Polish president warns Germany of Putin's 'empire' ambition

[JustJohn or JJ]

Polish president warns Germany of Putin's 'empire' ambitions

Reuters
23 hours ago

BERLIN (Reuters) - Polish President Bronis law Komorowski said that Vladimir Putin is trying to build a new Russian empire for Moscow and that the region now had to choose whether it wanted "a Cossack Europe or a democratic one".

"Russia has carried out an invasion in Ukraine," the Polish head of state told German public radio, according to excerpts of an interview to be broadcast later on Saturday.

Komorowski said Putin was quite open about his ambitions to "rebuild the empire". The Cossacks long served Russian czars in military and security roles on the borders of the empire and their brand of Russian Orthodox patriotism is admired by Putin.

The Polish president, whose post is largely ceremonial but does give him a say in foreign policy, is an ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk from the centrist Civic Platform (PO).

"I hope Germans are sufficiently mindful of what a Soviet empire meant for Europe," Komorowski told Deutschlandradio Kultur and Deutschlandfunk, warning against any reprise of the pre-World War Two "appeasement policy of yielding to Hitler".

"First the challenge was Crimea, now it is about further regions of Ukraine and everyone is asking where it will end," he said, reiterating a call from Poland and the Baltic states in particular for NATO's eastern flank to be reinforced.

NATO member Poland is one of the most outspoken critics of Putin's support for pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. This week the rebels opened a new front against government forces, a reversal Kiev blames on the arrival of Russian troops.

(Reporting by Stephen Brown; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

[karl]

There is a reason for every thing, the problem is, cutting through the underbrush to locate the trees. It would be reckless conjecture to attempt to read into another persons thoughts, but whilst this is true, it is with the use of empathic understanding to form of those thoughts, what the issue is.

In the manner of Mr. Komorowski speaking out his fears and interpretation of the actions of Mr. Putins Russian actions in East Ukraine with previous actions in Crimea is understandable, perhaps the means of action is some what questionable. But we must be reminded that of the actions in the first of the Ukrainian government were less then trust worthy.

The foundation of mistrust of Russian intentions by Mr. Komorowski is his long memory of the war and communist years of occupation. He remember much but has learnt little.

Those long past years have out grown their reality, this is no longer the 20th century, we are living and working in the 21st century. yes of course most of us remember those years as our country was also destroyed then divided for a long number of years by various occupational forces. But that was a different time. We as people, are the new civilization of Europe, we remember, but, we build and prosper in doing so. It then is encombant upon others in other states to do so in return. But in doing so, we must use the tools that are ours to do so in keeping the wheels of progress rolling and it is encombant upon all of us to insure the blue print of progress is followed. For our world is not just, "Them and Us", it is we. For we all have the opportunity to prosper whilst if the front yard is not cared for, we may all suffer the consequences of reckless endangerment by virtue of improperly reading the mindset of our mutual interest.

In the first, Russian interest in the Black sea fleet was/is a very high priority, no matter the hot coals tossed by the Americans against this action. But it was necessary in light of Russian National Defense in the manner the Americans are very sensitive with their Pacific Fleet in the manner of like reasons.


In the manner of Russian interest in East Ukraine, is to understand that this area of Ukraine is very highly industrialized. With this, a considerable past Russian investment and trust in partnership with mutual interest with national defense manufacturing. Withen the confines of this mutual interest, were a considerable number of Nuclear weapons of a sensitive nature held in Ukraine under their authority but Russian owned. All these were previously removed by Russian technical staff with the exception of One Weapon unaccounted for. Perhaps in sheer numbers of accounting as the culprit, or perhaps not. The issue is: Where is that piece of equipment and who has control of it?

The following is a professional write up of the heart of my reply. It provides a much more through relations ship of cause and effect as realized by The Russian Government. It is not meant as an excuse, but as a manner of laying down the foundation of a truth that few wish to know and understand.

As follows:

Broken ties with Ukraine could cost Russia hundreds of millions over the next few years.

The country's defense industry is highly dependent on Ukrainian imports and switching to source Russian-made equipment won’t be easy, especially as other European Union leaders ponder further sanctions.
The Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) estimated that Russia will need to spend about $940 million (33 billion rubles) between now and 2018 to fill the shortfall of Ukrainian material, according to Kommersant, which cited a letter between the agency’s officials.

The agency reportedly recommended that $66 million (2.3 billion rubles) be taken from the national space program and $665 million (23.2 billion rubles) from defense development programs to help fill the shortfall.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the Russian defense and space industries, had previously said it could take up to two years to completely switch from Ukrainian imports to Russian-produced equipment, according to the Moscow Times.

Meanwhile, Russia’s other European neighbors are planning to cut off their shipments as well.
The “EU commission will be tasked to prepare targeted sanctions in the sectors of key technology and military,” Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said to Agence France-Presse.

Karl