Russia's Sick Logic
A Perfectly Terrible Date
Ex-MSD lawyer and London-based political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov thinks it’s entirely possible that Russia has been orchestrating a months-long “strategic misdirection” campaign around further invading Ukraine, but says no one can tell for sure whether preparations for a renewed assault are real or a practical ruse involving the West.
Putin & Co want to demonstrate their determination to fight and win a war, preferably without firing a shot, Pastukhov said.
According to Russian journalist Leonid Radzikhovsky, there are two conflicting ideas floating around in Putin’s head. The first is Crimea is Ours (Krym Наш), and the second is brotherly relations between the peoples of both countries.
Consanguinamory problems
Russia, with Vladimir Putin as its leader, has become an enemy, or more precisely, the enemy, of Ukraine in official state discourse over the past eight years. That doesn’t mean individual Ukrainians aren’t allowed to support Putin, dream about the liquidation of Ukraine or reunification with Moscow.
One might think that having driven an aspen stake into the heart of Slavic Brotherhood and hanging the cross of Crimea on top of it Putin would be satisfied and leave Ukraine alone. Nope, nothing could be further than the truth.
Radzikhovsky argues that Ukraine’s official state position toward Russia has changed since Russia seized annexed Crimea in 2014 and killed thousands of Ukrainians. It is different than it was and this cannot be otherwise.
If you steal someone’s possessions, punch him in the face and then repeat to him, over and over again, ‘We are brothers, you and I,’ it’s entirely possible your victim may not understand you…
So, how does Putin’s Russia propose to reconcile these ideas which are mutually exclusive? The solution is simple. Putin argues that we stole Crimea and killed lots of Ukrainians, but that we are not to blame. He says, ‘We Russians and we innocent Ukrainians are not to blame.’
So, whose fault is it?
America’s, of course. America pushed us into annexing Crimea. It was Uncle Sam who used bubble gum and cookies to seduce the pretty girl. Despite her infidelity, Ukraine remains attractive and the peoples of Ukraine and Russia remain brothers.
Radzikhovsky says this could explain Putin’s threat to cut Ukraine into little pieces if she insists on dating Uncle Sam again.