"Putin denies invading Ukraine warns West... "
29 Aug '14 23:271 edit"Putin denies invading Ukraine, warns West 'not to mess with us'
"Russian President Vladimir Putin denied Friday that the Kremlin had sent troops and tanks into eastern Ukraine and countered threats of increased Western sanctions with the advice that it is "best not to mess with us.".
Putin likened the 5-month-old battle between pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine to the World War II siege of Leningrad by invading Nazi troops. He also reminded the outside world that has condemned his incursions into Ukraine that Russia is "one of the leading nuclear powers."
But his defiant pose during a visit to a Kremlin-sponsored youth camp near Moscow, which was broadcast on state-run television, coincided with a proposed "humanitarian" appeal to the pro-Russia separatists to allow Ukrainian troops encircled in the Donetsk region to evacuate to government-held territory to the west..."
"NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen acknowledged Ukraine's right to seek membership in the Western military alliance without expressing support or opposition to a Ukrainian bid - a move Putin would clearly regard as a threat to his authority in the former Soviet region. But the NATO chief condemned Russia's armored incursion into Ukrainian territory, satellite images of which the alliance released on Thursday..."
“This is a blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It defies all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution,” Rasmussen said.
"Despite Moscow’s hollow denials, it is now clear that Russian troops and equipment have illegally crossed the border into eastern and southeastern Ukraine," Rasmussen said. "This is not an isolated action, but part of a dangerous pattern over many months to destabilize Ukraine as a sovereign nation..."
"Putin denied that Russia was involved in the fighting in eastern Ukraine that has taken 2,600 lives since April, calling Ukrainians and Russians "one people..."
"His visit to the youth camp came a day after Russian tanks and troops thundered into eastern Ukraine along the Sea of Azov, opening a new front for the embattled separatists who were on the verge of losing their last two strongholds in Donetsk and Luhansk to resurgent Ukrainian government forces.
In what sounded like a warning to the West against imposing further sanctions on Russia, Putin reminded the outside world that Russia is nuclear-armed and ready to defend itself.
"Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers," he said.
Alluding to Western countries, Putin added that "Russia's partners ... should understand it's best not to mess with us."
Follow @cjwilliamslat for the latest international news 24/7 Special correspondent Gorst reported from Moscow and Times staff writer Williams from Los Angeles. Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-russia-captives-20140829-story.html
Only One Question: Is the President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama, an insightful leader upholding its constitution or an unpatriotic, cowardly community organizer bent on the gradual destruction of this once proud republic?
"Russian President Vladimir Putin denied Friday that the Kremlin had sent troops and tanks into eastern Ukraine and countered threats of increased Western sanctions with the advice that it is "best not to mess with us.".
Putin likened the 5-month-old battle between pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine to the World War II siege of Leningrad by invading Nazi troops. He also reminded the outside world that has condemned his incursions into Ukraine that Russia is "one of the leading nuclear powers."
But his defiant pose during a visit to a Kremlin-sponsored youth camp near Moscow, which was broadcast on state-run television, coincided with a proposed "humanitarian" appeal to the pro-Russia separatists to allow Ukrainian troops encircled in the Donetsk region to evacuate to government-held territory to the west..."
"NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen acknowledged Ukraine's right to seek membership in the Western military alliance without expressing support or opposition to a Ukrainian bid - a move Putin would clearly regard as a threat to his authority in the former Soviet region. But the NATO chief condemned Russia's armored incursion into Ukrainian territory, satellite images of which the alliance released on Thursday..."
“This is a blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It defies all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution,” Rasmussen said.
"Despite Moscow’s hollow denials, it is now clear that Russian troops and equipment have illegally crossed the border into eastern and southeastern Ukraine," Rasmussen said. "This is not an isolated action, but part of a dangerous pattern over many months to destabilize Ukraine as a sovereign nation..."
"Putin denied that Russia was involved in the fighting in eastern Ukraine that has taken 2,600 lives since April, calling Ukrainians and Russians "one people..."
"His visit to the youth camp came a day after Russian tanks and troops thundered into eastern Ukraine along the Sea of Azov, opening a new front for the embattled separatists who were on the verge of losing their last two strongholds in Donetsk and Luhansk to resurgent Ukrainian government forces.
In what sounded like a warning to the West against imposing further sanctions on Russia, Putin reminded the outside world that Russia is nuclear-armed and ready to defend itself.
"Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers," he said.
Alluding to Western countries, Putin added that "Russia's partners ... should understand it's best not to mess with us."
Follow @cjwilliamslat for the latest international news 24/7 Special correspondent Gorst reported from Moscow and Times staff writer Williams from Los Angeles. Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-russia-captives-20140829-story.html
Only One Question: Is the President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama, an insightful leader upholding its constitution or an unpatriotic, cowardly community organizer bent on the gradual destruction of this once proud republic?
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