Russian President Putin announced that Moscow will recognise the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.
He gave a long and very detailed speech to this.
Whatever you think of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, I would recommend listening VERY carefully to what he says.
He says: We have nowhere to retreat to.
In a long speech, Putin takes stock of Russia’s development since the collapse of the Soviet Union. He talks about Russia’s desire to be part of European structures and NATO. Of the endless concessions to the West. About the aid Russia has provided, for years, to the newly sovereign states that have broken away from the former CIS, including Ukraine.
He is talking about Ukraine.
For my part, I would add that he is talking about a country which, unfortunately, was eventually taken over and partitioned by local oligarchs. A country with a system riddled with enormous corruption, built on impoverishing and exploiting the Ukrainian population. A weak state that was incapable of real constitution.
But power is not really held by politicians, institutions, courts, police. The country is run by completely different people.
The truth, and the unpleasant truth, about Ukraine is that the central government has virtually no control over Ukraine. The country is run by oligarchic clans.Corruption, incomprehensible by our (Czech) standards, has corroded the system of executive power here. The result, then, is a state where people live on absolutely ridiculous wages, institutions are weak, the law is corrupt and you can achieve nothing without bribes.
Government, elections, the media… it’s all happening here. But power is not really held by politicians, institutions, courts, police. The country is run by completely different people.
When the Maidan started in 2014, it eventually turned against the Russians. A peaceful protest against bad conditions in the country turned into a geopolitical event. Which eventually turned into killing and terror. The trigger was a language law that put ethnic Russians in Ukraine in the position of second-class citizens. This event sparked a revolt and led to the secession of Crimea and the creation of two separatist republics. Donetsk. Luhansk. As developments continued, the conflict understandably led to escalation and fierce fighting with the Kiev central government.
Referring to the agreements between Gorbachev, Yeltsin and Western politicians, he states: ‘We have been deceived’.
Russia supported the rebel republics. Putin doesn’t talk about that. But it is a reality.
On the other hand, Putin names the fact that the training of Ukraine’s soldiers and their management and weapons supply is done from the West. Putin is talking about weapons, military maneuvers and the threat to Russia that is imminent from the considerations and steps taken towards Ukraine’s participation in NATO.
He speaks of five waves of NATO expansion, towards Russia’s borders. Referring to the agreements between Gorbachev, Yeltsin and Western politicians, he states: ‘We have been deceived’.
The Russians believe that Ukraine’s participation in NATO is only a matter of time.
But for Russia, this means real danger. A ballistic missile launched from Ukraine will hit Moscow, Volgograd, Samara in minutes. The missiles could destroy the entire European territory of Russia, all the way to the Urals. In a matter of hours. This is a red line beyond which we cannot go. It’s about survival.
The next war won’t be about tank battles. And offensives. Trenching. It’s about ballistic missiles…
The next war won’t be about tank battles. And offensives. Trenching. It’s about ballistic missiles that can destroy an entire continent in a single wave of nuclear attack.
We have to be realistic about this.
I have no need to defend Russia or Ukraine. To take sides. On the contrary. I wish for peace, like any normal person.
I want both countries to prosper. I wish for good and peaceful relations. So that in the future we can benefit from mutual neighborliness, peace, and broad cultural, social and commercial exchange.
I understand that Ukraine wants to break free from Russian influence. It is clear from conversations with Ukrainians I meet here in Ostrava that they simply wish to live in a normal European country.Earn money, live decently, raise their children. To live in peace.
The Russians are simply worried about their own state. Ukraine in NATO is a mortal threat to them.
Which is not possible when they have Russians as neighbours who cannot afford Ukraine’s involvement in global military structures.
The Russians are simply worried about their own state. Ukraine in NATO is a mortal threat to them.
There is a way out. Of course.
We can and should have done it long ago: link Europe from Gibraltar to the Urals. Bind the various European countries together with peace agreements. Including Ukraine and Russia. Link Europe with modern infrastructure. Through economic exchange. With a system of security guarantees that will give Russia a clear and explicit guarantee that no one will ever attack them from Europe. Then the problem of Ukraine, Russia and European prosperity will be solved.
After all, mutually beneficial cooperation would gradually smooth out friction points and conflicts.
Linking Russia and Europe through a system of economic exchange, with stable and peaceful cooperation, would mean a new strong geopolitical centre that would benefit the whole of Europe. And the world. After all, mutually beneficial cooperation would gradually smooth out friction points and conflicts. And Europe, as an oasis of democracy, would be able to give a cooperating Russia a much-needed boost. For society, politics, culture, science and technology.
But there seems, God knows why, little interest in this sensible solution.
We are again threatened with sanctions. We will stop the completed Nord Stream 2.
The question is why, exactly. Perhaps this is the cardinal question.
Russians don’t start wars. But they usually end them.
Qui bono.
And the last thing? A statement towards “warriors” of all kinds, shades and colours.
Never threaten the Russians with weapons.
Russians don’t start wars. But they usually end them.
