Ukraine Crisis

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SPIEGEL ONLINE reports that Angela Merkel will boycott the G8 Summit in Sochi if the Crimean referendum isn't cancelled.

Good, but sanctions and expelling Russia from the G8 would be better.

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Reports that 40 Russian paratroopers have landed in eastern Ukraine.

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Ukrainians repelled that Russian landing attempt, while Russia vetoed a UNSC resolution declaring the referendum illegal.

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Russia has recognized Crimea.

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Russian sanctions will include Durbin and Nuland, possibly Menendez and Corker. Again, still mild stuff.

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Dear God.

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Unless Putin puts Article 5 in the same category as the Budapest Memorandum.

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40k Russian troops, including many of their best units, are on the Ukrainian border now.

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Yanik the traitorous puppet is still a traitorous puppet.

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What on God's green earth happened to the Ukranian military? They're refusing to live fire and actually engage in combat. Sources I follow on Twitter said it's because they refuse to kill/be killed.

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Then why deploy them in the first place?

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Ukrainian journalist quoting a government adviser: they don't want any dead bodies before Geneva or any civilian casualties.

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Jews in the Donetsk PR are being told to register and provide a list of all their property. Meanwhile WSJ's Paul Sonne reports from Putin's long presser that Putin said eastern Ukraine is historically part of Russia and made a lot of sympathetic noises about Yanukovych. Combined with the Russian media reports that Yanukovych will be back in Donetsk in 2 weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if Putin militarily installed his puppet atop a puppet East Ukraine.

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Canada will be sending 6 Hornets to Poland and 20 officers to NATO HQ.

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Donetsk separatist leader denies responsibility for the leaflets but admits his organization was involved.

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Lavrov says a "deal" has been reached to disarm all militias. Broad national dialogue and amnesty for separatists who didn't commit capital crimes. Russia's position hasn't changed: reorder the country as we like or we'll do it for you.

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Apparently Russia has sealed the border, some reports indicate barrier troops fired on rebels trying to flee into Russia. Circular firing squad among rebel leaders was found on tape yesterday. Today Ukraine suggested it's partly about divvying up $$$. Gubarev said this morning victory or death.

Interesting theory about whether the campaign to discredit Strelkov has been a Surkov production, with a "Donetsk Transdniestria" as the goal.

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Ukrainian military retook Karlivka, 20km from Donetsk. Rebels are trying to evacuate Donetsk. Ukrainians say they foiled a rebel plot in Odessa.

Buzzfeed found documents showing how rebel "justice" involved a WWII decree of Stalin's. In this particular case, summary execution for stealing clothes.

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Interesting RFE interview with a former rebel.

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Putin will reportedly give Ukraine an ultimatum tomorrow at a special Duma session: negotiate w/GRU folks or we inv... I mean, keep the peace.

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Here. Waiting for confirmation about the ultimatum part, hence "reportedly."

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Ukraine says the rebel plan was to shoot down an Aeroflot airliner as a false-flag invasion pretext, but the BUK was sent to the wrong town.