Lest it be confused that Russia has somehow forgotten about the Ukraine coup, and that it no longer concerns the bread basket (and key gas pipeline hub) of Europe a core strategic resource, moments ago Russian wire services blasted the following diplomatic summary of Russian bullish grace in a china store:
- PUTIN ORDERS URGENT COMPREHENSIVE CHECKS OF TROOPS’ COMBAT READINESS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL MILITARY DISTRICTS, AND OF AEROSPACE, AIRBORNE TROOPS, LONG-RANGE AND MILITARY TRANSPORT AVIATION – SHOIGU
Bloomberg adds the following:
- President Vladimir Putin issued orders to conduct immediate check of combat-readiness of central, western military districts, test of air defense, airborne troops, aviation, Interfax reports, citing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
- Test began at 2pm local time today: IFX
- Exercise to be conducted Feb. 26-March 3 in 2 stages
- Commander-in-chief ordered test of military capability to react to “crisis situations, posing a danger to the country’s military security,” Shoigu is cited as saying
- Second test phase will include tactical exercises involving Northern, Baltic Fleets
In short, not only has the Russian bear woken from hibernation but is rather angry. Incidentally, Russia’s ever-louder war footing rumblings have not been lost on investors who sent the USD/RUB to the highest level since March 2009, just north of 36.
As for the Ukraine Hryvnia, don’t ask.
And now back to watching your regularly scheduled S&P500 all time high melt up. Becuase there is nothing at all concerning in the world.
via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/1c7CVVv Tyler Durden