Putin says he is not planning to downgrade relations with Ukraine

 

 

The Russian president said on Friday (August 19) he is not planning to reduce ties with Ukraine.

 

Vladimir Putin was speaking at a Russian Security Council meeting after Moscow accused Kyiv of attempting to stage acts of sabotage in Crimea.

Ukraine has denied Russia’s assertions.

 

“It appears that our partner in Kyiv has decided to escalate the situation and it is clear why they are doing that,” Putin said. “Because they do not want to – or cannot, for some reason – implement the Minsk agreements.”

 

Putin’s comments come after his Ukrainian counterpart warned of declaring martial law if tension in the east with pro-Russian separatists worsened.

 

Last week Russia’s Federal Security Service reported it had detained so-called saboteurs in Crimea and prevented terrorist acts prepared by Ukraine’s defence ministry.

 

Kyiv has rejected Moscow’s accusations.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-08-20

Why would he want to disturb such a warm and friendly relationship? A little annexation and sending troops and equipment to enable a civil war shouldn't be allowed to come between friends.

He'd like to "downgrade" relations, but considering state they are in now, he doesn't have much "wiggle room".

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Because they do not want to – or cannot, for some reason – implement the Minsk agreements.”

Maybe because Putin already violated the agreement.

Just as he has with every agreement Russia has made with Ukraine since the 1994 Budapest Memorandum wherein Russia would respect Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"...Putin says he is not planning to downgrade relations with Ukraine..."

But, he is determined to leave his mark on peace in the region!

Odds are that Putin will connect Crimea to mainland Russia real soon, probably between now and when the next US president is seated.  He is laying the justification now with the claims of terrorism in Crimea and has been mobilizing more assets to the borders.   Last time America was nearing transition he invaded Georgia, and got a free pass with the reset button early in the Obama/Clinton regime. 

 

Putin is a sharp operator who knows when to strike.  Regardless of the next president, it will be "water under the bridge" to the new administration.

In my humble opinion the border between East and West will lie in Ukraine.

 

We tried to take control of this country by bribing its leaders with $ millions.

 

Russia responded by arming its East friends and annexing the Crimea with the support of the population.

To me Putin's strategy is clear:

 

  - 1 Ukraine remains a neutral buffer zone and the tension will decrease.

  - 2 Or Ukraine asks its attachment to the EU and the West in general. In this case it will ultimately annexing the eastern part, always with massive support of the population.

 

 

1 hour ago, bassman said:

Odds are that Putin will connect Crimea to mainland Russia real soon

Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation on 18 March 2014. It has already become Russian soil.