Vladimir Putin Runs the Table in Ukraine and Shows Joe Biden to Be a Feckless and Unreliable Security Partner – Opinion

A couple of hours ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech that some reflexively anti-Russian pundits called “a declaration of war.” It wasn’t. Not right now, anyway. Bonchie (my colleague) has the full details. Let’s just say that Putin stated that he will recognize de facto Ukrainian independence in the pro-Russian Donetsk, Luhansk areas of Eastern Ukraine. You should not be shocked at this and get off your console. Supporting an autonomous status for Donetsk and Luhansk has been Russia’s position since the annexation of Crimea. Russia issued Russian passports to everyone in Donetsk or Luhansk that could want them, which entitles them to citizenship. To date, around 20% of this population have taken Moscow up to the offer. In the context of this ginned-up “crisis,” it is hardly surprising that Putin would carry through on a move that has been telegraphed for nearly a decade…but wasn’t executed until Joey SoftServe was in the Oval Office.

Besides officially recognizing autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk, Putin’s speech was boilerplate Russian sniveling that we’ve heard since the USSR imploded some 30 years ago.

Below are highlights courtesy Reuters

DONBASS

“Those who embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed, lawlessness did not recognize and do not recognize any other solution to the Donbass issue, except for the military one. In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic. The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation should support my decision and ratify the agreements of friendship and mutual aid with each republic. In the near future, these two documents will both be ready and signed. We demand that all those in power at Kyiv cease hostilities immediately.

“Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine. I announce the decision taken today and am sure of the support from the Russian citizens. Of all the patriotic forces of the country.”

ON UKRAINE MEMBERSHIP TO NATO

“If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.”

ON THE ORIGINS MODERN UKRAINE

“Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917…

“As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called ‘Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s Ukraine’. His authorship and architecture are his. This is fully confirmed by archive documents … And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. They call this decommunization. Are you ready for decommunization? We like that. However, it’s not necessary to end at half-way. We are ready to show you what real decommunisation means for Ukraine.”

ON UKRAINIAN STATEHOOD

“Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.”

BREAK-UP IN USSR

“Russia assumed obligations to repay the entire Soviet debt in return for the newly independent states giving up part of their foreign assets. In 1994, such agreements were reached with Ukraine, but they were not ratified by Ukraine…

“(Ukraine) preferred to act in such a way that in relations with Russia they had all the rights and advantages, but did not bear any obligations…

“From the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine.”

ON NATO’S 2008 MEMBERSHIP PROMISE TO UKRAINE AND GEORGIA

“Many European allies of the United States already perfectly understood all the risks of such a prospect, but were forced to come to terms with the will of their senior partner. They used them simply to pursue a strongly anti-Russian strategy. Many member countries of NATO remain skeptical of Ukraine’s inclusion. We are also receiving signals from European capitals saying, “What are you concerned about? This will not happen immediately.” Our American counterparts are talking about it as well. Our answer is, “If not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow.” How does history view this? Basically, nothing. We know from the U.S. leadership’s position that there is no way for this country to join NATO, even if they can defeat corruption and meet all the requirements of North Atlantic alliance. They also try to persuade us that NATO is an alliance that values peace and defense, and that Russia poses no threat. Once again, they suggest we believe them. But we know the real value of such words.”

RUSSIA: THREATS

“We clearly understand that under such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will dramatically increase many times over. The danger of an attack on our country from a surprise strike will rise many times. I will explain. The U.S. Strategic Planning documents include the possibility for a preemptive strike against hostile missile systems. Who is NATO’s main enemy? This is also something we are aware of. It’s Russia. NATO documents declare that Russia is the principal threat to North Atlantic security. Ukraine is a potential springboard to the strike. Our ancestors would not have believed that if they heard of it. And today we don’t want to believe it, but it’s true.”

