John Kerry warns Russia “not to send the wrong message”? Gee John, what message do 2000 troops landing say to you?
If this is valid, it sounds like we may have a legal obligation to defend Ukraine.
Via Daily Mail:
A treaty signed in 1994 by the US and Britain could pull both countries into a war to protect Ukraine if Putin’s troops intervene.
The Budapest Memorandum was signed by Bill Clinton, John Major, Boris Yeltsin and Leonid Kuchma – the then-rulers of the USA, UK, Russia and Ukraine – as part of the denuclearization of former Soviet republics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Technically it means that if Russia has invaded Ukraine then it would be difficult for the US and Britain to avoid going to war.
Sir Tony Brenton, who served as British Ambassador from 2004 to 2008, said that war could be an option ‘if we do conclude the [Budapest] Memorandum is legally binding.’
It promises to protect Ukraine’s borders, in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons.
Today Kiev has demanded the agreement is activated after insisting their borders had been violated.
In response Mr Brenton said in a BBC radio interview: ‘If indeed this is a Russian invasion of Crimea and if we do conclude the [Budapest] Memorandum is legally binding then it’s very difficult to avoid the conclusion that we’re going to go to war with Russia’.
0bama ignores any laws/treaties he doesn't like, so I'm not too concerned about this specific threat.
Obama Skips National Security Team Meeting on Russia, Ukraine [03/01]
A White House official emailed some reporters to say that President Obama's team met today to discuss the ongoing situation on Ukraine. It appears President Obama did not attend.
"The President's national security team met today to receive an update on the situation in Ukraine and discuss potential policy options. We will provide further updates later this afternoon," reads the full statement.
Hard to take any of this seriously when his Highness is more concerned with his putting game than with what everybody is calling an "international crisis".
I've heard nothing of this Budapest Memorandum agreement on the news. What I did hear is that since Ukraine is not part of NATO the US is not obligated to use its military to defend it.
******************* “The Marxians love of democratic institutions was a stratagem only, a pious fraud for the deception of the masses. Within a socialist community there is no room left for freedom.” ¯ Ludwig von Mises
Quote: ThirstyMan wrote in post #5I've heard nothing of this Budapest Memorandum agreement on the news.
This Memorandum was the biggest bit of news in 1994 if I recall correctly. It generated so much excitement, Peter Jennings threw up on air from the dizzying excitement he experienced as he broke this story. And let's not forget all the Memorandum watching parties that sprung up all over the country around the time. I believe it was even a central theme in an episode of Friends that year. How could you not be aware of this amazing bit of diplomacy?
Quote: ThirstyMan wrote in post #5I've heard nothing of this Budapest Memorandum agreement on the news. What I did hear is that since Ukraine is not part of NATO the US is not obligated to use its military to defend it.
I don't think the Budapest Memorandum is tied to NATO. I think it was a tri-lateral agreement between the U.S, Britain and Ukraine.
Quote: ThirstyMan wrote in post #5I've heard nothing of this Budapest Memorandum agreement on the news. What I did hear is that since Ukraine is not part of NATO the US is not obligated to use its military to defend it.
I don't think the Budapest Memorandum is tied to NATO. I think it was a tri-lateral agreement between the U.S, Britain and Ukraine.