Private Eye 1362 wrote:HAGUE 'STARK WARNING TO PUTIN'

Whilst on a visit to Kiev the British Foreign Secretary William Hague has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin that unless Russia withdraws its troops from Crimea, Western leaders will continue to tweet pictures of themselves on the phone looking pensive to each other.

"Already today we've seen a number of tweets of David Cameron on the phone to Barack Obama doing his slightly constipated face," the Foreign Secretary told reporters. "President Putin needs to understand that the West is united in its determination to look really quite cross".

"At the moment they're only frowning but we are ruling nothing out - including tutting and even blowing air out of their cheeks. We hope the fact that these pictures are getting hundreds of re-tweets means President Putin knows the West means business".

Danielle Wiener-Bronner wrote:Crimeans Cut Off from Methadone and McDonald's After Annexation



As Western leaders continue attempts to cajole and threaten Russia away from Crimea, the Kremlin is beginning to flex its muscle in the region — starting with shuttering methadone clinics that help rehabilitate heroin addicts, and likely prompting the decision by McDonald's to temporarily close its Crimea locations.

According to the Associated Press, local doctors promised the 800 patients who visit the clinics that the program, in place for five years, would be extended at least throughout 2014. But Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service chief Viktor Ivanov issued a harsh statement against the program, which is illegal in Russia, saying it will be shut down without offering concessions to its users. Ivanov, quoted in Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, maligned the program, saying:

Methadone is not a cure. Practically all methadone supplies in Ukraine were circulating on the secondary market and distributed as a narcotic drug in the absence of proper control. As a result, it spread to the shadow market and traded there at much higher prices. It became a source of criminal incomes

Andriy Klepikov, the executive director of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine, discussed the urgency of the situation in a blog post on The Huffington Post, saying that they could be without the drug in a few short weeks:

n Sevastopol substitution therapy sites have already been compelled to start decreasing patients' dosage. There is a very strong likelihood that these opioid substitution therapy patients will go into withdrawal and potentially revert to illegal drugs, which in turn puts them at much greater risk of contracting HIV through dirty needle

Ukrainian officials say they will not continue to send methadone to Crimea, and recommend that those seeking treatment move to the mainland. The methadone clinics have been used to help stop the spread of HIV in Crimea, and their ban could mean a reversal of any steps taken towards containing the disease. The AP reports:

The ban could undermine years of efforts to reduce the spread of AIDS in Crimea; some 12,000 of the region's 2 million people are HIV-positive, a 2012 UNICEF survey found. After years of rapid growth in the infection rate, the Ukrainian Health Ministry reported the first decline in 2012. Many have attributed that decline to methadone therapy. According to the International HIV/AIDS Alliance of Ukraine... drug injectors accounted for 62 percent of new HIV infections in Ukraine in 2002. By 2013, that number was down to 33 percent.

If anything, Russia could benefit from some methadone clinics of its own. HIV is spreading quickly in the country — Russian Federal AIDS Center said the number of registered HIV patients spiked by 11 percent in 2013.

Some Crimeans will also have to wean themselves off a (not serious) addiction as McDonald's plans to close down its locations in the region, for now. According to the company, "due to operational reasons beyond our control, McDonald's has taken the decision to temporarily close our three restaurants in Simferopol, Sevastopol and Yalta." Reuters reports that employees at these locations can relocate to branches in Ukraine, for the same pay and three months rent. The company added, "We understand and respect each employee's decision. If they do not wish to move to another city in Ukraine we will, in accordance with Ukrainian law, offer options to end their employment with a redundancy payment." McDonald's European headquarters said the plan is to "re-open our restaurants as soon as possible."

As far as we can tell, that makes two excellent reasons for Crimea to defect from Russia and return to Ukraine.

Pro-Russian protesters who seized the regional government building in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk are reported to have declared a "people's republic".

The rebels have called for a referendum on secession from Ukraine by 11 May.

Ukrainian security officials are being sent to the eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv after pro-Russia groups occupied government buildings.

Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov called the unrest an attempt by Russia to "dismember" Ukraine.

Continue reading the main story
At the scene

image of Steve Rosenberg
Steve Rosenberg
BBC News, Donetsk
When I was in Donetsk three weeks ago, the regional administration building reminded me of a fortress: it was protected by a ring of riot police, barbed wire and water cannon parked in the yard.

