Putin's Neo-Imperialist Designs in Ukraine

In a move that has exposed his neo-imperialist intentions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has intervened in Ukraine's presidential election, seeking to install a puppet government in Kyiv. This bold move is a continuation of the Kremlin's strategy of dividing and ruling, which has been employed in various forms since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Lithuania's first president after independence, Vytautas Landsbergis, speaks from personal experience, having witnessed the Soviet Union's imperialist designs firsthand.

Key Takeaways:

• The Kremlin's strategy of dividing and ruling has been employed in various forms since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, including the creation of artificial statelets in the Black Sea region.
• Ukraine's presidential election has become a focal point for Russian interference, with Putin openly claiming the eastern part of Ukraine as a "Russian internal matter."
• The Kremlin's pro-autonomy movements have led to economic despair and bloodshed in regions such as Moldova and Georgia, where Russian garrisons and militias have been deployed.
• The Lithuanian experience in 1990/1991 serves as a precedent for Ukraine's democratic movement, which must show that democracy does not equate to the majority suppressing any minority.
• Europe and the world must recognize Putin's "managed democracy" for what it is and stand united against his neo-imperialist dreams.
• The first step is to make Russia honor its commitment to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe to remove its troops from Moldova and Georgia.

Statistics:

• The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, marking the beginning of the Kremlin's strategy of dividing and ruling.
• Ukraine's presidential election is set to take place on December 26, with Putin openly interfering in the process.
• The Russian garrisons in Transdneister have been deployed in collaboration with local gangs, making Moldova the poorest land in Europe.
• The bloody conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, sparked by the Kremlin's instigation, ended with the deployment of Russian peacekeepers.
• Ukraine's Russian-speaking citizens must be aware that they are being turned into Putin pawns, manipulated by the Kremlin's manufactured pro-autonomy movements.

Sources:

• Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania's first president after independence from the Soviet Union, is now a member of the European Parliament.
• Project Syndicate, December 2004.