Upping The Ante
"[NATO] is concerned about convoys of trucks taking artillery and supplies into east Ukraine from Russia."
"Across the last two days we have seen the same thing that OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] is reporting."
"We have seen columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defence systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine."
"We do not have a good picture at this time of how many. We agree that there are multiple columns that we have seen; we agree with the OSCE reports. And as to their intent: I'm not sure."
"It is our first guess that these forces will go in to make this a more contiguous, more whole and capable pocket of land in order to then hold onto it long-term."
General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO
A Reuters reporter captured armed men and military vehicles near a checkpoint in Donetsk on Wednesday
"We have stressed repeatedly that there have never been and there are no facts behind the regular blasts of hot air from Brussels regarding the supposed presence of Russian armed forces in Ukraine."
"We have stopped paying attention to NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Philip Breedlove's unfounded statements alleging that he observed Russian military convoys invading Ukraine."
Russian Major General Igor Koneshenkov
In Donetsk nightly artillery battles take place, heavily around the airport which the Russian-speaking separatists keep trying to take from the Ukrainian military unit that has been holding them off. Now, attention has turned once again to sightings of the "green men", those professional Russian soldiers wearing their green uniforms lacking insignia, a repeat of an earlier appearance when those very same forces aligned with the rebels invaded Crimea in the spring and carried it away into Russia.
For days now spokespeople and monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, along with Ukrainian military officials have been stating that that Russian troops and military equipment have crossed the border from Russia into Ukraine. Preparing for what could only be construed as renewed military action -- to what ultimate purpose can only be theorized and the guesswork that General Breedlove has advanced is as reasonable as any an explanation; another annexation.
It is more than clear that the wobbly ceasefire agreement signed in September wasn't meant to be taken seriously, its purpose only to buy time and that it has done. Russia's stealth support for the separatists no secret to anyone, and its constant denials representing a study in bland absurdity. General Breedlove spoke of the increased numbers of Russian forces now in east Ukraine training militants in the use of the sophisticated weaponry that Moscow has made available to them.
Yet again a meeting took place at the United Nations of the Security Council at the behest of the United States; this one the 26th such emergency meeting, and no doubt, counting. It ended as they all tend to do, with no forthcoming decision on anything since Russia is plying its trade on both sides; representing the aggressive belligerent against whose actions the U.S. is helpless to do much of anything but call for such sessions, and the Security Council member whose vote scuppers everything.
Ukrainian officials have all along stated their conviction, on the evidence available which represents reason enough, that Russia was using the ceasefire as an opportunity to reinforce the rebels with additional fighters and equipment under the guise of proffering nothing but sympathy to their cause, while having no hand whatever in what is ongoing; one violent skirmish after another.
In an echo of Vladimir Putin's assertion in late August while speaking to a youth forum: "I want to remind you that Russia is one of the most powerful nuclear nations. This is a reality, not just words", General Breedlove now stated: "Whether they are [nuclear-equipped] or not, we don't know. But they do have the kind of equipment there that could support that mission if required." Reminding the world that a nuclear-armed Russia and a similarly-armed NATO stand on the brink of a face-off.
On Wednesday an additional statement was forthcoming from Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to the effect that his military is considering the formation of "a full-fledged and self-sufficient" unit in Crimea "to ensure the military security of the country and its allies." And then he added: "In many respects, this is connected with the situation in Ukraine, with fomentation of anti-Russian moods on the part of NATO and reinforcement of foreign military presence in the immediate vicinity of our borders."
A self-sufficient, rugged nation of pride and dignity must, after all, do what it must to preserve its sovereignty and come to the aid of its neighbours in the process.
Labels: Civil War, Conflict, NATO, Russia, Ukraine
posted by Pieface @ Friday, November 14, 2014
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