Faced with mounting pressure from the ultranationalist factions in the country, the Ukrainian government today announced that it is cutting all transport connections between Ukraine and the separatist regions, including all roads and rail links. The nationalists cheered the move as start of “economic warfare” against the ethnic Russian easterners.
This is an escalation of tensions that have been rising since January, when nationalists started blocking rail traffic from parts of the separatist Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts. Separatist groups responded by seizing a number of coal mines and factories which were owned by west Ukrainians.
President Petro Poroshenko cited the seized factories and mines, saying the blockade of the east will continue until the rebels return all the seized facilities. The Poroshenko government had long resisted the calls for a blockade, but the ultranationalists appear to have gained momentum since the seizures.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quick to condemn the move, saying it runs counter to common sense, while others say the move was also a risk to the ongoing ceasefire, which is already struggling with limited violations on both sides.
The lack of trade with the rest of Ukraine is likely to force the easterners to even more deeply rely on their historically connections with neighboring Russia for economic survival, which further risks making the current split more permanent.
By cutting away that region from itself, Ukraine gifts its ties to Russia.
This is a foolish move, producing exactly what they are fighting against.
You’re right, Mark, but the Donbass region already seceded from Ukraine 3 years ago, around the same time as Crimea or shortly thereafter. The two Republics (Lugansk and Donetsk) united their military forces into the Novorossiyan Military, but kept their gov’ts separate. Both Republics have the vast majority of coal reserves, which the Junta’s unable to access, and any petrol they obtain is from Russia through its pipeline.
Yes, Mark, the Kiev Junta did, indeed, gifted Donbass to Russia. However, the Junta leaders are dumber than a bunch of rocks.
“However, the Junta leaders are dumber than a bunch of rocks.”
Yes. They made themselves completely dependent on Putin. One need not demonize him to see he is a very hard man. To be at his mercy must be to expect no mercy. Putin will stop at nothing, and as soon as anyone finds a way to give him something he wants in return for the Junta leaders, they’ll find themselves under a bus. That is pretty dumb.
Their only saving grace is that the corrupt fools in Ukraine are no smarter, and actually sabotage themselves more effectively than the Junta could.
It sounds like this could be the latest US strategy. Russia is being forced to come to the rescue of the people and that’s exactly what the US wants to start condemning in order to rally Nato countries.
And at the same time, accomplishing that which Mark mentions in his post. The gambit is worth it to the US if it can legitimize Nato going in with force. A very dangerous escalation!
All Russia needs do is simply paint some cargo planes in UN colors with the insignia on the tail, load them up with necessities such as food, clothing and medicines and land at one of the airports in the Donbass region, for a contingent of Novorossiya militia to pick up and deliver to the people. The Kiev Junta wouldn’t dare shoot down UN cargo aircraft delivering necessities to innocent people.
And currently, Trump is sending even more US troops to Syria and making plans to escalate the Afghanistan war.
These are all parts of Trump’s plan to make America great again. I just can’t wait to hear how Raimondo is going to spin this tomorrow. Even though I have some strong suspicions of him coming back with a surprise tomorrow.