Germany’s upcoming decision on whether to certify the controversial Russian-owned Nord Stream 2 pipeline is rapidly emerging as a key element in high-stakes diplomatic efforts to dissuade Moscow from invading Ukraine.
Delaying or cancelling the $11 billion project would have a significant impact on the Russian economy, depriving it of $3 billion US in annual revenue.
It also could serve to divide Ukraine’s allies as Russia continues to increase the pressure on the former Soviet bloc state.
Germany, the laggard of NATO with a deep conflict of interest regarding Russia, is the weak link.
President Joe Biden’s press conference last week was atrocious, but one of his worst missteps amounted to telling the truth about Germany, if not by name.
Biden said there’d be divisions within NATO over a “minor incursion” by Russia into Ukraine. This is true enough, and the chief cause would be a Germany that is staking a strong claim to being our worst European ally.
Well well well. NATO member will withdraw troops in event of war with Russia – president
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic blamed the US for escalating the crisis and said his country would stay out of a conflict
Putin is winning by not invading. What a guy.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s leaders sought to reassure the nation that a feared invasion from neighboring Russia was not imminent, even as they acknowledged the threat is real and prepared to accept a shipment of American military equipment Tuesday to shore up their defenses.
Russia has denied it is planning an assault, but it has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine in recent weeks, leading the United States and its NATO allies to rush to prepare for a possible war.
Canada orders diplomats’ families to leave Ukraine
The Canadian government has ordered family members of diplomatic staff in Ukraine to leave the country, CTV News has confirmed.
Late Monday night Canada updated its travel advisory suggesting any non-essential Canadians should leave Ukraine.
As U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration considers economic threats to thwart what it fears is a new Kremlin plan to invade Ukraine, there is one option that is reportedly on the short list: cutting Russia off from the global electronic-payment-messaging system known as SWIFT.
The dangerous delusions about “diplomatic engagement.”
For nearly two decades Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the West’s “rules-based international order” seemingly validated by the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Putin has called “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” During that time, Western leaders have imposed economic sanctions on Russia, and diplomats have scolded Putin for his violation of human rights and the borders of his neighbors, illiberal policies and murders of political rivals, and ongoing attempts to restore the old Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.
Warnings from the West are becoming ever clearer, with many seeing a Russian invasion of Ukraine as a growing possibility.
Russia has amassed 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and NATO is sending ships and fighter jets into Eastern Europe — in direct contravention of the Kremlin’s demands, which wants those forces removed.
For Europe, there presents a serious conundrum: What to do if Russian troops cross the border and invade Ukraine?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says how Canada will respond to continued Russian threats against Ukraine will be on the agenda for a three-day virtual cabinet retreat set to get underway Monday.
The federal cabinet is meeting as tensions remain high over a potential Russian incursion into Ukraine. NATO officials announced earlier in the day that additional forces from the military alliance are being put on standby to deploy into eastern Europe as part of a bid to deter Russia.
For all the assessments of Putin as a geopolitical mastermind, he could be in over his head when it comes to Ukraine.
When will Russian president Vladimir Putin strike Ukraine again? It may be sooner than you think. President Joe Biden stated in his recent press conference that he’s convinced that Russian troops will attack, and Washington’s national security establishment is on edge.
Right now, more than 100,000 Russian troops plus an array of tanks and weapons surround Ukraine from three sides. Last week, a cyberattack hit a number of Ukrainian government websites to test their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Russia also sent soldiers into Belarus (no one knows exactly how many) and six Russian ships are on the move to the Black Sea where they could be deployed as part of an amphibious attack on Ukraine from the south. Meanwhile, the troop numbers keep climbing.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has an “open invitation” to visit Moscow to meet with Russian officials, an offer first extended in December, says Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov.
In an interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday, Stepanov said the Russian government would welcome the meeting.
“Your excellency Joly had the chance to chat with [Foreign] Minister [Sergei] Lavrov on the margins of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting last December in Stockholm and expressed her interest to come to Moscow for consultations at some point and my minister extended the official invitation,” he said.
The public has been so busy waiting for the war in Ukraine to start that it hasn’t noticed how much of it has already happened since it started in 2014, when the near-success of the Ukrainian government counteroffensive against Russian-backed militias forced Moscow to commit conventional forces to save the effort. Although “Ukraine, Russia, the DPR, and the LPR signed an agreement to establish a ceasefire, called the Minsk Protocol, on 5 September 2014,” the brigades had entered the stage.
German navy chief resigns over Ukraine comments
The head of the German navy has resigned over controversial comments he made over Ukraine.
Kay-Achim Schönbach said the idea that Russia wanted to invade Ukraine was nonsense. He added that all President Vladimir Putin wanted was respect.
A number of countries have supplied weapons to Ukraine, including the US and UK. But Germany has refused Ukraine’s request for ammunition.
Russia has denied claims that it is planning to invade Ukraine.
German navy chief Schönbach resigns over comments on Putin, Crimea
Germany faced a diplomatic incident on Saturday following comments made by Navy chief Kay-Achim Schönbach on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukraine crisis. Schönbach stepped down from his position late on Saturday.
Schönbach made the comments during a talk that he gave in a visit to India. Speaking at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, the German vice admiral said Putin “probably” deserved respect.
“What he really wants is respect,” the vice admiral said, speaking in English in remarks that were posted on a video on YouTube.
“You can’t interview me I’m kind of famous in Ukraine ha ha!”
OK, I confess I didn’t know who the woman was, but her thoughts didn’t exactly seem preoccupied by a possible invasion on her country.
Her mood is matched by many at the snowy Kyiv food market we cross paths in, which wouldn’t look out of place on a Christmas card.
“Russia can do anything thanks to Putin, who is unpredictable,” says Volodymyr, who’s less concerned about his celebrity status.
“As long as Putin is there, risk will always remain.”
‘We have hundreds of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles deployed along the Ukrainian border… The U.K. and the U.S. have already shipped the military equipment and we would appreciate if Canada follows suit’
As Russia continues its troop build-up along the border with Ukraine, China has markedly increased its military activity near Taiwan. The twin geopolitical flashpoints, separated by 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles), are raising concerns that Russia and China could coordinate or conduct concurrent military offensives that the United States and its allies may find difficult to stop.
A failure to deter Russia and China — deterrence, especially military pre-positioning near the area under threat, is the least costly way to avoid war — would deal a potentially crushing blow to the post-World War II liberal international order. That system, whose principles and norms — including adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and the promotion of liberal democracy, as well as preserving the sanctity of territorial sovereignty and existing boundaries — has regulated the conduct of international relations for nearly 80 years.
Canada today offered Ukraine a $120 million dollar loan to help the eastern European nation face down what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called an “aggressive” attempt by Russia to destabilize it.
The prime minister also hinted at more military assistance for Ukraine, while insisting again that Moscow “de-escalate” and refrain from further invading and occupying Ukrainian territory.
The federal government said the loan announced today is meant to go toward “economic resilience and governance reforms.” The terms of the loan are to be negotiated with the government of President Volodomyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
