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White
House confirms CIA director visited Ukraine over weekend
RT,
14
April, 2014
White
House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed that CIA Director John Brennan
visited Ukrainian capital Kiev over the weekend and met with
high-ranked Ukrainian officials.
Previously,
deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovichaccused Brennan of
ordering a crackdown on pro-Russian activists in the east of the
country.
The
CIA had already dismissed these accusations as "completely
false", but did not disclose whether its chief had actually been
to Kiev - until now.
"We
don't normally comment on the CIA director's travel but given the
extraordinary circumstances in this case and the false claims being
leveled by the Russians at the CIA we can confirm that the director
was in Kiev as part of a trip to Europe," White House spokesman
Jay Carney told reporters.
Russia's
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also demanded an explanation about
the nature of the visit.
"Senior
level visits of intelligence officials are a standard means of
fostering mutually beneficial security cooperation including
U.S.-Russian intelligence collaboration going back to the beginnings
of the post-Cold War era," Carney explained.
"U.S.
and Russian intelligence officials have met over the years. To imply
that U.S. officials meeting with their counterparts is anything other
than in the same spirit is absurd."
In
an interview aired on Russian state television on Sunday, Yanukovich,
who has been in southern Russia since fleeing Ukraine in February,
said that Brennan had “sanctioned the use of weapons and provoked
bloodshed."
“The
US bears its share of responsibility for starting a civil war in
Ukraine, not only through diplomatic influence, but its security
forces, which do not only meddle, but issue orders,” said the
Ukrainian politician
On
Monday, Aleksandr Yakimenko, the head of Ukraine's security service,
the SBU, during Yanukovich's term went one step further, and said
that his successor, Valentin Nalivaychenko, is a double agent working
for the CIA.
"Nalivaychenko
was recruited by the US when he was Ukraine's Consul General in
Washington [2001-2003]," said Yakimenko, for whom an arrest
warrant has been issued in Kiev since he left the country last month,
while speaking to Russia's Channel One.
"The
US is currently creating a sort of controlled chaos that is helping
to blow up the bridges between Russia and Ukraine."
Acting
President Aleksandr Turchinov has announced that “an anti-terrorist
operation” will be carried out against armed protesters, who have
occupied government buildings in the Russian-speaking east of the
country.
Gunfire
has already been exchanged in the provincial city of Slavyansk,
resulting in the death of at least one Ukrainian soldier.
Turchinov
insists that the protesters are led and funded by Russian security
services, and says that Moscow is executing "the Crimean
scenario" that will lead to the secession of eastern territories
from Ukraine. He has requested a UN intervention in the region.
Kiev
urges UN to hold joint 'anti-terrorist operation' in eastern Ukraine
RT,
14
April, 2014
Ukraine’s
coup-installed president, Aleksandr Turchinov, has proposed the
conducting of a joint operation with UN peacekeeping forces, signing
a decree immediately imposing a special anti-terrorist operation in
the east of the country.
Turchinov
said in a phone call with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, that
Kiev’s new authorities would welcome the possibility that “if
with your [UN] help, there is to be a joint anti-terrorist operation
conducted in the east of the country…specialists and observers will
be able to confirm the legitimacy and legality of our actions,” the
press office of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party quoted Turchinov
as saying.
On
his part, Ban Ki-moon said that Kiev could rely fully on help from
the UN as its partner.
Late
Monday afternoon, Ukraine’s coup-appointed President Aleksandr
Turchinov signed a decree to officially begin a “special
anti-terrorist operation” in
the east of the country, Ukraine’s presidential press-service said
in a statement.
He
ordered "that
the National Security and Defence Council's decision of April 13,
2014 'On urgent measures to overcome the territorial threat and to
preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine' be put into
effect". The
order becomes effective from the day of publication.
Turchinov
has appointed acting Secretary of the National Security and Defense
Council of Ukraine, Andriy Parubiy, to oversee the operation.
Kiev announced an “anti-terrorist
operation” against
protesters in eastern Ukraine, where pro-autonomy rallies intensified
last week.
The
Donetsk region has been in turmoil since Sunday morning with
anti-government protesters seizing several buildings and
demonstrations raging in the city of Slavyansk.
On
Sunday evening Kiev threatened "full-scale" military force
if protesters and paramilitaries declined to vacate occupied
government buildings by a Monday morning deadline.
Protesters
ignored the ultimatum to leave by 9 am, and a Russian flag continued
to fly over the besieged police HQs in Slavyansk.
On
Monday the head of Donetsk region announced that a “special
operation regime” was
to be imposed in the region.
The “anti-terrorist
operation” has
been slammed by Russia, which requested the United Nations Security
Council convene immediately to discuss Ukraine’s
declaration of the operation.
