Ukraine (closed; covers till August 2014)

[kaur]

FSB antiterrorist guy is involeved in kindnapping of OSCE observers with diplomatic passports. No comments.

Igor Strelkov – whom Ukraine's intelligence service describes as a wanted terrorist – made his first public appearance in the rebels' de facto capital. In an interview with Russian channels, he described the captured military representatives as "Nato spies". Strelkov said there was little prospect of them being freed unless Kiev's pro-western government traded them for jailed pro-Russian activists.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ure-nato-spies

What a joke!

Lavrov said Moscow was committed to implementing an agreement struck in Geneva on April 17 between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to ease tensions in Ukraine and disarm illegal groups but accused Washington of distorting it with "one-sided demands".

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A3O0I420140425

[Firn]

FSB antiterrorist guy is involeved in kindnapping of OSCE observers with diplomatic passports. No comments.

What a joke!

Pretty Putinesque, if you ask me. At least he is cutting in Russia's flesh as well as long as he continues to wound weak Ukraine. The impact on the European economy as a whole is so far obviously very limited. A giant, even if weakened, doesn't feel much if a weakling kicks a nearby dwarf.

Investors' Fear Crimps Russian Borrowing

Usually prolific borrowers on global markets, Russian companies are finding their funding lifeblood cut off by banks and asset managers who fear their investments will get caught up in the standoff between Moscow and the West.

With military tensions running high between Russia and Ukraine and a looming threat of tough Western economic sanctions, it is getting harder for companies to issue bonds or obtain loans — a situation that could eventually threaten some of them with default.

So far the balance sheet looks still fairly strong but the Russian fires of war are buring Russian capital and growth. It is still early days, early weeks. We will see how much the Russian economy will suffer.

BTW: Crimea Makes Economic Crisis Worse

Instead, it seems that authorities are competing with each other to see who can do the most harm to the economy. One top Russian official proposed selling off the country's dollar and euro reserves without explaining how they would be replaced. Perhaps he would prefer the yen and yuan. But a quick look at the currencies preferred by the central banks of other countries is enough to show that they are far less reliable. Maybe he feels Russia should keep its money in gold.

For every difficult and complex situation, leaders should respond with better and more responsible economic policy — and not just make matters worse.

Personally it seems that most of the silly threats haven't been enforced. Most likely because some of the smarter guys have been able to make their case that those threats were, well, silly. But while almost all the silly stuff hasn't materialized not much has been done to help the Russian economy.

[davidbfpo]

An open source RUSI briefing on the deployment of Russian and Ukrainian military forces:https://www.rusi.org/downloads/asset...SIBRIEFING.pdf

[Fuchs]

FSB antiterrorist guy is involeved in kindnapping of OSCE observers with diplomatic passports. No comments.

Well, the Ukraine has sovereignty in the area so basically everything the guy does there is illegal.

Still, those OSCE observers were 'probably' not really OSCE observers.

[Stan]

Maybe Gerhard will get Vova to do something. Or, Vova will get Gerhard to make him smarter

BERLIN–Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder celebrated his 70th birthday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Monday evening, as the U.S. and European Union stepped up sanctions against Moscow over its handling of the Ukraine crisis.

[JMA]

No. Gerhard Schroeder was called to lick his boss' boots.

Tracing Russian Economic Assets – and Targets for More Sanctions

Gazprom has special influence in Germany thanks in no small part to its employment of Social Democratic ex-chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as chairman of Nordstream, a Gazprom subsidiary operating a pipeline to the Baltic states. Schroeder has been questioned in Germany for his close association with Putin and Schroeder’s defense of the Russian overlord in the Crimean annexation.

Maybe Gerhard will get Vova to do something. Or, Vova will get Gerhard to make him smarter

[carl]

It always amazes me how politicians come so cheap.

[Firn]

It always amazes me how politicians come so cheap.

At least the likes of Schroeder. I'm almost surprised that Berlusconi isn't there, but then again it is Schroeder's not Putin's birthday.

A friend, a good friend...

They even dance in front of a gas station.

BTW: Did anybody notice that their business is called 'Cuckoo', after the famous brood parasite which happens to lay his eggs into foreign nests?

[Stan]

No. Gerhard Schroeder was called to lick his boss' boots.

... operating a pipeline to the Baltic states

Actually, if and when the pipeline ever completes its 1200+ kilometer journey, it will cut off all transit countries.

[Stan]

At least they found a charismatic CPT to do the interview.

When asked "what's next in your plans here" he fessed up not really knowing.

They at least like the Estonian version of German pig and potatoes for lunch

Video: Täna Ämarisse saabunud USA sõdurid näitavad liitlaste pühendumust

Translation

Video: USA soldiers arrived today at Ämari military airfield to show their members our commitment.

[AdamG]

Moscow has voiced concern over an "unprecedented" increase in US and Nato military activity near Russian borders, amid an escalating crisis in Ukraine.

Russia's defence minister condemned "provocative" US and Nato comments.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-27200078