Russia threatens Romania and Poland

[T-Rex]

Putin says Romania, Poland may now be in Russia's cross-hairs
ATHENS | By Denis Dyomkin

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi, Russia, May 19, 2016.
Reuters/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned Romania and Poland they could find themselves in the sights of Russian rockets because they are hosting elements of a U.S. missile shield that Moscow considers a threat to its security.

Putin issued his starkest warning yet over the missile shield, saying that Moscow had stated repeatedly that it would have to take retaliatory steps but that Washington and its allies had ignored the warnings.

Earlier this month the U.S. military -- which says the shield is needed to protect from Iran, not threaten Russia -- switched on the Romanian part of the shield. Work is going ahead on another part of the shield, in Poland.

"If yesterday in those areas of Romania people simply did not know what it means to be in the cross-hairs, then today we will be forced to carry out certain measures to ensure our security," Putin told a joint news conference in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

"It will be the same case with Poland," he said.

Putin did not specify what actions Russia would take, but he insisted that it was not making the first step, only responding to moves by Washington. "We won't take any action until we see rockets in areas that neighbor us."

He said the argument that the project was needed to defend against Iran made no sense because an international deal had been reached to curb Tehran's nuclear program. The missiles that will form the shield can easily reach Russian cities, he said.

Related Coverage

• › Putin says Crimea's status as part of Russia not up for discussion

"How can that not create a threat for us?" Putin asked.

He voiced frustration that Russia's complaints about the missile shield had not been heeded.

"We've been repeating like a mantra that we will be forced to respond... Nobody wants to hear us. Nobody wants to conduct negotiations with us."

CRIMEA ISSUE CLOSED

Putin sounded a defiant note over Crimea, the Ukrainian region which Russia annexed in 2014. Moscow said it was acting on the will of the Crimean people, who voted to join Russia, but Western governments say it was an illegal land grab.

"As far as Crimea is concerned, we consider this question is closed forever," Putin said. "Russia will not conduct any discussions with anyone on this subject."

The Russian leader also touched on relations with Turkey, which have been toxic since the Turkish military shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian-Turkish border last November. Ankara said the plane strayed into Turkish airspace, an allegation Moscow denies.

Putin said he was ready to consider restoring relations with Ankara, but that would require a first step from Turkey, and so far there was no sign of that.

Putin was asked about the South Stream project, a planned gas pipeline from Russia that would have gone under the Black Sea to Bulgaria and onwards to southern Europe. Russia shelved the project after Bulgaria backed out.

He blamed the U.S. government and the European Commission, saying they had pressured Sofia to withdraw. But he said Russia was going ahead with an extension of its Nordstream pipeline in the Baltic, and he hoped no one would try to hinder that project.

(Reporting by Denis Dyomkin; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-europe-shield-idUSKCN0YI2ER

Russia should focus on real threat that comes from these ex-Soviet states instead of meddling in Syria.

 

[Penguin]

On a side note: here's why Russians - including Putin - don't smile!
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-some-countries-dont-smile-2016-5?IR=T

Countries to the left of consider smiling people to be significantly less intelligent than non-smiling individuals; those to the right are the opposite.

Countries to the left of the red line consider smiling faces to be less honest.

A smiling Putin could be perceived as less intelligent and less honest. Just so you know.

 

[vostok]

 

[mike2000 is back]

Nothing new. RUSSIA has been a threat to almost all its neighbours for centuries. Putin has made such threats noe for a long time and Baltic/(eastern European countries are used to it by now) while also deploying its own missile systems to its bases and allies in the region .
In short each country is merely protecting its interests by all means necessary.
I find it funny that some naive biased members here think that Russia is some sort of innocent saint actor here while western powers and small defenceless eastern European countries are the evil ones.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

All i see it is like Yanks are sowing the seeds of trouble in your neighborhood by trying to create insecurities in the minds of your neighbors to may be keep you occupied with it.While things in their neighborhood stays calm and quiet which is good for growth and business.Is it possible to effectively counter this diplomatically?

That is because You are blind.
Russia is sowing seeds of trouble by its illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.
An ABM system can only be a treat to a Russian ATTACK...

 

[FlyCheatter]

That is because You are blind.
Russia is sowing seeds of trouble by its illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.
An ABM system can only be a treat to a Russian ATTACK...

...yep.. so nice being "blind" say others they'r "blind"...
... no, generaly it's one of ATTACK systems of US ATTACK potential..

 

[third eye]

The last Gent who attacked Poland had to shoot himself in a bunker in Berlin.

Independent countries have a right to decide whom to align themselves with. Sure there can be friendly arm twisting but threatening a nation quite justifies the action it took to defend itself.

 

[flamer84]

Or perhaps your are oblivious of the reality of fake WMD context used to destroy Iraq and then the uncalled bombing of Libya

The countries in Eastern Europe are independent countries who willingly chose to be part of NATO and host NATO bases.Despite Russian propaganda (I recently viewed a Russkie "documentary" filmed only in the gypsie ghetto of Ferentary but presented as Bucharest,saying that EU admission and Western orientation is a disaster for Romania),since the year 2000 when Romania chose the Western path,GDP grew 4 times as much,standars of living increased exponentially and corruption was reduced.

 

[salarsikander]

The countries in Eastern Europe are independent countries who willingly chose to be part of NATO and host NATO bases.Despite Russian propaganda (I recently viewed a Russkie "documentary" filmed only in the gypsie ghetto of Ferentary but presented as Bucharest,saying that EU admission and Western orientation is a disaster for Romania),since the year 2000 when Romania chose the Western path,GDP grew 4 times as much,standars of living increased exponentially and corruption was reduced.

And how is that relevant to my post ?

 

[flamer84]

And how is that relevant to my post ?

As much as your mention about the wars in Irak,Lybia in a thread about Russia threathening Romania and Poland ?

 

[salarsikander]

As much as your mention about the wars in Irak,Lybia in a thread about Russia threathening Romania and Poland ?

Threatening and getting invaded destroyed are two different things, arent they ?

In fact US did invasion of Cuba following the hosting of Russian missiles in Cuba, if I am not mistaken. Now thats a genune concern, rather than invading a country under false pretext of WMD and so-called democracy

 

[flamer84]

Threatening and getting invaded destroyed are two different things, arent they ?

In fact US did invasion of Cuba following the hosting of Russian missiles in Cuba, if I am not mistaken. Now thats a genune concern, rather than invading a country under false pretext of WMD and so-called democracy

But the subjevt is the situation in Eastern Europe and i've told you that the US didn't use any deception to have us in the NATO camp.We are willing participants.

 

[salarsikander]

But the subjevt is the situation in Eastern Europe and i've told you that the US didn't use any deception to have us in the NATO camp.We are willing participants.

I just answered to your concern. If you can hold-on and act as buffer state for Western EU be my guest. But then dont be ignorant of the consequences of hosting such system in your territory

 

[Steve781]

But the subjevt is the situation in Eastern Europe and i've told you that the US didn't use any deception to have us in the NATO camp.We are willing participants.

If Russia is so against NATO expansion you'd think they'd stop relentlessly threatening Sweden and Finland wouldn't you?

 

[flamer84]

I just answered to your concern. If you can hold-on and act as buffer state for Western EU be my guest. But then dont be ignorant of the consequences of hosting such system in your territory

The consequences were there without that system to.If you refuse to be a direct Russian satellite while being their neighbour,you're a target anyway.Or,maybe you could get away with it by being Finland(no great strategic location) but not by being Poland (the gate to Central Europe) or Romania (the gate for Southern Europe).

In the Cold War we were a buffer for the USSR.