Revolt Against Western Banker Takeover of Ukraine Grows
Russian Mayor installed in Sevastopol as backlash intensifies
Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
February 25, 2014
Infowars.com
February 25, 2014
Russian-speaking Ukrainians in Crimea are resisting the western banker takeover of their country by installing a Russian Mayor in the town of Sevastopol as part of an emerging revolt against the US-backed coup d’état that saw the overthrow of democratically elected President Viktor Yanukovych.
Bank Run Full Frontal: Ukrainians Withdrew 7% Of All Deposits In Two Days
Well that escalated quickly. It seems the ouster of Yanukovych, heralded by so many in the West as a positive, has done nothing to quell the fear of further economic collapse in Ukraine:
- *UKRAINIANS WITHDREW AS MUCH AS 7% OF DEPOSITS FEB. 18-20: KUBIV
- *DEPOSIT WITHDRAWALS STILL HIGH IN THE EAST, KUBIV SAYS
This is around a 30 billion Hyrvnia loss (over $3 billion) in just 2 days for the banks and the new central bank chief is considering "stabilizing loans" to help banks deal with the liquidity crisis(though Ukraine's reserves stand at a mere $15 billion).
Reserves are in freefall... and will only get worse if the bank run continues...
Ukraine Calls Russia's Bluff, Slashes Nat Gas Imports By 80%
Twice in recent years, Russia has suspended gas supplies, or notably raised prices, as the somewhat well-known "trump card" of Russia's oil and gas supply to Ukraine (and Europe for that matter) remains Putin's easiest option for clenching his iron-first against the divided nation. Following a pre-emptive move in November by Ukraine to diversify its energy supply, Russia had reduced the price of gas for the highly indebted Ukraine in December (to entice Ukraine under Russia's wing); but, after recent events, Dmitry Medvedev signaled on Monday that the price could be raised again. However, today we find that Ukraine's state oil and gas company, Naftogaz, has slashed gas imports from Russia's Gazprom by stunning 80% in February as Ukraine tries to show Russia it can't be pushed around... of course, with limited (and more expensive) alternative supplies, we fear this could well shoot them in the foot.
This action is similar to that taken in November (before the EU accession discussion)...
Russia and Ukraine waged two gas wars over prices in the winters of 2006 and 2009 (which lasted 3 weeks)over a claim Ukraine was late in paying....Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that if Gazprom refuses to revise its contract, Ukraine would stop importing gas from Russia. In a step away from energy dependence on Russia, last week Ukraine signed a $10 billion shale gas deal with Chevron.Ukraine is speeding up its effort to diversify its supply, and has looked at different exporters, fracking, new offshore projects in the Black Sea, as well as new LNG terminals and pipelines to diversify supply. Ukraine imports more than half of its gas from Russia, but under Viktor Yanukovich’s leadership, has intentionally scaled down Gazprom imports 40 percent over ‘unfair prices’.
And now today,
Ukraine's state oil and gas company, Naftogaz, has slashed gas imports from Russia's Gazprom to 28 million cubic meters per day as of February 24 from 147 million, two Russian industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday.They said Naftogaz had gradually reduced its imports from 147 million cubic meters as of February 1, but did not offer a reason for the cuts....Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hinted on Monday that gas prices, reduced as part of a Russian bailout in December, may revert to higher levels.Ukraine consumes about 55 billion cubic meters of gas each year, and more than half is imported from Russia.Gazprom exported 161.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe last year.A Gazprom official declined to comment on Naftogaz import volumes but saidRussian gas transit to Europe was unaffected.
So simply put, they want to show Russia they can't be pushed around... the trouble is, of course, that with alternative supply routes in short-supply (and only more expensive alternatives available)...
...they may well be shooting themselves in the foot. That and the whole being out of money thing too won't help. Finally, as everyone knows by now, Russia does have the "trump card" no matter how hard to get the Ukraine plays.
Ukraine Currency Crashes To Record Low
Russia's earlier "default" warning (or threat) has not just impacted Ukrainian bonds but the currency is crashing. The Hyrvnia is down a stunning 6.8% today - the biggest drop since Feb 2009 - to a record low 9.8 to the US Dollar. This crisis is far from over and we would expect capital controls in 3...2...1...
Ukraine parliament votes to try ousted President Yanukovich & others in ICC
The Ukrainian parliament Verkhovna Rada has voted in favor of fugitive President Yanukovich being tried in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for alleged “crimes against humanity during the recent peaceful protests.”
Ex-Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko and former Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka are among those whom the Rada wants to be tried in the ICC.
