Ukraine: how to close the door on Putin

2014/9/17 23:50:38

Ukrainians must get serious about reforming their own state. First and foremost, this means fighting the grotesque corruption that has been the stock in trade of post-Soviet Ukrainian politics. That has to change.

 

As for Russia, one thing we must never forget is that, for all his current popularity, Putin is not Russia and Russia is not Putin. In whatever we say and do, we should keep returning to that vital distinction. And, sometime over these next 10 years, Putin will go.


From The Guardian 17, September 2014

 

The European Union must develop a 10-year plan for Ukraine. This plan will also define what Europe itself will be a decade hence. In tribute to Europe’s pivotal politician, who has clearly led Europe’s evolving policy towards Ukraine, we might call it the Merkel plan. If it succeeds, a characteristically European version of liberal order will have prevailed over the conservative, nationalist recipe for permanent, violent disorder represented by Vladimir Putin. If it fails, Europe fails again.

 

Our plan should have three main prongs – military, political and economic – each of them with multiple components, all to be adapted as circumstances change. The US has its part to play, but in a supporting, not leading, role.

 

To have a plan, we Europeans must know what we are responding to. This is difficult, since Putin is in the erratic, hubristic mental state typical of your late-period autocrat. Nonetheless, my best guess is that what he currently aims to do is to keep southeastern Ukraine in such a state of turmoil, divided power and Russian influence that the country as a whole cannot consolidate its position as a sovereign, functioning state – let alone move closer to the EU and Nato. Crucial to this strategy is a porous Russian-Ukrainian frontier, through which Russian arms and agitators can move at will.

 

For full text, Link below

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisf ... dimir-putin-europe-russia

 

photo courtesy of article source

 

 

###

Printer Friendly Page Send this Story to a Friend Create a PDF from the article