Ukraine bill to allow U.S., Polish troops to enter for multiple war games

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From Rick Rozoff

Interfax-Ukraine
March 14, 2015
Ukraine plans joint military exercises with U.S., Poland for 2015 – bill

Polish and Ukrainian troops in last year’s U.S.-led Rapid Trident NATO war games

President Petro Poroshenko has introduced a bill to parliament to let foreign armed forces into Ukraine to take part in five joint exercises with Ukrainian forces.

According to the draft law, Ukraine plans three Ukrainian-American command post exercises, Fearless Guardian 2015, Sea Breeze 2015 and Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident 2015, and two Ukrainian-Polish exercises, Secure Skies 2015, and Law and Order 2015, for this year.

Fearless Guardian will take place in Yavoriv district, Lviv region, in the period from March to November and will bring together a maximum of 2,200 troops. Ukraine is providing up to 200 armed forces troops and up to 1,000 National Guard personnel, and the U.S. will be represented by a maximum of 1,000 servicemen.

Sea Breeze will be a 25-day exercise held between June and October in the Black Sea and at training sites in the regions of Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson. A maximum of 2,500 troops will take part in it.

Ukraine and the United States will each be represented by a maximum of 1,000 troops. The rest of the personnel will come from other NATO countries and member countries of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program (up to 500 troops).

Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident will also take place in Yavoriv district. The 25-day exercise, to be held between July and October, will bring together up to 2,100 troops, with up to 1,000 representing Ukraine, up to 500 the United States, and up to 600 other NATO and Partnership for Peace member countries.

Secure Skies is a 14-day tactical air force exercise in which a maximum of 250 Ukrainian and 100 Polish servicemen will take part.

Law and Order is a one-week military police exercise in Yavoriv that will together 50 Ukrainians and 50 Poles.

Permission from parliament is needed to allow foreign military personnel into Ukraine.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/war-games-in-ukraine-bill-to-allow-u-s-polish-troops-to-enter/

Brussels: NATO holds 50-nation meeting on Ukraine war

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This meeting was convened at the request of Ukraine — by the Kiev government.

NATO “allies and partners” accept and protect the violent neo-Nazi leadership of Kiev. They accept and protect the Kiev regime’s violent accession to power, using snipers to kill police and protestors at Maidan. They accept and protect the ethnic cleansing and genocide campaign by the Kiev leadership. They accept and protect naziism and ultra-right extremism. They accept and protect the war crimes done by the Kiev regime, its use of white phosphorus and chemical weapons, and its shelling of civilians. They denounce self-defense and self-protection by East Ukrainians. They denounce self-determination. They denounce civil rights and life.

These are our leaders — American, British, and European — and this is what they represent.

From Rick Rozoff

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 11, 2015

NATO Allies and partners discuss Ukraine crisis

Ambassadors of NATO Allies and twenty-two partners met in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council on Wednesday (11 March 2015) for an exchange of views on the current situation in Ukraine. Chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the session was convened at the request of Ukraine.

The meeting, attended by Russia’s Ambassador to NATO, took place almost one year after the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea by Russia, which NATO Allies do not recognise.

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, urging Russia to withdraw its forces and its support for the separatists. All members of the EAPC agreed that the full implementation of the Minsk agreement is the only path to a lasting and peaceful solution. Secretary General Stoltenberg stressed that the ceasefire remains fragile and sporadic violations continue. He said that all parties should fully implement the Minsk agreement in good faith, including Russia, whose support for the separatists has further fuelled the conflict. As a first step, he called for a “withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact in a transparent and verifiable manner”, with full access to the OSCE monitors.

Allies and other EAPC participants also condemned Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and called on Moscow to reverse course.

The NATO Secretary General said that “the stability of the entire Euro-Atlantic region have been undermined, as have the values of national sovereignty and peaceful conflict resolution, values which all members of the EAPC have committed to uphold”. Mr. Stoltenberg underlined that the Basic Document of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council contains a joint pledge to promote peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. He called on all EAPC members to respect this fundamental commitment.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/brussels-nato-holds-50-nation-meeting-on-ukraine-war/

Ukraine, U.S. may start joint war games this week — Avakov

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From Rick Rozoff

Interfax-Ukraine
March 13, 2015
Ukraine, U.S. may start joint drills next week – Avakov

Ukraine and the United States may begin joint military exercises next week with the consent with the Ukrainian parliament, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.

