Russia controls Crimea; Obama talks to Putin–Putin defiant; Obama dissed by many

Southern Portion of Crimea with Russian Port (Sergiy Klymenko)

The situation in Ukraine is more divided as Russia now seemingly controls Crimea:

March 1, 2014

MOSCOW — Stunned by Russia’s swift move into the autonomous province of Crimea and the Russian parliament’s endorsement of that brazen action, the United States called on Moscow to withdraw its forces from the region and “refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine.”

Speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since this crisis escalated, President Obama expressed concern over “Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” according to a White House statement.

“President Obama made clear that Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community,” the statement said.

However, Putin remained defiant, telling Obama that not only can Russia send its troops to Crimea, but to all of predominantly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine due to “the existence of real threats” to Russian citizens in Ukrainian territory, according to a statement on the Kremlin’s website…

Russia appeared to have gone ahead with a military takeover of the Crimea Peninsula in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops from the Black Sea port of Stevasopol were seen moving through various parts of the region.

Andriy Ignatov, a Ukrainian in Crimea, told Kiev Post that the troops are facing no resistance by local residents but aren’t being feted either. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/01/crimean-putin-russia-ukraine/5922731/

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is warning Russia that military intervention would mean war between the two neighbors; acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said Saturday he has put the country’s armed forces on combat alert following Saturday’s vote in Russia, during which legislators also asked Putin to withdraw Russia’s ambassador to Washington.

Legislators said they were insulted by U.S. President Barack Obama’s statement on Ukraine Friday. Obama said the U.S. is “deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine.

He went on to say there would be “costs for any military intervention in Ukraine.”

On Saturday, Ukraine’s deposed president, Viktor Yanukovych, and Sergei Aksenov, Crimea’s new prime minister, appealed for Russian troops to enter Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-refuses-to-act-against-russian-provocation/1861937.html

March 1, 2014

This is fast turning into the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the short conflict between Georgia and Russia back in 2008.

That war ended with Georgia humbled and the Russians firmly in control of two breakaway, largely Russian-speaking Georgian enclaves.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia were subsequently recognised by Moscow as separate states, though effectively protectorates of Russia.

The West for all its condemnation was left largely as a spectator on the sidelines.

The Crimea drama is of an altogether different significance.

If this turns into a full-scale battle of wills between Moscow and Kiev, the consequences could be unthinkable – at worst the provocation of a bitter civil war inside Ukraine; instability on Europe’s frontiers; and a bitter legacy between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the West that could have serious ramifications across a range of international problems from Syria to the fate of Iran’s nuclear programme. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26403297

(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Barack Obama by telephone that Moscow reserves the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

In a statement posted online, the Kremlin said Obama had expressed concern about the possibility of Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

“In response to the concern shown by Obama about the plans for the possible use of Russia’s armed forces on the territory of Ukraine, Putin drew attention to the provocative, criminal actions by ultra-nationalists, in essence encouraged by the current authorities in Kiev,” the statement said.

“The Russian President underlined that there are real threats to the life and health of Russian citizens and compatriots on Ukrainian territory. Vladimir Putin stressed that if violence spread further in the eastern regions of Ukraine and in Crimea, Russia reserves the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers living there.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/01/urkaine-crisis-putin-obama-idUSL6N0LY0SZ20140301

The situation in Ukraine has major ramifications.

While I am not endorsing Vladimir Putin, he has shown he will take strong and swift actions to support his allies. And he has done so more in the past several years than his USA counterpart(s).

Earlier today, a reader sent me the following:

Putin Acts, Obama Affirms

March 1, 2014…

One suspects that President Putin isn’t very worried about affirmations of future costs by the international community. He’s seen Bashar al-Assad survive similar affirmations. Putin, like Assad, understands actions, not affirmations.

So will Obama now move beyond affirmations to actions? Will Obama get Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and London to begin to isolate the Putin regime diplomatically, politically, and economically? http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/putin-acts-obama-affirms_783647.html

Charles Krauthammer responded on Special Report tonight saying, “The Ukrainians, and I think everybody, is shocked by the weakness of Obama’s statement. I find it rather staggering.” http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/372298/krauthammers-take-obama-tells-world-we-arent-going-do-anything-about-invasion-ukraine

Putin calls the West’s bluff on Ukraine and Cameron is silent http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2014/03/putin-calls-wests-bluff-ukraine-and-cameron-silent

I am not saying that the USA or UK should get involved militarily in Ukraine. But the reality is that the USA’s threats are no longer seen as that important to Russia. It is not that the USA does not have power (it does), but it is best not to ‘bluff,’ especially when you are losing “the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19). It seems that Barack Obama bluffed and Vladimir Putin decided to call that bluff. It may not have been a bluff, but Barack Obama is losing credibility here. What Barack Obama does or does not do will have ramifications beyond the Ukrainian borders.

What is going on now also concerns the Japanese, Taiwanese, and the Europeans. All of which have been trying to figure out in the past couple of years how to handle their military threats as they all are realizing that the USA may not the the type of ally they can rely on when they feel that they need help.

As far as Ukraine goes, it is in in a very strategic location. Ukraine borders Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. All but the first two and Moldova are currently in the European Union–and Moldova has applied (see Georgia and Moldova sign up to join European Union, Ukraine does not).

Currently, in the west of Ukraine is a self-appointed protester’s interim government which wants to be part of the European Union. In the eastern portion of Ukraine, most are part of the Russian Orthodox faith and many lean towards the Eurasian Union. So there are various divides in Ukraine. Notice:

KIEV, Ukraine (RNS) Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov is neither Ukrainian Orthodox nor Eastern Rite Catholic…As the right-hand man of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Turchynov doesn’t necessarily enjoy the trust of Maidan occupiers who are deeply skeptical of political insiders…

“Unlike Yulia Tymoshenko, Turchynov is not charming at all,” Fesenko said. “And he is a Baptist preacher. It works against him too. Baptism is not mainstream.”

Some analysts say many Ukrainians are suspicious of Protestants, likening them to warring religious sects. http://www.religionnews.com/2014/02/26/oleksandr-turchynovs-baptist-faith-may-help-defuse-ukrainian-crisis/

Oleksandr Turchynov’s connections to politicians who have also reputations of corruption does not help him as well. A question is will the coalition in western Ukraine stand united against Russia? And if so, for how long? Ukraine needs Russian fuel and Russian financial credit. It is possible that the West will offer something, but it may be too little, too late.

Russia would like Ukraine to be a buffer against the West. A divided Ukraine would not be ideal for that, but Russia may decide that is better than an undivided Ukraine in the European Union. The Europeans want Ukraine for many reasons, including being a buffer to Russia. Losing Ukraine, even part of it, to Russia will cause the Europeans to rethink their own defense needs. And what is happening now, most certainly is affecting European thoughts for their future military.

Some items of related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.