Looking at the building this evening, the change couldn't be more dramatic. The police have disappeared. In their place, pro-Russia activists are chanting "Russia! Russia!" Russian flags are flying from flagpoles outside.

The number of protesters on the square isn't large: 1,000 at most. And it was only a few hundred who stormed the building last night. What's more, surveys show that separatist sentiment in Donetsk and other parts of eastern Ukraine is not strong.

But small numbers can achieve big things when there is a power vacuum. And so far, the pro-Kiev authorities in Donetsk appear unable to restore order.

In an address on national TV, he said it was "the second wave" of a Russian operation to destabilise Ukraine, overthrow the government and disrupt planned elections.

Russia's foreign ministry accused Kiev of "blaming" Moscow for all its troubles.

But US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the events "did not appear to be spontaneous".

He called on Russia to "publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs" in a phone call to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The pair also discussed convening direct talks between Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union within ten days, the US state department said.

'War with Russia'
Russia recently annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula after a referendum there which Ukraine did not see as valid.

As tensions mounted on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told Russia's Ekho Moskvy news agency that Kiev would go to war with Russia if it sent troops into eastern Ukraine.

Moscow has thousands of troops massed along its border with Ukraine. It says it has no intention of invading but reserves the right to protect the rights of ethnic Russians.

BBC Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford says Donetsk - an industrial city with a population of about a million - differs from Crimea in that it has many Ukrainian speakers as well as a Russian-speaking majority.

Opinion polls there have shown considerable support for a united Ukraine, he adds.


Footage shows an unnamed delegate addressing the Donetsk Region People's Council, to declare it a "people's republic"
Online footage showed a Russian speaker telling the Donetsk assembly: "I proclaim the creation of the sovereign state of the People's Republic of Donetsk."

Earlier on Monday, protesters seized state security buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Protesters broke into Donetsk's regional government building and another in Kharkiv - Ukraine's second largest city - on Sunday. Ukrainian authorities say protesters have now left the building in Kharkiv.

At an emergency cabinet meeting, interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk blamed Russia for the seizures.

"The plan is to destabilise the situation, the plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country's territory, which we will not allow,'' he said, adding that people engaged in the unrest had distinct Russian accents.

He said Russian troops remain within 30km (19 miles) of the frontier.

Pro-Russian activists who seized the Donetsk regional government building, take part in a meeting
The activists in Donetsk called for Russia to send in "peacekeepers" to protect them from Kiev
Pro-Russia activists vote on the proposal to declare a new "republic"
The activists occupying the Donetsk government building overwhelmingly backed the declaration
Pro-Russia activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building in Donetsk on 7 April
Barricades are also being guarded at Donetsk's Security Service building
Police have blocked roads into Luhansk and armed reinforcements are being sent to the restive cities.

Officials said Ukrainian National Security Secretary Andriy Parubiy and Security Service chief Valentyn Nalyvaychenko have been sent to the city.

Continue reading the main story
Crisis timeline

21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal
Dec: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square
20-21 Feb 2014: At least 88 people killed in Kiev clashes
22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees; parliament removes him and calls election
27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea.
16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum
18 Mar: Russian and Crimean leaders sign deal in Moscow to join the region to Russia
In pictures: Eastern Ukraine tense
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has already arrived in Kharkiv and First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema is on his way to Donetsk, a spokeswoman said.

She said the three officials had "all the authority necessary to take action against separatism."

President Turchynov has cancelled a visit to Lithuania to deal with the unfolding events.

Russia's foreign ministry said it was "closely watching" events in eastern Ukraine, "particularly in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions".

It reiterated Moscow's demands for the creation of a federal Ukraine with broader powers for provinces.

"Stop pointing to Russia, blaming it for all of the troubles of today's Ukraine," the statement said.

The crisis has heightened nervousness in many other eastern European states, with Czech President Milos Zeman saying Nato should deploy troops in Ukraine if Russia invades.

"If Russia decides to extend its territorial expansion to eastern Ukraine, the fun is over," he told Czech public radio on Sunday.

In another development on Monday, Nato said it was limiting Russian diplomats' access to its headquarters in Brussels.

It comes days after Nato foreign ministers agreed to suspend all practical co-operation with Moscow over its annexation of Crimea.

