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This is the usual doublespeak, which we are left to infer things from because those things can't actually be said. The actual crux of the matter is, what is actually going on, and who is doing what to whom and why?"Steps that could be perceived as provocative must be avoided, as must any action that is detrimental to ongoing efforts to stabilise the situation, in an atmosphere conducive to longer-term conflict resolution and regional stability."
"Senator John McCain said at a press conference in Kiev that the US will be able to provide Ukraine and the rest of Europe with gas in the next two years... According to him, Europe's dependence on Russian gas supplies is a major obstacle that makes Europe unable to strengthen further sanctions against Russia."Since relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated so rapidly following the US coup in Ukraine, Western strategists have been working relentlessly to find a replacement to Russian energy supplies to the EU. In the immediate term, this is impossible, a reality that unnerves many in Washington and Brussels. But in the medium to long term, an assortment of countries could combine to replace Russian energy, or at least dramatically reduce Europe's energy dependence on Moscow.
Comment: It looks like the French delegation had some fun while in Crimea, too: Winning hearts and minds: French MP visiting Crimea buys T-shirt that says 'Obama, you're a schmuck'