels in eastern Ukraine and agrees to cease any destabilizing activities in that country. Effectively, we declare a truce and work on normalizing the Ukrainian economy and political system.
23
@John F
First of all, Ukraine isn't part of the EU or NATO now. Second, as a sovereign nation, Ukraine's trade and diplomatic ties are up to it, not the U.S., E.U. or Russia. Third, the Russians don't admit they are committing military aggression in eastern Ukraine although it's obvious they are. What makes you think they would abide by an agreement to stop doing what they deny doing?
7
@John F
Or, Ukraine could decide for themselves what they want. If they want to align themselves with the EU, that is their decision to make. That's what being an independent country means.
4
maybe, because they will not to do it, if they are not felt threaten by the West. And yes, the trade is the business of Ukraine, but why the West supported the Ukrainian rebels when Ukraine acting on its own will made the trade deal with Russia?
Everyone is eager to attack Trump over this episode, which is understandable for obvious reasons. But what actions ought Trump actually take?
Use harsher rhetoric? Sure, but it is extremely doubtful that would accomplish anything. Recall that Obama's, and the entire West's, repeated condemnatory remarks did nothing to stop Russia from annexing Crimea in 2014.
Impose more economic and diplomatic sanctions? Perhaps, but with all the sanctions already in place, does anyone seriously think a few more will make Putin act differently?
Send or threaten to send troops to Ukraine? Not a chance; no president would risk military conflict with Russia over Ukraine.
3
I wonder if this is timed to occur before the Democrats take control of the House and could pressure Trump to do something about Russia's actions.
8
I'm surprised Trump has not demanded that Ukraine apologize to Putin, yet.
22
Putin's popularity is at something around 35% at the moment. After Eastern Ukraine and the Crimea he needs another nice small war.
13
@Maarten
Poroshenko's rating is 6%, he needs to enter martial law to cancel the elections...))))
11
@Neo This is probably one thing trump is paying attention to, how to set up a situation to declare martial law and stop elections.
1
It would be helpful if this article outlined what it would take to amend or suspend the politically troublesome parts of Ukranian martial law? Might a two-stage process provide the needed flexibility?
NATO and the UN Security Council could be counter-weights to Russia's provocative action. However Russia has a veto in the Security Council, Europe is fragmenting with Brexit, and the major force behind NATO is tied-up in Afghanistan and in the defense of its southern border from invasion by an elite of criminals. So outside assistance is problematic. However the modification of martial law would seem to be under the complete control of Ukrainian politicians. If they cannot unite to meet this national emergency through compromise and legislation, what could international organizations be expected to do?
That said, the Russian oligarchy's continued aggression and provocation must be recognized and exposed. In the next decade Putin's control will be weakened or over. When will the Russian public ask what then? Who will organize such achievements as cheating at the Olympics, helping Assad destroy Syria and collaborating with Assange then?
7
@Son of the Sun
I wish more Russians ask themselves the same questions.
Putin is emboldened by Trump's weakness and fecklessness. Other dictators will likewise be emboldened. I feel badly for Ukraine. Despite everything they do to get Russia's big bad boot off their "neck", they can't seem to achieve the complete independence they desire. Russia is the aggressor, as they have been for years. Once Trump was elected, we no longer had their backs.
49
I suspect that Trump agreed to change the Republican platform that condemned the Russian invasion of Crimea in exchange for Hillary's emails being released on WikiLeaks. Now we have a President that is a traitor to his country and Russia's puppet leading the United States in a potential war around Crimea. Hollywood could not have written it better.
31
Poroshenko's reelection chances have been dwindling fast (his likely support has fallen below 10%). Ukraine under his 'leadership' is sinking deeper and deeper into the debt hole, from which it will never be able to climb out (when you have to borrow billions to pay off some of the billions you already owe, you really have a problem). So Porky needed an aversion on the cheap. The Azov sea 'dispute' is a low risk- high gain theater, that can be used to deflect attention off all the real issues. Plus, if martial law is introduced, no election will be held until it is lifted.
Problem solved.
35
@waldo Interesting concept; not unlike what we have seen Trump do. I am hard pressed to think this is a power grab by Petro, what would be the end game? Martial law forever?
1
@waldo
"Porky" as you say may be in a pickle, but that doesn't alter the facts on the "ground" (or on the water). Parking a ship to block and "temporarily" blocking a shipping lane then strafing boats on the water doesn't make Ukraine the provocateur here, it makes Russia the aggressor, yet again, while infantile insults on your part only demonstrate your bias.
41
@waldo. How did Poroshenko arrange a russian cargo ship sideways to the Kerch Strait, blocking access to the Sea of Azov and the major ukrainan export ports?
13
This is where the E.U. needs to Step Up and give full backing support to Ukraine for it is the fact that Ukraine was favoring Greater Relations with the E.U. over Russia that this is happing/ sad thing is Russia in its Egotistical logic couldn't see that greater Ukraine ties with the West would Strengthen its Hand not weaken it as they FEARED!
6
@There for the grace of A.I. goes I
The E.U. ? Why should we ? Because Victoria Nuland and the U.S. wanted a gov change in Ukraine ?
Why should we make any sacrifice to aid a corrupt and fascist regime in Ukraine ?
