Process of power change in Ukraine must take course of law!

[Eurodemocrat]

Our EU leaders, who so greatly wish to see Ukraine in the EuroUnion, must realize at last that current Ukraine more and more turns into a certain European variant of Syria! Radical leaders of so-called EuroMaidan (latimes. com/opinion-la/la-ol-ukraine-nationalism-antisemitism-) are already publicly demonstrated now their striving to use current Ukrainian actions in defense of EU integration for engineering new pogroms with the aim to clear Ukraine from non-Ukrainians! Well, their dirty struggle for power cannot be democratic! Their armed raids and attacks on legitimate government structures, law-enforcement personnel, journalists and civil activists is absolutely impermissible for the country, which strives for the EU entering!
And now, when it becomes clear that new Ukrainian authorities are absolutely disable to gain declared ends by means of democracy, our attempts of silencing the outrageous situation in this country or presenting it as "a model of the best European values" leads to complete discredit of the whole concept of democracy!

 

[waltky]

Now the Russians wantin' $35.4B for Ukrainian gas bill...

A LOOK AT UKRAINE'S FAST-GROWING RUSSIAN GAS BILL
Apr 11,`14 ) -- The amount Russia says it is owed by Ukraine's cash-strapped government for natural gas has ballooned as if by magic - from $1.7 billion at the beginning of April to a staggering $35.4 billion, according to a letter sent by President Vladimir Putin this week to 18 European leaders. Here's a look at how Moscow got those figures, and what options Ukraine has.

MOSCOW'S CLAIMS

On April 1, Alexei Miller, the head of Russia's energy giant Gazprom, estimated that Ukraine owed $1.7 billion in unpaid gas bills to Russia. Two days later, Miller added $500 million more for unpaid gas supplies in March. Gazprom then announced it would be scrapping all gas discounts, meaning an 80 percent price hike that would further increase the debt in coming months. The bill further increased after Russia moved to annul agreements with Kiev on Russia's navy base in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in March. In 2010, Ukraine extended the lease of the base for an annual rent and discounts on gas, but Moscow revoked that agreement after Crimea effectively became Russian territory. Now Moscow says Ukraine owes it $11.4 billion in gas discounts given in advance for the base.

In his letter on Thursday, Putin said that the gas-related debt was actually $17 billion, although it's unclear how he reached that figure. He also said Ukraine owed Russia an additional $18.4 billion in past fines on its gas contracts. The contracts, called take-or-pay, say Ukraine has to pay for all the gas it imports for domestic use, whether it actually uses it or not. Putin then mentioned $3 billion Russia loaned Ukraine in December, bringing the grand total to $38.4 billion. "It's kind of like the drug dealer and the addict here. The Russians kept lending (Ukraine) money and knowing they're not going to pay," said Andrew Neff, an analyst at IHS Energy.

UKRAINE CAN'T PAY

The money Russia is demanding is far greater than the $14 billion to $18 billion bailout expected from the International Monetary Fund over two years. It would also exceed the $15 billion the European Union has said it will help with. Analysts like Valery Nesterov, of Sberbank CIB, warn that Putin's figures should not be taken at face value. "They're a means of showing the seriousness of the problems between the two countries." But if relations worsen, Moscow could push for repayment of some of that money, and Ukraine would be in trouble. Ukraine will try to get some money from its own citizens - it will hike domestic gas prices by 50 percent on May 1. But that will not raise any new money, as it will barely match the gas price hike Russia made. Ukraine's options are limited at this point.

GOING TO COURT

Kiev could sue Gazprom in an international arbitration court for retroactively annulling the Black Sea navy base deal. Ukraine has said it was considering legal action. But going to court could open a Pandora's box of litigation: Russia and Ukraine have bickered over gas and finances for years, and many previous debts have been swept under the rug or settled out of court. The finances and politics of the two neighboring countries have been so entwined that Russia has countless scores that it could settle, if Ukraine chose to take the legal path.

SELLING THE CROWN JEWELS

See also:

Putin: Ukraine debt threatens Europe gas supplies
April 10, 2014 — Vladimir Putin warned Europe on Thursday that it may face a shutdown of Russian natural gas supplies if it fails to help Ukraine settle its enormous Russian gas bill — a debt that far exceeds a bailout package offered by the International Monetary Fund.

The Russian president's letter to 18 mostly Eastern European leaders, released Thursday by the Kremlin, aimed to divide the 28-nation European Union and siphon off to Russia the billions that the international community plans to lend to Ukraine. It was all part of Russia's efforts to retain control over its struggling neighbor, which is teetering on the verge of financial ruin and facing a pro-Russian separatist mutiny in the east. Putin's message is clear: The EU has tried to lure Ukraine from Russia's orbit and into its fold, so it should now foot Ukraine's gas bill — or face the country's economic collapse and a disruption of its own gas supplies.

The tough warning raises the ante ahead of international talks on settling the Ukrainian crisis that for the first time will bring together the United States, the European Union, Russia and Ukraine. The U.S. State Department on Thursday condemned what it called "Russia's efforts to use energy as a tool of coercion against Ukraine." Hundreds of pro-Russian protesters — some armed — were still occupying Ukrainian government buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk while authorities sought a peaceful solution Thursday to the five-day standoff. And in northwest Romania, U.S. and Romanian forces kicked off a week of joint military exercises.

The amount that Putin claims Ukraine owes is growing by billions every week — and his letter raises the specter of a new gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine that could affect much of Europe. In 2009, Moscow turned off gas supplies to Kiev in the dead of winter, leading to freezing cities across Eastern Europe as Russian gas stopped moving through Ukrainian pipelines to other nations. In the letter, Putin said Ukraine owes Russia $17 billion due to the termination of gas discounts and potentially another $18.4 billion as a take-or-pay fine under their 2009 gas contract. He added that on top of that $35.4 billion, Russia also holds $3 billion in Ukrainian government bonds. The total amount is far greater than the estimated $14 billion to $18 billion bailout that the International Monetary Fund is considering for Ukraine.

Putin warned that Ukraine's mounting debt is forcing Moscow to demand advance payments for further gas supplies. He said that if Ukraine failed to make such payments, Russia's state-controlled gas giant Gazprom will "completely or partially cease gas deliveries." Putin told the leaders that a shutdown of Russian gas supplies will increase the risk of Ukraine siphoning off gas intended for the rest of Europe and will make it difficult to accumulate sufficient reserves to guarantee uninterrupted delivery to European customers next winter. He urged quick talks between Russia and European consumers of Russian gas. "The fact that our European partners have unilaterally withdrawn from the concerted efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, and even from holding consultations with the Russian side, leaves Russia no alternative," Putin said.

MORE

 

[georgephillip]

Anyone notice how we are counting down to the hundred year anniversary of the War to End All Wars?

"World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918."

A lot of pretty smart, well educated people still have no idea how WWI came to claim millions of lives.

Are we in similar times today?

World War I - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[1776]

These losers posting from some Moscow internet cafe are easy to spot from a mile away.

Aren't you scumbags supposed to be hacking into networks across Europe especially Ukraine and just give up on your limpdick IO propaganda.

 

[georgephillip]

"Referendum proposed

"After the deadline passed Monday, Turchynov said the majority of Ukrainians would back keeping Ukraine in one piece if a referendum is held along with presidential elections set for May 25.

"'We do not mind having a referendum,' Turchynov told members of parliament.
'Moreover, if there is (a) parliamentary decision to hold one together with the presidential elections, I am sure most people will express support of independent and unitary Ukraine.'"

No sign of crackdown as Ukraine deadline passes - CNN.com