Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Ukraine: Patterns of Anxiety

The news of the fighting is centered on Donetsk and in Lugansk.  There is little that is decisive. In fact, there appears to be nothing decisive right now.

The big anxiety though is on what Russia is up to.  The Russian army has moved up between twenty to thirty thousand troops to the Ukrainian border.  They are exercising madly there.  Thanks to Sgt Selfie, we know some of the Russians have been making runs into and out of Ukraine, although in small numbers.  That may have changed.  There was a battalion of tanks (30) which crossed the border into Ukraine last night near Sverdolvsk.  Prior, they have only been coming in groups of 10 or smaller (3 or 4).

NATO has stated Russia may be ready to invade Ukraine.

Furthermore, Russia has started retaliating for the sanctions.  They banned all American agricultural products and fruits and vegetables from the European Union.  Romania was singled out for banning for beef by the Russians.  All agricultural products are banned from Ukraine.

The Russians are also considering banning all nonRussian airlines from overflights.  This would have an enormous impact on the airline industry, especially for flights from Europe to Asia.

Japan has placed sanctions on Russia.  Canada has added more. 

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