In a long press conference yesterday before Ukrainian and international media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine's intelligence services had uncovered a plot by Russia to stage a coup against him next week. According to Zelensky, audio recordings by his security services caught Russian and pro-Russian Ukrainians discussing plans to depose him, enlisting Ukraine's wealthiest man, oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. Akhmetov is not believed to be part of the plot, according to the Ukrainian President. Zelensky has initiated a campaign to reduce the power of the country's oligarchs, including Akhmetov, who has major holdings in various sectors of Ukraine's economy.
We've noted in recent weeks the buildup of Russian forces near their border with Ukraine, and Russian thug and autocrat Vladimir Putin's long-held desire to annex Ukraine as part of his plan for a "Greater Russia," along the lines of the former Soviet Union. Repeated warnings over the past year from NATO to Putin about military action against Ukraine haven't deterred him from the buildup. After four years of his U.S. asset Donald "Tovarich" Trump kowtowing to him, Putin's aggressive behavior is a signal to the Biden Administration of a new relationship, one in which Russia will assert its bogus claims on others' territories forcefully. With the uncovering of the coup plot, the situation has taken an even more serious turn, and will be a test for both the Zelensky government and the Western Alliance.
(photos: UNIAN)
3 comments:
I'm not sure Putin would risk an actual war in this case. Ukraine is a fairly large country, and Russia's advantage in population size is only three to one. Russia would probably win such a war, but the price in casualties might be higher than Putin is willing to pay. So it makes sense that he would prefer to act by installing a pro-Russian puppet regime via a coup.
Nevertheless, the West needs to be ready to act. Letting Russia get away with a major act of territorial aggression in Europe would set a very bad precedent -- as it did in 1936-1939.
Infidel -- Agree with your comments. If Putin can't overturn the Ukrainian government via coup, he may increase the arms support that pro-Russian Ukrainians / Russians are getting from Russia in eastern Ukraine and try to wear Ukraine down. However that, too, would risk an escalation of the fighting and backfire on Russia in terms of sanctions and casualties. Either way, Putin's "Greater Russia" ambitions need to be stopped, and Ukraine should be the place.
Baltic states and Finland beware.
Post a Comment