Putin finally exposed!

Finally, the truth is beginning to emerge.

It now transpires that Putin,

" ..... has been planning to annex parts of Ukraine for more than 12 months, according to sensational claims made in a Russian newspaper.

Vladimir Putin’s office reportedly compiled a detailed roadmap of how a "pro-Russian drift" could allow it to seize Crimea and some eastern provinces, just a few weeks prior to the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych and the start of the Ukrainian crisis." (VoA : Wednesday 25 February 2015)

KyivPost has supplied a full Engllish translation of Putin's road-map for annexing eastern Ukraine.

".... an English-language translation done by the Kyiv Post of a leaked analytical note published by the Russian online newspaper Novaya Gazeta on Feb. 24. According to sources of Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's last independent newspaeprs, this document was written and provided to the President Vladimir Putin's office for consideration between Feb. 4-12, 2014, the same month that the EuroMaidan Revolution drove President Viktor Yanukovych from power on Feb. 22, 2014." (KyivPost : Feb. 25, 2015)

 In this document it is stated that,

"Firstly, the Yanukovych regime is completely bankrupt. His political, diplomatic, financial and information support by the Russian Federation no longer makes sense." (ibid KyivPost)

Furthermore, ".... constructive and “smoothing" participation of Russia into a highly-probable process of disintegration of the Ukrainian state will not only give impulse for the Kremlin integration projects, it will also allow our country to keep, as it was mentioned above, a control over Ukrainian gas pipeline system. It will also allow to significantly change geopolitical landscape in Central and Eastern Europe, with Russia getting back one of the main roles there." (ibid KyiPost) (my emphasis)

With all of this now being revealed, how will Merkel, Hollande, and those supporting Putin in the EU, react to these revelations? 

Will it spur them on to finally 'bite the bullet' and support Ukraine with tougher economic sanctions against Putin and, more importantly, supply Poroshenko with the necessary weapons with which to defend Ukraine against Putin's road-map?

Cyprus, the money-laundering capital of Russia, gives us the answer! Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiadis ahead of a visit to Moscow, has stated that,

"“We have openly said in the Council of Europe that sanctions will not solve the problem. Sanctions will only create wider problems for the whole European Union. It turns out that these sanctions will be paid for by the people from the smallest of the countries,” he said, adding that Cyprus is very closely connected with Russia." (RT : February 24, 2015) (my emphasis)

And why is he against sanctions from the EU on Russia? Because,

Nikos Anastasiadis

“Our [Cyprus's]economy and defense are highly dependent on our relations with Russia. Thousands of Russian companies work in Cyprus, we have large investments made by the citizens of Russia,” he said. “Our tourism also strongly depends on Russians.” (ibid RT) (my emphasis)

And as these revelations hit the international community, Michael Fallon, UK Defence Secretary, reported to the House of Commons (February 25, 2015) that Britain will be supplying Ukraine with training and logistics, and possibly more, so that it can defend itself against Putin's army.

In the US and Canada similar moves are afoot.

"Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said on Wednesday that the administration should impose tougher sanctions against Russia in the wake of additional ceasefire violations in Ukraine.

Sen. Bob Menendez

"........it is time to fully implement the law.
"The legislation was necessary in December and even more so today... I appreciate the administration's comprehensive efforts to counter Russian agression, but I also believe it is not enough," he said. "Fully implementing the sanctions and the assistance in the Ukraine Freedom Support Act will help Ukraine restore its sovereignty. It will restore its territorial integrity, and it will help deter Russia from further destabalizing the region." (The Hill : February 25, 2015)
The Ukraine Freedom Support Act includes:

"SEC. 6. INCREASED MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE. (a) In General.--The President is authorized to provide defense articles, defense services, and training to the Government of Ukraine for the purpose of countering offensive weapons and reestablishing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including anti-tank and anti-armor weapons, crew weapons and ammunition, counter-artillery radars to identify and target artillery batteries, fire control, range finder, and optical and guidance and control equipment, tactical troop- operated surveillance drones, and secure command and communications equipment, pursuant to the provisions of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), and other relevant provisions of law." (Congres.Gov) (my emphasis)

Defence Minister Jason Kenney

In Canada,

"The Harper cabinet is actively and seriously considering whether Canada should join the U.S. and Britain in a military training mission to shore up embattled Ukrainian troops, Defence Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday." (Global News : February 25, 2015)

It is now to be seen whether Merkel and Hollande, together with Putin's supporters in the EU, will be supportive of the actions that Britain, the US, and Canada are taking in helping Ukraine to defend itself against Putin's proxies and Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine by dramatically increasing EU sanctions against Russia. 

Poland and the Baltic states are more than willing also to support Ukraine, with defensive weapons if necessary.

Cyprus's President Nikos Anastasiadis, who has gone 'cap-in-hand' to Putin to ask for a bailout of his faltering economy, would be wise to educate himself on the parlous state of the Russian economy itself.

Putin is willing to 'bail him out' simply because he does not want to see the 'money-laundering' capital of Russia go under economically. What will then happen to all that Russian criminal money languishing in the banks of Cyprus?

We now wait patiently to see just what the EU ministers will do now that Putin's Ukrainian adventurism has finally been exposed. Will the 'fragrant' Mogherini still rush into Putin's arms tomorrow?

(to be continued)