Putin ain't coming

Russian President Vladimir Putin won't attend the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz on 27 January. He was at the 60th anniversary event in 2005, but the Russian take over of Crimea, current situation in Ukraine and cold relations with Poland could be valid reasons for no invitation.

Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna

Russia was then infuriated by comments Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna made yesterday crediting Ukrainian soldiers with liberating Auschwitz instead of the Red Army.

At the United Nations, Russia's envoy Vitaly Churkin addressed the Polish envoy, telling him that the First Ukrainian Front, like other Red Army forces, contained representatives of the Soviet Union's more than 100 ethnic groups and asking him to convey the information to Schetyna.

Churkin and other Russian officials who have responded to the situation in harsh tones made no mention of the Katyn massacre. 

Poland, a member of NATO, has staked a hard position against Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its backing of separatists fighting in eastern Ukrainian regions. Also, military provocations have become an almost daily event with Russian fighter jets and bombers buzzing the borders of Baltic and Scandinavian countries.

Putin has been getting a frosty reception at international events everywhere there are western nations involved.

Last fall, for example, at the G20 summit in Australia, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper let it be known that Russia needs to get out of Ukraine. And, at the G8 conference it's now 8 minus 1.