This week could've been very distressing for Russia. At least Washington was trying its best to make it so. America has already resorted to the language of ultimatums simultaneously giving us two. The first was on Tuesday: they said we had to urgently release the arrested Ukrainian sailors and return the ships of the violators. Otherwise, as an anonymous senior official of the Department of State said: "the pain will gradually increase." And speaking of Russians…
"It should be abundantly clear to them that for as long as they hold these crew members, we'll continue to raise the costs. They need to release the crews, return the ships, and this is not something that we're going to turn our attention away from".
This ultimatum was given on Wednesday. It's clear that we didn't move a finger to comply with its demands. And the trespasser-boats arrested by the decision of the court continue rusting at the Kerch berth.
Next day, we received another ultimatum. It was voiced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo himself. For the first time, we were given a deadline. It was about the so-far-operating Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State: "The US will suspend its obligations in 60 days unless Russia returns to full compliance. During the period, the US will not test, produce or deploy any systems mentioned in the treaty".
Curiously enough, Pompeo's statement to terminate the INF Treaty in 60 days is a violation itself. Article 15 of the INF Treaty says that a party can withdraw from the treaty six months after announcing its withdrawal. The US is obviously in a hurry ignoring everything around it. It means they've already made their decision. Everything else, including the baseless allegations against Russia, are mere excuses.
President Putin almost immediately responded to Mike Pompeo's statement only a couple of hours later.
Vladimir Putin: "It is obvious and known to everyone by now Mr. Pompeo's statement is somewhat late. It was the American side that announced its plans to quit the INF Treaty first. Only then they started casting about for a justification for doing this. Allow me to remind you that this year, I think, the US Congress earmarked funds for R&D projects to create these missiles even before they announced withdrawal from this treaty. That is, the decision was made a long time ago only quietly. They thought we wouldn't notice but we did – the Pentagon budget includes the development of these missiles. Only after that they publicly announced their withdrawal. Their next step was to look for someone to shift the blame on. "Russia" is the first word that comes to mind and sounds familiar to a regular Westerner’s ear. This is not true. We do not agree with the elimination of this treaty. But if this happens, we will react accordingly".
The US ultimatums and threats are backed by actions which are quite timid so far. Here's what Spokesperson of the US 6th Fleet Rachel McMarr said: "The USS McCampbell sailed in the vicinity of Peter the Great Gulf to challenge Russia's excessive maritime claims and uphold the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea enjoyed by the United States and other Nations." Rachel claimed that the ship sailed in the direct vicinity of our coast.
However, here's what Spokesperson of our Defence Ministry General Konashenkov said: "In fact, the missile destroyer USS McCampbell didn't even get closer than 62 miles to the Russian territorial waters. Moreover, during the entire voyage through the international waters, the US destroyer was closely followed by a Russian anti-submarine warfare ship of the Pacific Fleet Admiral Tributs, as well as the naval aircraft of the Pacific Fleet".
In fact, 62 miles stretch far beyond the horizon. Another ironic aspect of the bold maneuver of the US is that while the USS was demonstrating its impertinence two American military aircraft, a tanker and a fighter jet, collided in the sky over the Sea of Japan. There are casualties.
But let's travel back to the Black Sea. CNN reports that a US warship is going to make a voyage close to the Russian border. The US warns Turkey that controls the Bosporus Strait. Well, we're waiting. It's also worth mentioning that Ukraine invites NATO ships to visit its Azov ports. Russia believes that NATO has no business in the Azov.
