Russia Violates Black Sea Agreement With Ukraine

According to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report, Russian naval commanders have objected to Ukrainian searches of ships of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. According to an agreement between the two countries, the Ukraine must be notified in advance of Russian movements in the Black Sea and must show documents permitting such movements. Two searches of Russian ships have uncovered unauthorized movement of Russian missile systems to an area near the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol.

A 2008 article by the Wall Street Journal quoted Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov as saying that the city of Sevastopol should be repossessed by Russia.

US Missile Shield Talks, Non-NATO Members, and Russia

RIA Novosti reports that Russia has expressed concern about the United States' missile shield talks with non-NATO ally Ukraine.

As we noted in a previous post, some analysts merely viewed previous missile shield agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic as useful bogeymen for Russian policymakers (despite the minimal actual strategic threat). Although Ukraine is not included in NATO, is this merely a cosmetic difference? And if so, is this simple difference enough to give Moscow a new "useful whipping boy?"

If one can answer affirmatively to all of the above, any such US missile-shield talks may offer the Russians the excuse they need to avoid cooperating on UNSC Iran sanctions.