Merkel demanded Putin reduce Russian troops around Ukraine: German statement

[soothsayer]

Link to tweet

?s=21

Olga Lautman
@OlgaNYC1211
Merkel demanded Putin unwind his military build-up on Ukraine's borders and discussed Navalny in a phone call with Putin

Merkel demanded Putin reduce Russian troops around Ukraine: German statement
reuters.com
https://t.co/lxDa3Ss7ml

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Is this the Russian Play for the Ukraine?

I know they are "concerned" about Russian citizens in the East Ukraine....but is Putin going to start a regional war?

[qazplm135]

3. it's not like anyone is going to use force to stop him

just economic ramifications, which can be substantial.

So he'll probably do what he's been doing, fund and arm "uprisings" in border states with folks who sympathize with Russia, maybe even carve out a little more territory that's functionally Russia. I would be surprised if he just up and invaded.

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. If Trump was "re-elected" we'd be supporting Putin's takeover of the Ukraine.

[BigmanPigman]

2. Biden is considering sending warships to the Black Sea.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142726091

[uponit7771]

4. Putin doesn't think the west wants another war or he knows Trump gave him all the security codes ...

... and there's no op sec.

[moondust]

6. More...

~
A senior Kremlin official said on Thursday that Moscow could under certain circumstances be forced to defend its citizens in Donbass and that major hostilities could mark the beginning of the end of Ukraine as a country.

The Kremlin said in its readout of the Merkel phone call that “Vladimir Putin noted provocative actions by Kyiv which is deliberately inflaming the situation along the line of contact.”
~
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-kremlin-citizens/russia-says-it-could-be-forced-to-protect-its-citizens-in-east-ukraine-tass-idUSKBN2BV1S3

If the Pooty fans in Donbass want to live under Pooty's rule then why don't they move to Russia? There's plenty of room for them.