Russian news

[2tallbill]

Russia tells Denmark not to join Nato missile shield

Russia has gone on the offensive in the Baltic, warning Denmark that if it joins Nato’s missile defence shield, its navy will be a legitimate target for a Russian nuclear attack.

“I don’t think that Danes fully understand the consequence if Denmark joins the American-led missile defence shield. If they do, then Danish warships will be targets for Russian nuclear missiles,” said Mikhail Vanin, the Russian ambassador to Denmark, to the Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

• How do we protect the Baltic states?
“Denmark would be part of the threat against Russia. It would be less peaceful and relations with Russia will suffer. It is, of course, your own decision - I just want to remind you that your finances and security will suffer. At the same time Russia has missiles that certainly can penetrate the future global missile defence system,” Mr Vanin said.

But Nicolai Wammen, the Defence minister, has been at pains to calm Russia, saying that the move is not targeted at Russia, but at “rogue states, terrorist organisations and others who would have the capacity to fire missiles at Europe and the United States”.
Nevertheless, Mr Vanin made it clear that Russia feels that NATO is encroaching on its borders.

“Denmark is a small country with a small army. OK - you are part of Nato, but a very small part. Moscow will not appreciate you joining the missile defence system - or any of the other countries that take part. It will escalate a situation that is already tense and will make things even worse,” he said.

“I cannot imagine the Cold War coming back again; but there are some who feel that Nato is moving closer and closer to the Russian border and strengthening its position. That creates insecurity in Russia,” he added.

There is more read all about it here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/11487509/Russia-warns-Denmark-its-warships-could-become-nuclear-targets.html

[mendeleyev]

Unchecked in places like Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, it is no surprise that Russia feels that she can openly threaten other nations.

In truth, MAD still exists. No matter how many interviews Putin gives on what he might have done with nukes, in truth he knows that their use would be met with corresponding response from the other side. Moscow can be reduced to radioactive dust in the same amount of minutes as New York Both sides know this.

But, what the current climate has shown is the real intention of those who currently hold power in Moscow.

[Larry1]

Here is an excerpt from an article discussing what looks like the return of the Cold War.

It provides a rundown of recent events, the positions various players have taken, and gets to the heart of the matter: whether NATO would defend a member state against Russian "hybrid warfare" of the sort that it is waging in Ukraine:

Ukraine isn't a NATO member, and the U.S. has tried to signal since the crisis began that it would use military force to stop similar aggression against a NATO member under Article 5 of the alliance's treaty. But the commitment to retaliate against outright attacks begs the question of how NATO would respond to Ukraine-style subversion against a member by "men in green" proxy forces. If Russian-speaking separatists seized territory in a Baltic country, for example, would NATO strike Russia?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/03/18/back_to_the_future_in_putins_europe_125964.html

Lithuania has re-instituted the draft, but the armed forces of the three Baltic republics are so small that they would be vulnerable to Russian hybrid warfare.  I doubt Putin will have any trouble rounding up enough volunteers to create such a war in the Baltics or supplying them with modern arms, even supporting them with anti-aircraft and artillery fire from within Russia's border. And the monolithic Russian media will enable him to whip up public opinion to support the war, even if a few thousand Russians come home in body bags.

If NATO doesn't respond then Putin will have put a crack in NATO.

[jone]

Right.  Russia uses Nukes as part of an offensive. 

Where do they expect to live?  A radioactive wasteland? 

[2tallbill]

Russia Issues Contradicting Statements on NATO

A Russian senior official said that Moscow is not seeking confrontation with NATO.

The Russian Interfax news agency reported Saturday that Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov made a statement to that effect at a news briefing for foreign defense attaches in Moscow, addressing the outcome of a major inspection of the Russian armed forces' combat readiness.

“We are not seeking confrontation with the alliance, and we favor the development of cooperation," Antonov is quoted as saying.

In an attempt to reassure the audience, Antonov also said that Russia is “not going to attack anyone.”

However, Russia's ambassador to Denmark Mikhail Vanin commented in the newspaper Jyllands-Posten Saturday that Danish ships will become Russian targets if country joins NATO’s missile defense system.

