Deja vu all over again. Just as he stole the jam from the market's donut last week, NATO Chief Rasmussen has done it again:
- NATO'S RASMUSSEN SEES "HIGH PROBABILITY" THAT RUSSIA COULD INTERVENE MILITARILY IN EASTERN UKRAINE
He also adds he sees no sign of troop withdrawal. So, despite the market's confidence that it's fixed and Putin has folded, it seems NATO is not so sure. Un-De-Escalation begins.
Rasmussen added "We see a military build-up that could be used to conduct illegal military operations in Ukraine."
Furthermore Reuters reports the leader of East Ukraine's rebels Zakharchenko is said to be "mulling a counter-attack on government forces in 2-3 days"
This counter-offensive, of course, has been spun as Russia-supported by NATO and thus excuse for NATO involvement - which, as a reminder, includes Canada's commitment to provide military support to Ukraine [5].
Last week Rasmussen popped the bubble...
[6]
This is the exact opposite news that the market apparently ripped higher on from Friday's lows...
Following is Bloomberg's compilation of actions by Ukraine, Russia, U.S., EU, including effects on global markets.
POLITICS:
* Kremlin attempts to pacify Armenia-Azebaijan conflict as Ukraine war continues
* Ukraine says stopped Russia convey trying to enter Ukraine under guise of humanitarian mission
* EU opposes any Ukrainian cutoff of Russian gas, official says
* Assessing impact of Russian sanctions on agribusinesses
WHAT TO WATCH:
* Ukraine urges mass evacuation as army surrounds strongholds, declining cease-fire proposed by separatists
* Ukrainian humanitarian situation can’t wait; Russian President Putin to meet with Crimean Parliament in Aug. 14: spokesman Peskov
* Russian 2Q GDP growth 0.8% vs est. 0.7%
* Russian PM Medvedev asks govt to watch food prices, mortgage rates
