The David Hunter Perspective - 2022-01-12

US and Russia Hold Urgent Meeting to Discuss Ukraine,  Russian Troops Sent to Kazakhstan, US Announces it Will take 'Very High level'  Sanctions on Russia  if Russian Troops Invade Ukraine.

Rhett and David at it again!  Enjoy the show as retired US Diplomat to 5 different nations  David Hunter shares his knowledge, passion, interest, and experience.

1)  US and Russia Hold Urgent Meeting to Discuss Ukraine:  Wendy Sherman, US Deputy Secretary of State , met Monday in Geneva w/ her Russian counterpart to discuss Ukraine.  Putin has made demands that NATO openly declare it will not extend membership to Ukraine, something US and NATO members reject.   Putin has 100,000 troops staged at the border of Ukraine to make his point. US  Secretary of State  Tony Blinken said there will be no 'conditions' or 'concessions' and severe sanctions would follow any Russian aggression.  What do you think will happen?

2) Russian Troops Sent to Kazakhstan:  This week the Russians under terms of the CSTO joint military alliance sent  3000  troops to Kazakhstan, at the request of Kazakh  President Tokayev.  The President was hand-picked by old dictator  Nazarbayev   who ruled from 1989 till 2019 with an iron hand and had close relations to Moscow.  He left in 2019 following anti gov. protests.   But Nazarbayev who now serves as head of the Security Council, was just removed.  And people on the street are fed up with both Nazarbayev and the new President and want more democracy.  What is going on? 

 3) US Announces it Will take 'Very High level'  Sanctions on Russia  if Russian Troops Invade Ukraine:  The US  has announced it will 'start high, and stay high' in sanctions measures.  It will restrict the Russian oligarchs that support Putin,  cut off high technology exports, and most importantly, cut Russia off from the international banking payments system SWIFT, like we did with Iran.   Will it work?   

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