SWP/Craig Pirrong: With Friends Like Merkel, Ukraine Doesnʼt Need Enemies
http://streetwiseprofessor.com/?p=8702"Merkel visited Ukraine yesterday, on the 75th anniversary of the
Nazi-Soviet pact. She did not quite play the role of Frau Ribbentrop,
but
she, and the German government, are greatly assisting Putin....
the focus of German-led diplomatic efforts has shifted, according to
senior officials, towards urging restraint from Ukrainian President Petro
Poroshenko and averting a humiliating defeat for pro-Russian rebels, a
development that Berlin fears could elicit a strong response from Putin.
If followed, this advice will create another frozen conflict that Putin
will use to eat away at Ukraine, to continue to bleed it and prevent it
from reforming, and growing, and most importantly (from Putinʼs
perspective) keep it from moving closer to Europe. A persistent conflict
in the region will also result in mounting civilian casualties and misery,
things that Merkel claims to want to stop.
Frau Merkel gives the impression of someone who is willing to consign
Ukraine to purgatory, to avoid dealing with Putin today....
Merkel went to Ukraine proclaiming friendship. With friends like her,
Ukraine-and the rest of Eastern Europe-donʼt have to go looking for
enemies."
