Ukraine-Russia sea clash: tension accelerates as Ukraine urges NATO ships

-
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to annex his entire country on Thursday, and warned that Ukraine's conflict with Russia could quickly spiral into a full-scale confrontation. 
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has sent a note to Russia urging it to release the Ukrainian sailors who were detained during the confrontation in the Sea of Azov. Poroshenko asked NATO members including Germany on Thursday to send naval vessels to the Sea of Azov to back his country in the standoff with Russia. 
On Wednesday, Putin accused the Ukrainian president of orchestrating the crisis to make the situation more tense. 
The sea-clash cast a shadow over the planned meeting between the U.S. and Russia presidents in the upcoming G20 summit in Argentina. The between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart may be canceled after this confrontation. Donald Trump said on Tuesday, however, that he was still awaiting a “full report” from his national security team about the incident.
Putin said he still hoped to meet Trump at the G20, while the Kremlin said the meeting was still being prepared and Washington had not informed Moscow it was off. 
The European Union (EU) will next month consider further sanctions against Russia over the latest flare-up in the Ukraine conflict, the foreign minister of Austria, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said Tuesday. 
Some of Ukraine's Western allies have also raised the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Russia over the episode, which could deliver a blow to the Russian economy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed separately the recent tension in Kerch Strait with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts on Wednesday, and expressed his concern and called on the two sides to resolve the confrontation via diplomacy.
The Ukrainian navy said Sunday that Russian forces fired on and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, calling Russia's actions an "act of aggression".
Moscow said the three ships breached the Russian border and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of orders of vessels from the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet. 
(Cover Photo: Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko meets with servicemen as he visits the 169th training center "Desna" of the Ukrainian Army ground forces in Chernihiv Region, Ukraine, November 28, 2018.

Popular posts from this blog

Donald Trump Reacts To Blasey Ford-Kavanaugh Hearing

-
Image
President  Donald Trump  tweeted his support of   Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh  Thursday after Kavanaugh testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to address Christine Blasey Ford ’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her. Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats’ search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote. The president was noticeably silent on Twitter throughout the daylong hearing, during which both Blasey and Kavanaugh offered tearful testimony. Immediately after the hearing ended, Trump called Kavanaugh’s testimony “powerful, honest and riveting,” while calling Blasey’s accusations part of a political tactic by Democrats.  He echoed Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who during the hearing wen...
Read more

Learn about the mysterious mandarin duck in New York's Central Park

-
Image
In his recent post, David Barrett, the owner of the Tweeter account “Manhattan Bird Alert”, announced that a mandarin duck has been spotted in Central Park's pond, stirring up discussions in New York City. Previous Male mandarin ducks have stunning pluamge. /VCG Photo A beautiful mandarin duck is paddling in the water. /VCG Photo Male mandarin ducks have stunning pluamge. /VCG Photo A beautiful mandarin duck is paddling in the water. /VCG Photo Next This glamorously colored duck is native to eastern Asia, and it remains unknown how it manages to make its surprising appearance in the Central Park's pond.   Mandarin ducks are very common in China and Japan, and they are known for the males' vibrantly colored plumage. However, while the males' stunning plumage becomes a long-lasting inspiration for Asian artists throughout the history, the female mandarin ducks are surprisingly plain in their appearances. The mandarin ducks appear in pairs ...
Read more