by Colin Bosman
The two breakaway areas in Eastern Ukraine known as Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic are and have been since 2014 puppet republics set up, financed and armed by Russia in order to destabilise Ukraine.
These so-called republics are not recognised by the West, and Ukraine has since 2014 been involved in a low-intensity war with them in order to reclaim that part of Ukraine that they illegally occupy with the backing of Russia.
Putin’s sudden recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics was but an excuse to launch Phase 2 of his expansionist plans to occupy, destroy and recolonise Ukraine under Russian rule.
Ukraine is part of Putin’s master plan to redefine the borders of the old Soviet Union, just as it was Adolph Hitler’s master plan to expand Nazi influence throughout Europe during World War II.
As Hitler failed, so too will Putin fail.
Putin’s assertion that his attack on Ukraine is to protect the two breakaway regions from genocide by Ukrainian forces is a fairytale concocted for Russian consumption, as is his accusation that Ukraine is a country of drug addicts and Neo Nazis. He is fooling no one, least of all the citizens of Russia.
Despite the fact that it is South African policy not to interfere in foreign political affairs, it is nevertheless disappointing that Cyril Ramaphosa chooses to sit on the fence in the matter.
History will judge him harshly for this bad decision. Protocol needed to be put aside and our leaders need to do the right thing. Three cheers to Minister Naledi Pandor for doing the right thing in requesting Russia to leave Ukraine immediately.
History will shine its light on her.
An old saying comes to mind: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
* Colin Bosman, Newlands.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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