The (sigh) Situation in Ukraine

"This was an unconstitutional coup and the armed seizure of power. No one argues with this."
"Sometimes I get the impression that across the pond, somewhere in America, staff at some laboratory are sitting there conducting experiments, like on rats, without understanding the consequences of what they are doing."
"Yanukovych practically had already given up power. He had no chance of being re-elected and I told him this, he has no political future."
"Corruption reached levels that we did not even dream of in Russia ... Generally, people wanted change, but one should not support illegal change."
Russian President Vladimir Putin

The unarmed Ukrainian servicemen had marched on the Belbek base

There, we must now consider ourselves as having been lectured by someone who would never, ever dream of political manipulation, of interfering in the sovereign affairs of another country, someone who studiously examines the potential results of all situations to ensure that consequences are known in advance and avoided, someone who abhors corruption and someone in authority who should know better than to support illegal change. Sanctimony does become him.

"We continue to view the situation in Ukraine with the gravest concern and will continue to review our relations with President Putin's government accordingly."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Short, and to the point. Canada's official position is that it will no longer take part in anti-terrorism drills involving Canadian and Russian air forces. True, Mr. Putin has ordered his 150,000 Russian troops withdrawn from their heightened state of readiness. But no one should make the mistake of thinking he will withdraw his grasp of Sevastopol and the Black Sea Port, let alone Crimea, an integral and beloved part of Russian history, culture, heritage.

• On the highest authority - Putin - the West is responsible for orchestrating the 'armed' overthrow of the legal government of Ukraine.
• In pro-Russian Donetsk the new self-appointed governor will hold a referendum to become a federal state within Russia;
• In Crimea, troops identified as Russian fired warning shots over unarmed Ukrainian forces intent on re-entering their Belbek military base;
• The pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea is bringing forward a referendum proposed for March 20 on secession from Kyiv.

The European Union, continuing its incitement for subversive activities in Ukraine has stated it plans to aid Kyiv in paying the $2-billion owing to Gazprom, even while Gazprom announces its cancellation of a discount on gas exports to Ukraine. Washington threatens targeted sanctions to hit the Kremlin; the EU remains understandably reluctant -- given their reliance on Russian gas -- undecided with respect to its further tactics.

But the Baltic states and Poland, former Soviet republics and satellites press for tough measures against their former oppressor. France is concerned about the possible loss of a big military contract with Moscow. Britain frets about its financial markets, losing Russian money. And Germany? hugely dependent on Russian gas imports. This is a significantly tangled web.

In a spirit of generosity tinged perhaps with sadistic humour Moscow will 'co-operate with the West' in the search for a solution acceptable to all involved. Based, they insist, on an agreement brokered by the EU itself with Yanukovych on February 21, which may or may not have precipitated his flight from Kyiv. Which has disgusted Mr. Putin enormously who would, in such circumstances most certainly have stood his ground.

No one, however, is as tough and Mr. Putin. Ask Mr. Obama, and Mrs. Merkel. Don't ask Mr. Harper.