Putin tests a model for invading Ukraine, outwitting Biden's diplomats

[mystery-ak]

Putin tests a model for invading Ukraine, outwitting Biden's diplomats
By Rebekah Koffler, opinion contributor — 01/18/22 04:00 PM EST

Russian President Vladimir Putin has outmaneuvered the West again. While America’s diplomats focused on the preparations to negotiate unachievable security guarantees with Putin’s minions in Europe, the Russian spymaster deployed his playbook elsewhere, in Kazakhstan.

A Central Asian former Soviet state, Kazakhstan is a critical piece of Putin’s master plan to rebuild a supranational union, akin to the USSR. On Jan. 6, under the guise of restoring peace and stability amid protests, Putin staged an armed intervention into Kazakhstan amidst Russia’s military buildup along the Ukrainian border. Since President Biden guaranteed to Putin, during their last virtual tete-a-tete, that a U.S. military response in Ukraine was not on the table, if Russia attacks it likely will apply the same “peacekeeping” model to reassert control over Kyiv.

In response to requests for help from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian “peacekeeping” forces entered Kazakhstan to quell civil unrest. The protests erupted in the western Mangystau region in response to the government’s price hikes on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is used in Central Asia to fuel vehicles. The anti-government demonstrations quickly spread to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and former capital, and other cities. Protests escalated into violent clashes with police; rioters stormed government buildings, occupied the country’s main airport, and set on fire a presidential residence and mayor’s office.

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https://thehill.com/opinion/international/589872-putin-tests-a-model-for-invading-ukraine-outwitting-bidens-diplomats

[Kamaji]

Regretfully, U.S. negotiators wasted their breath in Europe, discussing Putin’s security guarantee ultimatum with the hope of de-escalating the crisis in Ukraine. Putin is not interested in stymying the conflict but in stoking it, so he can deploy forces — potentially of the “peacekeeping” sort — to defend the Russian nationals in Ukraine, which he is authorized to do by Russian law that he orchestrated.

Chances are that as he leads the West by the nose with fake security treaty distraction, the former KGB spymaster is scheming about bringing “peace” — using the recently tested model — to Ukrainians, whom he views as “one people” with Russians.

I said several weeks ago that this was going to be the gambit Putin would probably use.

[dfwgator]

I said several weeks ago that this was going to be the gambit Putin would probably use.

I don't see the problem with Russia having their sphere of influence over the former Soviet Republics,   why are we making it such a big deal?   

[Kamaji]

I don't see the problem with Russia having their sphere of influence over the former Soviet Republics,   why are we making it such a big deal?   

Because without maintaining independent border states between Russia and Western Europe, the next war will be between Russia and an historic NATO member, and then we will have to fight, fully, up to and including tanks, troops, and possibly nukes.

Maintaining a more-or-less independent Ukraine, as well as other border states, makes that less likely.

[dfwgator]

Because without maintaining independent border states between Russia and Western Europe, the next war will be between Russia and an historic NATO member, and then we will have to fight, fully, up to and including tanks, troops, and possibly nukes.

Maintaining a more-or-less independent Ukraine, as well as other border states, makes that less likely.

NATO already borders Russia,  see Kaliningrad.

[Kamaji]

NATO already borders Russia,  see Kaliningrad.

One can lead a horse to water, .....