The news reports this morning are starting to make clear Russia's strategy for dealing with Ukraine now that Crimea has been annexed by Moscow. The Russian foreign minister "pledged" that Russia has no intention to invade Ukraine. While he did not use these words, Sergei Lavrov in effect said "Pay no attention to the 100,000 troops that we have moved within 40 miles of the border." It probably would have been more to the point if Lavrov had sent a message to the acting president of Ukraine that said "If you like Ukraine, you can keep Ukraine, period!"
The Russians have massed troops and are clearly threatening an invasion, no matter what they say. Now, though, they are announcing their "goals" for the resolution of the confrontation. Russia wants Ukraine to reformulate into a federation. In that way, the eastern half of the country could be controlled by Russian speaking people while the national government (controlled by Ukrainians) would be much reduced in importance. Further, Russia wants a commitment from Ukraine that it would never join NATO. In other words, Russia wants Ukraine to agree that it will take no steps that will allow Ukraine to resist any future threats from Moscow.
There has been no response from the Ukrainian government as of yet. The West, and in particular, the USA, however, have been quick to respond. America's secretary of state John Kerry was on his way home to Washington and actually had his plane change course so that he could go to have yet another meeting with his Russian counterpart. Russia offers a way out and Kerry jumps to take it. Without a doubt, that decision was made by president Obama and not just John Kerry. One can almost hear the sighs of relief coming from Obama as he sees a way to appease Putin by throwing the Ukrainians under the bus.
Think about it. Russia is demanding the partial dismemberment and effective disarmament of Ukraine as a condition for not invading its sovereign neighbor. To use Obama's favorite phrase, those are 19th century actions. (Okay, maybe 20th century.)
The rush to abandon Ukraine into the clutches of Russia is not only unseemly, but it also is greatly undermining the value of friendship with America. Does Poland think that Obama's America would actually defend it were Russia to attack? Does Estonia? For what it is worth, I don't think that Obama would do anything if the Russians arranged an "uprising" by "oppressed ethnic Russians in Estonia followed by the entrance of a Russian "peace keeping force" in Tallinn. The slightest lack of clarity would be Obama's excuse for inaction.
We would all do well to remember that Obama's first act upon entering the Oval Office was to have the bust of Winston Churchill removed. If there ever was any doubt why that happened, there is no such doubt now.
The Russians have massed troops and are clearly threatening an invasion, no matter what they say. Now, though, they are announcing their "goals" for the resolution of the confrontation. Russia wants Ukraine to reformulate into a federation. In that way, the eastern half of the country could be controlled by Russian speaking people while the national government (controlled by Ukrainians) would be much reduced in importance. Further, Russia wants a commitment from Ukraine that it would never join NATO. In other words, Russia wants Ukraine to agree that it will take no steps that will allow Ukraine to resist any future threats from Moscow.
There has been no response from the Ukrainian government as of yet. The West, and in particular, the USA, however, have been quick to respond. America's secretary of state John Kerry was on his way home to Washington and actually had his plane change course so that he could go to have yet another meeting with his Russian counterpart. Russia offers a way out and Kerry jumps to take it. Without a doubt, that decision was made by president Obama and not just John Kerry. One can almost hear the sighs of relief coming from Obama as he sees a way to appease Putin by throwing the Ukrainians under the bus.
Think about it. Russia is demanding the partial dismemberment and effective disarmament of Ukraine as a condition for not invading its sovereign neighbor. To use Obama's favorite phrase, those are 19th century actions. (Okay, maybe 20th century.)
The rush to abandon Ukraine into the clutches of Russia is not only unseemly, but it also is greatly undermining the value of friendship with America. Does Poland think that Obama's America would actually defend it were Russia to attack? Does Estonia? For what it is worth, I don't think that Obama would do anything if the Russians arranged an "uprising" by "oppressed ethnic Russians in Estonia followed by the entrance of a Russian "peace keeping force" in Tallinn. The slightest lack of clarity would be Obama's excuse for inaction.
We would all do well to remember that Obama's first act upon entering the Oval Office was to have the bust of Winston Churchill removed. If there ever was any doubt why that happened, there is no such doubt now.
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