Obama Says Russia Must ‘Move Back’ Troops From Ukrainian Border

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

By Agence France-Presse
Friday, March 28, 2014 9:06 EDT

US President Barack Obama in an interview aired Friday said Russia must “move back” its troops from the Ukraine border and start negotiating.

Obama told CBS News that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to assemble forces on the border may “simply be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that they’ve got additional plans.”

Although estimates of troop numbers vary vastly, Obama said that “to de-escalate the situation” Russia should “move back those troops and begin negotiations directly with the Ukrainian government as well as the international community.”

He also said Putin had been “willing to show a deeply held grievance about what he considers to be the loss of the Soviet Union,” and the Russian leader should not “revert back to the kinds of practices that, you know, were so prevalent during the Cold War”.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/28/obama-says-russia-must-move-back-troops-from-ukrainian-border/

[BeyondGeography]

1. How dare he

Doesn't he realize George W. Bush invaded Iraq under false pretenses?

[dipsydoodle]

2. There is as yet nothing to confrim they are actually there

other than claims by Kiev who have yet to post pictures to confirm.

Such claims have been going on for weeks now. When first mentioned Russia commented that to reach that number the troops would need all of their relations with them too - sisters , cousins, aunts.............

[7962]

3. Russia claims troops are conducting exercises, so obviously they admit they're there, US est 40K

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/28/world/europe/russia-ukraine-troop-buildup/

"Russia may have as many as 40,000 troops near its western border with Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials.
But the officials stress this is only an estimate, largely based on satellite imagery, saying that it is difficult to come to a firm assessment because the Russians are continuing to move units around. Earlier in the week, U.S. officials put the number at more than 30,000, up by 10,000 from what it was a week to 10 days before.

At the same time, a new classified U.S. intelligence assessment concluded it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine, CNN learned Wednesday. The buildup is seen to be reminiscent of Moscow's military moves before it went into Chechnya and Georgia in both numbers of units and their capabilities, U.S. officials said."

[JVS]

4. Telling Russia where in their own territory they should keep their troops isn't going to work.

They have every right to have their troops on their own borders.

[olddad56]

5. Really. What is Obama's next move if Putin doesn't do what Obama thinks he should do? .

maybe ban the sales of Vodka to Russia.

[uhnope]

6. massing unusually high numbers of troops on the border of a country you just stole a part of

is seen by rational people as a matter of concern, as a threat or readiness to invade

[go west young man]

7. Most of Russia's military

is located in the Steppe normally anyway. All within a day of Ukraine. What does Obama want them to do....move it all to the other side of the Urals?