Putin Softens Stance on Ukraine EU Deals

[Boethius]

From the Ukrainian Journal

http://ukrainianjournal.com/index.php?w=article&id=17346


KIEV, Oct. 8 – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday may have softened his stance against Ukraine’s plans for signing free trade and political association agreements with the European Union.

Putin, speaking at the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bali, Indonesia, said the move may cause trade difficulties, but will not cause any political problems between the two.

“This might cause problems with trade turnover and cooperation,” Putin said, Interfax-Ukraine reported. “But we will not have any problems in the political sphere, I'm sure.”

The surprise remark comes as Russian officials for two months have been predicting a financial disaster and catastrophe for Ukraine should Kiev sign the agreements with Brussels late November.

Moscow warned it would impose severe trade restrictions against Ukrainian imports that would hurt the Ukrainian economy. Instead, the Russian officials said, Ukraine should join the Moscow-led Customs Union trade bloc.

Putin’s remark comes a day after Belarus, a founding member of the Customs Union, said there would be “no problem” if Ukraine signs the agreements with the EU.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said it was only important that Ukraine does not shut its cooperation with the Customs Union completely.

Putin’s tough stance and intimidation rhetoric have been repeatedly credited by analysts for intensifying Ukraine’s increasing drift towards the EU.

The change of tone may be a sign that Putin will not try to change the policy by offering political concessions to Ukraine.

Ukrainian opposition leaders, who push for the EU agreements, said Putin may have changed his tactic, but the country should continue to move towards Europe.

“For half a year they have been shooting at Ukraine by using all their available arsenal of weapons, from economic tools to political pressure, and they finally have understood that we have survived,” Arseniy Yatseniuk, the leader of the opposition Batkivshchyna group, said. “Now, they pulled the carrot instead of the stick.”

Yatseniuk said Ukraine should continue reforms and approving legislation that complies with the EU before Moscow changes tactic again.

“We must look not at the statements, but at real actions,” Yatseniuk said. “But the real actions, unfortunately, remain the same: Russia putting pressure on Ukraine seeking to take it to the Customs Union.”

“This change of tactic is a temporary phenomenon and we must be ready for this,” he said.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov hoped to use Lukashenko as an intermediary in negotiations with Russia seeking to prevent a trade war later this year.

But Putin on Tuesday suggested beginning consultations between Ukraine and Russia that will sort problems out.

“We hope our Ukrainian friends will talk to us too before making any steps,” Putin said. “And this is not an irony. We suggested holding a meeting with consultations at governmental level to examine all positive and negatives of our relations with our partners.”

[lordtiberius]

Is there a pro-Russian sentiment in Ukraine?  I know there is one in Crimea.  But in Kharkov, Dneper, Kherson, Luhansk?  I don't think there is much of one in Kiev.  In fact there was an article discussed on one of the other forums about the Irelandization of Eastern Ukraine that it is turning into another Russia rather than pro-Russia. 

[Boethius]

There is no desire to reunify with Russia, and that is in almost every poll I've read.

[lordtiberius]

Not in the Crimea?

[lordtiberius]

Crimea asks Kiev to sign agreement with Customs Union


http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_12_03/Crimea-asks-Kiev-to-sign-agreement-with-Customs-Union-2217/

Crimean parliament urges the Ukrainian authorities to consider the possibility of joining the Customs Union.
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Crimea proposed to President and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in a short time to consider the possibility of Ukraine's accession to the Customs Union.
Sergei Tsekov, the chairman of the Russian Community in Crimea, the first deputy chairman of the political party Russkoye Edintstvo (Russian Unity) announced this during a broadcast in Voice of Russia:
"Many people are beginning to realize that a revolution, which they attempt to commit in Kiev, occurs with the influence from the West. In addition, the vast majority of people from southeastern part of the country support the Party of Regions and Viktor Yanukovych, and they are for Ukraine joining the Customs Union, and not the EU. Therefore, we think that both the President and the Cabinet of Ministers will listen to the proposal for accession to the Customs Union", – stated Tsekov.
Voice of Russia

[steveboy]

Im not into politics, but all who I know have no desire to work with the EU.
There is not one person in Transnistria who want to be taken away from Moscow, the same applies to many a fair few in Moldova, though not quiet as much because the country needs their funds.
A huge majority in ukraine want to stay with Russia.

If you ask me it is just the US stirring shit up with the aid of the EU to try again to put the boot in to Putin. Why cant they keep their big beak out of things.
Despite some of Putins bad points he's a great leader a million times more powerful than any US president. Lets put Obama in a boxing ring with Putin and see who comes out In fact lets put him in the ring with any European leaders and see who wins!
I think their are to many leaders in the West jealous of Putin.

