Ukraine Ships Get Russian Ultimatum; One Misstep from Outright War; Russia Denies Ultimatum

The situation in Europe took another turn for the worse as Ukraine Ships Get Russian Ultimatum.

Ukraine said Russia’s navy ordered two of its ships in Crimea to surrender amid the worst standoff between the West and Russia since the end of the Cold War.

The head of Russia’s Black Sea fleet gave the ships, located near the port of Sevastopol, until 5 a.m. tomorrow to give up weapons and capitulate, Oleksiy Kirchkov, deputy commander of the Ternopil, told Ukraine’s Channel 5 by phone. Western diplomats are seeking to calm tensions in Ukraine, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arriving in Kiev today.

Calls to Russia’s Defense Ministry and navy in Moscow and the Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol went unanswered.

One Misstep from Outright War 

One misstep, by either side, is likely to start a war. Let's hope it does not come to that.

Addendum  

Russia Denies Ultimatum

Moments after I reported the ultimatum story, Bloomberg had this followup: Ukraine Crisis Intensifies as Russia Denies Navy Ultimatum Claim.

Ukraine said Russia’s navy ordered two of its ships in Crimea to surrender amid the worst standoff between the West and Russia since the end of the Cold War. A Russian Defense Ministry official denied the claim.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet gave the ships, located near the port of Sevastopol, until 5 a.m. to give up weapons and capitulate, Oleksiy Kirchkov, deputy commander of the Ternopil, told Ukraine’s Channel 5 by phone. The Russian official, who asked not to be named, called Ukraine’s claim disinformation. Western diplomats are seeking to calm tensions in Ukraine, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arriving in Kiev today.

It is difficult keeping up with fast-flowing news and denials.

Nonetheless, to paraphrase my previous warning, one misstep by either side can cause serious complications.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com