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Russia Slams Extension Of European Sanctions; Pentagon Warns Of "Nuclear Saber-Rattling"
Over the past several months, tensions between Russia and the West have escalated meaningfully. While it’s certainly true that, since Crimea, US-Russia relations have deteriorated steadily (baskets of potatoes notwithstanding), recent events suggests the situation may come to a head more quickly than either side cares to admit.
Ukraine has seen its worst outbreak of violence since February’s ‘ceasefire’ this month, with both sides blaming the other for the intensification of hostilities. Meanwhile, the US has dusted off the Cold War playbook (although, ironically, Defense Secretary Ash Carter claims Washington’s stepped up “containment” efforts are part of a new, more modern strategy designed to help America avoid being pulled back into the Cold War), suggesting heavy weapons may be stored permanently in Eastern Europe to ensure NATO forces can deploy quickly in the face of Russian “aggression.” Last week, Belgium, Austria, and France froze Russian state assets in an attempt to enforce an effectively unenforceable ECHR decision stemming from the long-running Yukos debacle, while Germany, Norway, The Czech Republic, and The Netherlands rehearsed a Ukraine siege in Poland.
Today, Europe has extended economic sanctions against Moscow for another six months or, until the Kremlin agrees to abide by the terms of the Minsk agreement which Europe, on the word of Kiev, assumes Moscow is violating. The Washington Post has more:
The extension until Jan. 31 will keep the economic pressures in place through the deadline for implementing all parts of a cease-fire agreement to settle the conflict between Ukraine’s Western-allied government and pro-Moscow rebels.
Western leaders have repeatedly stated that Russia must support implementation of the cease-fire agreement before sanctions can start to be rolled back..
European and American sanctions have limited or banned the export of key technology to Russia’s defense and energy sectors, and have severely restricted financing for the Russian banking sector.
In turn, Russia has banned the import of almost all produce, meat, dairy and fish from the European Union and the United States. Both sides have composed blacklists of individuals subject to asset freezes and travel bans.
Extending the sanctions against Russia was seen as a vital move to keep pressure on Moscow to keep the cease-fire efforts intact — even as escalating clashes threaten in Ukraine threaten to unravel the truce hopes.
Until several weeks ago, it was unclear whether the E.U. would be able to muster the necessary unanimous support to keep the current sanctions regime going.
Moscow says the extension proves the West has no real interest in de-escalation:
"Even partial softening of the sanctions would have created a positive dynamic," Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Russian Duma's international relations committee, said to Interfax. "Even though the prolongation of the sanctions does not immediately sharply worsen the situation — it remains as it was — it creates a negative tone for at least another half a year in the relations between Russia and the European Union."
A statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it was “very disappointed” that the E.U. sided with the “Russophobic lobby, which push the decision to extend the illegal restrictions.”
“The Americans declare their interest in the provision of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. But they have absolutely no interest in Ukraine. They are interested in Russia,” said Nikolai Patrushev, chair of the Russian Security Council and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with Russian newspaper Kommersant published Monday.
“The United States wants Russia to cease to exist as a country,” Patrushev said in the interview, explaining that the United States wanted to keep Russia from using its "huge" resources how it sees fit.
(Putin and Medvedev on Monday)
Of course, as discussed in these pages at length, Russia still has considerable international pull thanks to its energy exports.
Last week, for instance, Gazprom inked a new deal with Shell (among others) to double the capacity of the Nord line which allows Russian gas to flow to Europe without passing through Ukraine.
(Nord line)
Additionally, Gazprom is now settling gas and oil exports to China in yuan, marking the two countries’ push to de-dollarize the global energy trade at a time when low oil prices are already threatening to drive the petrodollar system into extinction.
Against this backdrop, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is in Europe drumming up military support and tossing around the nuclear war rhetoric. Here’s Reuters:
The United States and its allies won't let Russia "drag us back to the past", U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in an address in Berlin on Monday, as he accused Moscow of trying to re-create a Soviet-era sphere of influence.
Russia's intervention in Ukraine has put NATO allies in eastern Europe on edge and triggered a series of military moves by the NATO alliance, including an acceleration of exercises and the creation of a NATO rapid response force.
Carter, who will view components of that NATO force later on Monday, said the alliance would keep the door open to an improved relationship with Russia but said flatly: "It's up to the Kremlin to decide."