Meanwhile the gas from Russia is cheap and our industry needs it. So....
6
@Johann M. Wolff
Gee, I don't know maybe to stand of for the international principle of freedom of the seas and free navigation of straits? Who will stand up for the Europeans if the Russians blockade the Skagerrak or Bosporus if the Euros don't stand up now?
10
So, far it is not great even for Ukraine, how it will be great for Russia?
All because of the weakness of Trump, who cowered before Putin on the world stage in Helsinki. Our president is a weakling and a coward and Putin knows it. None Spura won’t do a thing.
16
Russia has surely calculated that the USA will do nothing (or that this episode will find out whether the USA will do anything) and that the White House will likely accept Russian explanations just as it has accepted the Crown Prince's story. Russia has surely also seen the disunity in NATO and in the EU, and the frictions between the White House and the EU, and has calculated that now is a good time for such maneuvers. Russia has surely also seen that the President it helped to become President will now be concentrated on what happens in the House of Representatives.
50
just for fairness sake, Ukraine-Russia conflict has been continuing well before Trump.
6
@Simon Potter
I would be interested to know what actions Obama or Clinton would take - or for that matter, Sanders, Warren, Gillibrand, Booker or Harris.
"...Poroshenko could use the incident to delay a presidential election scheduled for March..."
Let's hope the unhappy family in the White House doesn't take a page from Poroshenko's notebook and use the same strategy before the 2020 elections. The next thing we'll find out will be them trying to set aside the 22nd Amendment, when Mr Trump decides two terms just is not enough.
22
The Trump collusion/conspiracy has fostered this Russian aggression. The situation is dire.
The US needs to come out in strong support of NATO and its support of Ukraine now. If Russia senses even the slightest weakness or hesitation on the part of the US to meet its commitments to Europe and NATO, they will strike hard and fast. Destruction of Ukraine will be a fait accompli very quickly. Undoing that would require an expensive and uncertain invasion.
Action is required now by the Trump administration. Failure to act should be regarded by all Americans as an irrefutable indication of conspiracy.
32
@Brian Barrett, So, let me get this straight--and I cannot stand Trump, mind you--Somehow, if this event even occurred, Russia's actions are both wrong and caused somehow by Trump? And the response should be, what, go on a war footing with the other main nuclear power to protect a government that is considering martial law because of a sea-lane dispute? That's how you battle authoritarianism and act responsibly in international affairs, huh?
Folks, these are today's liberals: they make Reagan look like a dove.
20
@Doug Tarnopol
Please note I said Trump fostered or encouraged this Russian behavior. The Russian's obviously have been aggressors for years but his actions, or rather his pulling away from our European allies have encouraged this Russian adventure.
Rather than propose a "war footing" I propose a show of forceful support for our allies in order to avoid a war.
What are you proposing? A visit to the Trump Tower Moscow?
10
@Brian Barrett
As far as I know, Ukraine is not NATO member and has a government led by a corrupt businessman.
What should the U.S. do ?
Germany still builds the NorthStream 2 to get cheap gas from Russia, bypassing Ukraine.
Will you be the first one to g to war ? For what ?
Ridiculous.
10
Russia is likely the aggressor here and needs to be restrained. Given they remain in Crimea and continue to militarily back separatists in eastern Ukraine, additional sanctions and military aid are in order, if not overdue.
Regardless, Poroshenko has no apparent basis for declaring martial law. The West shouldn't support that without compelling evidence it's necessary there. Democracy and the rule of law need to be paramount.
On a related note, Trump should not be allowed to meet privately and alone with Putin later this year. It's virtually collusion in plain sight. (Or it's his annual performance review and marching orders, take your pick.)
58
@Michael Tyndall How do you restrain a country which has 4000 nuclear weapons at the ready? Maybe the need to "restrain Russia" is an invention. Crimea VOTED to join Russia several years ago. The rebellion in east Ukraine began at the same time.
Putin did not start that rebellion but once it started he could hardly let the east Ukrainains, largely Russian speaking, be massacred by Poroshenko. He had no choice but to support them.
If people were able to see outside their own hatreds things would be much easier to understand.
13
@Ludwig Oh, now please tell us the fable about how Putin couldn’t help but shoot down that Dutch airliner over Ukraine.
12
Russia's reckless aggression against Ukraine must end. For centuries, Russia's ruling classes have viewed Ukraine as a territory of Russia. In 2018, this antiquated view, stretching back to Catherine the Great (and further, yet she saw the strategic importance of a Russian-occupied Ukraine), this view, must be countered. The first step is to secure the return of the Ukrainian hostages. The second step is for the European Union to levy more sanctions on Russia. Thirdly, Ukraine cannot backside on reforms or democracy, marshal law is too extreme. Finally, the European Union needs to begin the process of further integrating Ukraine into the EU, moving to bring Ukraine into. The European Economic Area.
11
@Tony Cochran Ukraine will make a nice replacement for the UK (smile).
3
@Tony Cochran
And how would America react if in its territorial waters. Went without the permission of the military ship of another country...? Like Venezuela.... In how many minutes would it have been sunk?!) As for Ukraine's accession to the EU-you are right-the US has long wanted to weaken the EU and another poorest country in the world they just do not have enough!)))))
6