Meanwhile in Ukraine... Revolution.

[bryant.coleman]

'We Will Vote': Eastern Ukrainians Defy Kiev and Putin

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/08-1

Pro-Russian activists declared Thursday they will move forward with planned referendums on Sunday over autonomy in southeastern Ukraine, despite a call by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to delay the vote. Opponents of the Kiev government in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk announced the move on Thursday. Denis Pushilin of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic" told reporters the decision was unanimous, according to numerous media reports. "Civil war has already begun," he said. "The referendum can put a stop to it and start a political process."

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[Nemo1024]

Nuland has tough time justifying US involvement in Ukraine
http://rt.com/news/157808-nuland-grilled-ukraine-costs/

Her name is Nudelman, btw.

But instantaneously she came under fire from Dana Rohrabacher, a republican congressman from California.

“We did have legitimate election before, and the legitimate president was removed after we had major street violence. There were pictures of people running around that we were told were neo-Nazis,” Rohrabacher challenged Nuland.

Nuland faced a hard time coming up with answers.

“First of all the vast majority of those who were participating on Maidan were peaceful protesters. There were mothers and grandmothers and veterans,” Nuland said, but before being able to continue, Rohrabacher reminded the diplomat of vast presence of violent Ukrainian radicals.

“I saw those pictures and I also saw a lot of people throwing fire bombs at groups of policemen. There were people shooting into the ranks of police. So, yes, there were mothers with flowers, but there were also very dangerous street fighters engaged in those demonstrations. The question is: were there neo-Nazi groups involved?”

Nuland could not provide a definitive answer, saying that “there were many colors of Ukraine involved including very ugly colors.”

For the record, Nuland submitted and read out a statement where she said that US policy towards Ukraine is based on four pillars.

First of all Washington is offering “financial, technical and non-lethal security assistance” for the May 25 election.

“In addition to $92 million in FY2013 State/USAID funds and $86 million in FY2014 funds, we are providing an additional $50 million in technical assistance and the $1 billion dollar loan guarantee under the authority passed by Congress on April 1st.”

Also:

“The Russian economy ... is already buckling under the pressure of these internationally imposed sanctions. Its credit ratings are hovering just above junk status,” said Nuland.

Not everyone agreed, with Ted Poe, a Texas Republican, saying many are not convinced that sanctions do indeed produce any effect.

“I don't think it's worked,” he said. “In all fairness, I don't think it's stopped Russia from doing anything.”

Who cares about credit ratings? I'm still buying into Russian equity funds, as now is a very opportune time...

[Nemo1024]

And following these news, unknown people attack the control post on Russian-Ukrainian border:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2014/05/140508_rn_ukraine_russia_border_attack.shtml

More about this yesterday's news in English:

Armed group stages provocation at Ukraine-Russia border checkpoint
http://rt.com/news/157788-ukraine-russia-border-provocation/

[bryant.coleman]

Ballot boxes being prepped for May 11 "Donetsk People's Republic" referendum on independence:



Anti-Kiev forces detain Ukrainian officer transporting BM-21 Grad shells to Markovka. Use of such weaponry would be a WarCrime.

[Born2Bwild]

Oh my gosh!  I’ve got some friends in Ukraine and Venezuella.. By the things they speak about I believe that they both have the same problems for different reasons. I wish it would just end as soon as it is possible..

[Nemo1024]

Oh my gosh!   I’ve got some friends in Ukraine and Venezuella.. By the things they speak about I believe that they both have the same problems for different reasons. I wish it would just end as soon as it is possible..

The root problem in both cases being the corruption, which can further be exploited in the struggle for power, and resources.


This is starting to get old. It feels as if EU is just going on inertia with a US auto-pilot:

EU foreign minister heads will discuss expansion of sanctions against Russia:
http://ria.ru/world/20140509/1007142220.html

One of the readers commented: "They are like parrots: 'Sanctions! Sanctions!' They make people want spewing at their sound-making"

[Don007]

I just heard six Russian marine ships are passing near the Dutch border (in the North Sea), for the first time in 20 years..

Does anyone know what they are doing here? I've read they were heading to Murmansk (Russian: Mypмaнcк).

[bryant.coleman]

Yatsenyuk alarmed by Putin’s remarks

http://euromaidanpr.com/2014/05/09/yatsenyuk-alarmed-by-putins-remarks

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk considers the statements on Ukraine made on May 7 by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin  suspicious and a possible prelude to new provocations by Moscow. Yatsenyuk expresses his views during an interview on channel 5 Thursday evening, May 8, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. “Vladimir Putin’s statement alarmed me…It gave me a sense of foreboding, They say one thing and do something else. After this statement I asked our law enforcement to strengthen security for May 9, Yatsenyuk said.

