Tensions Grow Between Russia and Ukraine
There was more evidence Thursday of the uneasy relationship between Russia and Ukraine in the aftermath of Moscow's invasion of neighboring Georgia.
In talks in Kiev, Ukrainian officials again insisted that Russia must honor an accord to have Russian Navy ships leave the Black Sea base of Sevastopol when the lease expires in 2017, according to the Associated Press. Moscow does not want to leave the strategic port on the Crimean peninsula and has offered to pay more to continue using it.
The Ukrainians also warned Moscow against encouraging separatist groups in Crimea, which has a largely ethnic Russian population that has its roots in the period when the area was part of Russia.
Russian security services were involved with pro-Russia separatist groups in neighboring Georgia preceding Moscow's invasion. Since then, there has been growing concern of a similar clash in Ukraine, which is seeking to join the NATO alliance to cement its relations with the West and to be protected under NATO's common defense umbrella.
U.S. News reported recently on the growing tensions in a story headlined "Is Ukraine's Crimea the Next Flash Point With Russia?"
Reader Comments
If we are fair-thinking people we should desire large part Ukraine to be again part of Russia as that's its fate. Keeping on forcing two different countries be united it will cause a civil war.
Anytime I am in Donetsk,Dnepropetrovsk or Odessa I feel like I was in Russia. People there are bored of this un-democratic ethnocide of Russian-speaking population. Those lands are Russian 100% and I think it's right that they belong to their homeland.
I wish it would not be like that as obviously I have a pro-western feelings. As Italian I would never accept that Piemonte or Friuli belonged to other countries.
that's the way it is.
Russia should give passports to Crimean people and protect Russian guys after.. together with their fleet. Putin promised to split Ukraine....... noble cause. And then.... up to now Russia is stronger and US is busy in Irak! Who cares in Kremlin about moral?! Medvedev? Other KGB guys? Long live Force and Soviets!!
Ukraine is split by Red and Blue...just like the U.S.
I've been to Ukraine myself, and know missionary's there. This country is split on it's love affrair with Russia. Most in the area of it's capital city of Kiev want to belong to Nato and want to always be a free people, but most in the South along the Black Sea still cling to the ways of the Soviets. It is sad to say, and I hope things get better.
America some years ago just after the Orange Peace Movement had a chance to pass a 500 million aid bill to help this young Democratic country, but did we....no we did not! Why? Well...one reason is we were too busy pouring huge sums of money into the middle east and our worthless war in Iraq. We spent Billions trying to train the Muslims to love democratic ways...when at the same time. We did not offer to help at all a whole nation who fought hard to gain a young demoracy. Indeed the President of Ukraine was even posioned, and his face scared for life...while campaining for freedom!
We should be ashamed of how we have treated this great nation. I hope God will help them...cause he already knows that we won't! Were too busy pouring our billions into a bottomless pit in Iraq!
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