Ukraine simmers

Russia is rumoured to have eyed up the possibility of taking under its paw Baltic States, once a part of Soviet empire

The struggle for control of Ukraine has moved into yet another phase. At the heart of the conflict is whether Ukraine aligns with the west and Nato; or the east and the resurgent Russia that is attempting to turn the tide of history and re-boot the Soviet era — sans Communism. Ukrainian government forces have retaken much of the territory that was held by pro-Russian separatists who were seeking what in effect was a partition of the country. Russia has now made a direct intervention in the form of a convoy of about 260 trucks loaded with what it claims are items of humanitarian aid. Eventually the convoy delivered its cargoes and swiftly left the country without further incident, with Russia deaf to claims of a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty.

The Ukrainian government in Kiev has termed the Russian action ‘a direct invasion’; and it is certain to complicate the peace talks that were due to begin on August 26 in Minsk between Ukrainian president Poroshenko and president Putin. Leaders of the Western powers supporting the Kiev government have been vocal in their condemnation of the Russian move but in reality can do little or nothing about it. Equally ineffectual is the UN Security Council. The US warned of ‘additional consequences’ if Russia does not remove the convoy — a further irrelevance as the Russians removed it themselves. Sanctions have already been imposed on Russia as a consequence of its support for the separatists — sometimes with bizarre consequences. The closure of four outlets of a global fast-food chain in Moscow and a boycott by Russia of Polish apples being but two. Since the Russian takeover of the Crimea earlier in the year the Bear has become ever more muscular, and is rumoured to have eyed up the possibility of taking under its paw the Baltic States, once a part of the Soviet empire. Ultimately the struggle is about control of valuable natural resources, and the outcome uncertain.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.

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