'Russia is sick of being humiliated and pushed around by ignorant outsiders': MoS columnist PETER HITCHENS says Putin DOES have a right to intervene

By Peter Hitchens

PUBLISHED: 19:36 EST, 1 March 2014 | UPDATED: 22:34 EST, 1 March 2014


President Vladimir Putin has predictably been infuriated by attempts to draw Ukraine into the EU orbit

President Vladimir Putin has predictably been infuriated by attempts to draw Ukraine into the EU orbit

We have been rubbing Russia up the wrong way for nearly 25 years.

It is hard to see why.

Moscow could have been our friend if we had wanted that.

We rightly viewed the old Soviet Union as a global menace to freedom.

But Russia is no such thing, just a major regional power sick of being humiliated and pushed around by ignorant outsiders.

I watched the old Soviet menace vanish on the streets of Moscow in August 1991 when a KGB putsch failed, the Communist Party was shattered in pieces, and the USSR collapsed in a cloud of rust.

Russians always believed there was an unspoken agreement that, in return for this, they would be allowed their dignity. They now believe that agreement has been broken.

What was left after 1991 was Russia, a proud and courageous people living amid the wreckage left by 74 years of Marxism and hoping to revive their ravaged country. We could have helped them.

By indulging Boris Yeltsin’s debauched reign (during which he shelled his own parliament while the West looked on complacently), we made Russian voters see Vladimir Putin as an attractive alternative.

The Putin government is squalid, but nothing like as bad as that of China, with whom we are on good terms.

 

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Rather than recognising that the Cold War was over, we re-started it for no good reason, encouraging Russia’s neighbours to join the EU or Nato as if the USSR still existed.

In recent months, the EU and the United States have been willing to wound but afraid to strike.

They have aggressively sought to detach Ukraine from Russia and draw her into the EU orbit, knowing very well that this would infuriate Moscow.

Rather than recognising that the Cold War was over, we re-started it for no good reason, encouraging Russia's neighbours to join the EU or Nato as if the USSR still existed

Rather than recognising that the Cold War was over, we re-started it for no good reason, encouraging Russia's neighbours to join the EU or Nato as if the USSR still existed

We have awakened the ancient passions of this cruel part of the world, who knows where it will lead?

We have awakened the ancient passions of this cruel part of the world, who knows where it will lead?

Senior American, German and EU figures have gone to Kiev to egg on the anti-Russian crowds. Imagine how you would feel if Russia’s Foreign Minister turned up at SNP rallies in Edinburgh, backing Scottish independence.

Putin’s Crimean games are a sarcastic response.

The unspoken message is: ‘You like breakaway movements and meddling in other people’s business? Try this for size.’

And now, having raised hopes we cannot fulfil, we have awakened the ancient passions of this cruel part of the world and who knows where our vainglorious folly will now lead?

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Those at the top cause such unspeakable damage and misery to those at the bottom of the pile, yet it is those at the top who are always the winners and who walk away, with their families, unscathed while those at the bottom are always the losers. What sort of humanity is this?

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Russia is a big bully. They are thirsty for power over the ex USSR republics. They would cut the gas supply off, ban the import of wines, anything to keep other countries who just want to follow their own path. Russia has great potential as country, it has amazing natural resources and yet so many of its people live in poverty. If only they concentrated on their country, not neighbours who are sick and tired of them and their quest for domination.

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UK & USA, it is not your business what is happening in Ukraine and Russia! Mind your business! Fix your countries first...

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A very good article. Why do we not invite Russia to join Europe? They are a natural trading Partner. Why not invite them into NATO, they were great Allies to UK and USA in the Second World War. The Russian sacrifices defeated Hitler.

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Kiev is the 'heart' of the 'Russ' Putin has 160 million Russians asking him why he didn't stop this! In half the cases of protestor interviews the interviewee spoke neither Russian or Ukranian! Rent a mob?

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SO it's ok if the US and UK go into other countries like a bull in a china shop and get our sons and daughters killed, but Russia don't have the same rights??? I am sorry, but I am getting selfish in my old age. I feel for all persecuted peoples, but just keep the UK out of it, we have done more than our share of interfering over the decades and look where it's got us NOWHERE. This time let's keep our cheque book closed and our troops at home.

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The EU inclusive the UK Invaded the Ukraine indirectly by funding thugs to overthrow the legitimately elected government just because they wanted a policy that was more favorable to the Russian federation . You may not have used armed forces but you used money to buy thugs( mercenaries) get over not being able to expand the EU and NATO and stop trying to bully the rest of the world, and that goes for the USA.

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Exactly right! Ukraine is a complicated mix of territories that have created the modern day Ukraine. The Crimea and much of the East is predominantly Russian. True democracy is about self determination and these centralist organisations of NATO, EU and many large Govts are anathema to local democracy and nothing more than power blocks no better than our feudal Lords of yesteryear.

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I agree, has the fuse now been lit?

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Spot on Peter. Let's ask the flood victims of Somerset what they think about the Ukraine

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