Russia expels No 2 American Diplomat

[Javaman]

Source: Washington post

behind pay wall

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/17/ukraine-russia-putin-nato-munich/

[BumRushDaShow]

1. I was trying to get a good link to - AP put it out and it is all around

Russia has expelled the deputy chief of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Moscow amid escalating tensions over Ukraine

Russia has expelled the deputy chief of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Moscow amid escalating tensions over Ukraine
ByThe Associated Press
February 17, 2022, 9:14 AM
• 1 min read

MOSCOW -- Russia has expelled the deputy chief of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Moscow amid escalating tensions over Ukraine.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-expelled-deputy-chief-us-diplomatic-mission-moscow-82954435

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Supply chains broken, gasonline at $3.55, we're in for a drubbing if WWIII breaks out

Would you like gas rationing in this environment?

[Javaman]

5. if WWIII breaks out, gas rationing would be the least of our problems. LOL nt

[Roc2020]

20. Ain't that the truth

[BumRushDaShow]

3. All the sources only have the 1-liner from AP so you can use the ABC one for now if you want.

[yaesu]

4. Russian Rebels just shelled East Ukraine, hit a school, kids were in another room

so no injuries.

[Javaman]

6. do you have a source or link for that? nt

[yaesu]

10. yes, quite a few but here is one I wwatch

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/feb/17/russia-ukraine-news-troops-border-latest-live-putin-biden-kyiv-russian-invasion-threat?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-620e61ff8f0866a40a9d7a69#block-620e61ff8f0866a40a9d7a69

Tensions in the east of Ukraine have risen dramatically after Russian-backed separatists opened fire across the line of control with Ukrainian forces, hitting a nursery school and injuring three people.

According to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) there were “multiple shelling incidents” on Thursday morning across the frontline in the Donbas region.







From 15m ago
10:00
Biden thinks Russian attack will happen in 'next days'
Joe Biden has said that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent and that he believes a false-flag operation was under way that Moscow would use to justify an invasion, agencies in Washington report.

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House, AFP reports him as saying:

Every indication we have is that they’re prepared to go into Ukraine, attack Ukraine. My sense is it will happen in the next several days.

According to Reuters, he described the threat as “very high”. He said Russia had not moved back its forces from the Ukrainian border and that the US had reason to believe Russia was engaged in a false flag operation that Moscow would use to justify an invasion.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Reuters has a story up

February 17, 20229:44 AM ESTLast Updated a min ago

U.S. says war appears imminent after shelling on Ukraine front line


By Dmitry Antonov
and Pavel Polityuk




An exterior view shows a kindergarten, which according to Ukraine's military officials was damaged by shelling, in Stanytsia Luhanska in the Luhansk region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released February 17, 2022. Press Service of the Joint Forces Operation/Handout via REUTERS


MOSCOW/KYIV, Feb 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday there was now "every indication" that Russia was planning to go into Ukraine, including signs Moscow was preparing a "false flag" operation to justify it.

Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists within Ukraine earlier exchanged fire on Thursday across a frontline that divides them, in what Western officials described as a possible pretext created by Moscow to invade.

Biden ordered Secretary of State Antony Blinken to change his travel plans at the last minute to speak at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/shelling-breaks-out-east-ukraine-west-moscow-dispute-troop-moves-2022-02-17/

ETA - the 2 other images from the Reuters link -

[IronLionZion]

15. Artillery shelling helps teach young kids about the real world

It's like they're trying hard to provoke a response and then use that as justification for full invasion.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. There are so many countries around the world (not just there)

who have "separatist" groups who have taken over land, get funded by some "state authority" and cause all kinds of havoc in the region. I know for years we would hear about the "Basque separatists" and they finally simmered down. And I won't even get into the Kurds or even the Kashmir separatists.

Apparently this group has been at it for awhile now to the point where the rest of the Ukrainian people (particularly those not living near that region) sortof dismiss them. Of course that is the perfect place to "start something" though.

[jimfields33]

17. I doubt Putin cares about teaching kids lessons of any kind.

[IronLionZion]

18. The world is cruel and some people are dangerous

Kids have to learn that the hard way

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Also the Foreign Minister of Ukraine tweeted it out and that was picked up by others

Link to tweet

Yaser Emre
@yasiremres
·
Feb 17, 2022
Rus ayrılıkçılar Ukrayna kontrolü altındaki Luhansk'ta bir anaokulunu hedef aldı.

