[Zipperfish]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

$1:

Ukraine gives Russia 48 hours to explain exercises

Ukraine has asked Moscow, under European OSCE security arrangements, to explain and give details of its military exercises near the border within 48 hours, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

In a statement in response to remarks by the Russian defense minister earlier in the day announcing exercises linked to tension in Ukraine, the ministry said Russia was trying to influence Kiev's efforts to fight militants in the east.

It said that under the Vienna Document of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) it was entitled to an account of the goals and other details of the exercises within 48 hours of its request - namely noon GMT on Saturday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/ ... NY20140424

"Explanation? 'Because.' Next question?"

[DrCaleb]

We don' need no steenking badges!

[ShepherdsDog]

Just a minor run in with 200 Russian spetznatz

[Goober911]

It is getting more and more expensive for Vlad.
Oil-Gas usage in the EU has declined over the years- new areas, Libya will be opening up in the future, along with gas from the Stans.
China will sign a long term deal, but to their advantage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/26/busin ... ref=europe

Not from the above link.
Foreign Policy.com
Rating company Standard & Poor's downgraded Russia's debt Friday and warned that it could be further demoted to "junk" status if more sanctions are imposed. S&P said the downgrade was a result of increased risk to the Russian economy because people have moved so much money -- $51 billion so far this year -- out of the country. That compares to just $63 billion in all of 2013.

[BRAH]

Goober911 Goober911:

It is getting more and more expensive for Vlad.
Oil-Gas usage in the EU has declined over the years- new areas, Libya will be opening up in the future, along with gas from the Stans.
China will sign a long term deal, but to their advantage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/26/busin ... ref=europe

Not from the above link.
Foreign Policy.com
Rating company Standard & Poor's downgraded Russia's debt Friday and warned that it could be further demoted to "junk" status if more sanctions are imposed. S&P said the downgrade was a result of increased risk to the Russian economy because people have moved so much money -- $51 billion so far this year -- out of the country. That compares to just $63 billion in all of 2013.

It's defintely a game of chess.

[peck420]

Russia has being facing a capital exodus for years. To the tune of 1/2 trillion prior to Crimea. Big news now...completely ignored before.

As for new sources of NG...that's great. Won't mean squat for this, as the world is about a decade away from having enough production to cover what Russia currently exports, but a nice thought, none the less.

Europe and NATO have about 6 months to curb Russia.

Winter is coming...

[Jabberwalker]

Start rounding up LNG tankers for "Marshall Plan 2014-15".

[martin14]

Jabberwalker Jabberwalker:

Start rounding up LNG tankers for "Marshall Plan 2014-15".

If we had any brains, we would be doing exactly that.

Not reading about much activity, though.

[saturn_656]

martin14 martin14:

Jabberwalker Jabberwalker:

Start rounding up LNG tankers for "Marshall Plan 2014-15".

If we had any brains, we would be doing exactly that.

Not reading about much activity, though.

We have to do two or three years worth of studies, consultations, negotiations, etc first.

To get the ball rolling now requires a "can do get 'er done" attitude that really doesn't exist here anymore.

[Zipperfish]

LNG isn't facing the same opposition dilbit pipelines are. The provincial and federal governments are motivated to move them. There are about six in line right now, along the coast. The pipeline work is worth millions but still, the infrastrcutre is mostly there. I think you'll see them move ahead quickly.

[Jabberwalker]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

martin14 martin14:

Jabberwalker Jabberwalker:

Start rounding up LNG tankers for "Marshall Plan 2014-15".

If we had any brains, we would be doing exactly that.

Not reading about much activity, though.

We have to do two or three years worth of studies, consultations, negotiations, etc first.

To get the ball rolling now requires a "can do get 'er done" attitude that really doesn't exist here anymore.

... and you are doing it in cooperation with the E.U., so you are doing it in 18 languages with careful nuance so that each and every member can think that it's their brilliant idea.

[Goober911]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

LNG isn't facing the same opposition dilbit pipelines are. The provincial and federal governments are motivated to move them. There are about six in line right now, along the coast. The pipeline work is worth millions but still, the infrastrcutre is mostly there. I think you'll see them move ahead quickly.

Companies planning for LNG facilities are running into regulatory issues in BC.
They best smarten up- Australia is a competitor.
Though they are running into substantial cost overruns.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/ ... XB20140410

"This wage growth is what is currently crippling Australian industry and is simply not sustainable," Chevron Australia Managing Director Roy Krzywosinski said to a chorus of approval at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) conference this week.

Nearly $200 billion worth of gas projects are nearing completion with seven LNG projects due to start exporting gas between late 2014 and 2017, set to push Australia ahead of Qatar as the world's largest LNG producer.

All eyes now are on whether another $180 billion worth of potential new or expanded projects will be developed next, or whether money will flow instead to LNG projects in North America, east Africa and elsewhere.

"In Australia there is plenty of gas. Business conditions in Australia are pretty good. The main problem in Australia is cost," Jean-Marie Guillermou, Asia Pacific chief for Total Exploration and Production, told Reuters.

Costs have shot up over the past few years as energy companies and iron ore and coal miners, which are all building multibillion dollar projects at the same time, have competed for local equipment and a limited pool of workers.

[Winnipegger]

RT.COM
US soldiers arrive in Lithuania to ‘reassure’ NATO allies amid Ukrainian crisis

$1:

The Lithuanian government welcomed the arrival of 150 troops at the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Siauliai on Saturday, reported Reuters. Referring to the escalating tensions in Ukraine, President Dalia Grybauskaite said “we know in this situation who our real friends are coming to help."

"If any of our guests are injured, it would mean an open confrontation not with Lithuania but with the United States," she added. The group of troops is part of a larger contingent of 600 troops that have been deployed throughout Eastern Europe to reassure NATO allies. Another company of soldiers arrived in Poland on Wednesday and in Latvia on Friday. Troops are also expected to arrive in Estonia on Monday.

[Jabberwalker]

Is it just the U.S. (and our little flight of CF-18s) or are some of the other NATO allies sending troops? If there ever a time in history to show solidarity it is now.

[Winnipegger]

On April 17, Harper announced Canada is sending 6 CF-18s, along with air crew and technical support for the jets.

From National Post

$1:

The Canadian fighter jets will join warplanes from the United States, Britain, Denmark, Poland, Portugal and Germany, which will be deploying in waves between now and the fall.