Crimea death
The latest developments come as Ukraine's defence ministry said a Russian soldier had killed a Ukrainian military officer still loyal to Kiev in eastern Crimea late on Sunday.

The circumstances are unclear. Russian news agencies said prosecutors had opened a criminal investigation into the death.

BBC map of cities in eastern Ukraine
Also on Monday, Russia's consumer protection agency said it had suspended imports from six Ukrainian dairy producers after finding their products violated regulations.

Last week Kiev temporarily suspended seven Russian food companies from selling products in Ukraine.

Ukraine is facing a tough economic situation after Russia's Gazprom almost doubled the price of gas it supplies to Ukraine.

The country's foreign exchange reserves have fallen to about $15bn (£9bn) from $20.42bn on 1 January, Ukraine's central bank said on Monday. The currency, the hryvnia, has also lost about 30% of its value so far this year.

Eastern Ukraine was the political heartland of Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president who fled to Russia in February after months of protests.

Russia has branded the new leadership in Kiev illegitimate.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

 Easy E wrote:
So, what should the West do if Russia moves into Eastern Ukraine, or Eastern Ukraine wishes to break-away and create a new pro-russian country?

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

Clearly Obama is history's greatest monster for not sending in the entire US army in support of the Freedom™-loving people of Ukraine.

On a slightly less sarcastic note, just what would you prefer the US did?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

Clearly Obama is history's greatest monster for not sending in the entire US army in support of the Freedom™-loving people of Ukraine.

On a slightly less sarcastic note, just what would you prefer the US did?

 Grey Templar wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

Clearly Obama is history's greatest monster for not sending in the entire US army in support of the Freedom™-loving people of Ukraine.

On a slightly less sarcastic note, just what would you prefer the US did?

Not put its foot in its mouth.

Obama isn't histories greatest monster, but he's definitely one of the worst Presidents at international relations.

It would have been best to say nothing, or just say Russia and Ukraine are both being horrible. Ukraine for falling apart in an ugly manner, and Russia for attempting to profit from the situation.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
The aggressive, threatening rhetoric from the Kiev government seems really silly to me. WTF do they think they're going to do? Invade Russia? Nuke Moscow? If they push things too far, Russia will just make another land grab in the name of "national security" etc.

The only reason that they dare to be so bellicose with a country that could easily crush Ukraine if it came to a war is because they think the West will come to their rescue and fight WW3 on their behalf.

 Andrew1975 wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

Clearly Obama is history's greatest monster for not sending in the entire US army in support of the Freedom™-loving people of Ukraine.

On a slightly less sarcastic note, just what would you prefer the US did?

Not put its foot in its mouth.

Obama isn't histories greatest monster, but he's definitely one of the worst Presidents at international relations.

It would have been best to say nothing, or just say Russia and Ukraine are both being horrible. Ukraine for falling apart in an ugly manner, and Russia for attempting to profit from the situation.

Yeah because Russia is the ONLY country that would try to take advantage of the situation. If anything started this situation it was NATO meddling in areas they shouldn't be.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 Andrew1975 wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
I wonder if NATO and the EU will set a new speed record in backpedaling...

Have we heard the phrase "Red Line" yet?

Clearly Obama is history's greatest monster for not sending in the entire US army in support of the Freedom™-loving people of Ukraine.

On a slightly less sarcastic note, just what would you prefer the US did?

Not put its foot in its mouth.

Obama isn't histories greatest monster, but he's definitely one of the worst Presidents at international relations.

It would have been best to say nothing, or just say Russia and Ukraine are both being horrible. Ukraine for falling apart in an ugly manner, and Russia for attempting to profit from the situation.

Yeah because Russia is the ONLY country that would try to take advantage of the situation. If anything started this situation it was NATO meddling in areas they shouldn't be.

Maybe, but we weren't discussing what started it. Only what the reactions to it were.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Being better at the game doesn't make your actions right.

I'll say that Putin has done a marvelous job running rings around everyone, highlighting their incompetence.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Being better at the game doesn't make your actions right.

I'll say that Putin has done a marvelous job running rings around everyone, highlighting their incompetence.

 whembly wrote:

I'd admit the rest of Ukraine into NATO and start investing in large NATO naval/air base there... preferable, right next to Crimea (but not near the Russian border in the east).