The Financial Times published an article by Canadian lawmaker Chrystia Freeland headlined "We must stop pussyfooting around Putin's regime", devoted to the ongoing crisis in Crimea.
According to the author, Russia's actions in Crimea are a threat to the security and values of Western democracies. No one can feel safe in a world in which Russia has nuclear weapons, benefits from high oil prices and is ready to violate international law.
Putin's success will strengthen dictators all over the world and disarm democratic politicians, Freeland writes. Putin should be stopped, because otherwise possible use of force will become the only argument in foreign affairs, she believes.
Western powers have to support Ukrainians in their struggle for independence and be ready to respond to a possible Russian attack on Eastern Ukraine, the author writes. It's also necessary to show support for the Russian opposition, which held a mass rally against the war on Saturday, the article reads.
Frankfurter Allgemeine published an article by Berthold Kohler entitled "Der Anschluss an Russland. Putins Jalta" ("An annexation by Russia. Putin's Yalta").
"The Russian President has brought Crimea back to the Empire. Those who believe that he is now satisfied may be wrong, since the Lord of the Kremlin is now following his own propaganda," the article begins.
According to the author, the annexation of Crimea is the culmination of a long geopolitical struggle. "The cold blood in which Putin brought Crimea back to the Russian Empire and decided to change borders in Europe is unprecedented," Kohler writes.
Putin believes in his own propaganda and lives in a world of constant struggle, in which no one is able to win, the author writes. What Putin is in fact struggling against is not Nato, but the principles of human rights and democracy, the German journalist believes.
