Ukraine Defense Minister Warns Of "Worst Conflict Since WWII", Shifts Forces To "Combat Full-Scale Russian Invasion"

Source: Zero Hedge

Unless they are tilting at windmills, the rhetoric this morning from Ukraine's defense minister is the strongest and most actionable yet. Via his Facebook page, Valeriy Galetey accused Russia of "open aggression," and explained that:

• *RUSSIA SHIFTED TO 'FULL-SCALE' INVASION OF DONBAS, GELETEY SAYS
• *UKRAINE HALTS ATTEMPTS TO DISLODGE REBELS: DEFENSE MINISTER
• *UKRAINE SHIFTS FOCUS TO HALTING RUSSIAN INVASION, GELETEY SAYS

Earlier in the morning, US Senator Bob Menendez said he has "no doubt Russia has invaded Ukraine," and following Ukraine requests for assistance from Europe and US, NATO responded by noting a reaction force or 3-5,000 can be ready in 48 hours.

First, Barroso claims Putin 'blackmailed' Europe...

Jose Manuel Barroso, who has just heard Putin. He says that when he asked about the military boundless in Ukraine, the Russian leader went to the threats: "The problem is this," according to Barroso, "if I want to, I can take Kiev in two weeks." As if to say, do not provoke me to anger with new sanctions.

Then the US chimes in...

• *U.S. SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ SPEAKS IN KIEV
• *UKRAINE NEEDS ASSISTANCE FROM EU, U.S., MENENDEZ SAYS
• *UKRAINE-NATO ASSOCIATION IS A LONG-TERM PROSPECT, MENENDEZ SAYS
• *UKRAINE-NATO PARTNERSHIP PACT WOULD BE A GOOD STEP: MENENDEZ
• *UKRAINE NEEDS WEAPONS TO DEFEND ITSELF, MENENDEZ SAYS
• *MENENDEZ SAYS HE HAS NO DOUBT RUSSIA HAS INVADED UKRAINE

Then NATO responds...

• *NATO'S REACTION FORCE TO BE DEPLOYABLE IN 48 HOURS: OFFICIAL
• *REACTION FORCE TO BE AGREED BY NATO LEADERS AT SEPT. 4-5 SUMMIT

Free to read: Nato allies at odds over response to Russian aggression http://t.co/Q54sdlBL1l pic.twitter.com/0l6SmE4xKv
— Financial Times (@FT) September 1, 2014

• *NATO FORCE SPEARHEAD MAY BE 3,000 TO 5,000 TROOPS: OFFICIAL

And then Ukraine steps it up...

• *RUSSIA SHIFTED TO `FULL-SCALE' INVASION OF DONBAS, GELETEY SAYS
• *UKRAINE HALTS ATTEMPTS TO DISLODGE REBELS: DEFENSE MINISTER
• *UKRAINE SHIFTS FOCUS TO HALTING RUSSIAN INVASION, GELETEY SAYS
• *UKRAINE WARNS ON BIGGEST CONFLICT IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR II
• *UKRAINE ARMY SAYS REBELS BEING REPLACED BY PROFESSIONAL TROOPS

*  *  *