The Guardian: “Putin’s position has never been identical to that of the separatists”

By Vestnik Kavkaza

The American news publication Foreign Policy magazine reported on the ceasefire between pro-Russian forces and Ukraine in an article entitled “How the Cease-Fire With Russia Might Save Ukraine”. The article describes Russia's president Vladimir Putin as “a key component of the deal,” since he is “the only one who can stop the flow of Russian weapons across the border with Ukraine.” As for international support, the author claims that “for now, Secretary of State John Kerry’s backing of the deal takes weapons off the table. It also means the momentum to send arms to Ukraine, that had been building over the last two weeks, has crashed.”  Still, “lawmakers in both parties who favoured more military aid to Ukraine expressed scepticism at Russia’s commitment to the deal,” the article reads.

British national daily newspaper The Guardian reflected on the same topic with an article titled “This is a make-or-break moment for Ukraine”. The immediate task is to create a lasting ceasefire and to end the terrible bloodshed, the article says. But the next part of the Minsk plan, which Putin refers to as “the political settlement” is an even more difficult task, according to the author. According to the article, it would be a disaster to allow the self-proclaimed "People's Republics" to remain in their current condition, creating a "frozen conflict" around the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.” In addition, “Putin’s public position has never been identical to that of the separatists – he has consistently said he supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but wants constitutional reforms that will guarantee the rights of Russians living in the south and east of the country. That is what the Minsk agreement provides for.

The US-based magazine Time discussed the immense problems that both Russia and Ukraine will still need to overcome after the cease-fire in an article “The 5 Reasons Russia Has It Bad (But Ukraine Has It Worse)”. The author reflects on “tense, all-night negotiations on Wednesday” saying that “didn’t stop the violence, and many doubt a ceasefire can hold.” The 5 reasons showing that “even if Russia has it bad, Ukraine has it worse”, are: abysmal economies, shrinking territory, pummeled currencies, mass displacement and endemic corruption.