Political scientist Dmitry Zhuravlev
Photo: Marina VOLOSEVICH
“All is lost! Cast off, client leaves!” By all appearances, the collective West is dominated by the panicked moods of a petty gangster with ambitions, Gesha Kozodoev from “Diamond Hand” from Gaidai. “Foreign partners”, who only yesterday naively believe that Crimea is not ours, but theirs, suspected that something was wrong. But seriously, some people in the United States began to understand that Ukraine would not see the peninsula as their own ears, but they disagreed!
The American Politico published a journalist-scratched exclusive from one of the hardline participants in a secret meeting at the Pentagon, which included, among others, the Chief of Operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (US Armed Forces), the Lieutenant General Douglas Sims and Deputy Assistant Secretary. Defense (USA) made presentations for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper. Of course, the journalists do not announce who exactly made this statement behind closed doors, but the essence is that Ukraine, no matter how conceited it is, will not be able to take Crimea from Russia. And the spring offensive campaign, for which Nezalezhnaya is preparing, bristling like a frightened hedgehog with imported weapons, will still not end well for Zelensky and his Western patrons. In a word, the American militarists became deeply thoughtful.
A month earlier, Politico journalists recalled, the same was said by the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley. The Ukrainians then, as the Western media wrote, were upset: they say, in vain, uncle, you doubt our abilities.
According to experts whispering among themselves behind closed doors in the Pentagon to retake Crimea from Russia, at least for the foreseeable future, Ukraine does not have enough equipment or trained fighters. And it seems that the Americans are sorry for the insolvency of their wards, but in fact they put their own plans on hold.
Remember that Kyiv has repeatedly stated that Crimea is one of the main targets of its opposition to Russia. And to achieve this goal, the United States supports Ukraine as much as it can.
But the political scientist, director of the Dmitry Zhuravlev Institute of Regional Problems, is sure that, according to the Hamburg account, Ukraine does not need Crimea.
“It is not necessary at all, but the return of the peninsula is a matter of principle for Nezalezhnaya,” said the KP expert. – In Ukraine, any politician who returns to Crimea will become a living god.
But who really needs the peninsula is only the United States. Whatever the US politicians and military say, as if they only supported the policies of the unjustly offended Zelensky, the United States has been licking its lips on the peninsula for some time.
It is unlikely that they have forgotten abroad how seven years ago, then Vice President Joe Biden, in one of his speeches to the American media, said how important it was for the United States that Crimea be returned to Ukraine. If this happens, the States will be able to “militarize” it without hindrance.
“The United States is interested in further cooperation with Ukraine,” the politician conveyed in 2016. – A key interest for us is Crimea, which was controlled by Kyiv until 2014. This region could serve as an excellent military base for NATO and the US troops directly. It’s no secret that Ukrainians want to join NATO and we are ready to meet Ukraine’s needs. But now this process has been frozen due to the conflict with Russia. Once the conflict is resolved and Kyiv resumes control of all regions, we will begin a dialogue on further Western integration of Ukraine.”
At the same time, the current State Duma deputy, who heads the group for relations with the DPR parliament, Dmitry Sablin, assured that the Americans were really seriously preparing to occupy Crimea. It seems that an estimate was even drawn up for the repair of buildings in Sevastopol and Simferopol, where, according to the plans, the American headquarters was to be located. And Ukrainian military leaders received instructions from American curators on the conversion of garrisons and airfields to NATO standards. The United States planned to start equipping Crimea “for itself” six months after the Maidan, in April. But something doubted, there was a referendum, and Crimea – what a surprise! – returned under the protection of Russia. All the plans went to hell. But not in the minds of the American elite.
Now the West is fanatically showering Ukraine with weapons. And already President Biden declares in the White House, not at all ashamed, that he will “help return Crimea to Ukraine.” It is clear why.
“In addition, Crimea is a symbol,” Dmitry Zhuravlev commented. – For those who fight against Russia, the return of Crimea to Ukraine would be a symbol of the defeat of Russia. From this position, the Americans also really need Ukraine to receive it. The goal is to undermine Russia’s authority in the world, weaken it and, ideally, dismember it. If they could take the Crimea, it meant they had to move on. At the same time, the United States does not care about the opinion of the people living in Crimea. They are colonizers and they operate within their own colonial logic. And they sincerely believe that it is possible to take Crimea, but they need to push a little harder. “Here we add 10 more tanks, we bring in five planes, and the Russians will lose.” Americans are under the illusion that they actually almost won, but as a pre-exam student, one night is not enough for them. Here we live according to this logic of students. Here’s a little more, another teaspoon and you’re done.
