Putin speech

Ukraine in bloody crisis - Putin

Highlights from Vladimir Putin's speech in Crimea, which the first Western (anxious) reactions called "conciliatory":

1. Ukraine is not just in chaos, but in “bloody chaos”--(chaos is as a rule a bloody affair with Hell)

2. It is also a "major humanitarian catastrophe."

3. Putin has basically announced a new economic strategy: the emphasis will be now on the development of the domestic economy (rather than emphasizing foreign trade)--"relying more on domestic resources and by boosting industrial and agricultural sectors."

4. This is part of what Putin also called internal "consolidation and mobilization."

5. Part of this "consolidation and mobilization" requires also a new appraisal of the role Russia as a "spiritual source" (in relation to which the communist period behaved with its primitive materialism nihilistically).

6. The events in Crimea (and Donbass) require a real, serious and genuine "reconciliation of the Reds and the Whites” (Putin's own expression).

7. The defense of Crimea will be strengthened.

8. Putin acknowledged that Russia has been treated "in insolent and tutorial manner," which should no longer be allowed.

9. The sanctions against Russia as part of the US-led destabilization of Ukraine and the resulting conflict has for its aim "ensuring the global dominance of the United States."

http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/744957

Donestsk Peoples Republic dismisses Strelkov

The ongoing changes in the political and military leadership of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics together with Putin's trip to Crimea to preside there over the meeting of his Security Council indicate that we are now entering a new phase of the conflict. Strelkov also seems to have lost his position as the defense minister of the Donetsk People's Republic, which does make a sense for his is a great tactical commander. A while ago he himself said that what Novorossiya badly needed was an effective general for an army who can command a front together with all the logistics etc. So far the changes in leadership has been advancing more experienced and professional military leaders into the places that were occupied either by amateur civilians or people of middle military ranks.

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/745065

The Russian humanitarian corridor

Comments from Vladimir Suchan - 

It seems that the Russian government tries very hard to send the humanitarian convoy (which is at least one month late) through the hands of the Nazi regime in Kiev instead of using border crossing points controlled by Novorossiya.

In this way, Moscow is asking for yet another humiliation and placing its humanitarian assistance to the people in Donbass at the mercy of the nazi regime or making it subject to its enemy's consent is irresponsible, morally self-defeating, and politically regressive.

Putin and his government should have created by now a steady flow of humanitarian assistance and not just sending a one-time convoy into the hands of the Kiev authorities where it can get lost or stuck or just seized.

In its dealing with with the crisis in Ukraine and Donbass, Putin and his government has been in violation of few basic political and moral principles, which are not only moral principles, they are themselves a reflection of certain fundamental and strategic considerations. One of these principles, of which Russian politics has been in violation in Ukraine and Donbass, has been respect for self-respect. This loss or violation of self-respect was most painfully evident in the fruitless and counterproductive dragging of the "gas negotiations" with the Kiev junta and the last minute backpedaling by Putin himself on the question of the referenda in Donbass and support for the national liberation struggle against Nazism by the people in Donbass.

The neglect of this principle has been only barely covered with its anxious efforts to avoid taking clear and firm political positions. About a month ago, Putin criticized what he called "disdain" for state authorities, which he seemed to have applied both to his authority and to the authorities in Kiev.

Ideally, respect is a tribute freely paid to real achievement, and achievement itself to be admired ought to be something good brought about by turning one's power's potentiality into reality. By definition, power qua potential that is not used, and used for the good, is lost and wasted.

Fierce tank battle rages near Ukraine-Russia border crossing

Anti-Kiev rebels seized control of a checkpoint south of Marinovka, near the border with Russia, following a ferocious battle with Kiev forces in recent days. The anti-Kiev forces deployed a sniper and anti-tank team, among other units, to take the checkpoint. The bodies of two Ukrainian soldiers were identified, as well as four tanks and one APC destroyed.