Speaking
from the city of Rostov-on-Don, ousted President Viktor Yanukovich
called the planned military operation a "criminal
order".
The
operation announced by Kiev stipulates that the Ukrainian armed
forces are to be involved. The Ukrainian army has not been involved
despite the four months of upheaval and its capabilities in terms of
handling internal problems are as of yet untested.
White
House confirms CIA director visited Ukraine over weekend
RT,
14
April, 2014
White
House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed that CIA Director John Brennan
visited Ukrainian capital Kiev over the weekend and met with
high-ranked Ukrainian officials.
Previously,
deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovichaccused Brennan of
ordering a crackdown on pro-Russian activists in the east of the
country.
The
CIA had already dismissed these accusations as "completely
false", but did not disclose whether its chief had actually been
to Kiev - until now.
"We
don't normally comment on the CIA director's travel but given the
extraordinary circumstances in this case and the false claims being
leveled by the Russians at the CIA we can confirm that the director
was in Kiev as part of a trip to Europe," White House spokesman
Jay Carney told reporters.
Russia's
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also demanded an explanation about
the nature of the visit.
"Senior
level visits of intelligence officials are a standard means of
fostering mutually beneficial security cooperation including
U.S.-Russian intelligence collaboration going back to the beginnings
of the post-Cold War era," Carney explained.
"U.S.
and Russian intelligence officials have met over the years. To imply
that U.S. officials meeting with their counterparts is anything other
than in the same spirit is absurd."
In
an interview aired on Russian state television on Sunday, Yanukovich,
who has been in southern Russia since fleeing Ukraine in February,
said that Brennan had “sanctioned the use of weapons and provoked
bloodshed."
“The
US bears its share of responsibility for starting a civil war in
Ukraine, not only through diplomatic influence, but its security
forces, which do not only meddle, but issue orders,” said the
Ukrainian politician
On
Monday, Aleksandr Yakimenko, the head of Ukraine's security service,
the SBU, during Yanukovich's term went one step further, and said
that his successor, Valentin Nalivaychenko, is a double agent working
for the CIA.
"Nalivaychenko
was recruited by the US when he was Ukraine's Consul General in
Washington [2001-2003]," said Yakimenko, for whom an arrest
warrant has been issued in Kiev since he left the country last month,
while speaking to Russia's Channel One.
"The
US is currently creating a sort of controlled chaos that is helping
to blow up the bridges between Russia and Ukraine."
Acting
President Aleksandr Turchinov has announced that “an anti-terrorist
operation” will be carried out against armed protesters, who have
occupied government buildings in the Russian-speaking east of the
country.
Gunfire
has already been exchanged in the provincial city of Slavyansk,
resulting in the death of at least one Ukrainian soldier.
Turchinov
insists that the protesters are led and funded by Russian security
services, and says that Moscow is executing "the Crimean
scenario" that will lead to the secession of eastern territories
from Ukraine. He has requested a UN intervention in the region.
Kiev
urges UN to hold joint 'anti-terrorist operation' in eastern Ukraine
This update from the Vineyard of the Saker provides as good an update as anything. It is however, apart from being quite nationalistic, truthful.
Ukraine SITREP April 14, 13:00 EST
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.ru/2014/04/ukraine-mini-sitrep-april-14-1140-est.html
It
appears that the next 24 hours will be absolutely crucial for the
future of the Ukraine. So far, these are the most important
developments:
The following cities have seen uprisings taking place over the week-end: Kharkov, Slaviansk, Krasnyi Liman, Kramatorsk, Lugansk, Enakievo, Gorlovka, Donetsk, Khartsyzk, Ilovaisk, Mariupol. To get a feel for the spread, check out this map:
The following cities have seen uprisings taking place over the week-end: Kharkov, Slaviansk, Krasnyi Liman, Kramatorsk, Lugansk, Enakievo, Gorlovka, Donetsk, Khartsyzk, Ilovaisk, Mariupol. To get a feel for the spread, check out this map:
 |
Rebel
cities in the eastern Ukraine
|
The
second big development is the clear increase in the quality of the
forces opposing the takeover of the eastern Ukraine by the
revolutionary regime in Kiev. Up until Friday, most of the
demonstrators were civilians, "armed" with bars, stones,
Molotov cocktails, bats, etc. and, frankly, their barricades looked
pretty lame. Over the week end some better equipped forces
have appeared, this could be due to the seizure of weapons caches
from the SBU, but my guess is that there is a traffic going on
between Crimea and the eastern Ukraine. Some Crimeans have
said so openly. Furthermore, it is very likely that there are
also volunteers from Russia, probably with military backgrounds,
helping out the locals. The barricades look far better
built now, they are over 6 feet high and they seem much better
protected.
