Putin is Saber-Rattling to the International Community

 
By Matthew Dubas

The following commentary is in response to a recent NBC News report entitled Ukraine Puts Army on Alert as Russia Heats Up Crimea Stalemate. 

Cool heads prevail.

Most of the experts on the ground are saying this is simply a provocation, and a show of force (and speedy deployment) in the face of NATO in the Black Sea. Russia has also accused Ukraine of fomenting an attack on Crimea, but there is no evidence to support Russia's claims.

As Russia courts Turkey, Crimea is on the table, and Turkey, for its proclaimed alliance with the Crimean Tatars, would prove to be an additional sticking point to Russia-Turkey relations, as Russia dangles Gazprom pipelines through Turkey to EU. Turkey is not on the same page as Russia with regard to the Assad regime, and Turkey's support for anti-Assad fighters in Syria. Meanwhile, ISIS  and Russia continue aggression in the region. A stalemate in Syria is the motivator for new action in Crimea, as it appeals more to the Russian public's nationalistic pride that Putin is manipulating through propaganda media.

Putin is saber-rattling to the international community (NATO, EU, UN specifically) for them to forget that Crimea was ever part of Ukraine or ever will be. While Putin is alive, the idea of retaking Crimea would be a bloody one. But we can also confirm Putin's military plans for Crimea are long term for Russia (that is until the money really dries up, and Putin becomes increasingly desperate to maintain power).

 

 

Matthew Dubas is editor of the nationally-distributed publication The Ukrainian Weekly. The newspaper is also distributed throughout Canada and serves as a major source of news and information for the Ukrainian community in America and abroad. He has reported on many of the country’s political and social conflicts and worked with ambassadors, politicians, policy advisors, activists and scholars on a range of issues concerning Ukraine. The views expressed by Mr. Dubas do not necessarily reflect those of the publication's management or editorial staff.