Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Just What are the Russians Suggesting?

Russian Prime Minister Medvedev is reported as saying some rather disturbing things about Ukraine.

Just what is Medvedev getting at?

We do not understand what is going on there. There is a real threat to our interests and to the lives of our citizens. ... There are big doubts about the legitimacy of a whole series of organs of power that are now functioning there.

Oh? This government is illegitimate while the last gave you no doubts?

And just what is the threat to your interests?

And what Russian citizens are you speaking of? I thought Ukrainians lived in Ukraine.

Is this an expansive claim to represent ethnic Russians regardless of state citizenship?

Or is Medvedev referring to the Crimea. With a major Russian naval base there and 13,000 military personnel, including a naval infantry regiment, could these troops and their families be the citizens he speaks of? Did Russians settle in this area after leaving the military without giving up Russian citizenship?

What is going on is that Ukrainians don't want to be part of Russia or part of Russia's semi-colonial "near abroad."

So just what do the Russians plan on doing about their interests and "their" citizens in Ukraine?