Yesterday (23/2/2015) Putin gave an interview on Russian TV that was, no doubt, watched by the vast majority of Russians. There are some salient points that he mentioned viz.
- Mr Putin was asked if there was a real threat of war, given the situation in eastern Ukraine. "I think that such an apocalyptic scenario is unlikely and I hope this will never happen," he said
- As for Russia invading Ukraine, President Putin once again shrugged off evidence that he's deployed troops to help the rebels. He said Kiev was claiming that to hide its humiliation at being defeated by former miners and tractor drivers.
- The Russian leader also said the Minsk deal had become an "international legal document" following UN Security Council approval of a Russian-drafted resolution endorsing it. (BBC News Europe : 24 February 2015) (my emphasis)
Point (2) is another brazen lie that he told the Russian people. Putin and his Kremlin acolytes have been singing this mantra since the start of the criminal uprising in eastern Ukraine that he has orchestrated from the very beginning. The growing number of Russian soldiers that have died in eastern Ukraine cannot forever be concealed from the Russian people.
Earlier this month, at the Munich Security Conference, Poroshenko presented proof of the Russian soldiers that have died in eastern Ukraine.
Point (3) is admirably dealy with by John Kerry. Putin is himself 'breaking' the Minsk deal [that has] become an "international legal document" following UN Security Council approval of a Russian-drafted resolution endorsing it. What recently happened in Debaltseve is ample evidence of him trampling all over the Minsk2 agreements, as is the current and increasing build-up of Russian and his proxy forces on the outskirts of Mariupol in preparation for an attack on this Ukrainian port.
In this clip from his interview, Putin also says that,
''A big European country like Ukraine should – in the first place – return the nation to normal, restore the economy, society and relations with the south-east of the country in a civilized way and ensure legitimate rights and interests of the people in Donbass,” said Putin. (Sofia News Agency : February 24, 2015, Tuesday) (my emphasis)
But what about the effect that the sanctions against Russia are having on the Russian economy; sanctions that are a direct result of his war with Ukraine, and his overwhelming support of the rebels in eastern Ukraine with both Russian soldiers and sophisticated Russian military equipment.
As reported in the the Moscow Times (Jan. 26 2015),"Russia's consumer rights watchdog said Monday that it had imposed a temporary ban on salt imports from a state-owned Ukrainian producer, citing a violation of legislation.
Artyomsol exports salt to 22 countries in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, which groups former Soviet republics. Its annual capacity is more than 7 million tons and it has had an estimated 24 percent share of the Russian market."
Thanks to Putin, has salt has now become a 'prized' commodity for the Russian consumer?
Even though John Kerry has stated that yet more sanctions could descend upon Russia, thanks to Putin trampling all over the recently agreed Minsk2 ceasefire, an "international legal document"; the question remains whether sanctions on their own will stop Putin from spilling his war with Ukraine into wider Europe.
Now, more than ever, is the time to supply Ukraine with defensive armaments to prevent Putin from attacking Mariupol.
Andrius Kubilius, a former PM of Lithuania, expresses rather succinctly what options are now open to the West to stop Putin from escalating the war in eastern Ukraine.
The next few days will determine what actions against Putin will come into force from both the US and the EU.
(to be continued)
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