Escalada

La escalada de declaraciones, gestos, insultos, sanciones y demás entre los países miembros de la NATO por un lado y Rusia por el otro, empieza a tomar un cariz, digamos, prebélico. Tomen el día de hoy como ejemplo. A continuación listamos las noticias que sobre el tema publica Zero Hedge en su sitio web (http://www.zerohedge.com) entre la última hora de ayer y el momento en que escribimos este post. Da miedito, chicos. 


Russian Defense Minister Tells Troops "To Be In State Of Constant Battle Readiness"

Having discussed his view that the Ukraine government is at fault for worsening the conflict, Russia's Putin explained to Angela Merkel that a "rising civilian toll has created a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine." However, it was Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's comments that "the world has changed and changed dramatically," demanding that histroops "must be in constant combat readiness," are the most disconcerting as his strong tone in the following clip appears to confirm Poland and NATO's fears.


Europe Furious That Putin Dares To Retaliate To Sanctions, Blames Economic Slide On Kremlin

Either Europe is run by a bunch of unelected idiots, or... well, that's about it. After blindly doing the US' bidding over all propaganda matters Ukraine-related, and following just as blindly into round after round of US-inspired sanctions, sanctions to whose retaliation Europe would be on the frontline unlike the largely insulated US, Europe appears to be absolutely shocked and is apoplectic that after several rounds of sanction escalations, Russia finally unleashed its own round of sanctions and yesterday announced a 1 year ban on all European food imports, something which will further push Europe into a triple-dip recession as already hinted by Italy yesterday.


Gold Jumps, Germany Dumps, S&P Slumps As NATO Tells Russia "To Step Back From The Brink"

NATO's Chief Anders Rasmussen is unleashing his latest set of 'back down or else' comments this morning towards Russia:
*RASMUSSEN TELLS RUSSIA 'TO STEP BACK FROM THE BRINK'
*NATO: INTL COMMUNITY TO `REACT DECISIVELY' IF RUSSIA INTERVENES
And ironically Rasmussen proclaims Russia faces further isolation if it continues down this path... by which he means Russia will become even closer to its BRICS allies. The market's reaction to this tone is bad... stocks dropping, gold popping, and Bunds to record low yields...


"Stop Putin" Coalition Cracking: Greece Laments "Blind Obedience To Cold War Strategies Of Brussels And Washington"

It was all fun and games while the grand western "Pariah Putin is evil" alliance was calling the shots, lobbing one sanctions after another, and Russia was quietly sitting there and taking it all. But once Europe realized that suddenly its food exporters are about to see their revenues plunge (and ostensibly lead to even more domestic deflation as all the excess produce floods domestic markets) and lead to gaping trade deficits, suddenly cries that Putin's retaliation is "unfair" have filled the air. What's worse, the moment Russia retaliated, the grand alliance started to crack. Enter Greece which has hundreds of millions in food exports to Russia, and which was the first country to hint that it may splinter from the western "pro-sanctions" alliance.


Meanwhile, Kiev Is Burning Again

While we assume NATO's Rasmussen's appearance in Kiev is not responsible, Kiev is burning once again. As RT reports, activists and police have clashed in the Ukrainian capital’s center after communalworkers tried to dismantle an activist camp, following a months-old conflict over the camp with the city administration.


Separatist Donetsk People's Republic Gets A New Leader "To Beef Up The Military Wing"

A few hours ago, the existing head of the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic in East Ukraine, Aleksander Borodai, current head of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DNR), and one of the Russian nationals that have taken top roles among the pro-Russia rebels, was said to be quitting his post. Moments ago RIA confirmed that Borodai is indeed out and would be replaced with Alexander Zakharchenko, a native of Donetsk, who heads a heavily armed rebel unit called Oplot. Contrary to some early erroneous speculation that this replacement is a sign of moderation of hostilities, Reuters reports, citing a source, that "He is being named to beef up the military wing."


Gold Jumps As Ukrainian Fighter-Jet Shot Down Over Donetsk

Gold futures broke above $1315 as a double whammy of NATO threats and Ukraine headlines spark safe-haven buying:
*FIGHTER JET SHOT DOWN OVER REBEL-HELD EAST UKRAINE: AFP
10Y Treasury yields are under 2.43% and JPY is strengthening once again as carry trades are unwound.


Pentagon Confirms Russia Violated US Airspace 16 Times In Last 10 Days, "Not Just Training Missions"

Having admitted that a Russian fighter jet flew within 30 meters of a US spy plane (on the border of Russia) a month ago, The Washington Times reports defense officials confirming Russian strategic nuclear bombers conducted at least 16 incursions into northwestern U.S. air defense identification zones over the past 10 days - an unusually sharp increase in aerial penetrations.


It Begins: Canada To Send Military Equipment To Ukraine

Moments ago Bloomberg reported, citing Defense minister Rob Nicholson speaking in Trenton, Ontario, that Canada, a NATO member, will send military equipment to Ukraine. Ukraine will in turn supposedly use supplies to protect eastern border Nicholson speaking to reporters, although perhaps one should ask ISIS where US military equipment that was meant for Al-Qaeda, pardon, Syrian rebels to dethrone Assad ended up...