Brothers and sisters, here is the summary for March 15
The bad news:
1. Today, one state, and one state only, proudly voted against the UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine. Thus, this state placed itself above all moral laws of our civilization, above the wish for peace, and above humanity’s right to safety. This state is (Vladimir) Putin’s Russia.
We can say many “kind” words about Putin. But we all understand that he is a mentally ill and delusional person – today, it’s obvious to everyone. This is why I would rather say some equally “kind” words about another entity, namely, the United Nations. It is a mechanism that, by definition, should be protecting the world against madmen on the throne. If a system allows a sole thief and bandit to easily overrule the opinion of the rest of the world, and tell them to stuff it, while the world can do nothing but look on – the system is wrong. No one can convince me otherwise.
After today’s events, the world can dismiss the UN, put a “FOR SALE” sign on its pretty building in New York, and move on to resolve all issues bilaterally. Previously, the UN seemed to have stopped showing signs of life. Today, we can pronounce its time of death – not even clinical, but biological. R.I.P.
2. The occupiers are crossing every line. Today’s capture of the natual gas distribution station in Kherson Oblast shows that they are feeling quite at home, and don’t see anyone to be afraid of. To use an analogy, Crimea was a small window through which the aggressor climbed into Ukraine. Kherson Oblast, now, is a wardrobe that the invader is going through, trying different coats on. Sadly, no one is slapping him on the wrist for that.
3. Tomorrow’s referendum in Crimea will take place after all. Putin continues to follow through with his insane plan, not giving a damn about any international agencies and structures, opinions of the international community, or the stance of individual states.
Logically, unpleasant events may start unfolding in the east of Ukraine as soon as a few hours from now – if Putin decided to address the “southeastern issue” together with the “Crimean issue” (which seems likely).
The main question here is: what will Ukraine and her supporters offer in return? The Kremlin can only be stopped by a show of power, and a comprehensive one at that. It would have to include some muscle-flexing (so far, we see exercises by the Armed Forces of Ukraine only, which are not that convincing; and the presence of USS George Bush in the Mediterranean), economic sanctions, and political pressure. Is it working? So far, so ineffective. Alas.
The good news:
1. Today, I finally understood (as did we all, I’m sure) that our attacker is not a neighboring country. Our attacker is Putin and his Kremlin swarm of henchmen. Today, clever, brave and honest Russians took to the streets of their cities, with the main motto being – NO to aggression against Ukraine.
I don’t think that will influence the leaders of Russia – those fanatics, blinded by imperialistic ideas, don’t care about the opinion of their own people. But at least we know that there is another Russia [aside from the invaders]. A country we would like to shake hands with.
2. Some reports say that diplomats of the leading Western countries were allowed to return their families to Kyiv. This may indicate that the West does not consider Putin’s march on Kyiv very likely. This is somewhat reassuring.
3. As for the situation with the Russian airborne troops landing on the Arabat Spit in Kherson Oblast, there is a positive outcome. Two outcomes, in fact.
First of all, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine immediately voiced their protest. Until now, I was getting an impression that Kyiv was generally unperturbed by the large-scale wandering of Russian troops throughout Ukraine.
Secondly, the Russian landing party was relatively quickly blocked by Ukrainian border guards and military, from the side of Henichesk. This isn’t yet a repulse of the shameless invaders – but this isn’t the usual shocking inaction, either.
Here’s hoping that the new day finally brings us the realization that our paralysis is over. After all, endless weakness provokes much more aggression than demonstrative strength.
