While Harper's rhetoric is welcome red meat to us Ukrainian Canadians, I
doubt it does much beyond perhaps annoy the Kremlin. There are however at
least three things that other members of the G8 could do that would likely
make an impact on Puntin's further plans and calculations:
1) The US Congress passes a resolution that they will arm Ukraine with the
weapons they need to defend themselves if Russia makes any attempt to grab
further Ukrainian lands (thus setting up an Afghanistan scenario).
2) Germany announces that will stop or greatly reduce buying Russian gas
and stop further investment in Russia
3) Britain seriously clamps down on Russian money laundering.
Everything else is noise.
On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 8:25 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> Harper's Harsh Words for Moscow Born of "Kinship" with Ukraine
>
> http://blogs.wsj.com/canadarealtime/2014/03/25/harpers-harsh-words-for-moscow-born-of-kinship-with-ukraine/
> By Paul Vieira
> 4:05 pm, Mar 25, 2014
>
> Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said some of his tough words for
> Moscow reflect the special "kinship" Canada has with Ukrainians.
>
> Canadians of Ukrainian heritage represent the largest diaspora outside of
> Eastern Europe, at roughly 1.3 million. "They are not just a lot of people
> but they are our friends and neighbors," Mr. Harper said at a press
> conference wrapping up a nuclear security summit in The Hague, which also
> included a hastily arranged Group of Seven leaders' summit to deal with
> Russian advances in Ukraine.
>
> The Canadian leader added that some of his best friends growing up were
> Ukrainian Canadians. "We understand about the history and what's at stake
> here," said Mr. Harper, who appeared animated and energized when speaking
> to reporters about Ukraine.
>
> Mr. Harper has emerged as one of the most vocal and fiercest critics of
> Vladimir Putin, calling his actions "cavalier" and warning the Russian
> president wants international relations to revert back to the days when the
> "law of the jungle" prevailed.
>
> His Conservative government has likened Russia's military intervention in
> Ukraine to what Nazi Germany was doing in the buildup to the Second World
> War. Russia's actions against the interim government in Kiev include the
> annexation of the strategically important southern Ukrainian region of
> Crimea and the massing of troops on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia.
>
> At the press conference, Mr. Harper saved his harshest words when
> discussing what he called Moscow's "mentality," which led it to issue a
> travel ban against 13 Canadians -- including several lawmakers, two
> bureaucrats and the head of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
>
> "We sanction people ... when we have clear criteria that there have been
> violations of international law and threats to global security. I don't
> know what basis they are sanctioning Canada other than the fact we don't
> approve of their actions, which is interesting basis on which to sanction
> people," Mr. Harper said.
>
> A representative from the Russian embassy in Ottawa wasn't immediately
> available to comment on Mr. Harper's remarks.
>
> Mr. Harper singled out Moscow's decision to sanction a spokesman for
> Canada's Ukrainian diaspora.
>
> "What has he done? It is a crime to be Ukrainian?" Mr. Harper said, in
> reference to Paul Grod, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, who
> traveled with the prime minister on his one-day trek to Kiev. "What does
> that tell you about their mentality of that government, and what does that
> tell you about the reasons why Ukrainians fear so much the Russian
> relationship and the attitude toward Ukraine?" Mr. Harper said.
>
>
>
>
> InfoUkes Inc. Gerald William Kokodyniak
> Suite 185, 3044 Bloor Street West Webmaster InfoUkes Inc.
> Etobicoke, Ontario [email protected]
> Canada M8X 2Y8 http://www.infoukes.com/
>
>
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