The cold war, take 2.

[dizzyblonde]

Some interesting articles for those folks who prefer to read other than the BBC. Outlining the problem with invasion of a Sovereign state, and the known consequences. Drawing conclusions from current international issues of similar types.

http://www.rferl.mobi/a/interview-an.../25289465.html

http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_02_10/...d-Europe-8441/

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/1...nt-best-europe

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

oil and gas will go up whatever happens......

I just hope it's over quickly and people on the ground can get on with their lives again...

Nothing new there however, drilling for gas and oil in the Mediterranean has been given a green light for start in 2015, provided that little problem of illegal occupation is cleared up. Current negotiations are being pushed for it to be done by the end of this year
At least for the majority of the EU will have an alternative source other than Russia ....in the meantime.....


Btw, Turkey scrambled it's jets again in the Southern Black Sea last night, as Russian planes were spotted in Turkish air space for the second time this week.

The West has played soft with Putin for too long.
Gave him the gold key to the executive toilet and this is how he repays them?.
Fact is the integrity of Ukraine's border is signed in treaty.
Putin is at war with Ukraine and NATO is at war with Russia.
Just depends who starts shooting. Putin wont back down.

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by The Basket

Putin wont back down.

Yep, that's a certainty, as is the EU and US using only sanctions....so Putin will no doubt just rough it out and do what he likes....

Here is an interesting article with some history on the situation but, most intriguingly, the article is written from the perspective of Putin's long term motives for Russia. And before anyone complains that its a BBC article, its guest written by Oliver Bullough - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26769481

(Extract)

Putin's decision to invade Crimea was taken quickly and impulsively, by a small group of his favoured top officials. That means Putin has no one to warn him of the long-term consequences of his actions, and until he finds out for himself, he will maintain his course. That means relations with the West will remain uncomfortable, especially in areas he considers to be his "zone of legitimate interests"

.

Go back a couple of hundred years or so. An imperial power seeds members of it's own population into an outlying part of the empire to ensure a friendly presence. Years later, as the empire begins to wain and break up, the outlying territory chooses to go it's own way and become independent of the old imperial power. However, one small corner has that seeded population who don't want to leave the empire. Their culture and language are still in common with the old power and they decide to stay as part of that country, regardless of the portion of their population who want independence along with the rest of the country.

Russia trying to hang on to the part of Ukraine it seeded with ethnic Russians while Ukraine was part of the USSR?

Well, yes, but also Great Britain hanging on to Northern Ireland while the rest of the island became independent. The only difference is that Russia made the mistake of letting the whole of Ukraine become independent first and have had to grab Crimea back.

Dizzy

"The EU won't be happy, a large proportion of their gas supply comes from Russia.... Via Ukraine."

Me

"there was an anti-western theory that the USA has influenced this uprising to de-stabilise Russia's grip on the gas supply."

Dizzy

"The US have ... been drilling for gas and oil on behalf of this country, which in turn is going to be pumped into Europe, although how, is yet to be decided."

Me

"In very simple terms, this like most (potential) wars is about the control of resources - Land, gas, sea, territory. Simple."

BBC

"Previous Russian gas disputes with Ukraine have led to severe gas shortages in several EU countries [...] the price Ukraine was being charged for its gas was "well above the average price paid by EU members" [...]"

Germany

"Lignite production in 2012 hit its highest level for almost 20 years, while initial estimates suggest this brown coal was used to generate 162bn kWh of electricity last year, more than in any year since 1990. The use of hard coal also increased, meaning the two energy sources accounted for 46% of Germany's overall energy production."

PUTIN

"...President Putin warned that the "critical" situation could affect deliveries of gas to Europe ...while Russia has been subsidising the Ukrainian economy with cheap gas, Europe has been exploiting its raw materials and worsening its trade deficit. [...] Mr Putin adds that Russia was "prepared to participate in the effort to stabilise and restore Ukraine's economy" but only on "equal terms" with the EU."

Germany could see it coming, the UK have an alternative energy plan with the US and of course destroying Yorkshire (Fracking), the EU have done nothing to stop Russia. Its all as obvious as Christmas!

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Runako

Dizzy


Me


Dizzy


Me


BBC


Germany


PUTIN


Germany could see it coming, the UK have an alternative energy plan with the US and of course destroying Yorkshire (Fracking), the EU have done nothing to stop Russia. Its all as obvious as Christmas!

.....and closing Knottingley mine.
Watch out for when the process of bringing gas to the surface in the Mediterranean begins next year
I think when I go on holiday in October, it might be wise to stay there