Putin on Ukraine: A Former EU Leader's Revelations "does not want Ukraine to exist"

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Former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has revealed striking insights into Vladimir Putin’s view of Ukraine, describing the Russian leader’s desire to undermine its sovereignty. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Barroso recounted his interactions with Putin during his decade-long tenure from 2004 to 2014. Over the course of 25 meetings, Putin made it clear that he did not see Ukraine as an independent entity.

 

Barroso recalled that Putin once referred to Ukraine as “an artificial country created by the CIA and by the European Commission.” According to Barroso, the Russian president’s goal was to prevent Ukraine from achieving full independence. Instead, Putin envisioned Ukraine as a satellite state firmly under Moscow’s influence, much like Belarus. “I know because I spoke with him about this,” Barroso explained. “He does not want Ukraine to exist, or if it exists, to be a kind of Belarus without any independence in foreign policy or in defense terms—a vassal state. This is his goal.”

 

Barroso emphasized his unique perspective, having met Putin more frequently than any other non-European leader during his presidency. “Putin is the leader outside Europe that I met the most during my ten years in office. I met him 25 times. I know what he feels. I know,” Barroso said. He further noted that Putin’s ambitions extended beyond territorial gains, asserting, “Putin does not want to come to the Russian people and say, okay, we have gained some more territory, a little bit of Donbass, a little bit of Crimea now. The goal of Putin was to avoid Ukraine being a country.”

 

During Barroso’s time in office, several key events marked Russia’s increasingly aggressive posture. These included the annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Georgia, and high-profile assassinations linked to the Kremlin, such as journalist Anna Politkovskaya and former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. Reflecting on the annexation of Crimea, Barroso noted that many European governments viewed it as a “special case.” He added, “That’s why today, honestly, nobody believes that Ukraine is going to get back Crimea. That’s the reality.”

 

Barroso also shed light on the European Union’s response to Russian aggression during his tenure. While there was awareness of Putin’s intentions, EU member states hesitated to impose strong sanctions due to economic concerns. “The problem was which kind of sanctions because then they could not agree, and they asked the commission to design the sanctions,” Barroso explained. Each country sought exceptions for specific industries, ranging from farming and energy to banking and even diamonds. “I don’t think at that moment it was possible to conceive a much stronger position because, in fact, the governments were not ready for it,” he admitted.

 

Despite past hesitations, Barroso is unequivocal about Europe’s responsibility to support Ukraine in its current struggle against Russia. He argued that Europe must ensure Ukraine’s victory regardless of any potential policy shifts in the United States. “Whatever happens with our American friends, we should support Ukraine because if not, it’s not only going to be a tragedy for Ukraine. It’s a very important country, but a tragedy for Europe,” Barroso said. He warned that failing to act decisively would embolden movements opposed to democracy, international law, and European values.

 

Based on a report by Euro News 2024-11-29

 

 

 

[Tailwagsdog]

Putin is a product of Soviet times, Russia is a country that had so much potential if it turned to democracy, invested in education, & equity for its people. But alas it's modern history has seen it ruled by demogogues & dictators. And Putin's War needs to finish followed by a Nuremberg Style Trial.

Get the gallows ready for the war criminals.

[Hakuna Matata]

4 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

Russia is a country that had so much potential if it turned to democracy

 

What about China?

[RayC]

51 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

What about China?

 

What about it? China is tangential at best to any discussion about Putin's attitude to Ukraine.

[BonnieandClyde]

4 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

What about it? China is tangential at best to any discussion about Putin's attitude to Ukraine.

It is not.

Russia and China are joined-at-the-hip in much the same way as the siamese triplets US, UK, and Israel are.