All are accused of “crimes against humanity during the peaceful protests in the period of November 30, 2013, and February 22, 2014.
“During the period of three months the law enforcement agencies have been following the orders of the highest Ukrainian authorities. They used violence against the peaceful activists in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities,” said a Rada statement.
Three hundred and twenty-four MPs voted in favor of the resolution.
However, the Hague war crimes court didn’t confirm the information that Ukraine asked it to investigate the case of Yanukovich and other Ukrainian ex-ministers.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Ukraine Protesters Find the ‘New Ukraine’ Depressingly Familiar
Protester: 'Tymoshenko Is Just Putin in a Skirt'
by Jason Ditz, February 24, 2014
The celebrations of the ouster of President Yanukovych among Ukraine’s protesters may be short-lived, as they find the jailed and recently released Yulia Tymoshenko consolidating power with a depressingly familiar cast of characters.
“The problem is that the old forces are trying to come back to take their old chairs,” noted one protester, while another declared “Tymoshenko is just Putin in a skirt.”
Protesters who thought they were signing on for a “revolution” are rapidly realizing that all they’ve managed to do is replace an unpopular government that won the 2010 elections with the equally unpopular government they replaced.
Supports of Yanukovych in eastern Ukraine are a bit more relieved by this. While they’re irked by Tymoshenko’s apparent takeover, with so many open neo-Nazi supporters in the Kiev protests, it could’ve been much worse.
Still, with Russia, the US and the EU driving Ukraine’s politics, all votes are going to be split roughly down the middle between the two predictable factions, with everything hinging on a couple of percentage points either way.
White House Ducks Question on Ukraine Leadership
Carney: Yanukovych 'Undermined His Legitimacy'
by Jason Ditz, February 24, 2014
White House press secretary Jay Carney dodged questions about who the United States considers the leaders of the Ukraine today, after protesters forced President Yanukovych from the capital and installed Oleksandr Turchinov as the “interim president.”
Carney said that they recognize the “election” of Turchinov to that position, but would only say that Yanukovych is “not actively leading his country” after fleeing.
Carney accused Yanukovych of “undermining his legitimacy,” but said the US would not take any position on attempts to charge Yanukovych with “mass killings” of protesters, saying that was up to the Ukrainian people.
In his last public interview, Yanukovych said he has no intention of resigning, and is still the elected president of Ukraine. His location now is unknown, but he is believed to be somewhere in the Crimea.
EU, Russia Spar Over Ukraine Govt Recognition
EU Endorses 'New' Government, Russia Rejects Them
by Jason Ditz, February 24, 2014
As is so often the case in Ukrainian politics, the split on the ground in reflected and in many ways amplified by the split between Russia and the West, who each have very different ideas of who the government is.
The European Union sees the regime change as mission accomplished, and with President Yanukovych fleeing the capital, they have endorsedOleksandr Turchinov as the “interim president.”
Russia isn’t nearly so eager to accept this, saying they aren’t comfortable with the idea that “Kalashnikov-toting people in black masks who are roaming Kiev” are the legitimate government.
Hoping to consolidate their gains, the pro-EU officials are looking to track down Yanukovych, saying they intend to charge him with “mass murder” for the deaths of protesters in Kiev. His whereabouts are unknown at the moment, but he is believed to be in the Crimea, where he has plenty of support and could potentially flee via the Russian naval base.
Ukraine’s new authorities resort to ‘dictatorial’ methods in regions – Russia
Russia has lashed out at the new regime in Kiev, accusing it of using “dictatorial” and “terrorist” methods to suppress dissent in the country, with backing from the West which is “acting out of geopolitical self-interest.”
“The position of some of our Western partners doesn’t show genuine concern, but a desire to act out of geopolitical self-interest,” said a statement on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.
“There is no condemnation of criminal actions by extremists, including manifestations or neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism. In fact, these are being encouraged.”
The statement went on to say that “outside sponsors” are advancing a “regime change” in the country, without a desire to find “national consensus."
Syria update:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.debka.com/article/23706/Western-sources-Israel-Air-Force-hits-SS-21-batteries-first-attack-in-Syrian-war-on-nuclear-capable-missiles
And an X 5 soar flare last night : http://www.solarham.net/
This is the sun spot 's third time around, it was that big one --1944 in January.
Morning NW - did see the reporting on the Israel strike in Lebanon earlier !
DeleteChecked the solar flare at Space Weather ( not earth facing so it shouldn't really have an impact. ) CME missed Earth , as reported by space Weather today !