UKRAINE – RUSSIA
TENSION
Russian president has calmed fears on an imminent
war between Russia and Ukraine and Moscow has no intention of loosening its new
grip on Crimea in defiance of Western anger.
The standoff between Moscow and the new-pro-West
leadership had prompted apocalyptic fears of Russian tanks rolling across
Ukraine’s eastern borders in a conflict that could draw in NATO.
As Russian president commented that Russia would not
give up its newly acquired control over Crimea, a region with a majority Russia
speaking population.
The Russian president made clear that they will not
be a extensive war – least such a radical scenario has been set aside. But he
will not leave Crimea and he is going to preserve real control there.
Russian president also denied that Russian troops
were already in Crimea and said that it was local self defence forces who were in
control of the Black Sea peninsula.
Russian president also eyeing the situation in the
largely Russian speaking east of Ukraine but that region would prove a far
bigger and more dangerous mouthful for the Kremlin.
Mr. Putin a week ago was soaking up praise for
Russia’s smooth organization of the Sochi Olympics but showed remarkable little
concern about the international repercussions, shrugging off Western threats
not to show up to the G8 summit Russia is due to host in Sochi.
At last the reaction of the West is currently weak,
it does not bother him. He is not worried by the declarations and sanctions of
the United States.
If Ukraine has decided to leave the Russian embrace,
then Mr. Putin is going to want to keep a piece of Ukraine as a souvenir at
least Crimea or maybe the east.
