BBC: Putin reveals secrets of Russia's Crimea takeover plot
Vladimir Putin has admitted for the first time that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the referendum on self-determination.
Crimea was formally absorbed into Russia on 18 March, to international condemnation, after unidentified gunmen took over the peninsula.
Mr Putin said on TV he had ordered work on "returning Crimea" to begin at an all-night meeting on 22 February.
The meeting was called after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.
Speaking last year, Mr Putin had said only that he took his final decision about Crimea after secret, undated opinion polls showed 80% of Crimeans favoured joining Russia.
WNU Editor: I did not expect such a report to be released until after the Ukraine crisis had been resolved .... but it looks like President Putin's office had other ideas. As a Kremlin watcher opportunities like this are very rare, and I will admit that it gives me great joy to have a peak into what went on behind the Kremlin's closed doors in the hours before last year's annexation of Crimea. As to what is my take .... from what little that has been reported and revealed .... no big surprises .... we all knew who those "green men" were. But there are two little news items in the above BBC report that do surprise me .... (1) apparently the decision to push forward to annex Crimea came in only after their own internal polls indicated that an overwhelming majority of the Russian speaking population in Crimea wanted to leave Ukraine. For as long as I can remember, the majority of the Russian speaking population of Crimea has always wanted to leave Ukraine .... but what surprises me is that Putin did not feel comfortable with this perception .... that he needed his own internal polling to give him confidence that there will be no overwhelming objections to his moves. (2) The date when he made the decision to push forward to set into motion the means to annex Crimea is a surprise .... that meeting happened the day before the closing Olympic ceremonies at Sochi. I mentioned in this blog at the time that no decision on Ukraine would be made until after the Olympic games were completed .... probably a few days after the closing ceremonies .... but apparently not .... with Ukraine on the verge of collapse Putin took immediate advantage of the crisis .... a decision that everyone is Europe is still living with today. As for the future .... will Crimea ever become a part of Ukraine again .... I sincerely doubt it .... not because of what Putin may say .... but what the people of Crimea may say. Ukraine is an ongoing disaster .... and many of Ukraine's young are now leaving the country .... probably never to come back. I am living with this situation everyday .... and even though I am telling my relatives, friends, and associates that they should stay .... they are not listening to me ..... as far as they are concerned I am someone who lives in Canada .... how can I relate to what they are going through. Sighhh .... and they are right .... and in such an environment there is no reason for Crimea wanting to return .... who would want to when many of Ukraine's own citizens are now determined to leave?
More News On Reports That Russian President Putin Had Plans To Annex Crimea When The Ukraine Government Collapsed
Putin describes meeting to take Crimea before referendum -- AP
Putin says plan to take Crimea hatched before referendum -- Reuters
Contrary to Earlier Assertions, Putin Suggests Plan to Reclaim Crimea Began in February 2014 -- New York Times
Putin Says He Decided To Take Crimea Just Hours After Yanukovych's Ouster -- Radio Free Europe
Vladimir Putin describes secret meeting when Russia decided to seize Crimea -- The Guardian
Putin reveals the moment he ordered the plot to take control of Crimea -- The Independent
Putin describes meeting planning Crimea takeover -- UPI
Putin reveals details of decision to annex Crimea -- Deutsche Welle
Putin admits planning annexation of Crimea weeks before referendum -- IBTimes
Putin admits to ordering Crimea annexation before referendum -- EFE
Putin Reveals He Ordered the Annexation of Crimea on the Day Yanukovych Fled Kiev -- Vice News
Putin Recounts How He Gave Orders to ‘Save’ Yanukovych, ‘Return’ Crimea -- VOA
6 comments:
In my view, the interesting question is: Why did Putin release this information now? I agree with WNU Editor that one would have thought that this revelation would have come out years, or decades, from now.
I speculate that Putin released this information now for several reasons:
1. To tell the world that he is following a plan, i.e. Putin's plan. This revelation disproves those in the West who assert that Putin is improvising.