ON SANCTIONS

“They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia’s sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. A pretext to another attack on sanctions will be created or found. Whatever the circumstances in Ukraine. There is only one goal – to restrain the development of Russia. They will continue to do so, just as before. And they will, without any official pretext. We are here simply because we exist. This does not mean that we should compromise our sovereignty or national interests. In the present situation where our calls for equal discussion on basic issues remain unanswered in NATO and the United States, Russia is entitled to take appropriate retaliatory steps to protect its security. That is exactly what we will do.”

We got here by accident.

Let’s review the bidding. Joey SoftServe President Zelensky and Ukraine’s Joey SoftServe had a phone conversation in December 2019. The Associated Press reports that Biden leaned on Zelensky during this call to offer Russia territorial concessions.

Officials in the Administration suggested that they will push Ukraine to cede some autonomy within its eastern Donbas, where Russia-backed separatists rose up against Kyiv last year.

Euronews verified this report. This opening move by Biden confirmed for Putin and Europe that the United States doesn’t see Ukrainian territorial integrity as a US security goal.

The Senate approved a bill on January 13 to impose sanctions against the Russian Nord Stream 2 Project. This was a rare act of political foresight and courage. Senate Democrats defeated the bill, aided by the White House. Chuck Schumer and any other Democrat have not attempted to sanction Russia in the past.

Biden made it clear that he would accept any Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory on January 19.

Meanwhile, US media has been carrying improbable story after improbable story (The Washington Post Throws Shade on a Major CNN ‘Scoop’ About Intercepted Russian Communications and Rightfully So) while Blinken and Biden and others are continuing to predict an immediate invasion.

Just two days ago, President Zelensky indicated that he was less than excited about how Biden was “helping” him.

Over the weekend, a security conference was held in Munich on the Ukraine “crisis.” For reasons we can only speculate, Joe Biden elected to stay home and send loudmouth, cackling naif Kamala Harris to represent US interests. This should have been grounds to impeach and remove Biden from office if the GOP wins control of Congress. As the president doesn’t need to be in office to impeach and remove him from office, we can do this to Biden even if we have to reenact King Charles II dealing with the Regicides.

The Biden junta’s response has been singularly toothless, considering they admit they anticipated Putin’s move.

We anticipated Russia’s move and we are prepared to react immediately. The President of the United States, Joe Biden, will issue soon an Executive Order prohibiting new investments, trade and financing from U.S. citizens to or from Ukraine’s so-called DNR/LNR regions. The E.O. The E.O. also gives the power to impose sanctions against anyone operating in such areas. Further details about this will soon be available from the Departments of State and Treasury. We will also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments.

Let’s be very clear, these are different from the severe and rapid economic measures that we have been working in coordination to Allies and Partners in case Russia invades Ukraine.

We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia’s ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine.

Why wasn’t the executive order drafted and ready to sign if they anticipated the move? It is ineffective beyond that. Nearly zero US-based companies or persons have direct investment, trade, financing, or finance in Donetsk. It is not secondary sanctions. The US can still work with Russian banks involved in Eastern Ukraine by bringing in foreign companies to deal with them. This alone shows that the sanctions are not severe. In the last paragraph, it won’t be lost to the Russians that Ukraine is almost mentioned as an afterthought rather than the primary aggrieved party.

Putin holds the power table as it is now. Because he recognized Donetsk as an autonomous country, he can deploy troops there. It will seem plausible to most people, regardless of how thin this might appear to the international policy establishment. His actions will not result in any sanctions. And he’s set the predicate for rolling back NATO from Georgia (the country not the state for the benefit of the assclowns at Media Matters) and the Baltic States

We have seen one of two options. Either Putin punked Joe Biden and left all the world to gape in amazement at the ease and audacity of the act, or he worked hand-in-glove with Biden and Anthony Blinken to carve up Ukraine at virtually no cost to Putin–sort of reminiscent of how Poland was dismembered in 1939. Either one of these options caused the US to lose credibility and Putin proved that Joe Biden was not capable of meeting the challenges. The next few years are going to be very difficult.