[Nemo1024]

In the meantime Pentagon still screams about Russia not withdrawing its border patrol troops from its borders:
http://ria.ru/world/20140509/1007179555.html

[bryant.coleman]

Ukraine Military Attacks Anti-Coup Civilians, US Silent

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-military-attacks-anti-coup-civilians-us-silent/5381625

As Ukrainian military forces launched a bloody operation last week in the eastern city of Slavyansk, she told her UN counterparts that the Kiev “response is reasonable, it is proportional, and frankly it is what any one of our countries would have done in the face of this threat.” Even Salon.com is finding it difficult to stomach the odious Samantha Power, calling her a “brazen hypocrite.”

[247crypto]

http://kybaman.livejournal.com/527368.html

[bryant.coleman]

Voting booths in progresses... Slovyansk prepares for a referendum:

[Rassah]

Lol, and why would you want to keep them under your control? I am being serious!

You don't like them, you think they are impolite, drunkers, idiots, robbers, violent, lower class, uneducated, lack of cognitive functions. Pretty much you would only like to see them as far away as possible. You don't feel any cultural connection with them, for you they are like monkeys in the jungle. I am not suprised they want away from Ukraine ASAP.

You don't forsake a bunch of your population to a crazy wannabe dictator just because a few in your population are rowdy vocal hooligans.

you numbers are a bit off.
http://modsite.by/allresult/#.U0mEKPl_vG9

I don't really see a source for this. Is this just a Russian language web poll?

Anti-Kiev forces detain Ukrainian officer transporting BM-21 Grad shells to Markovka. Use of such weaponry would be a WarCrime.

War crime? Where do you get that from? Those are still used by Russia and China, and are no different from carpet bombing.

[plateex]

Putin accepts invitation to attend D-Day ceremonies in France

http://www.france24.com/en/20140508-putin-hollande-d-day-ceremonies-france/

[bryant.coleman]

The APC left by Ukrainian army at Mariupol base seemed to have engine trouble, then anti-Kiev drove it into truck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1gBpouFpYI

Turkish minorities caught up in the Ukraine whirlwind

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/world/2014/05/10/Turkish-minorities-caught-up-the-Russia-Ukraine-whirlwind.html

As the crisis in the Balkans deepens, more ethnic minorities feel themselves threatened. The recent clashes between pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces have taken a toll on not only the Tatar Turks in Crimea but also some 18,000 Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks living in the region. With the increasing violence on the streets of many Ukrainian cities, Meskhetian Turks have called on Turkey for help. Turkey has a responsibility to provide diplomatic solutions for the Turkic minorities, who have been caught up in the Russia-Ukraine whirlwind.

[Rassah]

The APC left by Ukrainian army at Mariupol base seemed to have engine trouble, then anti-Kiev drove it into truck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1gBpouFpYI

Turkish minorities caught up in the Ukraine whirlwind

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/world/2014/05/10/Turkish-minorities-caught-up-the-Russia-Ukraine-whirlwind.html

As the crisis in the Balkans deepens, more ethnic minorities feel themselves threatened. The recent clashes between pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces have taken a toll on not only the Tatar Turks in Crimea but also some 18,000 Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks living in the region. With the increasing violence on the streets of many Ukrainian cities, Meskhetian Turks have called on Turkey for help. Turkey has a responsibility to provide diplomatic solutions for the Turkic minorities, who have been caught up in the Russia-Ukraine whirlwind.

So, Putin invaded Crimea under the guise of protecting its population, then annexed it through a popular majority vote... and is now failing at keeping the population of his new region safe, despite having troops everywhere?

[247crypto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb1lf2zZj2Q

[bryant.coleman]

Brazen Nazi threat!

Ukraine president warns of 'destruction' ahead of referendum

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/05/10/ukraine-president-warns-against-self-destruction-ahead-referendum

President Oleksandr Turchynov, in comments posted on the presidential website Saturday, said supporters of independence for the east "don't understand that this would be a complete destruction of the economy, social programs and general life for the majority of the population." Roman Lyagin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic's so-called electoral commission, said at a press conference on Saturday that the vote "is the only way to avoid war and armed conflict," predicting it will "legitimize" separatists in the eyes of the world.

[247crypto]

https://vk.com/x_mariupol?w=wall-56721717_13

[bryant.coleman]

Ukraine Separatists Continue Towards Referendum For Greater Autonomy

http://www.infowars.com/ukraine-separatists-continue-towards-referendum-for-greater-autonomy/

The referendum is due to take place on Sunday in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine, where armed groups have been involved in deadly clashes with Ukrainian security forces in recent days. At least seven people were killed and 39 others were injured in violence Friday in the flashpoint southeastern city of Mariupol, the Donetsk regional health department said. Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the casualty toll is higher.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donetsk_People's_Republic