Moscow based academic’s letter tries to set the record straight

The following is a letter from one friend to another attempting to explain what is happening currently in Russia under Putin.

The names of the correspondents have been removed.

Thank you very much for your letter.

It is a terrible situation. I tell you briefly how it is explained from a Russian point of view (which is never reported by the BBC). In 2014 the extreme Ukrainian nationalists came into power in Kiev. Mr. P. used it to take Crimea back to Russia. But there were wide spread feelings of the Crimeans that they should go back to Russia. Mr. P. could easily do more, even dissolve the Ukrainian state, but was persuaded by his Western partners do NOT interfere and NOT to go too far. He believed and supported Minsk agreement (it is named after a town where it was signed) to ease the crisis in the East of Ukraine. Under that agreement Eastern regions were to receive a sort of an autonomy within the Ukrainian state. But eventually it appeared that Kiev authorities used Minsk document as a disguise and a pretext to mobilise their forces against Donbass. One of the key elements of the new Ukrainian government activity was and still is a violent anti-Russian propaganda. Moreover, they also prohibited a formal use of the Russian language. It means, if you go to a shop and speak Russian a shop assistant has a right to reject any service of you. If you go to a local pharmacy and speak Russian a pharmacist is entitled NOT to sell any remedy to you. In a country, where 35% of the population does not speak Ukrainian, this is a humiliating act of the State. These actions were supported by the West and rarely discussed in the mass media.

The big issue is a region of Donbass. For the past 8 years its territory has been systematically bombed by the Ukrainian forces with about 12.000 dead (many children). People of Donbass do NOT receive any pensions, salaries or social help. They are supported entirely by Russia. Russian hospitals routinely provide medical help for the people of Donbass. Why it is so easy to bomb Donbass? Because major towns (Lugansk and Donetsk) are situated only 6-8 kilometres from the border. Two weeks ago Ukrainians started firing from long-range artillery, which is deployed 30-40 km from the border. When Putin complained to Americans, they replied that the insurgents falsified the evidence.

On several occasions Mr. P. openly said that membership of Ukraine in NATO is very dangerous from a Russian point of view. No reaction. In principle, many politicians in the UK, EU and even in the USA understand that they should not invite Ukraine into NATO. But they all think that if they openly say that it would be regarded as a surrender to Mr. P. Moreover, Mr. P. says that Ukraine is only a minor part of the bigger issue – Western military infrastructure is approaching Russia from all angles. How Russia is supposed to react?

As a result, he stimulates a current crisis which is developing into a big war. A visit of the UK foreign minister (LT) to Russia was a big fun.

I used to take British politicians seriously but she is really stupid.

Minister Lavrov made a teasing joke about her.

When she insisted that to solve the crisis Russia must withdraw her troops from the border, Lavrov asked her: Would you accept a troop removal to the areas of Rostov and Voronez?

Your minister answered that the UK government would never accept that. Those regions are independent and their pro-Russian status is out of question. In fact, and that is a big fun, those are the towns within the Russian Federation. What a shame!

Mr. P. in his open address to the nation said that one of the reasons he decided to embark on “a military operation” was a statement of Ukrainian president that they wanted to have a nuclear weapon. This is correct. I personally watched it on TV and was deeply impressed that NONE of the Western leaders (it happened during a Munich conference) somehow reacted. Mr. P. firmly said that “we shall never allow Ukrainian nationalists to obtain a bomb”.

At the moment I see no reasonable solution. Russia is cut from Europe for many years to come.

I am powerless and depressed…Putin is cornered. The West enjoys it. What happens if he presses a BIG BUTTON? Is there anyone in the UK thinking about it?

While internet is still working I send you my warmest regards.

S