Is Putin Ukraine's unintentional nationalist?

Dealing with explosive potential

Mr. Putin has been looking for another excuse to invade Ukraine for some time. When President Poroshenko announced that he was ending the 10-day unilateral cease fire with the rebels since they had not abided by it, Putin stated on television that Russia would be responding to this lack of regard for peaceful resolution, suggesting that he had the backing of the EU leaders. Putin does not have the backing of the EU; their leaders are simply unwilling to take a stronger stand against him. Now that Ukraine has signed a trade agreement with the EU, however, Putin does not have much wiggle room. I was worried that there was explosive potential and that he'd invade, but now I am not so sure that he won't retreat.



Mr. Poroshenko is someone Putin has said he can deal with. And Poroshenko seems to understand Putin as he made clear in his highly credible interview with Christiane Amanpour in which Poroshenko exuded integrity. I believe he can really make a difference. I believe he can lead the country into unity - exactly the place it wants and needs to be. But is he getting help from an unanticipated quarter, Putin himself?

Does Putin not recognize that his aggressive actions  have served to galvanize Ukrainians? With each new casualty and each piece of transparent propaganda, Putin is slowly defeating himself.  It has been suggested that Ukraine should erect a statue to Putin as the man who has finally managed to unite Ukraine. While this is of course a joke, Putin's aggressive actions have done more to invoke Ukrainian nationalism and unity than any previous internal effort of successive governments - for a long, long time. And it has sprung the global Ukrainian diaspora into action, dispelling the misinformation spread by the ex-KGB propaganda machine.

Putin's efforts are becoming increasingly counterproductive. He has helped the Western Ukrainian politicians recognize the sensitivities of Russian speakers and adjust their stance in their regard. He has helped the Russian speakers in the East realize that however imperfect Ukraine may be, it is a better place for Russian speakers, and many others, than Russia itself. A poll conducted in April showed that the majority of Russian speakers, whether Ukrainians or Russian nationals, don't support separation.  Millions have already fought for and voted to align Ukraine, their country, with the free markets and free people of the European Union. Meanwhile, the insurgents have also been identified as Russian military experts. Yesterday, one of the key Russian nationals leading the insurgents was among those expelled from Slovyansk. Hello. We are on to you.

Putin will not welcome being thought of as the force that finally drew Ukraine together. His war has fueled the growth of a national spirit that he and others before him had sought to extinguish. As a result of his miscalculated interventions, Ukraine has come of age as an independent and sovereign nation. Putin has only himself to blame, and Russia can in turn blame him for the loss of Ukraine as an ally. He is the accidental architect of a united and independent nation, for the first time able to stand up to outside interference and internal debauchery. Ukraine needed a villain to fight against in unison, and Putin is it.

There is nothing to suggest that Ukraine is a perfect democracy. The previous government was a badly run kleptocracy. After massive corruption, civil rights violations, and abuse of power, protesters stood up and seized the opportunity to change their lives. The failings of prior governments are clearly evident in the pathetic state of the armed forces, which are being equipped by citizens via crowd sourcing, in contrast to the absurd riches the so-called leaders, cronies of Putin's, stashed away for personal gain. The toppling of the regime of Viktor Yanukovych was a populist revolt led by largely democratic forces. But it took Putin to help Ukraine find its true way to freedom.  In its quest for the euro, Ukraine may have finally found its own identity. Now without being under Russia's thumb, Ukraine has the explosive potential to grow and thrive as a sovereign nation. Slava Ukraini!

Putin on Parade in Duesseldorf (AFP, BBC)