英國有機會派兵去幫烏克蘭
Britain could be on warpath with Russia to stop 'invasion' of Ukraine
GOVERNMENT officials in Kiev are claiming Britain must stop Russian troops crossing Ukraine's borders because of an agreement made in 1994.
The Budapest Memorandum, signed by Britain, Ukraine, the United States and Russia, agreed to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine's borders.
Now Ukraine have called on Britain to keep up its end of the bargain.
Article one of the agreement reads: "The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine ... to respect the Independence and Sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine."
The call comes after the Russian government unanimously approved the deployment of Russian troops to the Crimea.
Prime Minister David Cameron has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that there is "no excuse" for military intervention.
He said: "Everyone must think carefully about their actions and work to lower, not escalate tensions.
"The world is watching."
Ukraine has accused Russia of a "military invasion and occupation" after forces had taken an offensive position close to key airports.
It is believed more than 6,000 troops are waiting for orders to make their way to Kiev.
Sir Tony Brenton, who was British Ambassador from 2004 to 2008, said that it would be hard for Britain to avoid war with Russia if they do attack Ukraine.
In a BBC radio interview he said: "If indeed this is a Russian invasion of Crimea and if we do conclude the [Budapest] Memorandum is legally binding then it's very difficult to avoid the conclusion that we're going to go to war with Russia."
William Hague, who has expressed his concern with the escalation of tensions, has said Britain is willing to work with Ukraine over the agreement.
He said: "I told minister Lavrov that Britain supports the Ukrainian government's request for urgent consultations in accordance with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum signed by the UK, US, Russia and Ukraine."
As the crisis deepens, Ukraine has called on NATO to help protect its sovereignty from Vladimir Putin's advances.
Dr Jonathan Eyal, International Director of the security think-tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has compared Putin's latest move for military intervention in Ukraine to that of Adolf Hitler's first move into Czechoslovakia in 1938 that led to the Second World War.
He labelled it Putin's “Sudetenland option”.
Hitler claimed he was trying to help protect the ethnic-German population in Czechoslovakia and Dr Eyal feels Putin may do the same with ethnic-Russians in eastern Ukraine.
He said: "Putin understands Ukraine will never be part of Russia again, but he wants Ukraine to look on Russia as a big brother.
"The Sudetenland option is not his first priority, but it is his fail safe priority."He has no chance of engaging with the west of Ukraine, and at the end of the day the Sudetenland option remains in the back of most Russian leaders minds."
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/462592/Britain-could-be-on-warpath-with-Russia-to-stop-invasion-of-Ukraine
