Ukraine Crisis: What Will Moscow Do?

Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slaviansk May 2, 2014.

Credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Kremlin Says It Is Weighing Response To ‘Thousands’ Of Pleas For Help From Ukraine -- Washington Post

DONETSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian ­authorities vowed Saturday to restore control over the roiling eastern part of their nation, slowly advancing on two key breakaway cities even as the Kremlin and its supporters in Ukraine said the violence demanded a response.

The military operations Saturday claimed at least 10 lives, medical officials said, a day after a conflagration in a trade union building killed ­dozens of pro-Russian activists in the port city of Odessa in the bloodiest day in Ukraine in nearly three months.

Ukraine’s acting president, ­Oleksandr Turchynov, declared a two-day national mourning period, as grieving residents of Odessa streamed to the burned-out building to lay flowers. Thousands of mourners took to the streets of the city, which until the previous day had been largely untouched by the kind of violence that has plagued eastern Ukraine for weeks.

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My Comment: Reports that Moscow is now adopting "war-time rhetoric" in it's showdown with Ukraine are true .... I follow Russian news (speaking the language helps) .... and I have noticed this change in tone from their spokesman since the Odessa massacre. Reports that Russia is also reinforcing it's military in Crimea are also true .... as this AFP report indicates. The Daily Mail is reporting that Putin is threatening to send in the tanks .... but I have not seen any other news outlet carry that story. As to what is my opinion on what will Russia do next .... I expect a "wait and see" approach .... but if the bloodshed runs into the hundreds and if tens of thousands of refugees start to flee the region .... Moscow will act.

Update: The Daily Mail has removed their "Putin threatening to send in the tanks" headline.