World View: Russian Combat Troops, Tanks and Artillery Pour into Ukraine

This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

• Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine
• Turkey’s warships near Cyprus threaten Egypt and Israel

Russian combat troops, tanks and artillery pour into Ukraine

Armed personnel and unmarked military trunks arrive in Russian-controlled areas of east Ukraine (Reuters)

NATO says that fresh columns of Russian tanks, artillery and combattroops have been entering eastern Ukraine for the past few days.According to U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s SupremeAllied Commander Europe:

We have seen columns of Russian equipment – primarilyRussian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems –and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine.

There is no question any more about Russia’s direct militaryinvolvement in Ukraine.

Nato is confirming several days of reports by the Organization forSecurity and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that there were unmarkedconvoys in the region.

As I wrote last week in “5-Nov-14 World View — Russian troops approach Ukraine’s border, threaten port city Mariupol”, Alexander Zakharchenko,the leader of the Russian anti-government militias in east Ukraine,has vowed the intention to capture the Black Sea port city ofMariupol, with the plan for Russia to take control of all ofsoutheastern Ukraine, putting a huge part of Ukraine– from Russia toCrimea– under Russian control. From there, the Russian army cancontinue on to Odessa.

Russia’s defense ministry responded, “[We have] repeatedly stressedthat there was and is no evidence supporting Brussels’ regulartrumpeting over the alleged presence of Russian forces in Ukraine.”

This is a comic statement in view of the events of the last fewmonths. Russia claimed they weren’t invading Crimea, just as Russiantroops were invading Crimea. Russia claimed that they wouldn’t annexCrimea, just before they annexed Crimea, a clear violation ofinternational law. Russia claimed that there were no Russian troopsin east Ukraine at a time when Russian troops were entering eastUkraine. On September 5, Russia signed an international peaceagreement (the “Minsk protocols”) in which they committed to apolitical compromise in east Ukraine, and then supported east Ukraineelections earlier this week in complete violation of their ownagreement. Basically, anything that comes from Russian state media orRussia’s government should be considered to be a lie. VOA and BBC and Russia Today

Turkey’s warships near Cyprus threaten Egypt and Israel

Turkey’s Navy has been authorized by the government to implement anaggressive set of rules of engagement for Turkish warships confrontingIsraeli or Egyptian warships in Cyprus’s “exclusive economic zones”(EEZ) in the eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus, Egypt and Israelhave been conducting joint oil and gas explorations.

Cyprus has been divided into Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus since a1974 war between Greece and Turkey on Cyprus. Greek Cyprus is amember of the European Union, and is recognized as the legitimategovernment of all of Cyprus. Turkey provides administrative servicesto the Turkish portion of Cyprus. Turkey objects to oil andgas drilling by Greek Cyprus, and has sent warships to monitorthese activities

I’ve written several articles on the Mideast realignment following the Gaza war, in particular thealliance between Israel plus Egypt plus Saudi Arabia versus Hamas plusQatar plus Turkey. That realignment is also spreading into Europe.Because of Turkey’s worsening relations with Israel and Egypt, thelatter met with Greece and Greek Cyprus leaders to discuss securityrelations, and accused Turkey of “provocative actions” that werethreatening security in the eastern Mediterranean.

However, Turkey is conducting its own seismic survey in retaliationfor the Israeli, Greek Cypriot and Egyptian exploration, and TurkishNavy officials are saying that the warships aren’t meant to beprovocative, but are provided in support of Turkey’s own researchvessels. Furthermore, the naval activities were planned long ago.allies and particularly to perform anti-submarine defense operations,”according to the Turkish Navy’s commander. Turkish Weekly and Defense News and Greek Reporter

KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Russia, Ukraine, Nato, Philip Breedlove,Alexander Zakharchenko, Crimea,Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Greece
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