NYRB: George Soros on the current World (Dis)Order
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/jul/09/partnership-china-avoid-world-war/"By annexing Crimea and establishing separatist enclaves in Ukraine,
Putin’s Russia has challenged both the prevailing world order, which
depends on the Western powers for support, and the values and principles
on which the EU was founded. Neither the European nor the American public
is fully aware of the severity of the challenge. President Vladimir Putin
wants to destabilize all of Ukraine by precipitating a financial and
political collapse for which he can disclaim responsibility, while
avoiding occupation of a part of eastern Ukraine, which would then depend
on Russia for economic support. He has demonstrated his preference by
twice converting an assured military victory into a cease-fire that
threatened to destabilize all of Ukraine. Unfortunately, Putin is
succeeding, as can be seen by comparing the “Minsk Two” cease-fire with
“Minsk One,” even if his success is purely temporary. Putin now seeks to
use Ukraine to sow dissension and gain political influence within the
European Union.
The severity of the Russian threat is directly correlated with the
weakness of the European Union. The EU has excelled at muddling through
financial and political crises but now it is confronted with not one but
five crises: Russia, Ukraine, Greece, immigration, and the coming British
referendum on EU membership—and that may be too much. The very survival of
the EU is at risk.