2. To tell Ukraine, and the West, that Russia will annex the Eastern Provinces next, and that no one can stop him. Putin is demonstrating strength, almost arrogance, in stating this so openly. It is also a way by which Putin implies his contempt for the Ukrainian Government, Merkel, Hollande, Obama, etc.
3. Putin's reference to the poll indicating that 80% of Crimeans wanted to be annexed is telling the Ukrainian Government and the West that a similar poll will reveal that a majority of the residents of the Eastern provinces will want Russia to annex them too. Now as an objective fact, I have no doubt that this is true, i.e. a majority of the residents of the Eastern Provinces probably do prefer to be part of Russia. WNU has been reporting this trend for some time, especially since fighting has embittered both sides.
4. The reference to the poll could also be a very important signal to the Ukrainian Government and to the West about the outer limits of Russian imperial aspirations in Ukraine. As I understand it, much of Ukraine's population does not like Russia and prefers to stay independent. Putin may be hinting that Russia has no desire to conquer all of Ukraine and get saddled with a hostile population, plus their ruined economy. For Russia, better to leave the hostiles in Ukraine and let the West pay to support them. For the West, the silver lining is that at least some of Ukraine may survive as an independent country.
5. There is a warning in #4 as well. Putin may be trying to avert real sanctions and arms to the Ukrainian Government. If the West dares to take either action, Putin may be hinting that he might discover a poll showing that all Ukrainians prefer to be annexed by Russia.
Publius .... I have been one of those who has accused Putin of improvising .... apparently he is not. I have also accused him of not thinking strategically .... but your comments do give me pause because there is probably some truth to what you are seeing ... and that I have been wrong.
Publius,
1. Yes
2. Absolutely
3. Yes, and it's Putin's way of using one of the West's favorite political tools (polls) against it.
4.Here is where I think it's interesting and what many are missing that Putin is really doing. I don't think he has any intention of reinstating the old Soviet Union borders, just move the boundry stakes back to include russian or pro russian areas and put the fear of god into the West (Nato, Europe, and the US) in other words stabilize his western flank. He has dealt with China with recent economic agreement and I would assume understandings of sphere's of influence and action. It's the Middle East and the Central Asian Republics that he sees as his greatest danger and opportunity.
Ps. As far as western Ukraine, I think Putin is perfectly happy to let it limp along as a hole for the West to pour it's money and diplomatic energy into.
James,
The reason Yanokovich pulled a 180 on the Association Agreement,
Was that at the last moment, he was informed that the lost Trade with Russia, would not be the $16 Billion the EU had origionally claimed, but somewhere over $100 Billion,
And the EU was offering a paultry $15 Billion in aid to replace that lost trade.
The Donbass alone, accounts for $60 Billion dollars in trade with Russia.
With the Donbass gone, South Stream moved to Turkey and a tap on the Border of Greece, the Transit closed across the Ukraine and the EU responsible for their own pipelines,
There might not be enough "economy" in West Ukraine, to keep the lights on.
Jay,
It all relates back to the over arching theme that the West is a hollow entity without will or resources and the world notices and is taking measures. The US is trying to reestablish it's credentials by a rather theatrical showdown with Maduro's Venezuela. This is nothing more than a distraction and will (as Libya) have some unforeseen consequences at least by this administration and western press.
As far as the Western Ukraine not having the economy to keep the lights on, Putin knows this, but also knows the West has committed itself too publicly to the Ukraine to walk away and it's their baby now.
(1) The US is trying to reestablish it's credentials by a rather theatrical showdown with Maduro's Venezuela.
(2) This is nothing more than a distraction and will (as Libya) have some unforeseen consequences at least by this administration and western press.
It makes no sense to buddy up to Cuba and to piss off Venezuela. It is inconsistent. Cuba will not like it, since they are Venezuelan allies and will think (correctly) that the U.S. effort is insincere.
Going against Venezuela is inconsistent with Obama's espoused socialist principles. He just needs a someone to beat on to look like the King of the Hill. I don't think Obama cares about the Venezuelan opposition. They have been oppressed since Obama cane into office. Why get excited now?
What are the unforeseen consequences? I can think of 2 perhaps.
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