As Trump's world continues to implode, with mounting evidence that Putin has Trump in his pocket, Putin is positioning his 'nuclear' arsenal against Ukraine, whilst in the background, as reported by UAWire,
"[German Foreign Minister Heiko] Maas (left) asserted that the construction of the disputed Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany will not be stopped even by the US sanctions. "No one can disrupt this project. US sanctions can lead to the withdrawal of Western companies from it, including German concerns." (UAWire : 18 January,2019) (my emphasis)
Recall that as recently as January 11th, Heiko Maas also stated that,
"U.S. sanctions against the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline would be the wrong way to solve a dispute over energy supply, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Thursday." (FirstPost :11 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Heiko Mass is not alone in supporting Putin's attack on the economy of Ukraine through Nord Stream 2.
As reported by Xinhua News,
"Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (right with Dmitry Medvedev) reaffirmed his support on Friday for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project and told the German press agency (dpa) that "the German government has an obligation not to intervene arbitrarily in such business projects."" (Xinhua News :18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Meanwhile, UNIAN reports that,
"CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolyev (left) has said the European Parliament chaired by Romania can make a decision that will stop the construction of the second line of the Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.
"We are cautiously optimistic about the fact that Romania, which currently holds the presidency, may consider the issue. I have repeatedly talked with European parliamentarians. There is a clear understanding that Nord Stream 2 is exclusively in the interest of Germany and unlikely in the interest of other EU countries." (UNIAN : 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Whether the European Parliament can stymie the determination of German Foreign Minister Haas, and German Economics Minister Altmaier, to ensure that the completion of Nord Steam 2, and the subsequent flow of Putin's gas through Nord Stream 2 and into Germany, stays on track, remains to be seen.
The unwavering stand taken by Haas and Altmaier simply mirrors the mutually beneficial stand taken by Germany and Russia immediately after WW1, and the Molotov Ribbentrop pact, just prior to the start of WW2.
As Article 5 of the 1922 "Treaty of Rapallo" states,
"Article 5
The two Governments [Germany and Russia] shall co-operate in a spirit of mutual goodwill in meeting the economic needs of both countries. In the event of a fundamental settlement of the above question on an international basis, an exchange of opinions shall previously take place between the two Governments. The German Government, having lately been informed of the proposed agreements of private firms, declares its readiness to give all possible support to these arrangements and to facilitate their being carried into effect.",
As reported by UNIAN,
"Is Maas aware that, as reported by Yonat Friling, that,
Furthermore, that,
"Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev (left), commander of Ukraine’s joint forces combatting Russian aggression in the country’s east, is convinced Moscow is readying for fresh attacks against Ukraine, but is confident that his forces will be able to counter any Russian actions."KyivPost : 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Let us cast our minds back to July of 2014 when Sergey Lavrov, that dyed-in-the-wool Sovet foreign minister, stated that,
“If it comes to aggression against Russian territory, which Crimea and Sevastopol are parts of, I would not advise anyone to do this.” He then added, “We have the doctrine of national security, and it very clearly regulates the actions, which will be taken in this case.”
This is a not-so-subtle threat to use nuclear weapons to retain Crimea." (Zachary Keck : The Diplomat : 11 July, 2014) (my emphasis)
In March of 2015 it was also reported that,
"President Vladimir Putin has said he was ready to put Russia's nuclear weapons on standby during tensions over the crisis in Ukraine and Crimea." (BBC News : 15 March, 2015) (my emphasis)
And on Thursday, 2nd April, 2015, Ian Johnston reported that,
"Russia has threatened to use “nuclear force” to defend its annexation of Crimea and warned that the “same conditions” that prompted it to take military action in Ukraine exist in the three Baltic states, all members of Nato." (The Independent : 2nd April, 2015) (my emphasis)
More recently (2018), Jens Stoltenberg, General Secretary of NATO, warned against Putin moving Iskander missile batteries towards the Ukrainian border. (NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting)
Also reported by UNIAN,
"Russia's hybrid military forces have violated the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, twice since Friday morning. "They attacked our defenders' strongholds twice, using grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns ... " (UNIAN : Friday 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
All of which raises the question,
"Is Putin readying for fresh attacks against Ukraine?"
