Putin's Ukraine Peace Plan

Putin's Ukraine Peace Plan

by Stephen Lendman

Ukraine is America's newest colony. Behind the scenes, Washington runs things. It's putschist-installed regime is a convenient proxy.

Southeastern Ukraine is Obama's war. Ending it is as simple as him calling off his dogs. He wants war, not peace.

He wants another puppet regime Washington controls. He wants Ukraine incorporated into NATO.

It shares a nearly 1.500 land and sea border with Russia. As a NATO member, it's a dagger threatening Russia's security.

It risks East/West confrontation. It's madness if it erupts.

Putin is geopolitically polar opposite Obama. He's not revanchist. He has no territorial ambitions. He doesn't threaten his neighbors.

He supports multi-world polarity. He believes sovereign independence is inviolable.  

He wants conflicts resolved diplomatically. He deplores war. He champions peace.

Following a working visit to Mongolia, he answered journalists' questions. In response to one, he explained his seven-point peace plan, saying:

"On the way here from Blagoveshchensk to Ulan Bator, I jotted down a few thoughts that could constitute an action plan of sorts."

It challenges Washington's regional hegemonic ambitions. It depends on war and conquest. Peace defeats its agenda.

Putin continued saying:

"True, I have only these notes that I jotted down, but I can read them to you if you want."

"In order to stop the bloodshed and stabilise the situation in southeast Ukraine, I believe that the parties to the conflict should immediately agree on and coordinate the following steps:"

"First, end active offensive operations by armed forces, armed units and militia groups in southeast Ukraine in the Donetsk and Lugansk areas."

"Second, withdraw Ukrainian armed forces units to a distance that would make it impossible to fire on populated areas using artillery and all types of multiple launch rocket systems."

"Third, allow for full and objective international monitoring of compliance with the ceasefire and monitoring of the situation in the safe zone created by the ceasefire."

"Fourth, exclude all use of military aircraft against civilians and populated areas in the conflict zone."

"Fifth, organise the exchange of individuals detained by force on an all for all basis without any preconditions."

"Sixth, open humanitarian corridors for refugees and for delivering humanitarian cargoes to towns and populated areas in Donbass – Donetsk and Lugansk Regions."

"Seventh, make it possible for repair brigades to come to damaged settlements in the Donbass region in order to repair and rebuild social facilities and life-supporting infrastructure and help the region to prepare for the winter."

"I think that the Kiev authorities and the representatives of southeast Ukraine could come to basic agreements and cement them at the contact group’s planned meeting on September 5."

"I want to note that this statement and all I just said follow on from the telephone conversation with President Poroshenko that you asked about."

"I hope very much that Ukraine's government will support the emerging progress in bilateral relations and make use of the positive opportunity the contact group's work provides to bring about final and comprehensive settlement to the situation in southeast Ukraine, in full and unconditional respect for the lawful rights of those who live there of course."   

"That is all I have to say. I have nothing to add. Thank you."

Putin genuinely wants just peace. He's gone all-out for it throughout months of conflict. Washington rebuffs him. So does Kiev.

Oligarch president Poroshenko talks peace. He deplores it. He wages war.

Conflict resolution remains distant. Southeastern Ukrainian civilians in the line of fire suffer most.

Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Prime Minister Aleksandr Sakharchenko expressed willingness to end fighting.

But only if Kiev forces, its Right Sector battalions and mercenaries agree to ceasefire terms. They can't be trusted.

They previously sabotaged deals, said Zakharchenko. So did Kiev on orders from Washington.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed willingness "to assist (the path for peace) via either repeating (the earlier failed Geneva process) or through other international formats."

Ukraine's illegitimate prime minister Arseniy Yatsenuk lied claiming Putin wants Ukraine destroyed. He wants a Greater Russia, he said. He wants nothing of the sort.

His plan is "an attempt of eyewash for the international community ahead of the (September 4 and 5) NATO summit and an attempt to avoid inevitable decisions from the EU on the new wave of sanctions against Russia," said Yatsenyuk.

"We are waiting for decisions from NATO and the EU on how to stop the aggressor."

Ukraine's peace plan includes one point, he added: withdrawing (nonexistent) Russian troops from Ukraine. "And then there will be peace," he claimed.

Previous peace efforts failed. Russia's good faith efforts were sabotaged. Kiev violated agreed on terms straightaway. Washington calls the shots.

It bears repeating. Peace defeats its agenda. War serves its hegemonic ambitions.

Thousands of civilian casualties are a small price to pay. So are hundreds of thousands displaced.

War without mercy continues. NATO's September 4 and 5 summit bears watching.

Expect Washington to manipulate talks. Expect Russia accused of US-led Western and Ukrainian crimes.

Expect anti-Russian military policies agreed on. Expect more sanctions to follow.

Expect conflict to continue. Expect peace to remain a distant hope.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen [at] sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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