Putin's nightmare week, and the myth of his 'frozen conflict'.

For Putin, this is a week that he will come to view as the worst week in his life.

The 'macho' image that he has so assiduously cultivated since the beginning of his presidency of Russia has been severely deflated by the decision of the International Association of Athlectics Federation (IAAF) to,

" .... [bar] Russia from all international track and field competition for an indefinite period, including the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, until the country is judged to have fixed its problems and fallen into line with global anti-doping rules." (Huffpost Sports : 11/13/2015) (my emphasis) (right: Putin posing with prospective Olympic athletes)

 

This barring of Putin's Russia from all international track and field competitions,

" ... was approved by a 22-1 vote during a teleconference of the 27-member council of the IAAF." (Sky News : Friday 13 November 2015) (my emphasis)

And if this were not enough to send Putin into fits of apopletic rage, Akin Oyedele informs us that,

"Crude oil tumbled towards $40 per barrel on Friday morning.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures in New York fell to as low as $40.47 a share, a drop of more than 3% to the lowest level in about two and a half months." (Business Insider UK : Nov. 13, 2015) (my emphasis)
 
To further add to his rage, the European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, (right) has stated that,

"We decided that DCFTA would come into force, and Russia will have to accept that.

...

Commissioner Malmström will visit Ukraine on November 12-13 to meet the Prime Minister, the President, the Minister for Economic Development and Trade, and the Foreign Minister.
Implementation of the Ukraine – EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area from January 1, 2016, will be on the top agenda of Ms Malmström’s visit." (Unian : 11.11.2015) (my emphasis)

This emphatic position of  Cecilia Malmström towards Ukraine obtaining a DCFTA with the EU in just over 7 weeks time has elicited the following respone from Putin's glove puppet, Dmitry Medvedev viz. that,

".... the Kremlin plans introduction of customs tariffs, not sanctions against Ukraine. The tariffs will be introduced because Ukraine will no longer be part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) free trade zone. Moscow is also concerned that without such a barrier, Kiev could illegally supply embargoed European goods to Russia." (RT : 13 Nov, 2015)(my emphasis)

All that Putin can now do is to shake his fists at the EU, and threaten that,

"... the threat of Donbass turning into another frozen conflict is still there. It stems from Kiev's policy, which continues to strengthen the blockade of the south-east," he said." (Reuters (CNBC) : 13 Nov., 2015) (my emphasis)

That Putin can so barefacedly make this threat is supported by the fact that,

"Far from international front pages, the situation in eastern Ukraine is once again on the verge of open warfare.
While the situation around Donetsk, the capital of the Russian-backed fighters, has remained strained since the announcement of the newest cease-fire in September, with sporadic small-arms fire reported almost daily, it has deteriorated significantly in the last two weeks." (James Miller and Pierre Vaux : RFERL : 14 Nov., 2015) (my emphasis)

This is how Putin defines a 'frozen conflict'! The continuing suffering of the people caught up in Putin's rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine!

As reported by the UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees),

"For the first time since the suspension of its activities [by Putin's soldiers and rebel-proxies in eastern Ukraine], the UN refugee agency has delivered vital winter aid including plastic sheeting, timber and thousands of blankets for distribution to up to 12,000 highly vulnerable people in an area of eastern Ukraine that is beyond government control." (UNHCR : 9 November)

                                              UN Aid Chief to Visit east Ukraine

That Putin can sleep at night, fully aware of all the suffering and death that his invasion of eastern Ukraine has caused, should give us pause and concern for his state of mind. #

(to be continued)