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Was Ukraine's Kerch Strait Provocation Made in the USA?

Written by Subject: Ukraine

Was Ukraine's Kerch Strait Provocation Made in the USA?

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

The Obama regime's February 2014 coup in Ukraine replaced democratic governance with fascist tyranny in Europe's heartland.

A Russophobic puppet regime was installed to serve US interests. On November 25,  three Ukrainian vessels entered Russian waters without requesting permission as required.

They failed to respond to legitimate demands, forcing Russia to respond defensively against their hostile action.

The vessels were interdicted and seized, their crew members arrested for flagrantly violating Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Under a bilateral 2003 treaty, Russia and Ukraine have freedom of navigation rights in the Kerch Strait – providing defined rules are followed through the narrow waterway.

Requesting and receiving permission to sail through it is required. The same goes for all foreign vessels, wishing to enter territorial waters of another country.

Kiev acted extrajudicially, an indisputable fact, Russia wrongfully blamed for its action. Did the US-installed Poroshenko regime act on its own or on orders from a higher power.

The latter explanation is most likely. On November 16, nine days before the Kerch Strait incident, the State Department issued a statement on the "US-Ukraine strategic partnership," saying:

"The United States remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," adding:

Pompeo and puppet Ukraine foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin created bilateral "working groups focused on security and countering (nonexistent) Russian aggression."

Kiev flagrantly breached Minsk I (September 2014) and Minsk II (February 2015) agreements to resolve war in Donbass - likely on direct orders from Washington, wanting a perpetual state of war on Russia's border, not peace and stability.

Key is the following US statement, "condemn(ing) Russia's aggressive actions against international shipping transiting the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait to Ukrainian ports" - well before Kiev's November 25 provocation.

No evidence suggests Russia obstructs or otherwise interferes with foreign vessels sailing through the Kerch Strait into or from the Sea of Azov  - provided UNCLOS provisions and bilateral Russia/Ukraine navigation requirements are observed.

Accusing Russia of a Kerch Straight incident before it occurred suggests the November 25 provocation was perhaps made in the USA, maybe jointly orchestrated by the Trump and Theresa May regimes - their latest hostile action against the Kremlin.

Falsely accusing Russia of "aggressive activities in the Sea of Azov" on November 16 raises obvious red flags.

Did the Trump and US-installed Poroshenko regimes jointly plan the November 25 provocation? Or were plans made in Washington, perhaps jointly with Britain, Kiev ordered to execute them, knowing it had US/UK support and encouragement?

The State Department affirmed continued Trump regime support for Ukraine militarily. The illegitimate fascist regime is a dagger pointed at Russia's heartland.

Ukraine and Syria are the world's leading hot spots, flashpoints for potential East/West confrontation if neocons in Washington go this far.

A Final Comment

The State Department said Washington "look(s) forward to one day welcoming Ukraine into the (North Atlantic) Alliance - an unacceptable red line for Moscow, Putin earlier saying:

Membership to Ukraine and Georgia would be considered "a direct and immediate threat for our national security…and the reaction would be extremely negative," adding:

"When the Soviet Union was withdrawing troops from Germany, we were told that Russians should know one thing: that NATO would never extend (east) beyond the German borders. Within two waves, it happened, despite our principal posture. Nobody gave a damn about our posture."

Over a decade ago, NATO vowed Ukraine and Georgia would eventually be granted alliance membership.

Russia reserves the right to protect its national security by whatever means it considers necessary. NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia would pose unacceptable risks it would take steps to counter.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html