Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, has complained that the objective of the Western sanctions is to effect regime change in Russia. This blog does not believe that this is the intention of most of the supporters of sanctions, but it does agree that this is what a few hotheads would like. The same ones who went for regime change in Iraq, Libya and Syria and who are blind to the total chaos which has resulted and unwilling to admit that the ultimate outcome, the Islamic State, is anything to do with them.
Anyone looking for regime change in Moscow is a fool, unless a Russian with a vote, since Russia is now a democracy and its people elect the government of their choice. If they wish to change at the next election they will do so. But those outside Russia, the most strident of whom declare themselves democrats, should respect the fact that whether they love them or hate them the combination of Putin, Medvedev and Lavrov has rescued Russia from chaos and up to the Ukraine crisis, had set it on a progressive path.
The Ukraine crisis is as much the fault of the West as it is the East and in both cases was ignited and subsequently fanned by fear and misunderstanding. East feared the expansion of the West to the Russian border and the West saw in its mind’s eye tens of thousands of Russian tanks trundling west across Europe. Both visions were irrational and unsupported by hard evidence, yet made credible by actions, words and bluster. Meanwhile thousands have died and no resolution to what is a fairly straightforward problem is in sight.
The time is up to sort this out and normalize relations with Russia. Russia needs it but so does Europe. Neither economy is robust enough to sustain this spat. Moreover the people suffering and dying because of it deserve better. Meanwhile there is a need to reach agreement with Iran. This will not happen without Russia’s cooperation and the containment of ISIS will not happen without Russia, Iran and the West working together. It is all a no brainer. Which makes it all the more disappointing.