Be very afraid. Secretary Kerry can envision the ending of sanctions on Russia over their conquest of Ukrainian territory in Crimea and the Donbas:
"I believe that with effort and with bona fide, legitimate intent to solve the problem on both sides, it is possible in these next months to ... get to a place where sanctions can be appropriately ... removed," said Kerry during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
I love the even-handedness. We could solve the Ukraine Crisis if only Russia would stop invading and if Ukraine would stop being invaded! Because "both sides" have to do their part.
Clearly, the outline of a solution will be that Russia will pretend to stop invading Ukraine--and we will pretend to believe Russia.
UPDATE: Kerry pledged to pressure China on reining in North Korea. China is having none of that:
China on Tuesday criticised what it said were "irresponsible" remarks made by a U.S. official this week calling for Beijing to do more to curb North Korea's banned nuclear program.
But Putin will be an easier despot to push around, right?
UPDATE: Check out the Russians complaining about invaded Ukraine not doing what they can to cooperate with invader Russia to end the crisis:
Ukraine is dragging its feet on implementation of the Minsk peace agreement because its wants to keep in place the Western sanctions imposed on Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
I have serious problems with Ukraine's corruption that interferes with defending Ukraine and joining the West, but let's not get confused about who is at fault in this crisis.
But you just know Kerry nods in agreement when Lavrov talks about this.