#Ukraine
Image
Image
Image
Yaser Emre
@yasiremres
💥💥
Dmytro Kuleba
@DmytroKuleba
Ukrainian Stanytsia Luhanska village was shelled with heavy weapons from the occupied territory of the Donbas. Civilian infrastructure damaged. We call on all partners to swiftly condemn this severe violation of Minsk agreements by Russia amid an already tense security situation.
5:11 AM · Feb 17, 2022

Link to tweet

Yaser Emre
@yasiremres
·
Feb 17, 2022
Replying to @yasiremres
💥💥
Dmytro Kuleba
@DmytroKuleba
Ukrainian Stanytsia Luhanska village was shelled with heavy weapons from the occupied territory of the Donbas. Civilian infrastructure damaged. We call on all partners to swiftly condemn this severe violation of Minsk agreements by Russia amid an already tense security situation.
Yaser Emre
@yasiremres
#Ukraine
5:12 AM · Feb 17, 2022

[OnlinePoker]

21. Donbas region is in Eastern Ukraine

The region was the scene of much fighting at the time of Russia's annexation of Crimea and, though not invaded by Russia, has a rebel controlled government supported by Russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donbas

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Yes

and apparently that has been going on for awhile now but offers an opportunity to manufacture a justification to "invade".

[JohnSJ]

11. On Bloomberg TV Top News stories, Ukraine, Russia-Backed Separatists allege Cease-Fire

violations.

no details yet

[Ghost Dog]

23. But they're saying (Johnson most firmly) it's a false flag.

Which means the rebels didn't do it, right?

[yaesu]

25. Russia will defend the rebels so if rebels start something that will be the false flag event

needed for Russian troops to get involved. I think Putin is just hanging back waiting for a trigger finger on either side to give him the green light. The longer he is there the better chance of that happening do to the stress factor on troops.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. NYT breaking - short article

The No. 2 American diplomat in Russia is expelled.


Russia’s government has expelled the deputy U.S. ambassador from the country, the State Department said on Thursday, in what American officials called an “escalatory step” that could limit diplomatic solutions for the crisis on Ukraine’s borders. The chief American envoy to Russia, Ambassador John J. Sullivan, remains in Moscow and on Thursday received the government’s written response to the Biden administration’s proposals to ease tensions and improve security in Europe.

His deputy, Bart Gorman, had been in Russia less than three years on a diplomatic tour that had not yet concluded, said a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue. Mr. Gorman’s visa to Russia was still valid and his expulsion “was unprovoked,” the official said.

The State Department is considering what steps it will take in response, the official said, noting that the deputy Russian ambassador to Washington left his post last month in what was described as at the end of his regularly scheduled rotation. “Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments,” the official said in a statement. 

The number of American diplomats and other employees at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and consulates around Russia is far fewer than that of Russian missions in the United States, the official said. The State Department demanded that Russia “end its baseless expulsions” of its diplomatic employees.

— Lara Jakes

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/17/world/russia-ukraine-news/the-no-2-american-diplomat-in-russia-is-expelled

[EarthFirst]

9. Sounds like they desire a diplomatic solution to me!

Drawdown in Ukraine is imminent!

[IronLionZion]

13. Russia is clearly trying to provoke a conflict

the article says Russian backed separatists have stepped up artillery shelling of Eastern Ukraine villages including blowing a hole through a kindergarten school building.

[elleng]

19. Ukraine and Moscow-backed separatists trade accusations of shelling in potential eastern flash point

Moscow expels senior U.S. diplomat.

'KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists accused each other Thursday of violating a cease-fire in the eastern part of the country, a potential flash point in what Western officials say are Russian preparations for a possible attack by growing forces massed near Ukraine’s borders.

In Moscow, the Russian government has expelled the U.S. Embassy’s second-ranking diplomat, Deputy Chief of Mission Bart Gorman, the State Department confirmed Thursday. No reason was immediately given for the expulsion of Gorman, whom a department spokesperson described in a statement as “a key member of the Embassy’s senior leadership team.” The statement called the move “unprovoked” and “an escalatory step” and said the United States is “considering our response.” A State Department official said later that Gorman departed last week.

Separately, Russia on Thursday made public a written response to U.S. proposals submitted Jan. 26 regarding Moscow’s demands on halting NATO expansion. “In the absence of the readiness of the American side to agree on firm, legally binding guarantees of ensuring our security by the United States and its allies, Russia will be forced to respond, including through the implementation of military-technical measures,” it said.

The letter from the Russian Foreign Ministry did not elaborate on “military-technical measures” but again denied any plans for a “‘Russian invasion’ of Ukraine, as has been officially claimed by the U.S. and its allies since last fall.” It added that “claims of ‘Russian responsibility for the escalation’ cannot be interpreted other than as an attempt to pressure and devalue Russian proposals on security guarantees.”'>>>

[James48]

24. Go fill up your gas tank.

And any 5 gallon containers in the garage.

Once the full scale fighting breaks out, there will be a run on gasoline (remember toilet paper?) and it may be scarce for a bit. Keep your cars and trucks full now.

[monkeyman1]

26. don't pay to pay wall's !! just supporting these none journalists!!!