Ukrainian president-elect. Volodmyr Zelinsky (left), has stated that," ... "several moves" are in the pipeline to respond to the issue of Russian passports in Russia-occupied Donbas. "[We're] preparing. We have got several moves, so to speak.
...
In this issue, we must be creative, we must be fast, smart – as we are, fresh. Therefore, we're working now, and then we will show [them]," Zelensky said when asked if he has any legislative proposals concerning the issue of Russian passports in Donbas, according to an UNIAN correspondent. (UNIAN : 4 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
Just one day later, UNIAN also reports that,
"We found out that the 'DPR' illegal armed formations, with financial and organizational support on the part of the Russian Federation, is carrying out a total militarization of children, teenagers and youth living in the occupied part of Donetsk region through paramilitary bootcamps and pseudo-patriotic clubs," the report said. (YouTube)...
At the same time, the ideology of separatism and the 'Russian World' is being imposed on children. (UNIAN : 5 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
And if this is not bad enough for the incoming president of Ukraine, Volodmyr Zelinsky, Trump and Putin had a one hour telephone conversation last Friday, 3 May 2019, during which they discussed, among other things,Ukraine.
As reported by Maegan Vazquez and Allie Malloy (left),
"The Kremlin said the phone call was initiated by Trump.
...
Friday's conversation was part of a larger discussion that was focused on the crisis in Venezuela and also touched on North Korea, a potential nuclear deal with Russia and China, and the situation in Ukraine. (CNN : 4 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
(full video: MSNBC : 4 May, 2019)
The questions that now have to be asked of Ukraine's president-elect Volodmyr Zelinsky are:
- What "creative" legislative proposals concerning the issue of Russian passports in Donbas does he have in mind?
- How is he going to respond to Putin who, following in the footsteps of so many brutal rebel forces in Africa, is now bankrolling the training of children in rebel-occupied Eastern Ukraine (Donbas) to become soldiers?
Critically, how is Zelensky going to deal with Trump, Putin's 'Manchurian Candidate'?
Already,
"There has been escalation in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, as the number of Russia-led forces' attacks on Ukrainian positions grew to 21 instances on May 3; proscribed weapons – 120mm and 82mm mortars – were used in nine attacks." (UNIAN : 4 May, 2019) (my emphasis)This escalation of his war with Ukraine is Putin's way of deflecting the growing economic crisis in Russia from the minds of the Russian people.
Just today, as Ahmad Ghaddar (left) reports,"Oil prices tumbled on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would sharply raise tariffs on Chinese goods this week, risking the derailment of trade talks between the world’s two biggest economies." (Reuters : 6 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
This fall in the price of oil simply compounds Putin's woes about the failing Russian economy.
Meanwhile,
- Consumer price-inflation continues to decline in Ukraine, slowing to 5% (UNIAN: 5 May, 2019)
- The IMF will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to,"complete the transformation of Ukraine into a modern market economy that is firmly governed by the rule of law and that is able to attract the higher levels of investment needed to achieve stronger and sustainable growth, and for incomes to catch up with the levels seen in Ukraine's regional peers." Christine Lagarde (right): UNIAN : 3 May 2019) (my emphasis)
Ukraine's president-elect Zelenzky will have to deal with a Putin and a Trump who are both facing dangers to their respective presidencies.
Putin will escalate his war against Ukraine to try and regain his popuarity amongst the Russian people.
Trump, on the other hand, is using an economic war against China to save his presidency.
How will Zelensky handle the dangerous unpredictability of Putin and Trump?
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