Inminencias

Algo está pasando, o está por pasar, en Ucrania. La OTAN empuja siempre un poquito más hacia la guerra. Rusia ya avisó que empieza a los tiros. Ucrania está al borde de la extinción económica. Ergo, algo tiene que pasar. Leemos en Zero Hedge:

Título: NATO To Deploy Tanks In Eastern Europe Shortly After VP Of Europarliament Says Ukraine-Russia War Imminent

Texto: Just when global financial markets had shrugged off Ukraine as yet another 'storm in a teacup', it appears events are escalating rapidly once again. This morning saw European Parliament's Vice President Saryusz-Wolski warn "Russia's pressure on Ukraine is mounting high, further war imminent," to which Ukraine's President Poroshenko rapidly responded (via Twitter) rather ominously that a "third world war does not scare us," having noted earlier than Ukraine needs to achieve NATO membership. This then promptedNATO's top military commander to warn, he is "very concerned" that Russia's military build-upin the annexed Crimean region could be used as a launchpad for attacks across the whole Black Sea region; leaving the alliance confirming that NATO plans to deploy tanks in Eastern Europe.

The European Parliament Vice President Jacek Saryusz-Wolski tweeted (rather to the point):

“Russia's pressure on Ukraine mounting high, further war imminent.”

To which Ukrainian President Poroshenko replied:

"A 3rd World War does not scare... in fact, nobody is going to start it"

However, it seems the sabre-rattling continues... As Al-Jazeera reports, NATO's top military commander has said he is "very concerned" that Russia's military build-up in the annexed Crimean region could be used as a launchpad for attacks across the whole Black Sea region.

US General Philip Breedlove's comments late on Wednesday came amid fears in Kiev that Russian-backed rebels will try to grab more land in eastern Ukraine to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March.

"We are very concerned with the militarisation of Crimea," Breedlove said, following meetings with Ukraine's top political and military leaders in Kiev.

"The capabilities that are being installed in Crimea ... are able to exert influence over the entire Black Sea," he said, highlighting the influx of cruise missiles and surface-to-air rockets.

Russia's Defence Ministry said Wednesday that it had deployed a batch of 14 military jets to Crimea as part of a squadron of 30 that will be stationed on the peninsula.

Also on Wednesday, an OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in eastern Ukraine was reportedly attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft ammunition.

"These shots appear to have been fired from separatist-controlled territory," the US Department of State said n a statement on Thursday.

"Any attacks on, or threats to, OSCE monitors or equipment are unacceptable. We call on all parties to refrain from any actions that endanger the safety of the OSCE mission in Ukraine."

Which explains the decision to deploy tanks:

Sputnik: “#NATO confirms plans to deploy tanks in eastern #Europe due to situation in #Ukraine - alliance's spokesman in #Moscow”

And the Russians to respond:

“The United States is pushing Ukraine into the abyss of a civil war which has claimed thousands of lives, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told Asian counterparts on Thursday.”

“American and NATO military forces are moving closer to Russia’s threshold and the US has intensified activity in former Soviet republics," he told an inaugural meeting of the South and South-East Asian Nations Defense Chiefs’ Dialogue in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.

It appears the situation is anything but contained...


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Mientras tanto, leemos este cable de la Agencia TASS (rusa, obvio):

Título: US pushes Ukraine into abyss of civil war — deputy defense minister

Texto: The United States is pushing Ukraine into the abyss of a civil war which has claimed thousands of lives, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told Asian counterparts on Thursday.

“American and NATO military forces are moving closer to Russia’s threshold and the US has intensified activity in former Soviet republics," he told an inaugural meeting of the South and South-East Asian Nations Defense Chiefs’ Dialogue in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.

"The latest example is pushing Ukraine into an abyss through support to Maidan (the protest movement in Kiev’s Central Independence Square - TASS) and an anti-constitutional state coup,” he added.

“The lawfully elected president was ousted from power in a military way,” the minister said. “A fraternal country for Russia was pushed into civil war. Thousands of people were killed,” Antonov said.

“Russia is ready to promote a peaceful settlement in Ukraine through broad nationwide dialogue with all regions and political forces in the country involved,” he went on, calling for "honest, consistent fulfilment of the Minsk peace deals over ceasefire in southeast Ukraine”.

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Por último, dos cositas: 

(1) Para quienes quieran saber cómo está realmente la situación en Ucrania, no se pierdan este videíto. Recuerden: esto no está ocurriendo ahora en el este de la ex-Ucrania, sino en el Oeste, o sea, contra la frontera polaca:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UioLutg57gE

(2) Bajo el título: "¿Así que no hay nazis en Ucrania?", el amigo The Saker manda en su blog esta fotito de los chicos de Kiev (la bandera azul de la izquierda es el emblema de la OTAN):