"We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot war with Russia. We do not seek to make Russia an enemy," Carter said.
"But make no mistake: we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us all."
Carter said on Sunday the United States and NATO were preparing militarily for the prospect that their rift with Russia could even outlast President Vladimir Putin.
And more from Bloomberg:
Russia is “actively seeking to undermine NATO and erode the security and economic ties that bind us together,” U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says in speech in Berlin.
“Moscow’s nuclear saber-rattling raises questions about Russia’s commitment to strategic stability and the profound caution and respect world leaders in the nuclear age have shown toward the brandishing of nuclear weapons,” Carter says in prepared speech text.
U.S., EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine conflict are “the best tool we have to confront Russia’s aggression,” Carter says.
Sanctions have been effective, have “increased the cost Russia is paying for its aggression,” Carter says.
U.S., NATO will take “necessary steps” to deter Russia’s “malign and destabilizing influence, coercion and aggression,” Carter says.
In sum, the US, the EU, and NATO are going to extend economic sanctions and persist with war games, snap drills, and weapons deployment until such a time as Russia backs out of Ukraine altogether, something which seems unlikely at best. So, unless the US is willing to concede to Russia effectively redrawing the Russian border with Ukraine, one has to wonder how long it will be before the new Cold War turns hot.
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Russia needs to stop all trades with Europe, hurry up with the pipelines to China.
"Fuck the EU"
Vickie
And I'm sure the French will be WAYYYYYY behind the Ukrainians when T-90's cruise across the plains of the Eastern Ukraine and seize 50% of the country. The EU and US are so full of shit it is sad and hilarious at the same time. There will be no nuclear exchange; just the Franco-Obama regimes surrendering another chunk of Sudetenland once again.
Hold on, this was supposed to have been VOTED on by the EU and would have required unanimous support. So Greece and Hungary etc, voted for the extension? Or was this another "Show of hands"?
They did.
Hungary will get cut off from gas supplies when Ukraine gets cut off from all energy supplies. Oil, gas, refined hydrocarbons, coal, wood, electricity, Uranium.
Won't the new pipeline go from Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary avoiding the Balkans on the west and Romania on the east?
What about all the articles regarding Greece moving to Russia. And Cyprus. And Turkey. And ....
Seems it might all be BS. As far as Greece is concerned it was to put on a show for the Greek citizens to make them think their new govt was fighting against the will of the EU. Game theory with the common Greek the sucker.
Greeks always lead with, er, from behind.
As I said earlier, Russia probably released its friends to vote for a 6 month extension, letting them look like dutiful friends of the Negro, and forcing the next renewal into the middle of winter.
Ending the sanctions without NATO's Army withdrawing is meaningless.
. . . . yes, speaking of the "malign and destabilizing."
Pipelines to China should have been in place many years ago. Same for an alternative to the SWIFT system. Same for diversification of the Russian economy.
The Russian elite have been too busy booking profits and taking care of themselves to look after Russia's long term security. This is one reason why Russia has always backed down and backed up when their allies are attacked and destroyed. Short term profits. Russia (and Putin) has even cooperated in the destruction of allies by voting along with the US on sanctions and forced removal of weapons to prepare Russia's "allies" for destruction.
There is a jewish elite who have a greatly disproportinute control of Russia's wealth just like in the US. This is why Putin give full pardons to rich jewmafia members within Russia.
These things are happening, and at an accelerated rate and intensity, due to weakness being sensed. They have no fear of Putin.
Time is not on Russia's side in this. Time is on China's side and China is (and has been) taking actions for their future standing. China plays chess, Russia's elite play with Russia's future for a place at the table if Russia falls again. They do not want to upset the west such that they have no place after such a repeat fall.
Carter and his US cronies and EU vassels - what a bare faced, fucking liar! I live in a NATO country and I now hate Nato for its lies and warmongering. I am an ex Nato serviceman who once fought for Nato and now will fight to see its evil destroyed.
"But make no mistake: we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us all"
He did not say 'the international law', so:
the rules-based international order = N.W.O. (global fascism and neofeudalism combination)
The Bolshevik government of the USSA and their Bankster Tribe leaders attack a nation and leader that is FOR the Russian people and are, apparently, not doing enough for the UnHoly Self-Chosen.
The Tribe are Capitalists when it suits their goals and Communists when that suits their goals.