(to be continued)
"[German Foreign Minister Heiko] Maas (left) asserted that the construction of the disputed Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany will not be stopped even by the US sanctions. "No one can disrupt this project. US sanctions can lead to the withdrawal of Western companies from it, including German concerns." (UAWire : 18 January,2019) (my emphasis)Recall that as recently as January 11th, Heiko Maas also stated that,
"U.S. sanctions against the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline would be the wrong way to solve a dispute over energy supply, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Thursday." (FirstPost :11 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Heiko Mass is not alone in supporting Putin's attack on the economy of Ukraine through Nord Stream 2.
As reported by Xinhua News,
DW:
Meanwhile, UNIAN reports that,
"CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolyev (left) has said the European Parliament chaired by Romania can make a decision that will stop the construction of the second line of the Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. "We are cautiously optimistic about the fact that Romania, which currently holds the presidency, may consider the issue. I have repeatedly talked with European parliamentarians. There is a clear understanding that Nord Stream 2 is exclusively in the interest of Germany and unlikely in the interest of other EU countries." (UNIAN : 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Whether the European Parliament can stymie the determination of German Foreign Minister Haas, and German Economics Minister Altmaier, to ensure that the completion of Nord Steam 2, and the subsequent flow of Putin's gas through Nord Stream 2 and into Germany, stays on track, remains to be seen.
The unwavering stand taken by Haas and Altmaier simply mirrors the mutually beneficial stand taken by Germany and Russia immediately after WW1, and the Molotov Ribbentrop pact, just prior to the start of WW2.
As Article 5 of the 1922 "Treaty of Rapallo" states,
"Article 5
The two Governments [Germany and Russia] shall co-operate in a spirit of mutual goodwill in meeting the economic needs of both countries. In the event of a fundamental settlement of the above question on an international basis, an exchange of opinions shall previously take place between the two Governments. The German Government, having lately been informed of the proposed agreements of private firms, declares its readiness to give all possible support to these arrangements and to facilitate their being carried into effect.",
we can thus expect the German government to simply over-ride the European Parliament, should they decide that the construction of Nord Stream 2 be halted.
To cover their backs should the EU parliament decide against Nord Stream 2, German Foreign Minister Haas is again trying to revive the 'dead horse' of Minsk2.
To cover their backs should the EU parliament decide against Nord Stream 2, German Foreign Minister Haas is again trying to revive the 'dead horse' of Minsk2.
As reported by UNIAN,
"Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas says new dynamics are needed in the Minsk peace talks to resolve the situation in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. "This is extremely necessary," he said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin in Kyiv on January 18, according to an UNIAN correspondent." (UNIAN : 19 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
One should now ask the question,
"Is Maas aware that, as reported by Yonat Friling, that,
"Satellite images shot Thursday and obtained
exclusively by Fox News have revealed a new Russian deployment of
Iskander missile batteries and launchers near the border with Ukraine."? (Fox News : 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
Furthermore, that,
"Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev (left), commander of Ukraine’s joint forces combatting Russian aggression in the country’s east, is convinced Moscow is readying for fresh attacks against Ukraine, but is confident that his forces will be able to counter any Russian actions."KyivPost : 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis) Let us cast our minds back to July of 2014 when Sergey Lavrov, that dyed-in-the-wool Sovet foreign minister, stated that,“If it comes to aggression against Russian territory, which Crimea and Sevastopol are parts of, I would not advise anyone to do this.” He then added, “We have the doctrine of national security, and it very clearly regulates the actions, which will be taken in this case.”
This is a not-so-subtle threat to use nuclear weapons to retain Crimea." (Zachary Keck : The Diplomat : 11 July, 2014) (my emphasis)
In March of 2015 it was also reported that,
"President Vladimir Putin has said he was ready to put Russia's nuclear weapons on standby during tensions over the crisis in Ukraine and Crimea." (BBC News : 15 March, 2015) (my emphasis)
And on Thursday, 2nd April, 2015, Ian Johnston reported that,
"Russia has threatened to use “nuclear force” to defend its annexation of Crimea and warned that the “same conditions” that prompted it to take military action in Ukraine exist in the three Baltic states, all members of Nato." (The Independent : 2nd April, 2015) (my emphasis)
More recently (2018), Jens Stoltenberg, General Secretary of NATO, warned against Putin moving Iskander missile batteries towards the Ukrainian border. (NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting)
Also reported by UNIAN,
"Russia's hybrid military forces have violated the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, twice since Friday morning. "They attacked our defenders' strongholds twice, using grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns ... " (UNIAN : Friday 18 January, 2019) (my emphasis)
All of which raises the question,
"Is Putin readying for fresh attacks against Ukraine?"
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