Putin’s trap
Before the advent of Putin in the Kremlin, we could not have suspected that:
– In Ukraine, there are irreconcilable historical, cultural and religious contradictions between the western and eastern regions;
– Ukrainian nationalists threaten the rights and lives of the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine;
– “Banderites,” backed by the West, are attempting to split Ukraine or break it off from Russia, thus tearing apart “the historic connection between the two brotherly peoples;”
– There is a southeastern Ukraine that dreams of becoming the New Russia [Novorussia] and uniting with Russia.
Obviously, the Kremin fails to notice the fact that as a result of “Banderite” and nationalist acitivities in Ukraine, the number of Russian-speaking people in the population has practically remained the same. But, for over ten years, the Kremlin propaganda has been imposing destructive thoughts about “language infringement,” “federalization,” “Banderites,” etc. on a daily basis.
Fiasco in the East?
As reported by Delta section earlier, the conflict with Russia is now entering the political phase, which, however, might transform into a military one at any moment.
By failing to provoke an armed conflict with Ukraine in Crimea, Russia is currently trying to impose its terms on us and the international community, from the perspective of the winner in the war, which hasn’t actually happened, namely: federalization, securing non-aligned [NATO] status, and the Russian language.
Pathetic attempts by a separatist gang to organize the semblance of “people’s government” in eastern Ukraine were supposed to become [Russia’s] additional argument. To do this, the Kremlin even engaged all of their agents, used to create the image of “people’s discontent.” The “Kremlin hawks” intended to demonstrate this image at upcoming international negotations on Ukraine, proving the necessity of federalization reform. But the West has already replied, “WE DON’T BELIEVE THIS! “
Carthage must be destroyed
Despite this, the Russian Foreign Ministry continues to demonstrate their rapid loss of touch with reality, that was previously achieved so successfully by Putin. Thus, during negotiations with American, European, and even African politicians, Russian Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov and his aides continue to repeat, with the persistence of religious fanatics, the need for “implement the agreements of February 21,” “bringing the eastern and southern Ukraine into international negotiations,” “holding federalization reform,” “resolving the Ukrainian domestic crisis.”
All these phrases are being repeated practically every day for the past month in different interpretations, but with a single purpose – no one should doubt the necessity of the territorial, political, and cultural division of Ukraine.
What did the Russian Foreign Ministry so aggressively insist on, and has it really lost touch with reality?
The agreement of February 21, 2014
The agreement to settle the politicial crisis [in Ukraine] was signed on February 21 by [former Ukrainian President Viktor] Yanukovych and opposition leaders [Vitaly] Klitschko, [Arseniy] Yatsenyuk, and [Oleh] Tyahnybok. Foreign Ministers of Germany and Poland – [Frank-Walter] Steinmeier and [Radoslav] Sikorski, as well as the Director at the Continental Europe Department of the French Foreign Ministry [Eric] Fournier, witnessed the signing [of the agreement].
Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation, [Vladimir] Lukin, who participated in negotiations, has refused to put his signature under the agreement. The agreement specified the return to the 2004 Constitution, holding Presidential elections no later than December of 2014, as well as investigation into the acts of violence in Ukraine.
As you can see, by insisting on the return of the agreement of February 21, Russia forgets that it has no right to do so, due to Lukin’s refusal to put his signature under the agreement.
In addition, if Russia really wants to return to the February 21 agreement, it will be necessary to bring Crimea and [Viktor] Yanukovych back to Ukraine – for substantive conversation.
Involvement of the south and east of Ukraine in international negotiations
The Russian Foreign Ministry has been trying in every possible way to bring representatives of southeastern regions of Ukraine to some international negotiations, without noticing one important detail – the U.S. and the EU do not consider Russian agents who mimic popular rebellion and disagreement with Kyivan “Nazis,” the [people’s] “representatives.”
Around 500 Russian agents and 1,500 “fellow countrymen” recruited by them do not represent the south and the east of Ukraine yet. In the near future, their only fate would be to become the representatives of correctional labor colonies, that makes their participation in negotiations doubtful.
If “serious crisis” is truly prevalent in Ukraine, then not just southeastern, but all Ukrainian oblasts [regions] should be involved in negotiations.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry does not even attempt to make their statement look minimally objective, and instead inflates its real plans regarding Ukraine. At the same time, the Moscow diplomats are openly blackmailing Kyiv officials by announcing that “it is impossible to calm the situation down, if Ukrainian authorities continue to ignore the interests of the southeastern part of Ukraine.”
Federalization reform
According to Russian diplomats, conducting federalization reform should protect the interests of all the regions of our country, strengthen the role of the Russian language and stabilize the situation in Ukraine. Moskovia’s concern for “all” the regions of our country is touching, since, as we have seen above, Putin is only interested in the southeast of Ukraine, since he continues to believe that Russian speakers automatically admire Putin.
The true goals of consitutional reform in our country have been uncovered by a representative of the Insitute of CIS countries [Konstantin] Zatulin in December of 2013, who openly announced that the federalization of Ukraine is necessary for Russia’s blockade of our possible accession to NATO. Here is one of the main goals Russia must achieve through federalization reform. And there is no love or concern for their compatriots.
The second goal – is to save “Russian world” from the “Islamic world” at the expense of Ukraine – since the “Russian” villages and cities are dying out, while Chechnya and Dagestan keep multiplying.
But in general, accepting the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine under Russian gunpoint is not very kosher.
Settlement of Ukrainian domestic crisis
It is important to remind Mr. Lavrov that there is no “domestic crisis in Ukraine,” and instead there is an annexation of Crimea by Russian occupiers, as well as the threat of the military intrusion by Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine. Because of this, Russia’s participation in any “settlement” of a non-existent “domestic crisis in Ukraine” is unacceptable and impossible.
This is why the Ukrainan leadership should press for Russia’s exclusion from any negotiations regarding Ukraine, as a party interested in the territorial split of our country and the annexation of its territories.
But also, the party that completely lost its touch with reality, as well as the party that offers/pushes for some ridiculous suggestions and lives in its own fantasy world along with “Banderites,” “New Russia,” “Great Russia,” and the “Russian world,” which, unfortunately, is rapidly dying out.
How to protect Ukraine from Putin
To ensure the national security, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine, we find it necessary to greatly limit Putin’s impact on Ukraine.
To this end, we call on Ukrainian leadership to initiate four-party talks U.S.-EU-Ukraine-Russia with a goal to come to a decision regarding the constitutional reform in Russia that will include the following:
1. Creation of a new federation subject on the territory of western oblasts of Russia – the Western Ukrainian Autonomous District (with Belgorod as its capital) with broad economic, cultural, and political rights, dual citizens, as well as the fixed non-aligned status.
2. Withdrawal of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from Crimea, the establishment of a demilitarized zone there, and the return of the peninsula under the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
Only then, the Ukrainian leadership would make significant concessions to Russia, by signing the memorandum on the non-aligned status of Ukraine.
Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
