Could The Ukraine Crisis Lead To Another Cold War?

[gordiescotland1]

I was wondering if the Ukraine crisis could lead to another cold war? I dont like Russia and the west disagreeing it makes me nervous

[emmie]

they have just held the main Sochi games, didn't put a dent in that, and i believe the Paralympics is now on, so life carries on.

[dave50]

It does go to show that we should be trying to as self sufficient as we can for our energy. That means going ahead with fracking, nuclear energy and even building coal fired power stations and coal mines if necessary and tell the idiotic greens and environmentalists to get lost.

[New Judge]

Absolutely agree, dave. The idea that the West can be held to ransom over gas supplies is ridiculous when we have huge reserves of both gas and coal of our own waiting to be exploited is ludicrous. The events of the past few weeks have demonstrated the idiocy of politicians who fail to understand that “friends and neighbours” can turn to enemies in the space of a few days.

The overtures made to Ukraine in an effort to get them on board the wealth distribution gravy train that is the EU obviously played heavily on the Ukrainians. However, the nation is split. Many in the west of that hapless country see their future with the EU whilst many in the east are drawn towards Russia. Partition of some sort seems inevitable but before that the Ukrainians should think carefully.

They currently have $40bn of debt that falls due for repayment in the next 12-18 months. The Russians had (before this week) agreed to buy at least $15bn of this and had made a $3bn downpayment. The EU has no such luxury at its disposal (mainly because of its disastrous and failed single currency project). In fact it was this very reason that the ousted President Yanukovych turned away from a trade deal with the EU as no rescue cash was on the table and instead turned his head (and outstretched hand) to Moscow. John Kerry has said that a western rescue (or a “big carrot“, as he called it) is on the cards for Ukraine. Quite where this carrot is to come from is not clear. The West has no cash and no stomach for (or capability of) military intervention. The Russians have both and Messrs Kerry and Hague would do well to remember that.