U.S. slams Russia as Ukraine war fears rise

"The US general commanding NATO's military operations, Philip Breedlove," ...

Am I the only one who finds this guy's name a tad ironic and funny considering his position? Yes? No? Maybe it's what's in my morning coffee then...

So according to Putin a Ukraine presidential poll during the current violence is "absurd" but any referendums for eastern Ukraine's independence is just fine with him.

Russia says the insurgency in Ukraine is a spontaneous rejection of the Kiev government that came to power in February, after street protests forced out the pro-Kremlin president.

Sure, just like the attack on the consolate in Bengazi was a "spontaneous reaction" to the video. Hasn't Russia at least learned from Obama's and Hillary's mistakes?

I'm not surprised by this move. Putin seems to be pushing Russia back to its Cold War days, the imbecile. Military might is not important, yet he seems intent on showing the world that Russia is still strong. He clearly supports the break up of Ukraine. He wants to see it fracture and divide, with the breakaway regions joining Crimea in becoming Russian. He's not interested in seeing Ukraine earn peace through any other means than the complete annexation of the country. He's taking a leaf out of Hitler's book, and I wouldn't want to be him when he shares the same inevitable fate. Shame on Putin.

So where is the proof that Russia is organizing or is behind the the revolt against the coup regime in Kiev? Show us. You cannot convince anyone to do anything if they are not interested. (Anyone who has had to teach English in Japan knows this.) There is every indication that this is a grass roots revolt. On May 4, 6:49p.m. I offered a link the a New York Times article that supports this. The NYT is hardly pro-Russian. Here it is again:

<"Behind the Masks in Ukraine, Many Faces of Rebellion By C. J. CHIVERS and NOAH SNEIDER, MAY 3, 2014 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/world/europe/behind-the-masks-in-ukraine-many-faces-of-rebellion.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0>

Some of the rebels interviewed expressed reservations about joining Russia. The situation is more complex than the simplistic propaganda coming out of the US would have us believe. Sanctions on Russia will not stop the revolution.

Putin did say he would defend Russian speakers but so far has not done so. It was a stupid thing to say in the beginning as it gave people false hopes. Probably Putin is not coming.

In a earlier article published in JT Putin was quoted as saying that peace talks without the rebels would be useless.

Note who said what: "“We need a ceasefire for the election,” said OSCE chief Didier Burkhalter, who is also Swiss president and foreign minister."

The sanctions on Russia might give the US what it wants, a coup against Putin, and what they don't want: a new hardline regime that feels that Putin was too soft.

I am no fan of Putin and what he has done to Russian democracy. At this point, if peace in Ukraine can be achieved the West must work with Putin. Certainly the coup regime's military assault on "terrorists" (while coddling its murderous ultra-right supporters) will not bring peace. It may take the revolt into Kiev itself.

Those are nice sentiments by John Kerry. Unfortunately, they are dated Feb 20, 2014 and concern the previous government and not current coup regime. Kerry, I far as I know, has not criticized the current Ukrainian government nor the mass murder in Odessa, where the ultra-rightist thugs, who shouted, "Burn, Colorado, burn" as their victims died in the fire. The coup regime can do anything it wants.

President Vladimir Putin political future appears irrevocably tied to the fate of Ukraine's pro-Russian speaking eastern regions.Events have quickly moved on from accusations of false flag, agent provocateur, Kremlin advisers, special forces involvement etc..

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is clear that the Russian Federation vehemently opposes the May 25 presidential poll, the physical presence of thousands of Russian troops awaiting orders are evidence that if all else fails President Putin has the option to order an invasion.

President Putin's focus on international diplomacy appears little more than a pretext for subterfuge, whilst fomenting linguistic discrimination into a civil war in the East.

Whether Putin original motivation was to create this scenario is open to debate.

The irony is that just a few weeks ago Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman brought RWE Dea for €5.1bn, from this single purchase the Oligarch controls 20% of German natural gas production and some 25% of the country's oil production, a point not lost on the US government, who are moving towards unilateral sanctions unless EU governments come up with a concrete plan of action.

Elections when half the nation is under martial rule is a bit dicey. I am wondering if elections at this point can be fair and if they will cause more problems than they will solve. Nevertheless, elections are perhaps better nothing. Let them happen. They will be an indicator of the state of the nation, if noting else.

The Russian troops are there but they have not been used, not even after the Odessa mass murder, which Burning Bush mentions above.

Elections or not, the coup regime has shown it truly murderous colors. Whatever else happens on May 25, what we are seeing is the beginning and the worst is yet to come.

Putin seems to be pushing Russia back to its Cold War days, the imbecile.

Much more imbecile is to praise current junta in Kiev and NAZIs who burned people alive in Odessa. Did you watch a video of that massacre ? The USA and EU openly support fascists and NAZIs in Ukraine !

It's because the Ukrainian government doesn't have much control that allows the takeover of government buildings in the east and the Odessa massacre to happen. And Russia raising the tensions isn't helping stabilize and control the situations. If people just calmed down, then nothing else would've happened.

Democracy means voting, not shooting.

And Russia should give the people of Dagestan and Chechnya the vote to secede too.

Media is reporting President Putin has ordered Russian troop withdrawals from the Ukrainian border. President Putin has also urged pro-Russian separatists to postpone a vote on succession planned for Sunday. All this after meetings with Didier Burkhalter the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. President Putin must have received assurances of autonomy for pro Russian population in the East.