Russia should dump $20 billion into creating NGOs in Bahrain and see how the Americans would react to such a covert action against it's naval base there.
Maybe the Pent-Z-gon someday will uphold it's Constitutional oath. MIC has been selling out Americans and American kids in uniform since 1861 and possibly even 1812.
Pentagon/Pentagram = satanic shapes.
the pentagram is what you make of it. but yes, in the case of the pentagon it symbolises something evil.
Yes Russia and China have time on their hands, it's Vichy DC & The Cabal who need a War ASAP.
Hence the desperate admission of hopelessness in their actions.
The more Russia ignores the west and the sanctions, the more NATO stomps its feet. Will NATO and the US and EU governments ever grow up?
Obviously not.
Spoiled brats never do.
Have you tried it on your wife ?
Drives mine insane with rage when you ignore her tantrums.
Just hope Obozo hasn't got his monthly PMT.
http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/06/deputy-minister-of-defense-of-ukrai...
http://rt.com/news/268825-nato-rapid-response-stoltenberg/
My money would still be on those Donestsk and Lughansk (DRP and LPR) farmers and miners like Givi and Motorola.
Those guys have balls like Mozgovoi who the elites had murdered.
Givi and Motorola being bosses. Armor courtesy of Ukrainian Army cast offs during two cauldrons. Plus LPR and DPR's ability to refurbish tanks. Nothing in the Ukraine gets refurbished - everything gets stolen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lY1f0tBHqE
If Russia had a brain, they'd suck it up and stop supplying energy to everyone in the EU, then say "we are happy to trade energy and otherwise with anyone not in the EU".
Sure, this would be economically unpleasant for Russia in the short run, but would become a monumental win in the long run. Plus, "economically unpleasant" is peanuts compared to what many in the EU would suffer.
Russia should stop tap dancing.
Russia should continue to act reasonably and benevolently, and take no physically aggressive actions. Just pick up their toys, go home, and let EU try to live without them.
All of a sudden, the EU would have to look at the USSA, look at Russia, and realize who is destroying them. The answer is clear.
Just foreplay Ann,
It will happen. Putin has a worldwide audience to influence.
The rasher the western moves become the better for him.
We tried to be reasonable, bent over baxkwards, but.....
I can hear it now.
It is true that if he waits for winter, EU members would bail much quicker (freezing to death concentrates the attention).
But... seems like better PR to cut them off in the summer, so EU has plenty of time to come to their senses before they freeze. Just seems like better PR for Russia. But perhaps hardball is more appropriate given how far the EU and USSA have gone already.
Unpleasant? Majority of Russian exports is energy, most of which is sold to Europe. Export and energy related taxes fund half of the federal budget. Estimates are that it will be decades before Europe's share of exports falls even below 50% in oil, 40-50% in gas. Without Europe Russia collapses.
If Europe stops getting energy, how long do you imagine it would take them to cry "Uncle!"? And this time, not "Uncle Sam", because the USSA can't provide them the energy they need.
If Russia did exactly what I said... stopped shipping energy to EU members (and anyone else seizing their assets and otherwise acting like jerks), mere weeks would pass before half of the fictitious nations in the EU would no longer be part of the EU.
A few weeks more, half of the remainder would bail.
A few weeks more and Germany and France would bail. EU gone.
So we're talking about a summer vacation here, nothing more.
Though, if they were to do the same starting in... say... November, probably everything would happen twice as fast, because Europe would start to freeze to death.
Furthermore, the former EU "nations" would stop taking orders from the USSA.
There are gas contracts through 2019 that is would be catastrophic not to deliver on in the absence of force majeure.
Force majeure is coming to all supplies via Ukraibne soon enough though.
It is no coincidence that this bout of sanctions is only 6 months long and ends in the middle of winter.
War is force majeure and can be declared without a shot being fired.
Russia wanted a 6 month extension ending in February and released the 'no more sanctions' nations to support the shorter term.
Why?
The EU is very anxious for sanctions to end, NATO -- the EU's Military -- and the US are anxious for sanctions NOT to end. Putin knows this and must be certain that when sanctions do end Russia is not holding the short end of the stick and the West can not reimpose problems.
My guess is that Putin needs a few more moves and 6 more months for checkmate. At the end of January 2016 a false flag (yes, Russia can do them too.)
