NEWSLINK: Meanwhile, Back in Ukraine; Tanks mysteriously roll in from Russia.

[“Meanwhile, Back in Ukraine; Tanks mysteriously roll in from Russia” – Wall Street Journal editorial – June 16, 2014]

The Wall Street Journal addresses claims of Russian material support for instability and revolution in Ukraine, including tanks:

Waves of Russian tanks and divisions of infantrymen are one way to undermine the budding democracy in Kiev. But an overt invasion would force a reluctant America and EU to sanction Russia, and the Kremlin figures it can get to the same place by a less costly route.

For two months Russian and Chechen mercenaries, money and weapons have flowed over the border, fueling a separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine. Late this week, three T-64 or T-72 tanks, B-21 ‘Grad’ multiple rocket launchers and other military vehicles arrived from Russia, according to the Ukrainian government and U.S. State Department. On Friday Moscow also threatened to cut exports of natural gas to Ukraine after talks on a new contract failed.

NATO notes that the apparent Russian action represents an escalation:

The pro-Russian rebels showed off the tanks without revealing their provenance. If they came from Russia, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in a statement Friday, ‘this would mark a serious escalation of the crisis in eastern Ukraine.’ It’s safe to presume the separatists, who include a high proportion of Russian citizens, didn’t pick up the tanks at a used car lot.

Click here to read “Meanwhile, Back in Ukraine; Tanks mysteriously roll in from Russia”

[featured image is file photo from Russian military parade]