The Russian government now says that the separatists in eastern Ukraine are not in its control and reports that Russia is getting hundreds of calls from Ukraine seeking help. Then the Russians blamed the West for the fighting since the West had recognized the criminal regime in Kiev. Then, in the heart of their new message, the Russians call for (1) urgent talks to see how the situation can be resolved and (2) a delay to the presidential elections in Ukraine now scheduled for May 25th.
Obviously, most of what the Russians are saying is untrue. It is difficult to argue that the ethnic Russians fighting the central government in eastern Ukraine are not in Russia's control when they are members of the Russian army fighting with Russian heavy weapons. Indeed, the only thing Moscow has done to try to hide this fact is to have the soldiers remove the insignia from their uniforms. Further, it is silly to blame the Kiev government for the fighting when what has happened is that the Russians have assaulted government buildings and installations in eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainians have counterattacked to try to regain those positions. It is much like calling Pearl Harbor a US attack on Japan.
The key part of the new Russian message, however, is the call for more talks. This is a direct appeal to the vanity of president Obama and secretary of state Kerry who both seem to think that just by talking every problem can be resolved no matter what the other side is doing. Russia wants Obama to agree to pressure Kiev to postpone the election (which the Russians fear will be a landslide in favor of the Kiev government) and to then begin a round of never ending talks while Moscow consolidates its control of the eastern half of Ukraine. Normally, I would assume that this Russian suggestion would either be rejected or ignored by Washington, but with the current amateurs in charge of foreign policy, we run the real risk that Obama and his minions may try to accept the call for talks.
Obviously, most of what the Russians are saying is untrue. It is difficult to argue that the ethnic Russians fighting the central government in eastern Ukraine are not in Russia's control when they are members of the Russian army fighting with Russian heavy weapons. Indeed, the only thing Moscow has done to try to hide this fact is to have the soldiers remove the insignia from their uniforms. Further, it is silly to blame the Kiev government for the fighting when what has happened is that the Russians have assaulted government buildings and installations in eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainians have counterattacked to try to regain those positions. It is much like calling Pearl Harbor a US attack on Japan.
The key part of the new Russian message, however, is the call for more talks. This is a direct appeal to the vanity of president Obama and secretary of state Kerry who both seem to think that just by talking every problem can be resolved no matter what the other side is doing. Russia wants Obama to agree to pressure Kiev to postpone the election (which the Russians fear will be a landslide in favor of the Kiev government) and to then begin a round of never ending talks while Moscow consolidates its control of the eastern half of Ukraine. Normally, I would assume that this Russian suggestion would either be rejected or ignored by Washington, but with the current amateurs in charge of foreign policy, we run the real risk that Obama and his minions may try to accept the call for talks.
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