Posted on 03/19/2014 9:14:50 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Five Years After Russia 'Reset,' Ukraine Crisis Shows Limits of U.S. Approach
LONDON—U.S. officials negotiating with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the future of Ukraine were surprised last week after the experienced diplomat excused himself to phone President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
His making such a call wasn't unusual: Mr. Lavrov often sought instructions from the Kremlin leader. The Americans were stunned, however, when Mr. Lavrov reported that Mr. Putin had refused to take his call.
Coming during the final U.S. attempts to preserve the modern borders of Europe, the episode with Mr. Lavrov here last week underscored the Obama administration's inability to penetrate the Kremlin and its struggles to comprehend Mr. Putin's calculations five years after President Barack Obama decided to reset Washington's ties with Moscow. (Follow the latest developments on the crisis in Ukraine.)
Russia's rapid move this week to absorb Crimea came despite breakneck U.S. diplomatic efforts, showing the limits of that approach with Moscow and marking a renewed chill with an expansionist-minded partner still seen as vital to core American interests around the world.
The Obama administration is now left crafting a more confrontational policy toward Mr. Putin, but it remains unclear how far it will go. The inner workings of the Obama administration's diplomatic push, including Mr. Lavrov's phone call, were described by several senior U.S., European and Russian officials who were familiar with the recent negotiations.
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In recent days, senior U.S. officials have begun outlining a confrontational strategy that marks a policy U-turn. Some U.S. officials have described an attempt to freeze Russian banks and companies out of the Western financial system.
Russian officials mocked the impact of the U.S. sanctions, and Mr. Lavrov threatened on Tuesday to retaliate.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Or all those little islands surrounded by oil deposits?
We're waiting for our Community Organizer-In-Chief to apologize to Governors Palin and Romney for having predicted Vlad's moves perfectly...but all we hear is crickets.
Oh my! What could this possibly mean? Perhaps barky will will send in Lux the 22 lb Cat...
Not to worry, Obama assures us Putin’s actions are proof of Vlad’s weakness.
Yeah, he really did.
I beg your pardon ...
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