Ukraine Crisis: 'Putin is holding a gun to NATO's head'

Vladimir Putin has declared that he recognises breakaway regions in Ukraine as independent bringing war a step closer, with a heightened threat that Russian troops could enter the areas.

Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO - General Sir Richard Shirreff - says 'we need to be extremely worried and we need to recognise the full implications of what maybe about to unfold'.

[pauledwardstevenson]

An invasion like Iraq? Yemen? Syria? Serbia? Yuhoslavia? etc etc

[t-rex]

This wouldn’t have anything to do with a gas pipe america opposes by any chance would it?

[intunewithcars]

General Sir Richard Shirreff was absolutly spot on

[nohumbug]

Not seen since 1945 in intensity. This from a soldier who helped destroy Yugoslavia & Libya.

[elmiawad]

Wait for Tony Blair to tell us we need war 😀

[tuttmasterc]

Other way around, how many military bases are pointed at Russia? How many sanctions have been issued against them? Western influences in Ukranian government, just like South America, Middle East, etc. The our vast oil, gas, and mineral reserves at play, also being able to interfere in Russia's energy. NATO controlled by the US have been aggressing against the Russian's increasingly over the past two decades.

[cheongwenpa]

Today development is totally expected since 2008 when NATO invite Ukraine to join the west military against Russia. Ukraine joining NATO effectively remove a buffer zone between Europe and Russia and now it is a direct confrontation of NATO vs Russia.

[RandomInside]

If US had the right to go to iraq, a country 9000km from the US, then Russia has also the right to go to urkraine.

[vukmajkic]

usa do invasion irak, libia. siria, lebanon, vietnam yougoslavia. so

[adrianobanak]

Interesting perspective of this UK general..."defence of our borders does not start at the cliffs of Dover but at the forests of Latvia". Didn't knew that Latvia is part of UK:) So he thinks that it's OK that UK is defending it's interests 1000 km from it's border, but Russia doesn't have the same right just 1 km from it's border?

[LuisEH]

According to Putins own logic he should return Kaliningrad (Konigsberg) to Germany

[WorldEye]

Why is Britain so interested in having Ukraine as member of NATO. ?

[dipakbose]

The Uk has a terrible problem of poverty and homelessness. It should try to solve those rather than poking its nose on the affairs of other countries.

[oreilly]

To watch sky news and believe what they say is to be a lunatic.

[terrylangstaff]

talking rubbish. Putin has every right to protect his citizens

[HYTELES]

NATO should have acted against Russia over Syria. They won in Syria. They use that as an example of what they are capable of. They won in Crimea. They won in Georgia. They won support from China.

[CimandeTube]

Sheriff called this exactly as it is now 7 months ago. Perfectly predicted

[Beyonder]

The West need to stop interfering in slavic matters. Russia is the protector of Eastern Europe and Slavic peoples.

[julieyates]

Has Ukraine been invaded by NATO? They're not a member and have asked for de-escalation, not gifts of weapons and loans publicly!
Allowing safe passage of Russian speaking people into Russia, from regions they're unsafe, should be a priority for the international community! If not, why not?

[RobRoyBoaz]

So refreshing to hear a level headed Brit response to the crisis, as opposed to the typical Yankee hype.