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Vladimir Putin does have an end-game in Ukraine: its making Ukraine's next government politically and personally bound to Russia. As Ruslan Pukhov points out, the Ukrainian nationalists should have been happy to slough off the pro-Moscow Crimea to Russia. As a result of their short-sightedness, Crimea will probably end up with enhanced autonomy and with more through pro-Russia domination of the political life of Ukraine than before the Maidan. Russia wants a Ukraine that recognizes its special status. If this theory is correct, Russia's President Putin can thwart the West without a single shot being fired. And that is because Putin looks at the big picture, something every one else appears to be missing. Whether that is in the cards, remains to be seen.
1 posted on 03/04/2014 9:48:19 PM PST by goldstategop
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To: goldstategop

This is pretty good. I like it. I don’t think it’s all of it, but it definitely has the ring of truth. Besides, Putin is ex-KGB Soviet, and the USSR was all about the vassal state thing. So you’ve got to believe he’d be happy with an obedient vassal Ukraine, looking a pretty and democratic-like to the world, while he can give a twitch here and there to the vssal president’s you-know-whats whenever Russia had need of his obedience. Gotta love efficiency.


2 posted on 03/04/2014 9:53:08 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: goldstategop
“Mr. Putin’s threat of invading Ukraine makes Ms. Tymoshenko the only national leader with the authority and capability to forge an agreement with Russia. Having made a string of the appropriate patriotic statements, Ms. Tymoshenko has already announced her readiness to talk to Mr. Putin “for Ukraine’s sake.” She is likely to return triumphant, having “stopped” the invasion of the “Russian horde,” and even with some Russian financial aid.”

The author is obviously an employee or agent of Ms. Tymoshenko. That is the whole purpose of the article, to her make her seem like a credible leader.

I am not an expert on the Ukraine but my understanding is that she failed miserably and has little if any support. Perhaps this is why Putin wants her in control. He wants her as a weak puppet that he can easily control.

4 posted on 03/04/2014 10:12:23 PM PST by detective
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To: goldstategop

Putin’s end game is to be on a Vegas stage singing, Back in the U.S.S.R. /sarcasm


5 posted on 03/04/2014 10:17:06 PM PST by PGalt
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To: goldstategop

The more I learn about the situation, and how things went down, the more I am coming down on the Russian side of this.

Yeah, Putin is an SOB. Yes he’s a corrupt SOB. Yes, Yanko was a corrupt SOB, too.

But he was right to move to stop things after Soro’s Open Society Institute and related NGO’s, likely with covert US help, destabilized Ukraine, just like they have done in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Syria.

There are direct Russian interests at stake, and Russia has the right by treaty to have troops in Crimea. If anything, Putin is at fault for not moving fast enough.

A weak and spineless US President isn’t helping things, nor is a Europe that sacrificed the Coal and Hydro Electric plants on the altar of Globo Warmin’/International Socialism, trading them for a dependence on Russian gas to stay out of the dark.

And don’t forget how big a role the Snowden Secrets are likely playing here, as well.


6 posted on 03/04/2014 10:20:05 PM PST by tcrlaf (Well, it is what the Sheeple voted for....)
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To: goldstategop

Giving up a land mass to avoid a political thorn in the future is not thinking long term imho. Thats like saying, lets give up Texas, so Democrats will always win US national election


7 posted on 03/04/2014 10:23:35 PM PST by 4rcane
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To: goldstategop

If this theory is correct, Russia’s President Putin can thwart the West without a single shot being fired
////////////
Well......maybe just one shot....right between Putin’s beady eyes.

OPERATION OSWALD

Yep, Ukraine gets that billion from Kerry and they put a hit out on RuskieBoy. 100 million ought to do it. Yeah the Ruskies would get mad but what would their response be.....heheheheh.


11 posted on 03/04/2014 10:32:40 PM PST by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, WIN LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
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To: goldstategop

Your analysis is based upon the assumption that a plurality of Russians-in-Ukraine prefer integration into Russia vice Ukraine or autonomy. That assumption is patently false.

It is the same situation as Hitler’s annexation of Czechoslovakia. Invading on the pretense of popular support for integration.


14 posted on 03/05/2014 3:49:12 AM PST by Justa
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To: goldstategop

Yulia is indeed the one person who can lead Ukraine and deal with both Russia (Putin) and the west. She is the right man for the job.

I have no problem with the so-called oligarchs, aka the rich. You cannot have a vibrant economy with some people becoming rich. The question always is whether they are rich because they are crony capitalists (AKA fascism) or because of free-market capitalists (AKA capitalism).

I agree that Russia might not want annexation or full independence for Crimea. What Russia wants is for Ukraine to join its proposed Eurasian trading bloc. In any case, Russia want Ukraine to provide Russia connections with European markets on a fair basis. Actually, Ukraine also wants to be the conduit for Russian trade with Europe.

Putin also wants to be perceived as a winner, as strong, as a nationalist. This is how he and his party win elections against the communists and ultra-nationalists of Russia. Putin and the All Russia Party is much better than the alternatives. There is a Social Democratic Party and a (recently formed) business-oriented free market-liberal party in Russia, but each of these is tiny. So, for the time being at least, this is a case of the devil you know being better than the devil you don’t.


15 posted on 03/05/2014 4:05:38 AM PST by Redmen4ever
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