February 12, 2008

From Russia, With Contempt

Gazprom will continue to pump gas into Ukraine after negotiators resolved a dispute with Russia, but energy supplies might be the least of the former Soviet satellite's concerns.

Asked about Ukraine's bid for inclusion in NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "I draw your attention to the consequences that would follow. It is terrible to even think that in response to this... Russia cannot theoretically exclude aiming our offensive missile systems at Ukraine."

Putin said Moscow would not interfere with Ukraine's affairs, but warned Kiev that if it agreed to host missile systems or NATO bases, Russia would point its weapons at Ukraine. Putin has made similar threats to Poland and the Czech Republic, where the U.S. is planning to install anti-ballistic weapons systems.

Putin's latest provocation comes one day after AP reported that the U.S. Navy had been forced to intercept Russian jets over the Pacific last weekend. Russian officials denied that the two jets swooping near the USS Nimitz had violated international rules.

"We are surprised by all the clamor this raised," said Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky, according to a state-run news agency.

Publicly, U.S. officials were downplaying the latest tiffs with Moscow. Asked about Putin's threat to Ukraine, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "There he goes again."

But, said Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, "Now, what we're concerned about is what are the indications of this return to a Cold War mind-set, what are the implications of that activity and how do we best address that."

Posted at 4:49 PM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Military, Russia, Vladimir Putin
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