From the Defense Industry Daily DID Ukraine in Apnea as Putin Confirms Russian Posture, US/EU/IMF Consider Next Steps • Russian president Vladimir Putin broke his silence about Ukraine with a statement that on face value rules out immediate war, but in reality leaves his options open. Putin reiterated Russias refusal to recognize the new government and called their ascent an unconstitutional coup (as opposed to the constitutional kind). The rest of the press conference similarly strained credulity, save for Mr. Putins recognition that deposed president Yanukovich has no political future. This means Russia is not supporting some sort of government in exile, but they are sticking to their guns - quite literally - that all theyre doing is protecting threatened ethnic Russians in Eastern Ukraine. Oh and by the way heres the hiked gas bill, but its strictly business. • Meanwhile Russias Roscomnadzor communications regulatory agency blocked [in Russian] pro-Ukrainian social media pages under the pretense they were promoting terrorism. But Glenn Greenwald can celebrate the courageous independence of the state-owned RT TV channel... at least on their English-spoken, export-focused broadcast. • And a Russian surveillance plane flying along Turkeys Black Sea coast yesterday got the Turkish Air Force to scramble F-16s. • Next on Putins agenda, in case there was any doubt what its all about: proceeding with a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council to further integration with Belarus and Kazakhstan. • British and Continental European diplomats have less appetite for sanctions against Russia than their American counterparts, but the Germans seem at least willing to consider applying meaningful pressure if Russia doesnt start to back down by Thursday. US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Ukraine, and the US is offering a $1B energy aid package. But Ukraine needs much more, and the IMF is in town too. • There have been tense encounters (video), though no reported outright fighting in Crimea yet, and Russian forces seem well on their way to have taken control of the peninsula. RIA Novosti (recently stripped of its ability to report somewhat independently from the Kremlin) claims mass defections affected Ukraines troops in the region. A media war is no doubt going on. Whether the Russians are really pulling back following their presidents press conference is not yet clear. • All of this could spell trouble for Boeings titanium procurement, on the commercial side. • Croatia reportedly has their fleet of 12 MiG-21s stuck in Odessa, Ukraine where there were sent last year for maintenance.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:11:54 +0000
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