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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKerry on Russian reaction to sanctions
SECRETARY KERRY: You cant run around knocking around Georgia and taking over Abkhazia and South Ossetia and then and threatening Moldova and Transnistria and other places and win friends. Thats an important part of existing on this planet, and I think theyre going to have some problems.
QUESTION: So what are we prepared to do about it? What is Europe prepared to do about it? Whats the United States --
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, weve already put some sanctions in place and --
QUESTION: Which he ignored.
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, they say that. What do you expect? Thats what bullies do. But the fact is when they go home and their cronies and friends lose their apartments and their rich properties and they cant move their money and they cant travel to places, this bites. And over time, theres a lot more that will come in that will make a difference.
- more -
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/03/223669.htm
Yeah, I don't think they're laughing: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024685278
By Olga Tanas and Anna Andrianova
Russian lawmakers are preparing to ratify a treaty this week to annex Crimea, hailing as a victory the return of the Black Sea peninsula that may require billions of dollars even as the national economy comes under strain.
Parliament plans to finish all legal procedures to accept the breakaway region into Russia this week, Sergei Mironov, leader of the Just Russia party, told reporters today in Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin, facing the weakest economic outlook in four years and forecasts of surging capital outflows, is defying Western threats of sanctions and pressing ahead with plans to absorb Crimea, a predominantly Russian-speaking region that houses the Black Sea Fleet. Putin blamed the West for forcing him into a corner and vowed to protect those of Russian heritage from Ukrainian nationalists. Crimea will need billions of dollars of investment in infrastructure, according to Russias Economy Ministry.
<...>
Even before the protests in Kiev turned deadly last month, Russian Deputy Economy Minister Andrey Klepach said capital outflows were increasing and may reach $35 billion in the first quarter, more than half of the $63 billion for all of 2013.
- more -
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-03-19/russia-sees-billions-of-crimean-spending-as-putin-pushes-treaty
Investors are fleeing Russia and they are losing billions of dollars
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024685574
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)The situation in the economy bears clear signs of a crisis, Deputy Economy Minister Sergei Belyakov said in Moscow yesterday. The cabinet needs to refrain from raising the fiscal burden on companies, which would be the wrong approach, he said. Taking money from companies and asking them afterward to modernize production is illogical and strange.
dilby
(2,273 posts)I just think this is a drumbeat for war, US will put sanctions on Russia. Russia will seize US assets located within their borders and it will just go down from there. All for some piece of land no one cared about 6 months ago.
"I don't think sactions will work. I just think this is a drumbeat for war"
...it's not, and the sanctions will have an impact base on Russia's weak economy.
SECRETARY KERRY: Again, I think thats a complete mischaracterization. I dont know anybody in America who has suggested to go to war over Crimea. You want to go to war over Crimea? I dont know anybody who says, You ought to go to war over Crimea. So therefore, your options are economic and diplomatic and isolation.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Not nearly as much as the Russian Capitalists have OUTSIDE Russia....there in lies the rub...
former9thward
(32,077 posts)William769
(55,147 posts)And will continue to bully till he gets knocked down.
Nothing would please me more to see Russia spiral into the worst depression not seen since the U.S.S.R. and the people rise up and throw that mother fucker out on his ass.
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)this year was already pretty blah. Putin's popularity came from increased socioeconomic status for Russians. With the protests in 2012 he needed something to stay in power if the economy remained poor. Since the not-so-good economic numbers didn't include losing gas business to Ukraine or getting a lower price for the gas, it seems he would have faced a pretty bad year at home. Now that all the economic suffering will be blamed on the West, or on reclaiming and rebuilding Crimea he stands a much better chance.
William769
(55,147 posts)So much for laughing at them.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)You are wishing suffering on the Russian people because of who their leader is?
William769
(55,147 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Cha
(297,655 posts)BeyondGeography
(39,379 posts)It's a highly evolved approach that would have more fans here if not for ODS and KDS. Instead we get stfu, Kerry, you voted for IWR.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"It's a highly evolved approach"
...I'm fairly certain Kerry knows more than his critics.
sheshe2
(83,898 posts)This is going to hurt them, they can spin it all they want, it's going to be painful.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)Iterate
(3,020 posts)englishnews@aa.com.tr - Ankara 03/19/2014 22:33
Germany has stopped the planned export of a modern battle simulation facility that was destined for the Russian army.
German Economy Minister Siegmar Gabriel ordered to stop the delivery.
In a statement to German News Agency DPA, German company Rheinmetall said, "The German government considers the export of the combat training center to Russia unjustifiable in the current situation. The federal government is in contact with the firm while no shipments are planned at the moment. The firm will inform the federal government in time if exports are to be made, so that the government can take the required steps if necessary in the light of further developments."
Rheinmetall had signed the agreement to supply the Russian army with the facility worth 120 million euros in 2011. It was supposed to be installed in the Russian city of Mulino by the end of this year where 30,000 troops could have been trained a year.
http://en.haberler.com/germany-halts-export-of-battle-simulation-facility-400727/
Probably all for the best to cancel this anyway, being as they can't afford insignia.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)marked50
(1,368 posts)Just as a historical note, it was "sanctions" that prompted Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor and Philippines and Malaysia and Indonesia- in otherwords- the Wests response to Japan and its incursion into China --Japan's expansion of it's view of Empire (remember the militarist and nationalist Tojo)---was to impose sanctions on Japan around oil and other such things. Japan felt that it really had no other option other than to engage the West in battle. So in short- Empire building- response sanctions from the West-Result World War....
Beware of using Sanctions as the solution here- sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't