Russian Military near Mariupol

[Photo Guy]

Reuters article:

"There (the village of Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol) military confrontation is ongoing. The fight continues. Our soldiers are holding their positions," he said, saying there had been a total of 44 separate attacks by separatists across the conflict zone in the past 24 hours...'
see:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/02/22/ukraine-crisis-military-idINKBN0LQ0FF20150222

[lordtiberius]

Where our friends in the pro-Ukraine camp who said we can live without the Donbass?  Where our friends in the pro-Ukraine camp who said Putin would stop after Minsk 2.0? 

[Photo Guy]

When Putin decides to invade Mariupol, there will be a blood-bath. The people of Mariupol do not want to be Russians or citizens of the rebels' 'republic'. Putin does not care about people. Blood is on his hands.

[lordtiberius]

More people will leave the city.  The old and the poor will stay behind.  The brave will defend it.  It will take months to take. 

But hey, maybe someone will get lucky and get a bride among the refugees.

One of my fb friends posted:

...just spoke with a guy from Italy. Sometimes I feel guys from other countries wish life in Ukraine would be even worst... so they can rescue "poor beautiful ukrainian girl". I hate msgs starting: "Hi, I am from ***, would you like to see my country?"
Kidding?.. I am lazy to make myself another cup of coffee))
People... we have hot water here... we have electricity, i-net. We have stores, we have roads, we have planes, restaurants, night clubs...
Sorry) Ukraine is not what it was 10 years ago) I am really sorry to disappoint you)

[mendeleyev]

As I wrote in another thread:

Unfortunately, Odessa (along with Kharkiv) are just as much in the Putin plan as is Mariupol. Putin will not stop until Kyiv has no access at all to the Black Sea, plus in his view of history, this great ancient Greek port city belongs eternally to Russia. Trouble is coming to Odessa.

[Doll]

As I wrote in another thread:

Unfortunately, Odessa (along with Kharkiv) are just as much in the Putin plan as is Mariupol. Putin will not stop until Kyiv has no access at all to the Black Sea, plus in his view of history, this great ancient Greek port city belongs eternally to Russia. Trouble is coming to Odessa.

Sir, "respected journalists" don't forget to write " in my opinion" or " this is what I THINK" unless they present facts.
You  can't possibly prove what's on Putin's mind. Posts like this (your) are cheap.

[mendeleyev]

If this were a newscast, or a news website, most certainly.

Doll, do you view RWD as a news site? I certainly do not see you putting the "opinion" comment in your remarks.

[Photo Guy]

Odessa and Kharkiv might be on his list, but Mariupol is NOW in immediate danger. Lots of sources confirm this. After the blood-bath, how will the West react? Will Russians applaud the disaster? Sanctions aren't working.

[lordtiberius]

As I wrote in another thread:

Unfortunately, Odessa (along with Kharkiv) are just as much in the Putin plan as is Mariupol. Putin will not stop until Kyiv has no access at all to the Black Sea, plus in his view of history, this great ancient Greek port city belongs eternally to Russia. Trouble is coming to Odessa.

The same (unanswered) question I asked Belvis, what makes you think he will stop?  If you were a Botoxed greedy Hitlerian bastard would you stop gambling?

[Doll]

Botoxed greedy Hitlerian bastard 

OMG!

[Photo Guy]

I wish the war was just a bad joke. People are dying.

[Doll]

I wish the war was just a bad joke. People are dying.

Agree 1000%

[mendeleyev]

Well, sanctions need to continue as they are having an impact back home. The financial pain must continue because it is getting the attention of folk who matter.

Will he stop now? No. Read the article that Muzh posted. While I don't think that he is "winging" it as much as the article suggests, there is valuable insight to that analysis.

He will not stop until forced to stop:

- Under enough financial pressure, he can be stopped by folks at home.
- If not, the world will at some point need to grow some pineapples.

If left unchecked, he'll at some point head for the Baltic states. Given the mood and condition of the West today, I do not believe that NATO will rise to the occasion--only new world leadership, especially in the USA, can accomplish this. A failure by NATO to respond would spell the end of NATO. Don't put it past the man to test the limits. For him, the upside is significant. So it the downside, naturally.

[AkMike]

OMG!

 Is that your opinion of fact? If fact show sources.   

[Doll]

Mendy. Have you ever seen the map- where Russia is and where Baltic countries are. Have a look.

[Doll]

Is that your opinion of fact? If fact show sources.   

Fact!

[mendeleyev]

Mendy. Have you ever seen the map- where Russia is and where Baltic countries are. Have a look.

Of course, have been to each of them, too. And your point is?

Might I suggest that you get out a map and review the legitimate boundaries of Ukraine, especially in view of Russia's signing of the Budapest Memorandum.

[Doll]

Of course, have been to each of them, too. And your point is?

Might I suggest that you get out a map and review the legitimate boundaries of Ukraine, especially in view of Russia's signing of the Budapest Memorandum.

If, like you said, Putin wants Baltic countries , then how is it possible to manage them? Belorussia s between RF and Baltics.
My opinion- the last thing Putin wants is Baltics.

[Boethius]

Were that true, his government would not be holding an Estonian border guard prisoner on trumped up charges of "espionage".

[Doll]

I didn't "get out" the map- I know it by heart.
Baltics is not connected to Russia (I mean boundaries) PLUS it is NATO member(s).
Or you think Putin is an idiot?

[Doll]

Were that true, his government would not be holding an Estonian border guard prisoner on trumped up charges of "espionage".

What's his name?

[Boethius]

Eston Kohver.

[Doll]

I found out his name, don't see any connection between this and Putin invading Baltics.

[Boethius]

Right.  So the Russian government is inflaming tensions just for fun.

[Изумруд]

I didn't "get out" the map- I know it by heart.
Baltics is not connected to Russia (I mean boundaries) PLUS it is NATO member(s).
Or you think Putin is an idiot?

Is Kaliningrad not part of Russia?  That sits right next to the Baltic States; take a look at the map,  Russia touches both Latvia and Estonia.