Russia defends Crimea annexation and dismisses Western sanctions
Vladimir Putin signing annexation of Crimea documents
Russia continued to defend its annexation of Crimea today and decried sanctions against it:
December 20, 2014
Russia says it has a historic right to Crimea and has dismissed new U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia because of its annexation of the territory.
The Russian foreign ministry said Saturday the sanctions will not force Russia to give up Crimea because Crimea is a “historic and integral part of Russia.”
U.S. President Barack Obama has imposed a wide-ranging trade ban on the Russia-annexed Crimea peninsula through an executive order that bars exports of key U.S. goods and services and blocks Crimean imports.
A White House statement Friday said the order is “intended to provide U.S. clarity to American corporations doing business in the region.” The statement also said Obama’s action is intended to demonstrate that Washington “will not accept Russia’s occupation” of Crimea.
Crimea had been a republic in the former Soviet Union but in 1954 was attached to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Crimea remained part of Ukraine when that country became independent at the break up of the Soviet Union.
The trade ban includes sanctions on 24 individuals and companies identified as contributing to unrest in eastern Ukraine. The Russian parliament voted in April to annex the region, despite protests from the European Union and Washington.
The U.S. measures follow similar moves this week by the European Union and Canada. …
Obama said the legislation, known as the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, gives his administration additional flexibility to impose new measures against Moscow, “if circumstances warranted.”
The law also authorizes $350 million in lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weaponry, munitions and surveillance drones.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement Friday, described Moscow as “deeply disappointed” in the U.S. law, calling it “unacceptable and provocative.” http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-dismissess-new-us-sanctions/2567070.html
December 20, 2014
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that his country would not back down from “supporting compatriots” in Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow this year despite widespread Western protests. …
Putin has remained defiant in the face of the sanctions and a looming recession triggered by falling oil prices and a 40 percent drop in the value of the ruble. On Saturday, as the economic crisis deepened, Putin urged Russians to prepare “to undergo certain difficulties” in the days and months ahead. …
Crimea had been a republic in the former Soviet Union but in 1954 was attached to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Crimea remained part of Ukraine when that country became independent at the breakup of the Soviet Union. …
The Kyiv government, the European Union and the United States accuse Moscow of stoking violence in Ukraine and arming pro-Russian separatists seeking autonomy near the Russian border.
Moscow denies arming rebels and insists it annexed Crimea in March only after a referendum showed most Crimeans wanted to become a part of Russia. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-dismissess-new-us-sanctions/2567070.html
As far as Russia is concerned, the USA providing funding and military assistance to Ukraine may well provoke it to become more open about its support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Notice also something related to some of this and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin from a couple of days ago:
December 18, 2014
MOSCOW (AP) — Sternly warning the West it cannot defang the metaphorical Russian bear, a confident-looking President Vladimir Putin promised Thursday to shore up the plummeting ruble and revive the economy within two years.
While he issued a litany of sharp rebukes against the West, Putin struck a conciliatory note on Ukraine, saying that the rebellious east should remain part of the country, backing a quick exchange of war prisoners and praising his Ukrainian counterpart.
The mixture of blistering anti-Western rhetoric and constructive signals appeared to indicate that Putin is eager to negotiate a face-saving solution to the Ukrainian crisis, but has no intention of conceding defeat in his standoff with the West.
In his first public appearance since the crash of the ruble’s value this week, Putin accepted responsibility for the economic crisis.
He said Western sanctions accounted for at least 25 percent of the ruble’s fall, but the main reason was Russia’s failure to ease its overwhelming dependence on oil and gas exports. http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2014/12/18/putin-russian-economy-will-recover
December 18, 2014
MOSCOW — The West wants to declaw the bear.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. and Europe trying to infringe on Russia’s sovereignty — and he used a bizarre bear metaphor to explain himself.
“Sometimes I think, maybe they’ll let the bear eat berries and honey in the forest, maybe they will leave it in peace,” said Putin, referring to Russia’s famed symbol. “They will not. Because they will always try to put him on a chain, and as soon as they succeed in doing so they tear out his fangs and his claws.”
He spelled out his metaphor, saying that by fangs and claws he means Russia’s nuclear weapons.
“Once they’ve taken out his claws and his fangs, then the bear is no longer necessary. He’ll become a stuffed animal,” he said. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/putin-claims-u-s-europe-sanctions-declaw-russia-article-1.2049510
Vladmir Putin does not want the Russian bear declawed. Based on his prior statements, I suspect that Vladimir Putin considers Ukraine “Russia’s spiritual ground.” He wants all of Ukraine if possible and has no intention of ever giving up Crimea.
The sanctions, increasing the sanctions, and other actions by the West could well be a pretense he will use for more military action from Russia.
The records of history indicate that some of the ‘Medes’ dwell in Russia as well as in Ukraine and other parts of the east. Despite current circumstances, the time will come that those that are ‘kings of the Medes’ will determine that the power in Europe is not one that they wish to be part of.
Notice that the ‘kings of the Medes’ will one day turn against the final end time Babylon power, which will be based in Europe:
1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw…
17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
Who will not regard silver;
And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
Their eye will not spare children.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19)11 Make the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)
This will ultimately not end well for Europe, but is not to occur until nearly 3 1/2 years after the start of the Great Tribulation. Notice that this will involve a people from the north (Russia is the only major power north of much of Europe):
50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed,
Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!
9 Happy the one who takes and dashes
Your little ones against the rock! (Psalms 137:8-9)
What will Russia now do?
That will depend on how Russia perceives its actions will affect it in the long run. In the long-run, the ‘kings of the Medes’ will align together with Russia.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2015? When will the Great Tribulation begin? Can it begin in 2015 as some have indicated? What are the biblical requirements that precede the Great Tribulation? What did Jesus teach would happen prior to the Great Tribulation. Are there definite clues in the Book of Daniel that Christians should look out for? Is there a King of the North or a King of the South yet? Where does the ‘prince’ of Daniel 9:26-27 come from? What about ‘blood moons’? Dr. Thiel videoed this on the Mount of Olives where Jesus specifically discussed events leading up to the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies. Watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
 |
Tweet |
|