A plan by Washington to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia’s border would be the most aggressive U.S. act since the Cold War, and Moscow would retaliate by beefing up its own forces, a Russian defense official said on Monday.
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VIDEO: Sen. Rand Paul’s Speech Against NATO Expansion
Sen. Rand Paul took to the floor of the Senate on Monday to voice his opposition to expanding NATO to include the Balkan nation of Montenegro.
Ukrainian war hero and lawmaker slurs Jews (JTA)
A Ukrainian lawmaker and war hero used a word usually translated as “kikes” in complaining that Jews wield excessive power in her country.
Sanctions new normal proves workable for business in Russia
When executives from hundreds of Russian and foreign companies came together in St Petersburg a year ago for the International Economic Forum, most participants were in a state of shock. The US and Europe had just slapped visa bans and asset freezes on a number of Russian officials and companies over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, and threatened much broader sanctions. One question dominated every conversation: How bad were things going to get?
Ukraine amends disclosure law to include NGOs (FT)
Ukraine will require anti-corruption groups to make the same asset disclosures as politicians and public servants, a step that NGOs say attacks their work and distracts from their attempts to bring more transparency.
IMF Managing Director Issues Statement on Ukraine
In the statement below, released June 12, Ms. Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announces IMF policy on Ukraine: “Ukraine’s debt repayment capacity is limited by its fiscal capacity. Since Ukraine lacks the resources under the program to fully service its debts…in the event that a negotiated settlement with private creditors is not reached and the country determines that it cannot service its debt, the Fund can lend to Ukraine.”
Dick Cheney: Russian Election Interference Possibly ‘Act of War’ (NBC)
Cheney channels MSNBC and scores of liberal politicians and op-ed writers in calling Russia’s alleged interference an “act of war.”
Democrats step up calls that Russian hack was ACT OF WAR (The Hill)
The hysteria continues to grow: “This past election, our country was attacked. We were attacked by Russia,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). “I actually think that their engagement was an act of war, an act of hybrid warfare, and I think that’s why the American people should be concerned about it,” said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). “I think this attack that we’ve experienced is a form of war…” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).
UKRAINE SITUATION: UNHCR OPERATIONAL UPDATE, 22 May – 8 June 2015
As of 3 June there were 1,325,200 IDPs [Internally Displaced People] registered by the Ministry of Social Policy, representing an increase of 41,500 since 21 May. This increase in the number of registrations reflects the deteriorating situation in the conflict area.
Whereas previously there were reports of limited numbers of people returning their homes in non-government controlled areas to maintain property or take care of relatives who remained behind, lately there have been no such reports.
Boris Johnson postpones Moscow visit to attend Nato meeting (FT)
Boris Johnson has postponed a conciliatory trip to Moscow in order to attend a rearranged meeting with Nato foreign ministers on Friday.
BREAKING: U.S. Poised to Put Heavy Weaponry in East Europe – NY TIMES
In a significant move to deter possible Russian aggression in Europe, the Pentagon is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 American troops in several Baltic and Eastern European countries, American and allied officials say.
The proposal, if approved, would represent the first time since the end of the Cold War that the United States has stationed heavy military equipment in the newer NATO member nations in Eastern Europe that had once been part of the Soviet sphere of influence
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine as of 11 June 2015
The level of violence in and around Donetsk airport (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk) remained high. From the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), over a five hour period, the SMM heard over 250 bursts of small arms and light weapons fire, heavy machinegun, automatic grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns as well as 134 explosions, both incoming and outgoing at one to eight kilometres north, north-west, north-east and west of its location.
Russian police detain opposition leader, hundreds of protesters (Reuters)
Opinion polls suggest the liberal opposition, which Navalny represents, have little chance of fielding a candidate capable of unseating Putin, who enjoys high ratings.
U.S. House Passes 3 Amendments By Rep. Conyers To Defense Spending Bill To Protect Civilians From Dangers Of Arming and Training Foreign Forces
WASHINGTON— Late yesterday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives considered H.R. 2685, the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2015.” During consideration of the legislation, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Congressman Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) offered bipartisan amendments to block the training of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi paramilitary militia “Azov Battalion,” and to prevent the transfer of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles—otherwise known as Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS)—to Iraq or Ukraine.
Pope Francis Must Pressure Putin On Ukraine Crisis, Says US Official Urging Pontiff To Side With West Against Russia
A top American diplomat has urged Pope Francis to take a hard line with Russian President Vladimir Putin in regards to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict when the two meet Wednesday, according to the Guardian. Francis, who has often said he opposes war, has not joined the West in condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine since the country annexed Crimea in March 2014, sparking continued unrest in the region.
NATO Publics Blame Russia for Ukrainian Crisis, but Reluctant to Provide Military Aid
Publics of key member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) blame Russia for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Many also see Russia as a military threat to other neighboring states. But few support sending arms to Ukraine. Moreover, at least half of Germans, French and Italians say their country should not use military force to defend a NATO ally if attacked by Russia.
NATO and Russia aren’t talking to each other. Cold war lessons forgotten?
Military machines on both sides are engaged in nearly non-stop war games aimed at displaying their readiness to their jittery publics, and scary near-misses between warplanes are multiplying as Russia‘s Air Force tries to return to its Soviet-era pattern of global patrolling. All this is happening at a time when dialogue, even at the highest levels, is almost nonexistent.
Cyber Firm at Center of Russian Hacking Charges Misread Data (VoA)
An influential British think tank and Ukraine’s military are disputing a report that the U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has used to buttress its claims of Russian hacking in the presidential election.
Obama lambasts Putin: you’re wrecking Russia to recreate Soviet empire
Barack Obama has used the close of the G7 summit in Germany to deliver his strongest criticism yet of Vladimir Putin, lambasting the Russian president’s isolationist approach as the seven leaders signalled their readiness to tighten sanctions against Russia if the conflict in Ukraine escalates.
Jerry Brown takes international stage on nuclear danger: ‘We all ought to wake up’ (SacBee)
Gov. Jerry Brown, speaking more than a year ago to the scientists who measure civilization’s proximity to global disaster, lamented that it’s difficult to talk about big problems such as the threat of climate change and the nuclear arms race.