Courtesy of Mish.
If you are looking for something to gag on today, please consider the Bloomberg View by Leonid Bershidsky Ukraine’s Cease-Fire Is Putin’s Victory.
…As for Russian President Vladimir Putin, he has secured a ringside seat and may settle down with a bowl of popcorn. Any outcome suits him as long as Ukraine struggles to get out of its impasse alone. He will be happy to see the Lugansk and Donetsk regions turn into a frozen-conflict zone, precluding Ukraine’s further integration into NATO and the European Union, and equally pleased to have them gain broad autonomy from Kiev and a veto on major political decisions. A military solution suits him, too, since the West has refused to engage him except in the form of ineffectual sanctions.
Make no mistake about it: The ceasefire is a victory for Putin, a vindication of his aggression and duplicity. I just hope it ends the bloodshed.
Victory for Common Sense
While one can claim this is a victory for Putin, one should rightfully gag over Bershidsky’s comment regarding “aggression and duplicity.”
The US and EU fomented this crisis and now apologists for failed US policy don’t like the results: Russia annexed Crimea and Ukraine may splinter.
Had this ceasefire not have been agreed to, rebels would have taken Mariupol. The city is now surrounded by rebel forces.
Let’s accurately label the ceasefire for what it is:
- A triumph of common sense over warmongers
- A defeat of misguided US intervention policy
- A defeat of those poking sticks at bears and hornets
It’s also a victory for free trade given sanctions have been disastrous. Europe is back in recession and absurd sanctions are partially to blame.
Bloomberg has an appropriate example just today: Europe’s Pears Rot as Putin Retaliation Pushes Down Price.
Lessons Yet to Be Learned
I don’t know if this ceasefire will stick or not. But if it does stick, it will be because Ukraine gives in over US objections.
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