The U.S. government is ready to start the drills next week, he said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

“If the Verkhovna Rada votes for this decision on Tuesday [Mar. 17]– and I hope it will do so – regular units of the U.S. Armed Forces will come to us. They will have a long practice together with our National Guards in Yavoriv in Lviv region,” Avakov said.

As reported, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has tabled a bill in parliament to admit foreign servicemen for multinational exercises in Ukraine in 2015.

In keeping with the scheduled of the exercises, Yavoriv district in Lviv region will host the Ukrainian-U.S. Fearless Guardian 2015 drills March through November 2015. Up to 2,200 servicemen with weapons and military hardware are to participate: up to 200 men from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, up to 1,000 men from the National Guard of Ukraine, and up to 1,000 men from the U.S. Armed Forces.

From July to October 2015, the international center for peacekeeping and security in Yavoriv district in Lviv region will host the Ukrainian-U.S. Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident 2015 exercises. The total number of participants will be up to 2,100 servicemen with weapons and military hardware. Namely, there will be up to 1,000 men from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, up to 500 men from the U.S. Armed Forces, and up to 600 from NATO member states and countries participating in the Partnership for Peace program.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/ukraine-u-s-may-start-joint-war-games-next-week/

U.S. troops and armor to begin 1,100-mile convoy through Eastern-Central Europe

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This is a very foolhardy “show”. Notice that this will also involve “air support”. The noise should be considerable. The presence of armor and troops on European roads will not just be inconvenient. It will increase tensions and fears — its goal. The U.S. wants Europeans to be afraid; it increases support for more and more NATO missions, soldiers, and weapons.

The U.S. puts all of Europe in very real danger, not Russia.

From Rick Rozoff

Stars and Stripes
March 12, 2015
Dragoon Ride will send US troops through eastern Europe in show of support
By John Vandiver

STUTTGART, Germany: U.S. Army soldiers with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment will soon begin a 1,100-mile convoy through six countries en route to their home station in Vilseck, Germany as they wrap up months of training with allies in Poland and the Baltics, Army officials said.

Troops will be taking their Strikers on a “road march,” dubbed Dragoon Ride. They will be accompanied by aerial reconnaissance support provided by the Army’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, U.S. Army Europe said.

Normally, military vehicles would be shipped back to their home base by rail after such a training mission, not by road in a high profile convoy.

To reassure countries on Russia’s western periphery, the U.S. and other NATO allies have been training continuously in the Baltics and Poland since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine last year

“This is a complex mission involving a significant amount of international diplomatic and military cooperation,” Lt. Col. Craig Childs, a USAREUR spokesman, said in a statement. “It will allow all units involved an opportunity to test their unit maintenance and leadership capabilities while simultaneously providing a highly visible demonstration of U.S, commitment to its NATO allies and demonstrating NATO’s ability to move military forces freely across allied borders in close cooperation.”

The journey will take soldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, from separate training locations in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland and convoy them through Latvia, the Czech Republic and finally to their home base at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, according to USARUER.

…

The 4th Infantry Division deployed a headquarters element to Europe in February to command and control U.S. land forces supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve, the military’s effort to train and reassure allies while sending a message of deterrence to Russia. The 4th Infantry Division will be responsible for overseeing the road march from the Joint Multinational Training Command at Grafenwöhr, Germany, and from mobile command group locations forward in operational area, USAREUR said.

Before Dragoon Ride begins, troops will hand over responsibility for USAREUR’s land force training mission in the Baltics and Poland to soldiers with the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, from Ft. Stewart, Georgia, USAREUR said.

On Monday, hundreds of tanks and other military vehicles arrived in Latvia. They will be followed by 3,000 troops from the Georgia-based unit. Their rotation is expected to last until June.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/u-s-troops-armor-to-begin-1100-mile-convoy-through-eastern-central-europe/

U.S. deploys first of 3,000 troops, 750 vehicles to Baltic states

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From Rick Rozoff

Xinhua News Agency
March 12, 2015
U.S. military unit heads to E. Europe for training

WASHINGTON: The United States will deploy about 3,000 soldiers to Eastern Europe starting next week for training exercises with forces from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to reassure its European allies that are concerned about potential Russian aggression, the Pentagon said Monday.

Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that about 750 U.S. military tanks, helicopters and other military vehicles and equipment arrived in Latvia on Monday, adding that the military equipment was part of a regular armored brigade combat team set.

Warren said the upcoming deployment of the unit from the Georgia-based 3rd Infantry Division would replace the leaving U.S. Army-Europe’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment to continue land forces training mission with its allies within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The U.S. Defense Department has earlier announced plans to trim down its permanent basing in Europe.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military is stepping up short-term deployments across Europe for training purposes.

Warren said the rotation was aimed at demonstrating commitment to NATO allies due to Russia’s aggression in Ukrainian crisis.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/u-s-deploys-first-of-3000-troops-750-vehicles-to-baltic-states/

Polish leaders’ reckless rhetoric increases tension, as they ignore Russian security and guarantees made to Gorbachev

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From Rick Rozoff

Polish Radio
March 11, 2015

MoD Siemoniak: Poland ‘cannot ignore threats’

Poland’s Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said that despite the unstable situation in eastern Ukraine, Poles should feel safe.

“However, we cannot ignore any threats and we have to remember that after years of peace, suddenly one country decides to the change the borders of another,” Siemoniak told the public broadcaster TVP on Monday evening.

“[Poland is] a member of EU and NATO and as such we are safe,” Siemoniak maintained, adding that “let us not forget that NATO is much stronger than Russia in military terms”.

Siemoniak underlined that Poland’s security is maintained by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – the founding charter of the military alliance – which calls for mutual defence in case of an attack on one of its members.[Editor: will Ukraine be quickly inducted into NATO so that the civil war becomes the pretext for attacking Russia under Article 5? What about the guarantees made to Gorbachev about NATO boundaries?]

“US forces have been stationed in Latvia precisely for this reason, to underline their presence,” Siemoniak said.

The comment comes as the United States on Monday sent heavy armour to Latvia and also announced that it will send some 3,000 troops to the Baltic states for joint exercises over the coming months.

“The deliveries are intended to “demonstrate resolve to President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia that collectively we can come together,” US Major General John O’Connor told the AFP news agency in the Latvian capital, Riga.

O’Connor added that the equipment would remain there “for as long as required to deter Russian aggression”.

Meanwhile, Minister Siemoniak said that a Polish training mission for Ukrainan army officers and NCOs will be finalised later this month.

“We would like to undertake this mission in Poland, although there an idea to conduct these exercises in Ukraine has also surfaced,” he said. “Our decision will made regardless of what the Russians think, what’s more important is that this cooperation is effective”.

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Polish Radio
March 11, 2015

Kopacz: Europe faces greatest security crisis since Cold War

Prime Minister of Poland Ewa Kopacz has stated that the Ukrainian crisis has triggered an unprecedented security threat to contemporary Europe.

”We have the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Cold War,” she affirmed in an interview with public broadcaster TVP. ”To disregard this would be irresponsible,” she added.

”Yet sending signals that spark anxiety among our citizens would also be too much.

”So we need to have a balanced position,” she said. Kopacz claimed that Poland’s membership of NATO is the country’s guarantee of security.

To date, Poland has been one of the most vigorous defenders of the new Kiev government. ”We need to protect our own interests, but at the same time to fight for something that Ukraine is fighting for today.

”For the first time, blood is actually being shed for the European Union, or for an attempt at integration into the European Union.”

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/invoking-article-5-polish-defense-chief-says-nato-can-defeat-Russia/

Jen Psaki: U.S. agencies to report on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine

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Now’s the time to get fact-based information to the U.S. Senate and House oversight committees, as well as individual officials in Congress. The Quaker website has an action center, including contacting officials. They also have a way to easily send letters to newspapers such as the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune.

http://www.fclca.org/take-action.html
http://fclca.capwiz.com/fclca/dbq/media/ — News media

The website for the U.S. Congress https://www.congress.gov/

The photo of Jen Psaki and her sign below is just begging for some creative and honest correction.

Ukrinform
March 11, 2015

Psaki says when U.S. government reports on providing weapons to Ukraine

KYIV: The United States plans to submit a report to Congress on possible providing defense lethal assistance to Ukraine, envisaged by the requirements of Ukraine Freedom Support Act “as soon as possible”.

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said this during a daily press briefing on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

“The reports are currently undergoing an interagency review. We’re committed to delivering these reports to Congress as soon as possible,” she said.

