Russia’s Medvedev doubts legitimacy of Ukrainain government in Kiev; Obama Administration warns Russia against intervention

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev

Russia’s Prime Minister spoke out about the situation in Ukraine:

February 24, 2014

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he had grave doubts about the legitimacy of neighboring Ukraine’s new leaders on Monday.

“If we consider government the people who were moving around Kiev wearing black masks and holding Kalashnikov machine guns, then it is going to be very difficult for us to work with such government,” he said, according to Russian news agency Lenta.ru. http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/russia-doubts-new-ukrainian-governments-legitimacy-n37106

The USA and UK have warned Russia not to take action:

White House tells Putin to keep Russian troops out of Ukraine

A day after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from office, National Security Adviser Susan Rice cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin not to get involved.

“It’s not in the interest of Ukraine, or of Russia, or of Europe, or of the United States to see a country split. It’s in nobody’s interests to see violence return and the situation escalate,” Rice said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Asked if the White House feared Putin would send troops into Ukraine, Rice said, “That would be a grave mistake.” http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/putin-troops-ukraine-article-1.1699535

The United States and Britain have warned Russia not to send forces into Ukraine. U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Russian military intervention would be a “grave mistake.” http://www.voanews.com/content/ashton-visiting-ukraine-as-interim-leaders-seek-eu-ties/1857767.html

As I have written, Ukraine may split. Notice also the following:

February 24, 2014

Parliament speaker Oleksandr Turchynov became Ukraine’s interim president Sunday. He highlighted the demonstrations in Kyiv’s Independence Square and stressed the plan to embrace the EU in an address Sunday night.

“Our priority is returning to the path of European integration where the fight for Maidan began. We have to return to a family of European countries and to understand the importance of relations with the Russian Federation and be ready to build relations on new and fair partnership of good neighborly relations,” said Turchynov.

He has promised a new government by Tuesday, and lawmakers have called for new elections on May 25.

Also Monday, the acting finance minister Yuri Kolobov said Ukraine will need $35 billion in foreign aid to cover its bills during the next two years. He called for an international donor conference and appealed for urgent aid, saying some of the money needs to come within two weeks.

Jonathan Adelman, a Russian expert at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies, told VOA that it would be logical for the country to split, but that is not likely because both sides are convinced they can dominate the government.

“Those in eastern Ukraine are convinced that with the backing of Russia they can hold their position and dominate the whole country, which they did under Yanukovych. The people in west Ukraine, of course, were looking at the 2004 orange revolution because they were heavily influenced by the Poles and Lithuanians and by more western Europeans, and they’re convinced that with Western help they can dominate it. So I think the probability of a split is very small; even though it would be very logical, very few people seem to want it,” said Adelman. http://www.voanews.com/content/ashton-visiting-ukraine-as-interim-leaders-seek-eu-ties/1857767.html

Russia has long considered that Ukraine was a buffer for it. Many in Ukraine speak Russian and support the Russian Orthodox Church. Vladimir Putin does not wish to lose all of Ukraine to the European Union–he wants it for his own Eurasian Union.

Russia has a military, including naval, presence, in east Ukraine which it is not in any mood to lose (see Ukraine appoints interim president–what will Russia’s Putin do?). How much will the USA be willing to confront Russia over Ukraine? And if Russia does deploy troops what would the USA do?

Here is something from the late Hebert Armstrong decades ago, during the time of the old Soviet Union, titled Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States:

For decades now, the prospect of war between Russia and the United States has continually heightened and lessened.

Many who claim to be authorities on prophecy assure people a war involving Russia and the United States, Canada and England is prophesied in Ezekiel 38.

The United States, Britain and other democracies of north-western Europe, they recognize, are nations descended from the lost Ten Tribes. Therefore, they conclude, the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 foretells a military invasion of the North American continent from the Soviet Union. But this is not what prophecy says…

But this very fact – that this invasion will not come until after the Second Coming of Christ – will seem preposterous to many, at first thought.

That is because we have been accustomed merely to assume things that are not true. We have blindly assumed that when Christ comes, there will be no opposition. Every person and power on earth, we have thought, will simply submit meekly and instantly to him and his power. But that is not true!

Some gentile nations understandably shall not submit until forced to. The final restoration of the Roman Empire shall be subdued and conquered at a battle commonly called “Armageddon.” But the populous nations of Eurasia that the Almighty God up to this point has not dealt with shall still have to be brought to submission.

“Gog” Identified“Gog in the land of “Magog” is the vast regions of the U.S.S.R. in northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific. “Meshech” is Moscow, “Tubal” is Tobol’sk.

Notice the allies who come with them in this future battle. You will find “Gomer” “Togarmah,” “Magog,” “Meshech” “Tubal” identified in Genesis 10 as the sons of Japheth, father of the Eurasians. Ethiopia and Phut (mistranslated Libya) are descended from Ham.

Therefore, this prophecy of Ezekiel 38 shows who shall finally succeed in marshaling peoples of each major race into a gigantic invasion upon our people.

When God begins to rule the world, through Christ – with His chosen people restored to prosperity in the land of Israel, the very center of the land surface of the earth (verse 12, Moffatt translation) – this, great Eurasian union of nations shall finally be tempted to use their mighty air force. (Armstrong HW. Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States, article).

Some Bible scholars assert falsely that these prophecies of Ezekiel were fulfilled anciently. They never were. Others believe they are about to occur but some years be- fore Armageddon. Both views are erroneous. The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are without question still future – for the “latter days” (38: 16) and “latter years” (38:8). Moreover, Ezekiel 38:14 describes the time setting as being “in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.” This is certainly not the situation in the State of Israel to- day! The Israel described by Ezekiel is a nation that dwells in security, in unwalled villages, totally unprepared for war (38:8, 11, 14). Read it for yourself! (Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States. WCG booklet)

Ezekiel 38 is for the distant future–and right at/after the end of the millennium (cf. Revelation 20:7-8). But that does not mean that there cannot be military conflict between the USA and Russia now. Only that such potential conflict will not fulfill Ezekiel 38 (for more details, please see the article Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future.

As far as Europe goes, watching this must be telling the Europeans that they need to be able to have sufficient military deterrence so that Russia cannot intimidate Europe as now seems to be happening.

The situation in Ukraine is tense and must be quite difficult for the people living there. They are in my prayers.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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?
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?
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.