The Kiev regime and the USA have accused Russia of having GRU agents involved. Well, I am pretty sure that they are there - they would be stupid not to - but to present the spreading insurrection as the result of the Kremlin's covert operations is rather silly. While I would expect the SVR and GRU to try to help, they are going to try to stay several steps removed in order to avoid a potential political scandal for Russia. But could the GRU be providing equipment for Russian volunteers in eastern Ukraine? Yes, that is definitely possible, thought not necessarily the most likely explanations. The fact is that nobody really knows.
There are some pretty consistent rumors that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John O. Brennan, has covertly travelled to Kiev and that he is the one who told the regime to put down the rebellion in the East. Maybe. Maybe not. What is certain is that the SBU has been run by the CIA since 22 years already and that the authorities would never have gone ahead with this plan without getting Uncle Sam's approval. Since the offensive basically failed, it appears that the US has told its Ukrainian allies to "cool it", either to try to negotiate or just to win some time. Whatever may be the case, both Iatseniuk and Turchinov have now promised a referendum on the future of the Ukraine and all the "legitimate demands" of the East. Nobody trusts them (Turchinov had just announced an "anti-terrorist" operation!), but this is nevertheless a *huge* development. At the very same time, there are repeated reports about a secret order by Turchinov to crack down on the eastern Urkaine and that Andrei Parubii (Maidan), Valentin Nalivaichenko (SBU) and Vasilii Krutov (Military) have formed special headquarters to coordinate the repression.
Finally, there are a lot of reports of large columns of military units moving towards the East. They even include artillery and heavy multiple rocket launchers. My hope is that these are moved to the eastern Ukraine in order to try to stop a Russian military intervention. I am not saying that this would work - it would not - but that I hope that this is the plan. I don't want to even contemplate the possibility that these systems might be used against the civilian population.
There are basically three scenarios for the short term now:
1) The Ukies give up on the notion to solve this problem by violence and terror and some kind of deal will be hammered out between Russia and the US on the 17th.
2) The Ukies do attack and fail.
3) The Ukies attack, are successful and Russia intervenes.
Can a unitary Ukraine still be saved? At this point, I would say that this *might* still be possible, but that the Ukies have to really give up the notion of breaking the rebellion in the East by violence and the USA have to finally stop the nonsense and agree to seriously negotiate.
If the Ukie do try to attack and put down the rebellion by force, they can kiss the eastern Ukraine goodbye forever.
Stay tuned.
The Saker
The Kiev regime and the USA have accused Russia of having GRU agents involved. Well, I am pretty sure that they are there - they would be stupid not to - but to present the spreading insurrection as the result of the Kremlin's covert operations is rather silly. While I would expect the SVR and GRU to try to help, they are going to try to stay several steps removed in order to avoid a potential political scandal for Russia. But could the GRU be providing equipment for Russian volunteers in eastern Ukraine? Yes, that is definitely possible, thought not necessarily the most likely explanations. The fact is that nobody really knows.
There are some pretty consistent rumors that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John O. Brennan, has covertly travelled to Kiev and that he is the one who told the regime to put down the rebellion in the East. Maybe. Maybe not. What is certain is that the SBU has been run by the CIA since 22 years already and that the authorities would never have gone ahead with this plan without getting Uncle Sam's approval. Since the offensive basically failed, it appears that the US has told its Ukrainian allies to "cool it", either to try to negotiate or just to win some time. Whatever may be the case, both Iatseniuk and Turchinov have now promised a referendum on the future of the Ukraine and all the "legitimate demands" of the East. Nobody trusts them (Turchinov had just announced an "anti-terrorist" operation!), but this is nevertheless a *huge* development. At the very same time, there are repeated reports about a secret order by Turchinov to crack down on the eastern Urkaine and that Andrei Parubii (Maidan), Valentin Nalivaichenko (SBU) and Vasilii Krutov (Military) have formed special headquarters to coordinate the repression.
Finally, there are a lot of reports of large columns of military units moving towards the East. They even include artillery and heavy multiple rocket launchers. My hope is that these are moved to the eastern Ukraine in order to try to stop a Russian military intervention. I am not saying that this would work - it would not - but that I hope that this is the plan. I don't want to even contemplate the possibility that these systems might be used against the civilian population.
There are basically three scenarios for the short term now:
1) The Ukies give up on the notion to solve this problem by violence and terror and some kind of deal will be hammered out between Russia and the US on the 17th.
2) The Ukies do attack and fail.
3) The Ukies attack, are successful and Russia intervenes.
Can a unitary Ukraine still be saved? At this point, I would say that this *might* still be possible, but that the Ukies have to really give up the notion of breaking the rebellion in the East by violence and the USA have to finally stop the nonsense and agree to seriously negotiate.
If the Ukie do try to attack and put down the rebellion by force, they can kiss the eastern Ukraine goodbye forever.
Stay tuned.
The Saker
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