Vanin's statement prompted an angry response from Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard, who said that such comments were "unacceptable'' and that Vanin had "crossed the line'' by saying that "everyone who joins'' the shield "in the future will be a target for Russian ballistic missiles.''
 
Lidegaard added, however, that "it is important that the tone between” Russia and Denmark “does not escalate.''
 
there is more read all about it here
http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-not-seeking-confrontation-with-nato/2689659.html

[2tallbill]

Putin Critics Said To Be On Russian 'Kill List'

read all about it here

http://www.npr.org/2015/03/22/394636693/putin-critics-said-to-be-on-russian-kill-list

[2tallbill]

NATO leaders balk at Russia's threat to nuke warships

BUCHAREST, Romania -- Britain's defense secretary says NATO
members Romania and Britain will not be intimidated by threats
against members of the military alliance.

"Neither Romania nor Britain will be intimidated by threats to its
alliance or its members," Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said
Monday during a one-day visit.

His remarks came days after Russia's ambassador to Denmark,
Mikhail Vanin, said in a published report that Danish warships
could become targets for Russian nuclear missiles if the Danes
join the alliance's missile defense system. Bases are planned in
the southern Romanian town of Deveselu and in Poland.

"I do not think Danes fully understand the consequences of what
happens if Denmark joins the U.S.-led missile defense. If this
happens, Danish warships become targets for Russian nuclear
missiles," Vanin was quoted as saying by the newspaper Jyllands-
Posten on Saturday.

Should Danes join "we risk considering each other as enemies," he
added.

"Cold" war games: Russian military war games in Arctic
Far-right EU politicians rally to Putin's cause
Putin: Russia considered nuclear option over Crimea
Vanin's comments prompted an angry response from Danish Foreign
Minister Martin Lidegaard, who said they were "unacceptable" and that
Vanin had "crossed the line" by saying that "everyone who joins" the
shield "in the future will be a target for Russian ballistic missiles."

There is more read all about it here
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-threat-to-bomb-nato-warships-over-missile-defense-draws-rebuke/

[2tallbill]

Ukraine threatens to stop importing Russian gas from April 1

Kiev said it will stop importing Russian gas from next Wednesday if
Gazprom doesn’t offer it a better price, according to the country’s
Energy Minister Vladimir Demchishin. Halting supplies through Ukraine
could put Europe’s energy security in limbo.

“It is necessary to buy Russian gas at the moment, but buying at a
higher price than we can buy from Europe makes no sense,”
Demchishin said Monday, as quoted by TASS.

Similar claims have been made by Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk.


Last week, Ukraine Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko said gas imports
from the EU would be $50 cheaper per 1,000 cubic meters.

There is more read all about it here
http://rt.com/business/243321-kiev-threatens-gas-russia/

[Steamer]

Right.  Russia uses Nukes as part of an offensive. 

Where do they expect to live?  A radioactive wasteland?

Nukes were a huge boogeyman in the 80's and 90's, I don't know if it has the same scare value in today's Europe.

[calmissile]

Nukes were a huge boogeyman in the 80's and 90's, I don't know if it has the same scare value in today's Europe.

OF course it does.  Why else would Putin use the threat?   You can hear Merkel and F/T's knees knocking from here.     

[lordtiberius]

In truth, MAD still exists. No matter how many interviews Putin gives on what he might have done with nukes, in truth he knows that their use would be met with corresponding response from the other side. Moscow can be reduced to radioactive dust in the same amount of minutes as New York Both sides know this.

But, what the current climate has shown is the real intention of those who currently hold power in Moscow.

Can we really say that MAD still exists?  President Obama has largely unilaterally disarmed our nuclear arsenal.  What Putin's remarks do is blackmail the West, bolster and radicalize his followers and prepares them for suicide.  Do you disagree?

[Steamer]

Can we really say that MAD still exists?  President Obama has largely unilaterally disarmed our nuclear arsenal.  What Putin's remarks do is blackmail the West, bolster and radicalize his followers and prepares them for suicide.  Do you disagree?

I disagree, MAD still exists. If Putin were to launch the game would be over and I believe Putin knows that. Nukes are the weapon of last resort and the situation between Russia and the West is nowhere near that yet. However make too many idle threats and people will not take Russia seriously which could lead to some bad situations.

[lordtiberius]

If Putin nukes us, you will die too Steamer.  He won't spare you because of your Novorossiya sympathies.

