[Aaus-list] FT.com: Battle for Ukraine: How the west lost Putin
Max Pyziur
pyz at brama.com
Tue Feb 3 12:30:35 EST 2015
FT.com: Battle for Ukraine: How the west lost Putin
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e3ace220-a252-11e4-9630-00144feab7de.html
' ...
Vladimir Putin is the master destabiliser. A black belt in judo, he is an
expert at keeping opponents off-balance. He alternates between the
friendly gesture and the menacing glance. Throughout the crisis in
Ukraine, the most serious threat to security in Europe since the end of
the cold war, Mr Putin has succeeded in wrongfooting western leaders. They
know he wants to restore Russia’s influence and keep Ukraine within his
orbit, but are at a loss to divine how he intends to achieve his aims.
Ms Merkel had asked her closest advisers to stay outside during the
Brisbane meeting, on November 15 last year. “She wanted to be
alone . . . to test whether she could get Putin to be more open about what
he really wants,” says someone briefed on the conversation. “But he
wouldn’t say what his strategy is, because he doesn’t know.”
...'
fyi,
MP
pyz at brama.com
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