The pumping station at the end of Gazprom's pipeline into Ukraine is hit by terrorists or the Ukrainian Army. Ambassadors return home and a state of war exists between Russia and Ukraine. Russia will not rebuild the compressor with NATO troops in Ukraine.
States bordering Russia must reduce NATO personnel by 75%. And equipment, too.
You get the picture.
(i have as ISS scenario mentioned elsewhere.)
How about this. "You seized our assets, so we shall no longer send assets (energy) for you to seize".
Pretty much what i inferred above. The Only good to come out of this is that we now know for Sure the futility of the Cabal's situation.
Faux Holy Wars; Baltic/Polska Peacock Parades; Sister of Mercy Trainers in Private Militia Right Sector Ukraine; False Flagellation on Steroids.
These psycopathic bastards in Europe and Washington just love to poke that bear. You know - someone can only take so much of even childish behavior before they strike back. These pussies won't know what the fuck to do either if Putin hands them the back of his hand.
I suspect they will get us all killed. It's what they want. Nuclear winter.
The TRUTH about the CONFLICT with RUSSIA >>> https://biblicisminstitute.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/the-truth-about-the-...
The West (i.e. US) needs to learn the economic truth that it is FAR cheaper for Russia to build one more tactical nuke, than it is for the West to establish, equip, and maintain a forward operations base near the Russian border.
Other than some psycho leaders, the EU has no hunger for war with Russia. By this time the EU has seen that Ukraine is being led by a fool and that Ukraine is simply a headache in the making if it tries to join NATO or the rest of the EU.
vlad, just take ukieland (18 hrs maybe less), tell The Faggot (and his boyfriend Reg) to come get it and first satellite indication of launch let the planet have it. posterity, such as it will be, will vindicate you.
These 'sanctions" are a total blessing (not in disguise) for the Russian economy. Putin and the Russian people should thank the president Obominable for this generous contribution.
carter tjinks huffing and pufging will bother them ? Russia isnt interested in invading european nations . Europe needs do defend itself from muritards first . " " we will defend our allies " lol .Carter should get nuked personally . A personal touch will be fine for people like him .
Stop calling him Ash Carter. His name is Ashton Carter. Ash is his cozy name.
Another civil servant who owes his situation to Vicky Noodleman.
The US is a hoot. They take a stick, and poke the crap out of a dog, then kick its food bowl away, then get all upset because the dog starts growling at them and defends itself.
Russia handcuffed own hand by join WTO. Without sanctions Russia could not make reforms in economy/industries, = cut import, due being tied to WTO rules. Now they can do it
The only situation in which America's poodles the euroPeons would agree is :
When Russia becomes like them , an EU member, a vassal state.
(Fcuk the EU)
So that the Americas cappyCabalBanksters can come and do whatever they want
(takeover oilfields & other riches of Russia, make money & demolish & decimate Russia from face of earth)
The earlier the Russia realizes this, the better.
it's trully amazing how far will the Europeans go to hurt themselves on the command of Unkle Sam. As a Europeans I thought we are a lot smarter than Americans deluded dupes. This makes me sad to be an European.
Nice blanket generalization. You Europeans sure are superior in your thought process.
Ash Carter is a Harvard educated Phyics Professor. He is about as dangerous of a selection for a Secretary Defense as you can get - an ivy tower academic with no military experience yet a tried and trued MIC. He is an Ash-hole. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton_Carter
The Russians must know by now that the West wants to bring death to the front door and into the Kitchen of Mother Russia. Vladimir needs to clean house and get rid of the Western sychophants in the Kremlin - yes, they are in there, like those Russian Jews who loaded up Russia on Fanny and Freddy stocks in 2006.
Am I seeing things or does Gen. Demsey have the look of a man who is about to do something he knows he really shouldn’t in the above photo?
I wonder what the asswipes of the New World Oder have on him?
~ DC
Barry needs to move back to his kraal in Kenya/Paki bath-house
Looks like Ash Carter is travelling the world and making more enemies and haters of America...He just told the world he thinks Iraq should be broken into 3 pieces when Baghdad just told the world Iraq is one country. The Iraqi Government is blowing a gasket right now.
http://www.vox.com/2015/6/22/8824069/iraq-breakup
This is a terrible idea for fixing Iraq, and Washington loves itIraq has a government?