[calmissile]

I disagree, MAD still exists. If Putin were to launch the game would be over and I believe Putin knows that. Nukes are the weapon of last resort and the situation between Russia and the West is nowhere near that yet. However make too many idle threats and people will not take Russia seriously which could lead to some bad situations.

We actually agree on this.   

[lordtiberius]

We actually agree on this.   

Really?  Who is making idle threats Doug?  When the West thwarted the Soviets how many Soviet premieres threatened nukes?  How many nuke threats has Putin used and how many times has Obama threatened?  How many times has the US military used tactical nukes in their training scenarios and how about the Russian army?

[Faux Pas]

Make no mistake. Putin is crazy enough to use nukes at any point or, and just as bad, supply nukes to enemies of the West who are crazier than Putin is. Remember that while you pound your chests calling for war, one nuclear warhead getting fired from anywhere is, "game over" everywhere. One warhead will trigger responses from every nation that has them.

That said, the mention of nukes from Russia is more Kremlin propaganda designed to keep the Russian population worked up in a lather. For Russians, it works, too.

[Steamer]

Really?  Who is making idle threats Doug?  When the West thwarted the Soviets how many Soviet premieres threatened nukes?  How many nuke threats has Putin used and how many times has Obama threatened?  How many times has the US military used tactical nukes in their training scenarios and how about the Russian army?

OK I guess I wasn't clear in my statement:

[/size]However make too many idle threats and people will not take Russia seriously which could lead to some bad situations.
[/size]

[/size]
It should say:
However if Russia makes too many idle threats then people will not take Russia seriously which could lead to some bad situations.


I hope this clears things up.

[Steamer]

Really?  Who is making idle threats Doug?

Moscow is making idle threats.

[Boethius]

It is irresponsible and demonstrates the Russian leadership is not to be trusted, should be isolated, and should not have a seat on the UN Security Council.

[jone]

Your understanding of why we have the Security Council in the United Nations is inwardly focused if you feel Russia should be excluded.  The purpose for having the Security Council is to bring together representatives of the various world factions.  Once such faction is represented by Russia, regardless of their current state of naughtiness.

Think of the old 'Hotline' between the Soviet Union and the US.  It is a place whereby World Powers can prevent war.

[calmissile]

It is irresponsible and demonstrates the Russian leadership is not to be trusted, should be isolated, and should not have a seat on the UN Security Council.

+1000
Bad behavior should have consequences! 

[lordtiberius]

So Jone, do you object to everything Boethius posted in her last post or just the UN seat?  Criminals make up a portion of society should they have governance representation and accommodation too?

[jone]

Right.  You're gonna kick Russia off the Security Council.  And that's going to have a positive effect, how?

Such a move would permanently change the charter of the United Nations.  It would further alienate Russia and her allies.  It would permanently move Russia into a rogue nation status. 

It seems slightly reactionary to me.

Even if Russia were to overrun Ukraine, completely, and absorb it into a new Soviet Union, I would still not advocate removing Russia from the Security Council.  And I am on record as favoring the immediate arming of Ukraine with United States weaponry.

[jone]

So Jone, do you object to everything Boethius posted in her last post or just the UN seat?  Criminals make up a portion of society should they have governance representation and accommodation too?

I agree that Russia is acting irresponsibly.  I also believe that Russia's leadership is NOT to be trusted.

But I also think that the UN Security Council served its purpose during the Cold War.  The leaders of Russia may be thugs and criminals, but that does not eliminate the idea that they represent a faction of the world's population. 

[Boethius]

India, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Indonesia all have populations larger than Russia, but they aren't on the Security Council. 
 
Countries that threaten other nations with nuclear war should not have a say at the highest level of the UN, which is a body dedicated to minimizing, or stopping war.  It make a mockery of the Security Council and its role.  Moreover, the USSR had a seat as it represented Eastern Europe.  That is no longer the case with Russia.  Russia does not represent the interests of any other Eastern European nation, and it so during the Cold War only because those nations were largely captive.
 
I had the same view of re the US and its Security Council seat during the Bushevik administration and, while it invaded a country with no justification and did not follow the Geneva Convention, at least it didn't threaten the world with nuclear war.