White House To Send Biden To Kiev As Conflict With Russia Escalates

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

By Roberta Rampton
WASHINGTON Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:27pm EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Kiev on April 22, to demonstrate high-level U.S. support for Ukraine, the White House said on Saturday after expressing concern about escalating tensions in the eastern part of the country.

The White House warned Russia against further military action in Ukraine after armed separatists seized government offices in the eastern city of Slaviansk, saying the situation was reminiscent of what happened before Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.

"The vice president will discuss the latest developments in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists, apparently with the support of Moscow, continue an orchestrated campaign of incitement and sabotage to destabilize the Ukrainian state," the White House said in a statement.

Biden, a top advisor to President Barack Obama on foreign policy issues, has been deeply involved in U.S. diplomatic efforts in Ukraine since protests erupted in Kiev in November.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/12/us-ukraine-crisis-whitehouse-idUSBREA3B0IT20140412

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Ukraine Prepares Armed Response As City Seized By Pro-Russia Forces

KIEV/SLAVIANSK, Ukraine Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:57pm EDT

(Reuters) - Armed separatists took control of a city in eastern Ukraine on Saturday and Kiev prepared troops to tackle what it called an "act of aggression by Russia", pushing the conflict between the neighbors into a dangerous new phase.

Pro-Russian activists carrying automatic weapons seized government buildings in Slaviansk, a town about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border, and set up barricades on the outskirts of the city.

In Kramatorsk, some 80 km to the north, gunmen seized the police station after a shootout with police, a Reuters witness said.

Government buildings in several other towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were attacked in what Washington said were moves reminiscent of the events that preceded Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

"We are very concerned by the concerted campaign we see under way in eastern Ukraine today by pro-Russian separatists, apparently with support from Russia," said Laura Lucas Magnuson, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.

MORE...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/12/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA3A1B520140412

[dipsydoodle]

1. East Ukraine protesters joined by miners on the barricades.

Word spread quickly through the few hundred pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine: "The miners are coming!"

The crowd parted as a group of a dozen or so burly men in orange work helmets marched past barbed-wire and tyre barricades into the 11-storey administration building, which protesters seized last weekend as they demanded greater independence from Kiev.

"Glory to the miners!" the crowd began chanting. "Glory to Donbass!" they shouted, much as protesters at Kiev's Euromaidan demonstrations had shouted "Glory to Ukraine!" before they ousted the president, Viktor Yanukovych, in February.

Donetsk is the heart of eastern Ukraine's coalmining country, historically known as the Donbass, and its football club is called the Miners. Cultural and economic ties to Russia – about three-quarters of people in the Donetsk region speak Russian as their native language – have put the Donbass on a collision course with the new government in Kiev, which plans to sign an association agreement with the EU. Yanukovych is from Donetsk and many here still call him the legitimate president.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/12/east-ukraine-protesters-miners-donetsk-russia?guni=Keyword:news-grid%20main-1%20Main%20trailblock:Editable%20trailblock%20-%20news osition4

[MisterP]

8. like in Romania (when the communists took over from the neoliberals 1989)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineriad

[snappyturtle]

2. From the second link:

"We are very concerned by the concerted campaign we see under way in eastern Ukraine today by pro-Russian separatists, apparently with support from Russia," said Laura Lucas Magnuson, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.

"We saw similar so-called protest activities in Crimea before Russia's purported annexation.

"We call on President (Vladimir) Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention."

I don't like and suspect language such as, "apparently with support from Russia", "Similar so-called protest activities" and "caution against further military intervention". I call these jelly words. They shake things up but don't tell us much. My antennae are on full alert....reminds me of the language gearing us up for attacking Iraq. imho

[dipsydoodle]

3. I wasn't too impressed

with Jen Psaki in answer to the question by a journalist "does the WH get information on Ukraine from anywhere other than Kiev" answering "no."

[snappyturtle]

4. Oh! THAT too! Amazing. I think the U.S. diplomats need an accelerated course in

foreign policy pronto!

[KoKo]

5. Biden? What?

Is this some demotion of Kerry. This sounds very strange.

Kerry's language has been very threatening and bellicose with Putin...but we all assumed this was USA Policy.

But, Joe Biden... Is he an expert on Russia? Reuters claims Biden has been in the background all along. But he doesn't go there until April 22nd. (WHY ANNOUNCE THIS?) Does President Obama feel that Joe Biden will do a "homesie/folksie" end run around the NeoCons installed at US State Department at that late a date while the crisis seems to be immediate?

Anyone have any views on this? It seems sort of unheard of to publicly announce you are sending your Vice President to do the Job that your Secretary of State should be doing.

maybe I read this from Reuters wrong... I hope so.

[ballyhoo]

6. That's how I see it, even to a greater

extent than you seem to indicate. "Homesie/folksie" end run... I hope not. That is exactly what is not needed now. We need a scary stalwart in-your-face person, but who? The closest thing is Hagel. But that might send a message...except that might be a good idea.

[karynnj]

7. Different purposes

Kerry will be the one meeting with EU/Ukraine/Russia officials this coming week. Kerry's language has NOT been bellicose - in fact, much the opposite. He has said there will be consequences, while explicitly say there should be no military response.

Biden is visiting Kiev to show support - a step lower than President Obama visiting Kiev.

By the way, Obama has actually had Kerry representing him diplomatically far more often than he had Hillary doing so - and that was NOT to diminish Hillary. Biden negotiated Iraq - not Hillary; George Mitchell and Dennis Ross were the diplomats in Israel, and Holbrooke worked Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.

Kerry is simultaneous leading on Israel/Palestine, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine. If Obama intends Biden's visit to be more than a visit, it could well be that Obama realizes that Kerry has a huge amount of work that he is doing.

[red dog 1]

9. K&R...Thanks for posting