According Psaki, the delay in submitting the report is due to the “extremely volatile” situation in Ukraine, which is discussed on a daily basis. “We want to ensure that Congress has the most complete and up-to-date information,” she assured.

The Speaker added that the U.S. President delegated to the State Department certain reporting requirements in the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, but there are several agencies who weigh in on the content.

As reported, one of the sections of Ukraine Freedom Support Act, adopted in mid-December, provides reporting by the President of the United States on possible deliveries of defensive weapons to Ukraine, conducting exercises and training of military personnel. The deadline set by this law passed on February 15.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/jenpsak-u-s-to-report-on-sending-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine/

NATO’s Response Force increased to 30,000 troops, up from 13,000; major NATO exercise planned for autumn with 25,000 troops

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From Rick Rozoff

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 11, 2015
Secretary General discusses security challenges with top NATO military commanders


Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed security challenges with NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Philip Breedlove, and participated in a conference of senior military commanders during a visit to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe on Wednesday (11 March 2015). The Secretary General thanked the commanders for the remarkable work of Allied forces in the face of a highly complex and uncertain security environment…

The Secretary General warned that Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine have undermined the post-Cold War security order in Europe…

In response to challenges both to the east and the south, NATO is implementing the strongest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War, Mr. Stoltenberg said. “We are doubling the size of the NATO Response Force from 13,000 to 30,000 troops” and “setting up a new 5,000-strong quick reaction Spearhead Force, with some units ready to move within as little as 48 hours.” He added that NATO is establishing six command and control centres in the Baltic States and three other eastern Allies, in order to coordinate training and exercises, and facilitate rapid reinforcements.

The Secretary General said the Alliance would “keep up the momentum”, noting a current exercise of NATO ships in the Black Sea, a major U.S. deployment to the Baltic region for training, and an upcoming exercise in the autumn – expected to be the Alliance’s largest in many years – with over 25,000 troops participating. “These measures are defensive, proportionate, and in line with our international commitments,” Mr. Stoltenberg said, adding: “these Headquarters and our Supreme Commander Europe, General Breedlove, play a key role in these efforts.”

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/east-and-south-nato-chief-commanders-expand-rapid-strike-forces/

Polish PM on Ukraine war: “Blood being shed for the European Union”

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Is there a madness that has taken over many leaders in Europe?

From Rick Rozoff

Interfax-Ukraine
March 11, 2015

Kopacz: Europe faces greatest security crisis since Cold War

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Eastern Partnership: The West’s Final Assault On the Former Soviet Union

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The Prime Minister of Poland Ewa Kopacz has said that the Ukrainian conflict has triggered an unprecedented security crisis in Europe.

”We have the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Cold War,” she said in an interview with Polish media, adding that it would be irresponsible to disregard this threat.

According to Kopacz, for the first time “blood is actually being shed for the European Union, or for an attempt at integration into the European Union.”

”We need to protect our own interests, but at the same time fight for something that Ukraine is fighting for today,” she said, adding that Europe should condemn those who don’t respect Ukraine’s desire for European integration.

On March 11, Warsaw will host the annual conference of Poland’s military leadership. The main topics will include the conflict in Ukraine and preparations for the 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw.

Last night, Polish National Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that the conference will undoubtedly will be guided by the events in eastern Ukraine.

https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/polish-prime-minister-on-ukraine-war-for-first-time-blood-being-shed-for-european-union/

Free Ukraine Now

Stopping US-NATO takeover of Ukraine and Russia

Author: admin

Ukraine bill to allow U.S., Polish troops to enter for multiple war games

Recommended reading: Empire’s Workshop, by Greg Grandin

Brussels: NATO holds 50-nation meeting on Ukraine war

Ukraine, U.S. may start joint war games this week — Avakov

U.S. troops and armor to begin 1,100-mile convoy through Eastern-Central Europe

U.S. deploys first of 3,000 troops, 750 vehicles to Baltic states

Polish leaders’ reckless rhetoric increases tension, as they ignore Russian security and guarantees made to Gorbachev

Jen Psaki: U.S. agencies to report on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine

NATO’s Response Force increased to 30,000 troops, up from 13,000; major NATO exercise planned for autumn with 25,000 troops

Polish PM on Ukraine war: “Blood being shed for the European Union”