Munich Security Conference

VP Kamala Harris delivers a speech to the Conference. "Today I will deliver remarks at the Munich Security Conference on how the United States, our allies, and our partners are demonstrating strength and unity in the face of Russian aggression."

She was clear, concise and direct. She was accompanied by a bipartisan team from Congress to uphold the US commitment to Ukraine. She did so out of duty and responsibility representing the United States and NATO.

"We are 1) exposing the truth and 2) speaking with one voice."

"Their actions simply do not match their words."

"Everyone knows it takes much more to build something up than to tear it down."  

- Madam Vice President

This taking place as news media report escalating fighting in the East, Russian troop movements along the borders and Putin supervising a nuclear exercise.

A cold war

The US is sending troops to Europe and the EU starts defusing the disinformation campaign spawned by Russia. Meanwhile, the NY Times is keeping tabs on the deepening rift between the US and Russia while Putin sidles up to Xi in Beijing. 

Can't we just revel in the Olympics and start living with Covid instead of worrying about WWIII. Perhaps the chicken found infiltrating the Pentagon will be tried for spying. That will take our minds off things. 

Russia preparing to invade Ukraine

Satellite photo shows ground forces massing in Yelnya, Russia
November 1, 2021. Pic: Maxar /Reuters

Tanks near border

Russia is massing troops (100,000) near Ukraine's border and wagging the dog with migrants in Belarus. Macron tells Putin France is ready to defend Ukraine's 'territorial integrity', the US has delivered 80 tons of munitions to Ukraine, Sweden is ready to send a military training mission to Ukraine. Johnson wants the EU to choose between Ukraine and the gas pipeline (WTF????).

"U.S. officials warn Europe: Russia may be weighing an invasion of Ukraine" (Bloomberg) "Blinken Warns Russia Against Making a ‘Serious Mistake’ in Ukraine" NYT

"France told Russia NATO would be prepared to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine, while Western leaders sought to tackle a migrants crisis on the eastern borders of the European Union."

"Alors que les tensions entre la Russie et l'Europe semblent plus proches que jamais du point de rupture, les États-Unis ont livré 80 tonnes de munitions à l'Ukraine."

"JUST NU: Försvarsminister Peter Hultqvist (S) beredd att skicka svensk militär till Ukraina samtidigt som Ryssland rustar vid gränsen. Säger ja till förslag att träna ukrainska trupper." https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/forsva

"Boris Johnson warns EU to choose between Ukraine and Nord Stream 2" FT

"Nord Stream 2: Germany halts approval of Russian gas link" BBC

Is this the moment the next WW is triggered? Just what we need: a pandemic, a climate crisis and a world war.  Oh yes, add pestilence to the list because scorpions stung more than 500 people in Egypt after massive rainstorms flooded their homes. 

The speculation is that Russia needs to establish a land bridge to Crimea and that they plan to take that corridor forcibly. Noone has mentioned if they have moved any ships into position yet. 

Ukraine amidst global controversies

How is it possible for Ukraine, until recently relatively silent and unknown on the world stage, to suddenly become so embroiled in multiple incidents garnering global scrutiny and attention? The most recent incident is the downing of Ukrainian Airlines Boeing 737 bound for Kyiv in Iran shortly after Iran sent missiles into Iraq targetting US military bases in response to the US assassination of an Iranian general. It appears the plane was shot down by Iranian missiles. The Iranian missiles were probably supplied by Russia, who, in 2014, shot down a Malaysia Airlines jet over eastern Ukraine.

While Ukraine is at the centre of attention of the US impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Russia is gaining power in the Middle East whereas the US appears to be losing ground. It's all about to go to hell in a handbasket. And somehow, Ukraine ends up in the middle again. Poor President Zelensky. I'm sure if he'd have written the script this way for his TV show Servant of the People, it wouldn't have been believable.

Bill Taylor Leaves Kiev

Another one bites the dust. Bill Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, leaves his post after less than six months. He knew it was a temporary assignment, especially after giving testimony against Trump in the impeachment hearings. But still, the unrest continues. Now that Trump is 'wagging the dog' with Iraq/Iran, Pelosi is holding up the impeachment trial in the Senate, and America on the brink of war, anything can happen. What a mess!

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/02/politics/bill-taylor-leaves-post-kiev/index.html

Putin's lies and promises

Yesterday, Putin promised that the Ukrainian troops surrounded by Russian troops in Ukraine could retreat through a safe passage corridor. They were then slaughtered as they carried white flags. Putin lied.  We all know he does. That was a war crime.  Putin must be brought to justice.

Look them in the eye and tell Ukraine she is on her own. Or not.

Western sanctions and anti-Russian rhetoric may have little meaning and effect...the answer may lie in China. 

I have been watching, like many Ukrainians in the diaspora, and waiting to see how things will unfold after the Russian annexation of Crimea. I cringed when the un-Russian troops marched into the Ukrainian barracks and marched the bewildered Ukrainian soldiers out, taking the Commander, Admiral Serhiy Haiduk, away as hostage. The Russians released him Thursday as they ousted Ukrainian forces from bases around Crimea.