Four-plus hours of “frank” closed-door negotiations between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ended today with no deal, and the only agreement was that the two sides really want to reach some sort of agreement.
The issues are the same as ever, with the US demanding Russia withdraw from the Crimea, and insisting the protester-installed interim government is the “legitimate government” of Ukraine.
Russia, by contrast, insists the violent protests were tantamount to a coup, and its a ridiculous double standard to accept the process as legitimate while insisting the Crimean referendum on secession was not.
Lavrov, by contrast, doesn’t see Crimea as something to be discussed at all anymore, and instead urged wholesale changes to the Ukrainian constitution, insisting the east-west divide in the nation means it simply can’t function as a “unified” state anymore, and should reimagine itself as a loose federation of regions with more autonomy.
I demand you do this, I demand you do that, when will they ever learn that a little diplomacy goes a long way?
By now, Russia, or any other country that's been watching how the US 'negotiates' also knows that even if they were tempted to give in to these ridiculous commands to give up a region that was already 'Russian' when George Washington became President, then the only thing that would happen is that the US would reject the deal and demand even more. I'm sure next we'd hear that Russia has to give St. Petersburg to Sweden or some other such ridiculous demand. After all, that's been the plain pattern of US 'negotiations' on everything from destroying the climate to crooked trade deals to Iranian civilian nuclear power programs all the way back to treaties with the American Indians.
There indeed is nothing more to be said about Crimea, unless the FedGov is going make it a casus belli, which it isn't going to do. Crimea's reintegration into Russia is an accomplished fact, and it is amusing to see Americans fail to understand that. What is not yet an accomplished fact is the integration of Ukraine into NATO. At the current rate of political acumen demonstrated by people like Nuland, Russia will get the eastern districts of Ukraine and the FedGov and EU will get a fascist government in Kiev. Those Ukrainian Right Sector and Svoboda people have no intention of being screwed over by the banksters that instigated the coup in Kiev. The Russians, if they really wanted to play hardball, could simply provide military aid through intermediaries to the Ukrainian fascists in order to rub the ridiculous failure of the Obama regime in the collective face of the West. The propaganda value alone would be priceless.
"The Russians, if they really wanted to play hardball, could simply provide military aid through intermediaries to the Ukrainian fascists in order to rub the ridiculous failure of the Obama regime in the collective face of the West. The propaganda value alone would be priceless. "
Russia threw democracy in the West's faces in Crimea, and they did not and do not like getting beat at their own little game. And it especially looks worse as the US attempts to confer some sort of legitimacy on the unelected people in charge in the Ukraine.
The spin and bluster and BS absolutely spewing from the Administration's propaganda organs is hilarious and quite enlightening, as it reveals how they all support democracy when it suits them.
"…FedGov and EU will get a fascist government in Kiev…"
…and the bill.
Lavrov, like Putin, is one seriously cool customer. I am continuously impressed by the make-up of these two statesman. International relations studs.
On the other side of the divide, you have people like Kerry, Powers, Nuland, Rice…
See where I'm going with this? Is there any wonder at all why the Russians here are two steps ahead?
I would love to have a video of the four-hour session between Lavrov and Kerry. I can't imagine Kerry going four minutes without cue cards from a sentient being.
Was Nuland texting Kerry and him her….. Is that why it took so long…??? Where is the adult supervision at state now that Kerry' in…… Nuland deals the cards Kerry is being forced to play with Lavrov…. Problem…??? This hand is done and Russia walks off with the pot….
In negotiations with himself, Kerry would still manage to lose somehow.
This whole drama about Ukraine is based on greed. Greed for power, money. Well maney is the prime source of greed disease. In order for humanity to explore further into the adventure of self fulfillment, it needs to get rid of the paper currency and establish a society without currency. Now a society without currency will forever endeavor, our currency system is holding back many ventures and it creates alot of uncertainty. A society without currency will eliminate inflation, depression, riots, revolutions, hunger and 99% of all crimes.
Currency is roots of all evil, we as a speciess need to evolve to better ourselves and get rid of currency once and far all.
Without currency everyone will be super rich. Problem solved. Lets adventure into the vastness of space and discover and lets give our species a chance to conquer the Universe.
Whatever the USG-Obama been saying that one can not, nor should not or wouldn’t do, they themselves have done it with some more of whatever they shouldn’t do. Crimea is yet one of them, supporting Neo fascism, wasting $5billion of American people’s money against a legitimate government overthrowing it with a force of unthinkable, is yet another, wanting to provide the Saudis terrorist and UAE mercenaries with anti aircraft missiles in Syria is yet another, prolonging the Syria war is yet another. There is no diplomacy even regarded by USG, what is important to Obama is for him to have something, showing that he absolutely have achieved nothing, as all of his predecessor, but yet another war in Middle East-Syria, helping out Saudis and Israelis regimes with everything they asked for, helping Neo fascism in Ukraine to have a platform close to Russian borders in cooperation with EU Neo fascism governing body.
Now is time for Hillary Clinton, the far right of all democrats far righter to step up her demand: that it is time for a women to become the president where she can claim that she have made history by becoming THE president, in terms of foreign and domestic policies, however, lack of understanding of a functioning democracy is what she have shown in Libya and Syria, to her democracy is a word, an idea to her, what is important to her is corporations and established elite of vulture capitalism strategical-geopolitical interests around the world that needs to be achieved by all means at hand, like Saudis barbarians and etc, beside that, as before, in social practical terms, democracy-Democratic Party remains as an “ideal” that people can argue about.
It is ridiculous indeed, and puerile in the same sense that the US close´s European airspace for presidents and US citizens it disagree´s with and kidnap and incarcerating Russian pilots, denying them medical treatment from independent non-US-non- compromised doctors of their own choosing, just because "we can".
USA conjured up the nazi´s in Ukraine and brought this mess to the Russian doorstep. Thank g-d Russians are a lot more smart, patient, experienced and mature than their US counterparts, otherwise we would have been in WW3. Most Russians are "grateful" though, (sarc) for Obombah, Nudelman & Co paying 5 billion Dollars making it possible for Russia to regain it´s south- easternmost province: http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/this-…
Anyway, the US gambled high in a late cold war push, and lost. Crimea is a done deal, Obombah can´t really corner himself much further without exposing the obvious to his allies and vassals and loose the grip entirely. The "emperor" is naked.
Sorry…the US did not "conjur" up the nazis in Ukraine…they were already there – have been since the 1940's. The US just provided them the means and encouragement to do what they did. Not that that was very smart but the US cannot be held responsible for that. They can be held responsible for much else – especially the continued ignorant braying they are currently calling "diplomacy."
Sorry…US is responsiblle for nurturing and encouraging this monster like they where responsible using Al-Qaeda for regime change in Syria and Lebanon. A monster kept in the hole since Russians and Ukrainians threw them there -until Nuland, Kagan & Pyatt decided to let it loose.
The Banderas (in various forms) were there and active in politics long before the US became interested in using them against the Russian-leaning pols.
Russia insists the violent protests were tantamount to a coup, and its a ridiculous double standard to accept the process as legitimate while insisting the Crimean referendum on secession was not.