While the USA has been oddly quiet since Ukraine's President Poroshenko unilaterally ended the cease-fire, the Russians have not. This morning's "anti-terrorist" shelling of East Ukraine buildings [5] stirred Russia's Prime Minister Medvedev to warn:
- *MEDVEDEV SAYS POROSHENKO MADE MISTAKE ENDING CEASE-FIRE
- *MEDVEDEV SAYS POROSHENKO PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR NEW DEATHS
- *MEDVEDEV SAYS THERE MAY BE FULL FLEDGED GAS CRISIS BY FALL
Of course, Ukraine is 'fixed' - it must be: stocks are up. However, it appears a new round of violence (with little seeming room for negotiation) appears set to start as Ukraine moves ahead and Medvedev makes it clear there will be repercussions.
As Voice of Russia reports, Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko made a fatal mistake when he had ended the truce, Russian Prime Minister believes. Poroshenko is now personally responsible for casualties, Medvedev believes.
"Having ended truce, President Poroshenko has made a fatal mistake. It will bring new casualties. And he is personally responsible for them now," Medvedev posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Medvedev said that Russia would take protective measures concerning its market after Ukraine signed an association agreement with the European Union.
"On June 27 Ukraine signed an Association Agreement with the European Union. This is Ukraine's right. Russia's right is to switch to new conditions for working with it. To protect its market. The decision on protection measures will be made after consultations. The Russian government is analyzing the current situation and devising our steps under the CIS free trade zone agreement and the WTO (World Trade Organization) rules," he said.
Medvedev predicted "a full-blown gas crisis" by autumn as a result of Ukraine's denial to pay for Russian gas.
"Ukraine doesn't pay for gas. The debt is huge. They take gas from underground depots. There'll be a full-blown gas crisis by autumn," he wrote, Interfax reports.
Then the to-ing and fro-ing began...
- *KLIMKIN SAYS NO SHIFT OF POSITION; MUTUAL CEASE-FIRE NEEDED
- *LAVROV SAYS CEASE-FIRE MUST NOT BE USED FOR REGROUPING FORCES
- *KLIMKIN SAYS NO SHIFT OF POSITION; MUTUAL CEASE-FIRE NEEDED
- *LAVROV: WHEN UKRAINE CEASE-FIRE AGREED, IT'LL BE OSCE MONITORED
