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Pro-Russia protesters scuffle with the police at the regional government building in Donetsk.

A Ukrainian Catholic leader urged the United States and European Union to take firmer action to stop the Russian Federation from backing armed Ukrainian separatists. “We desperately hope the international community will consolidate its voice, and Western governments act more coherently and consistently,” said Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, C.Ss.R., secretary general of the Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops, on April 17. “Only firm joint action will stop the provocative, diversionary operations being conducted by Russian intelligence on Ukrainian territory, of which we now have proof, and force Russia to take its threatening army away from our border,” he said. In March, Ukrainians in Crimea voted to break away from Ukraine and join Russia. In April, pro-Russian protesters stormed government buildings in Donetsk, Kharkiv and other eastern Ukrainian cities, raising fears of a new Russian intervention after the annexation of Crimea in March. Bishop Dzyurakh said Ukrainian Catholic clergy had not been “directly threatened” in the protest areas, but cautioned that escalating tension could give the conflict a religious dimension.

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Carlos Orozco
11 years 3 months ago
The Washington coup puppets that "govern" Ukraine have caused nothing but disgrace to their countrymen. The acting Ukraine government has lost Crimea, is in the process of losing eastern provinces, and has sold its soul to the International Monetary Fund for money they already owe Russia for gas. Central bankers, Nazi sympathizers and even a corrupt former president have been stupid enough to form an alliance with Obama's neocons. Despite the designs of today's Evil Empire, such unholy alliance has been outclassed and outmaneuvered by Vladimir Putin. Faithful to their incompetance, neocons are adding yet another loss to their scorecard. When will the "Hope and Change" President have the stones to fire the likes of Victoria Nuland, Samantha Power and Susan Rice? While cable news analyze ad nauseam racist remarks by a NBA owner, a Malaysian plane that does not appear and other distractions, what could end up escalating to a Third World War is almost ignored, and propagandized when discussed. Fortunately, people aren't buying the lies anymore, and their opposition to aiding the al-Qaeda affiliated opposition in Syria was the first clear sign that enough is enough.

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