VOA on Putin’s next move; Pro-Russian forces attempt to takeover buildings in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin (www.kremlin.ru)

Voice of America reported the following:

Analysis: Putin’s Next Move

WASHINGTON — With Russian troops amassed on the Ukraine border, some observers are worrying about what is being called a “post-Crimea crisis.”

And as the West awaits Russia’s next moves, analysts are examining Russian President Vladimir Putin’s public statements for clues as to whether he plans to build on his successful land grab of Crimea by going after other territories with large Russian-speaking populations.

Think Transnistria: the breakaway majority Russian enclave in neighboring Moldova that already has a minor Russian peacekeeping force on the ground.

“The readout from the Putin to [Barack] Obama call last week, from the White House, was a focus on trying to find a way to a political, diplomatic solution,” said one former NATO official, Ambassador Ivo H. Daalder, now president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

“The same phone call was read out by the Kremlin, emphasizing the dangers of quote ‘extremists in Ukraine,’ and that President Putin’s worry as expressed to Obama about events in Transdinistria,” he said.

That leads to the inevitable question: does Putin have the military might to roll into other Russian-speaking regions, such as the Baltic States, and annex more territory?

The answer is a firm yes, said Admiral James G. Stavridis, dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

“They [the Russians] certainly can do it… they will begin to incur real costs and there will be a real fight,” he said.

“From a military perspective, the more territory you try and hold onto, the more complex your challenges become,” Stavridis said. “All of a sudden, 20,000 troops, 30,000 troops don’t look like enough. Again, I think it’s an unlikely move, but not an impossible one.”

NATO meted out its punishment to Putin during a meeting of its foreign ministers in Brussels this week, declaring that its cooperation with Moscow was over. The alliance also said it was reviewing options to reassure NATO allies, particularly those who border Russia in Eastern Europe.

There were signs of hope when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei in Paris in recent days, offering a ray of hope that Moscow was open to a political solution. But there have been little hints since of possible resolution.

But it’s hard to know if Putin is serious about pursuing diplomacy with the West, said Strobe Talbott, President of the Brookings Institution and a former deputy secretary of state in the Clinton administration,

“It could turn out to be a sham on the Russian side – a distraction – but it’s also conceivable that it might produce some agreements that would calm down a situation that is extremely unpredictable and dangerous,” he said.

Meanwhile, after Russia’s formal annexation of Crimea, the situation is far from stable even though a large majority of population is pro-Russian and supports joining the Russian Federation…

Analysts say It remains to be seen what Putin’s next move will be – and how the United States and European Union will respond.

“There is no question that the Russian strategy going forward is going to be to weaken the now rump Ukrainian state as much as possible, make as much mischief there as possible… simply to roil the situation with hopes that there will not be calm, there will not be stability… there will not be genuine democracy and constitutional government,” said Tabott.

And that plays into Moscow’s overall strategy, he said, “which is to be surrounded by states that are in one of two categories: either they are vassal states or they are basket cases.” http://www.voanews.com/content/analysis-putins-next-move/1886711.html

While Vladimir Putin’s next move may be uncertain, what he wants is not.

Vladimir Putin has made statements to the effect that he wants all territory that was once part of the old Soviet Union to either be part of the Russian Federation or his upcoming Eurasian Union. He wants to minimize the influence of the USA and European Union around the world. He wants to dethrone the USA dollar as the world’s reserve currency. He wants an alliance with China, India, and others to dominate the Eurasian portion of the world. And those are all based upon his public statements. He also probably wants world domination.

He will make whatever moves he feels he needs to in order to accomplish his objectives. Yet, he will avoid conflict with the West when he feels he should as he realizes that he needs economic and other benefits from trade to accomplish his objectives.

Many of his objectives will be accomplished according to biblical prophecy. The USA dollar will be dethroned, the USA will have its international influence eliminated (though this will come more from the final European Beast power than from Russia), a type of end time Eurasian power will rise up and destroy much of the end time European Babylonian power (Jeremiah 51:11-32).

But this will not be glorious for Russia or the rest of the world. Yet, many of Vladimir Putin’s objectives will come to pass in ways neither he nor others not well versed in biblical prophecy will realize.

As far as moves in Ukraine, notice the following, that occurred after VOA posted its analysis:

April 6, 2014

Pro-Russian protesters have stormed the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

About 50 people are reported to have broken away from a rally of about 2,000 people in the city centre, and got past a police cordon to enter the building.

Donetsk has seen several similar protests in the weeks since pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.

The latest protests comes amid diplomatic tensions following Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

The protesters shouted “Donetsk is a Russian city” and raised Russian flags above the building.

Some called for the region to have a referendum on the region’s independence from Ukraine.

Pro-Russia protests also took place in other eastern cities. In Luhansk there were reports of a similar attempt to storm the building of the Ukrainian state security agency. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26910210

April 6, 2014

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Crowds of pro-Russian demonstrators stormed government buildings Sunday in two major cities in eastern Ukraine, where secessionist sentiment has sparked frequent protests since Ukraine’s Russia-friendly president was ousted in February.

In Luhansk, 30 kilometers (20 miles) west of the Russian border, hundreds of people surrounded the local headquarters of the security service and later scaled the facade to plant a Russian flag on the roof.

In Donetsk, to the southwest, a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading “Donetsk Republic.”

Eastern Ukraine was the heartland of support for Viktor Yanukovych, the president who fled to Russia in February after months of protests. About half of the region’s residents are ethnic Russians, many of whom believe Ukraine’s acting authorities are Ukrainian nationalists who will oppress Russians.

Ukraine’s interim authorities deny they are infringing the rights of the ethnic Russian population and accuse Moscow of trying to sow instability. Russia has moved large contingents of troops to areas near the Ukrainian border, and speculation is strong that unrest in eastern Ukraine could be used as a pretext for a Russian incursion.

Since Crimea held a referendum to secede and then was annexed by Russia in March, calls for similar referenda in Ukraine’s east have emerged. http://www.aol.com/article/2014/04/06/pro-russians-storm-ukraine-government-buildings/20863894/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D461739

Donetsk is an area that may be annexed in the future by Russia. The “kings of the Medes” will unite (Jeremiah 51:11;28). Biblical prophecy will be fulfilled.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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: Their 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?
Ukraine in Prophecy? What is happening in Ukraine? What is known and what is unsure about its future? What is the origin of those who live in Ukraine? What does the Bible teach about the role of the Medes in the end times? Will Ukraine split? Why might part of Ukraine end up in the European Union? Why might part of Ukraine end up in the Eurasian Union? Is war in the prophesied future for Ukraine? What is the ultimate destiny for nearly all Ukrainians?
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?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Blood Moons and Prophecy There are four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.
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.
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