Germany To Push For Deal On Eastern Ukraine Elections

[Rogue Valley]

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Germany To Push For Deal On Eastern Ukraine Elections

The impetus for Mr. Steinmeier's push here is that he would prefer that a EU vote in July extending EU sanctions against Russia fail. Mr. Steinmeier is eager for Germany to renew its lucrative business ties with Moscow. However, Mr. Steinmeier wields no political power to force Moscow and its proxies in eastern Ukraine to honor the negotiated terms in the Minsk II Accord. So he does what he can do ... and applies political pressures against Kyiv.

According to the Minsk II Accord, elections in eastern Ukraine are to take place: 1) according to Ukraine law and 2) after other conditions have been satisfied. It is impossible to conduct an election according to Ukrainian law in regions where Ukrainian law does not possess supremacy. Fighting in eastern Ukraine (as I chronicle elsewhere here at DP daily) remains kinetic with KIA and WIA virtually every day. According to Minsk II, by the end of 2015 all foreign fighters (Russian solders and mercenaries) were to have been withdrawn from Ukraine along with their weapons. Rebels were to lay down their arms and governance of the Luhansk/Donetsk territories returned to the Ukraine government. The entire Ukraine border was to be returned to the sovereignty and control of Ukraine. In return for satisfying these conditions, Ukraine would grant amnesty to rebels and constitutionally allow a greater degree of regional self-rule.

None of these Minsk II conditions have been satisfied, and yet Steinmeier is demanding that Ukraine sanction a sham election before July (and recognize the results) on rebel territory that is not under government control and where Ukrainian law (and voting modalities) does not exist and cannot be enforced. The United States recognizes the absurdity of such a position and has stated its position that no elections should transpire until all conditions of Minsk II have been satisfied.

 

[joG]

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Germany To Push For Deal On Eastern Ukraine Elections

The impetus for Mr. Steinmeier's push here is that he would prefer that a EU vote in July extending EU sanctions against Russia fail. Mr. Steinmeier is eager for Germany to renew its lucrative business ties with Moscow. However, Mr. Steinmeier wields no political power to force Moscow and its proxies in eastern Ukraine to honor the negotiated terms in the Minsk II Accord. So he does what he can do ... and applies political pressures against Kyiv.

According to the Minsk II Accord, elections in eastern Ukraine are to take place: 1) according to Ukraine law and 2) after other conditions have been satisfied. It is impossible to conduct an election according to Ukrainian law in regions where Ukrainian law does not possess supremacy. Fighting in eastern Ukraine (as I chronicle elsewhere here at DP daily) remains kinetic with KIA and WIA virtually every day. According to Minsk II, by the end of 2015 all foreign fighters (Russian solders and mercenaries) were to have been withdrawn from Ukraine along with their weapons. Rebels were to lay down their arms and governance of the Luhansk/Donetsk territories returned to the Ukraine government. The entire Ukraine border was to be returned to the sovereignty and control of Ukraine. In return for satisfying these conditions, Ukraine would grant amnesty to rebels and constitutionally allow a greater degree of regional self-rule.

None of these Minsk II conditions have been satisfied, and yet Steinmeier is demanding that Ukraine sanction a sham election before July (and recognize the results) on rebel territory that is not under government control and where Ukrainian law (and voting modalities) does not exist and cannot be enforced. The United States recognizes the absurdity of such a position and has stated its position that no elections should transpire until all conditions of Minsk II have been satisfied.

One should never forget that he was an architect of the Schröder/Putin/Chirac axis that supported Saddam in the run-up to the Mother of all Wars.

 

[legalimmigrant]

One should never forget that he was an architect of the Schröder/Putin/Chirac axis that supported Saddam in the run-up to the Mother of all Wars.

All three were right. If we left Saddam alone, ISIS would be dead before they could fire the first bullet or chop the first head off. It would their heads Saddam would be collecting as trophies. After gassing.

 

[joG]

All three were right. If we left Saddam alone, ISIS would be dead before they could fire the first bullet or chop the first head off. It would their heads Saddam would be collecting as trophies. After gassing.

