Kerry-Lavrov to negotiate on Russia's terms.
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:40 pm
This really is brilliant.John wrote: Russia issued its own statement:
"Vladimir Putin drew Barack Obama’s attention to continued rampage of extremists who are committing acts of intimidation towards peaceful residents, government authorities and law enforcement agencies in various regions and in Kiev with impunity. In light of this, the President of Russia suggested examining possible steps the global community can take to help stabilize the situation. The two presidents agreed that specific parameters for this joint work will be discussed by the Russian and US foreign ministers in the near future."
This reads to me like a standard attempt to buy enough time so that the world will forget what Putin is doing. By referring to "continued rampage of extremists who are committing acts of intimidation towards peaceful residents," Putin is preparing a case for military action in Ukraine, and for not removing his troops from Ukraine's border. He could order his troops into Ukraine next week, and then claim that Obama didn't propose a way to protect "peaceful residents," so he had to do it.
We'll see if anything changes now
At the last minute Russia will make a new demand to fix the problem of "abused, beaten tortured and killed" Russian speaking Ukrainians.
There will be negotiations over the best way to protect those "abused, beaten tortured and killed" and Putin will want Russian troops there under a UN flag to protect them.
Those poor Russian speaking Ukrainians will still be in Ukraine for the purpose of voting, but Russian security forces, not Ukrainian will have the last say in areas protected by Russian troops.
Obama will argue for third party U.N. advisors to protect those "abused, beaten tortured and killed" Russian speaking Ukrainians, in stead of Russian military.
However, the assumptions in these negotiations will be they truly need protected, so what ever action Russia ultimately takes will be jusified as to need, the only disagreement will be how to meet that need.
Brilliant.