Putin Says He Will Respect the Presidential Choice Made by Ukranian Voters

[Gator]

This morning a European business correspondent interviewed Putin at the St. Petersburg economic conference.  He asked Putin some difficult questions.   I thought it very insightful.

First, my hat is off to Putin for making himself vulnerable to such unscripted questioning.  Obama would NEVER do such. 

One of the questions was whether Putin would accept the results of Sunday's Presidential Election in Ukraine.  Putin twice answered indirectly without committing one way or the other.  The third time asked, he answered directly as can be heard in this video clip:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101700307

(note:  Putin's Russian is on the right speaker, the English interpretation on the left).

[Gator]

This was a great interview, very insightful.

Some points made by Putin:

1.  Yanukovych was ousted by a coup d'état because his removal did not follow the Ukrainian constitution.

2.  The conflict in Ukraine became critical when Ukraine refused dialogue with Russia about Russia's economic and security concerns.  In other words, it was Ukraine who broke off statesmanship. 

3.  The manner in which Russia annexed Crimea avoided bloodshed, offering Odessa and southeast Ukraine as examples where there were deaths.

4.  Parts of Ukraine are in a civil war.

5.  The EU and US sanctions will boomerang against the West as Russia develops stronger Eurasian ties and the issues in Syria and Iran become larger.

6.  Obama is in no position to judge him.

7.  The "reset" relationship between the US and Russia had already started to deteriorate because of Snowden (whom Putin labeled as a fighter for human rights). 

8.  Snowden must first receive clearance from Russia when publishing anything (ed. does this make Snowden a Russian agent?).

9.  Relations with Ukraine would improve if Ukraine would repay the $3-4 billion it owes Russia for gas.

[Gator]

An immediate followup discussion by correspondents revealed the following:

1.  The Russian economy is growing only at 0.5% and could sink to recession.

2.  Inflation is over 7%.

3.  The deal with China about gas and bypassing the dollar is not significant.  China will not give Russia any special favors that would inhibit's China's trade relations with the West.


I found one correspondent's take very interesting:   Putin is in a box.  Public opinion in Russia would turn against Putin if the Russian economy worsens.  Putin must do everything to stay in power forever, because once removed he would be charged with corruption and put in jail.  His pugilistic demeanor and actions keep his approval ratings high, so do not expect Putin to back off. 

[BillyB]

Putin Says He will Respect the Presidential Choice Made by Ukrainian Voters.

REALLY? I read that too in the article below. Could Putin be telling the truth this time and peace and harmony be in everybody's future? Leading up to this election, in Russia, Putin has shut down the candy factories and seized the assets of the leading Ukrainian presidential contender. Seems like the media is forgetting to put in the "dis" into respect when reporting Putin's words? But then again, words and action are two different things. I predict Putin will continue to supply the pro Russians with arms and push a civil war, until he can get a puppet back in power. Why should Putin start showing respect to Ukrainians now when he hasn't done so in the last few months?


http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/05/23/putin-says-russia-will-respect-ukraine-vote/?intcmp=latestnews

3.  The deal with China about gas and bypassing the dollar is not significant. 

Somebody has to start replacing the dollar somewhere for it to get significant, if not today, in the future.

[Faux Pas]

Gator

The main caveat is, Putin hasn't been good on his word certainly since the protest of Maiden and one could go much farther back than that. Hollow words and empty promises. Putin has Russia in a grip (along with UA) and he looks to be Emperor of Russia. The only truth that comes out of the man is what might work to his favor

[BillyB]

Now that the Ukrainian election is here, we know pro Russians will provide a safe and peaceful environment for voters based on recent history.


There's no doubt Ukraine will go WEST. Putin knew this from the beginning and that is why he moved to steal Crimea and encouraged a civil war in east Ukraine to get the rest of the pie. How many people will trust Putin if he came to your home and stole some land? I'm sure some people would. After how Putin disrespected Ukraine, shut down his businesses, and seized his personal assets in Russia, the new president will be a fool if he didn't keep enough security around him to discourage an assassination attempt.


Some of you remember The Village People singing the song "Go West", a gay themed song of encouraging people to head to San Fransisco. The Pet Shop Boys did a cover of the song in 1993, after the wall came down, in the video below with a Soviet theme and they were wearing costumes with Ukrainian themed colors while singing "Go West". When I was 23 yo and first heard this song, I didn't care about the people over there and didn't give it much thought on what they were saying. I understand more today


The Ukrainian government will need to make major changes for the Ukraine to succeed. First they must stop the pro Russians from killing people, causing unrest, and stop Russian weapons from crossing the border. The new president will have more mandate than the intern president to do so. Next they must remove corruption from the top and all the way to the lowest civil servant. Maybe someday Ukrainians will live more prosperous than Russians just as their neighbors next door are doing. The place may become a better place to live and stop the decline of their population. Some people are insulted and feel threatened by Ukraine's change in direction. Don't worry. If Ukraine fails in it's attempt to adopt a western style economy, Mother Russia will always welcome them back with open arms.

[Muzh]

Really?


And I'm pretty sure that there a fantastic deal on a bridge that's for sale.


The fascist pig man is trying to repeat history. But, don't take it from me.

[Photo Guy]

Billy, I agree- more border security. Seal the border. Isolate the separatists who are from Russia. Convince eastern Ukrainians that a united Ukraine is in their best interests.

[Gator]

Putin has indicated he will endeavor to work with the new government in Ukraine.  That does not mean Putin is reducing his demands.  Putin will be as difficult as always, yet at least he has someone with whom to communicate directly.   

[BillyB]

That does not mean Putin is reducing his demands.  Putin will be as difficult as always, yet at least he has someone with whom to communicate directly.
 

I don't think Putin will reduce his demands either. He told the Ukrainian president the meeting he wants must exclude EU and America. What will happen in a private one on one meeting? Bullying? Bribing? Both?

[Gator]

What will happen in a private one on one meeting? Bullying? Bribing? Both?

Maybe Poroshenko will show Putin the "chocolate highway."

[AkMike]

My wife is still visiting there for a few more weeks and she says Petro has shown that he's 'chocolate covered steel' for his actions against the terrorists.

[Faux Pas]

 Putin's Frog-in-a-Pot War
There's an anecdote about a frog in a pot of water that goes like this: If you put a frog in a pot of hot or boiling water, it will immediately jump out (or die). But if you put it in a pot of cold water, and then gradually heat it, the frog won't notice the change in temperature until it's cooked.

I'm not sure if that's actually true or not, but it's a useful metaphor for the type of warfare Russian President Vladimir Putin has now unleashed on Ukraine. The idea is that people tend not to notice very gradual change, and if the process is carefully managed, people can be taken from one state of affairs to another, quite different one, without them even noticing exactly how or when they got there.

http://euan-macdonald.blogspot.com/2014/06/putins-frog-in-pot-war.html