I do not understand, what you mean.

 

[legalimmigrant]

I do not understand, what you mean.

Saddam didn't mind gassing people he didn't like. He didn't like Islamic crazies who would want to take Iraq from him. He would, without any hesitation, dispatch ISIS-like nuts to their 72 virgins using every available tool, gas included. Now, that he is dead, Iraq is falling apart and we are tired, clueless or both what to do about it.

 

[Tigerace117]

Saddam didn't mind gassing people he didn't like. He didn't like Islamic crazies who would want to take Iraq from him. He would, without any hesitation, dispatch ISIS-like nuts to their 72 virgins using every available tool, gas included. Now, that he is dead, Iraq is falling apart and we are tired, clueless or both what to do about it.

Which is why so many ex Mukhabaret guys work for ISIS, right?

 

[joG]

Saddam didn't mind gassing people he didn't like. He didn't like Islamic crazies who would want to take Iraq from him. He would, without any hesitation, dispatch ISIS-like nuts to their 72 virgins using every available tool, gas included. Now, that he is dead, Iraq is falling apart and we are tired, clueless or both what to do about it.

It's primarily their problem and that of their neighborhood. Also, the supranational folks should do something.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov of Russia, Pavlo Klimkin of Ukraine, Jean-Marc Ayrault of France, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany (L-R)

Ukraine Talks Fail to Reach Breakthrough, German Envoy Says

Klimkin parried the pressure's of Steinmeier concerning elections in Donetsk and Luhansk. Not even basic answers are available such as can internally displaced people (1,500,000) vote?

 

[Rogue Valley]

As I alluded to in the OP, German FM Steinmeier is quite prepared to throw Ukraine under the bus in order to return to "business as usual".

Germany considers relaxing sanctions against Russia

27.05.2016

"Sanctions are not an end in themselves: that has always been my attitude," Steinmeier told German weekly "Der Spiegel" in an interview on Friday, adding that if Russia contributes to peace in eastern Ukraine, it should also see a positive effect. "If there is progress in implementing the Minsk agreement, we can also speak about relaxing the sanctions." Elaborating during a press conference on a visit to Estonia, Steinmeier advocated a "step by step" reduction in sanctions.

Mr. Steinmeyer ... Crimea is still occupied. Moscow has not fulfilled ANY of its responsibilities under Minsk II. The border of Ukraine has not been returned to Ukrainian control (Moscow says it won't be). Moscow has not stopped the flow of weapons and soldiers into eastern Ukraine. 9,000 Russian soldiers are now stationed in the DNR 'People's Soviet' and the LNR 'People's Soviet'. Prisoners have not been exchanged "all for all". Rebels have not laid down their arms ... the rebels have more battle tanks than Germany.

The fighting continues unabated. There were 40 Russian/rebel Minsk II ceasefire violations yesterday with 1 Ukrainian soldier KIA and 2 WIA.

A vote on extending EU sanctions against Russia is scheduled for July. Moscow has done nothing noteworthy to consider any reduction in sanctions.

 

[Tigerace117]

As I alluded to in the OP, German FM Steinmeier is quite prepared to throw Ukraine under the bus in order to return to "business as usual".

Germany considers relaxing sanctions against Russia



Mr. Steinmeyer ... Crimea is still occupied. Moscow has not fulfilled ANY of its responsibilities under Minsk II. The border of Ukraine has not been returned to Ukrainian control (Moscow says it won't be). Moscow has not stopped the flow of weapons and soldiers into eastern Ukraine. 9,000 Russian soldiers are now stationed in the DNR 'People's Soviet' and the LNR 'People's Soviet'. Prisoners have not been exchanged "all for all". Rebels have not laid down their arms ... the rebels have more battle tanks than Germany.

The fighting continues unabated. There were 40 Russian/rebel Minsk II ceasefire violations yesterday with 1 Ukrainian soldier KIA and 2 WIA.

A vote on extending EU sanctions against Russia is scheduled for July. Moscow has done nothing noteworthy to consider any reduction in sanctions.

What constitutes a ceasefire violation?