Will Georgia turn into a Moscow satellite?

[Lancer]

Originally posted by Lancer
Actually I'm trolling you GePap, sorry. We don't need that port, we have other choices.

Question though, do the Russians have any other good choices? If the Ukraine tells Russia no more port, where do they go?

[Patroklos]

They are looking at a base in Syria, though that leaves them at the mercy of Turkey.

There is no reason they can't build another Russian port on the Black Sea.

[GePap]

I found this regarding Turkish opinions on the matter.

http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=151064

[Saras]

Novorossiysk is a pretty big commercial port.

[Saras]

Maybe Georgians can lease them Poti? Probably not

[Lancer]

Still, it would be nice. How long has it been since Russia had no access to Sevastopol ? I imagine that right now a few Russians must be wondering if Putin didn't bite off a whole hell of alot more than he can chew and Russia is choking because of it.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Lancer
Still, it would be nice. How long has it been since Russia had no access to Sevastopol ? I imagine that right now a few Russians must be wondering if Putin didn't bite off a whole hell of alot more than he can chew and Russia is choking because of it.

What are you talking about, no access to Sevastapol? What the Ukrainian government demanded was that the Russians give them several hours notice on ships coming in and out. They aren't denying the Russians access.

[Lancer]

True, the Russians can still get in with a note from their mothers, or something like that. However in 2017 the lease is up and with Russia attacking the Ukraine's friend Georgia, do you think they'll renew that lease?

[Lancer]

Originally posted by Saras
Novorossiysk is a pretty big commercial port.

So they have somewhere to retreat to, that's nice. I'm sure all Russia will thank Mr Putin for that one.

[Saras]

AFAIK Novorossiysk might even be a better port. Sevastopol just has all the infrastructure now, plus there's a lot of sentimental value for Russians. And the Brits:

[onodera]

However, Novorossiysk doesn't have a harbour good enough for warships, so we need Sevastopol. Who knows who will be in charge of Ukraine in 2017? Could be Timoshenko, could be someone else. It's a long way ahead.
Also, Crimea is fiercely pro-Russian. It's a place that was conquered by Russians and populated by Russians since the times of Catherine the Great. It was given to the UkSSR as a symbolic gift when no one expected the Soviet Union to fall apart. To demand it back would be morally right.

[Lancer]

Glorious it undoubtably is, but it is not war. The famous line... Likely not an exactly correct quote.

[Lancer]

Originally posted by onodera
However, Novorossiysk doesn't have a harbour good enough for warships, so we need Sevastopol. Who knows who will be in charge of Ukraine in 2017? Could be Timoshenko, could be someone else. It's a long way ahead.
Also, Crimea is fiercely pro-Russian. It's a place that was conquered by Russians and populated by Russians since the times of Catherine the Great. It was given to the UkSSR as a symbolic gift when no one expected the Soviet Union to fall apart. To demand it back would be morally right.

Yeah, good luck with that.

I see that Russia still has territorial demands in europe?

[onodera]

Originally posted by Lancer
Glorious it undoubtably is, but it is not war. The famous line... Likely not an exactly correct quote.

Damn British aggressors. Do you think we have forgiven them for invading our country?

[Lancer]

No, I agree. Russians "forgive", no uhuh.