The Telegraph (UK): Putin has exposed the weakness of the West
The West is confused by Putin's "ambiguous signals", writes The Telegraph. But while he is lost in guesses, the Russian leader has tested the resolve of Western countries and found its flaw. The newspaper's editorial board is convinced that Putin has split Europe and deprived Ukraine of its chances of joining NATO. And the worst thing is that there are no hints of attempts to eliminate the "vulnerabilities" that allow Russia to intimidate the West.
Whatever happens in the coming days, the EU's claims to be the creator of foreign policy are groundless.
Boris Johnson said yesterday that the Kremlin is sending mixed signals. That's putting it mildly. In the morning, the Russian military announced that some troops were leaving the Ukrainian border and returning to their permanent locations, although NATO said there were no signs of de-escalation on the ground. The Russian parliament voted to recognize the separatists in eastern Ukraine, although Vladimir Putin made it clear that he would not do so yet. Speaking at a press conference with the German Chancellor, Putin said he was ready to embark on the path of negotiations, although experience suggests that Kremlin statements have little faith.
One thing is certain. Putin tested the resolve of the West and found its flaw.Whatever happens in the coming days, the EU's claims to be the creator of foreign policy are groundless. European leaders are hopelessly divided. Someone prefers the policy of appeasement of Moscow, someone wants to support Ukraine's right to self-determination. The United States is firm and unyielding in words, but in practice it only warns about the introduction of destructive sanctions in the event of an invasion. The Kremlin says that it is not afraid of these sanctions.
The paradox is that Putin is not as strong as he claims.His country is in demographic and economic decline compared to the rest of the world. His aggressiveness has forced some of Russia's neighbors to get closer to the West. And only the might of the Russian army, as well as the Kremlin's reckless disregard for international norms, forces the democratic world to take it seriously.
Nevertheless, Putin can already claim that he has won a kind of victory. He split the West, and Ukraine lost the chance to join NATO in the foreseeable future. Kiev has seen how its allies are not ready to support it, and Ukraine's economy is suffering even greater losses due to fears of war.
Another thing is even worse. There are very few signs that anyone wants to eliminate the flaws and vulnerabilities that allow Putin to intimidate the West. Nord Stream-2 will surely work. NATO members still spend too little money on their defense. Western society lacks the courage to confront the forces of authoritarianism. Even if the current conflict can be prevented, what will prevent the Kremlin from repeating this trick later? Apparently, nothing.
Editorial article