God bless President Putin the best guy on earth!!

[Muzh]

I think Putina is a bit too late on his declarations. The dyke broke and the water is flowing.

[lordtiberius]

some more red meat for the Russophiles:

[mendeleyev]

God bless President Putin the best guy on earth!!

I am likely viewed by some as very pro-Putin when I stand on principle of Russia's right to self determination without interference from the West.

Most Russians view me as very anti-Putin because I take him to task from time to time.

Steveboy, I'm also likely the only person you know who could walk up to Mr. Putin and be recognized; sometimes that is a good thing and at other times not so good. No, he is not the "best guy on earth" and so I'll respond to your orgasmic gushing. Sorry, the Russian president has his strong points but he possesses a multitude of weaknesses as well. Is he smarter than Hussein Obama? My dog is smarter then the pseudo law professor on the Potomac, but to the larger issue Mr. Putin is more cunning, more clever, and more attuned to the realities of what it takes to be a world mover and shaker, as opposed to being the failing CEO of a website that doesn't work.

All that being said however does not make Mr. Putin a good leader. Good leaders lead their people and often sacrifice for the greater good of the people they lead. That is a characteristic that is glaringly absent from the rule of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin grew up with and cannot separate himself from the Soviet idea that somehow the state itself is more important that the people who make up that state.

[lordtiberius]

Letat cest moi

[Muzh]

Tights don't become you. 

[Misha]

Letat cest moi

It should be L'État, c'est moi! But, for all his faults, this statement attributed to Louis XIV is more legend than historical fact.

[steveboy]

I am likely viewed by some as very pro-Putin when I stand on principle of Russia's right to self determination without interference from the West.

Most Russians view me as very anti-Putin because I take him to task from time to time.

Steveboy, I'm also likely the only person you know who could walk up to Mr. Putin and be recognized; sometimes that is a good thing and at other times not so good. No, he is not the "best guy on earth" and so I'll respond to your orgasmic gushing. Sorry, the Russian president has his strong points but he possesses a multitude of weaknesses as well. Is he smarter than Hussein Obama? My dog is smarter then the pseudo law professor on the Potomac, but to the larger issue Mr. Putin is more cunning, more clever, and more attuned to the realities of what it takes to be a world mover and shaker, as opposed to being the failing CEO of a website that doesn't work.

All that being said however does not make Mr. Putin a good leader. Good leaders lead their people and often sacrifice for the greater good of the people they lead. That is a characteristic that is glaringly absent from the rule of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin grew up with and cannot separate himself from the Soviet idea that somehow the state itself is more important that the people who make up that state.

A failing CEO of a web site that doesn't work?? Thats me is it? lol

[lordtiberius]

One of the rare English speaking videos without Kichko or Goldilocks.  This features Tyanybok and Lutsenko.  Lutsenko, previously jailed and released first called this a revolution ahead of everyone else.  Tyanybok admits seizing the Kiev City government bldgs as his HQ.

[mendeleyev]

Steve, I think your website actually works. There is a certain disaster in DC masquerading as a health care website that doesn't work.

[steveboy]

Steve, I think your website actually works. There is a certain disaster in DC masquerading as a health care website that doesn't work.

aaaa ok, take what I say about Putin with a pinch of salt:) I still think he's a great leader and has done a lot for Russia:)

What is the chance of getting me a meeting with him just to shake hands? I mean you could say Im on of his greatest fans or something?

[jone]

I am likely viewed by some as very pro-Putin when I stand on principle of Russia's right to self determination without interference from the West.

Most Russians view me as very anti-Putin because I take him to task from time to time.

Steveboy, I'm also likely the only person you know who could walk up to Mr. Putin and be recognized; sometimes that is a good thing and at other times not so good. No, he is not the "best guy on earth" and so I'll respond to your orgasmic gushing. Sorry, the Russian president has his strong points but he possesses a multitude of weaknesses as well. Is he smarter than Hussein Obama? My dog is smarter then the pseudo law professor on the Potomac, but to the larger issue Mr. Putin is more cunning, more clever, and more attuned to the realities of what it takes to be a world mover and shaker, as opposed to being the failing CEO of a website that doesn't work.

All that being said however does not make Mr. Putin a good leader. Good leaders lead their people and often sacrifice for the greater good of the people they lead. That is a characteristic that is glaringly absent from the rule of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin grew up with and cannot separate himself from the Soviet idea that somehow the state itself is more important that the people who make up that state.

+1 Mendy - great post. 

[lordtiberius]

A dated video but an informative non-Putin propagandist video in English.  For all this talk of this being a CIA plot, there is a shocking dearth of US media backing this conspiracy: