Russian President Vladimir Putin has calmed fears of an imminent war between Russia and Ukraine’s new authorities but also made clear that Moscow has no intention of loosening its new grip on Crimea in defiance of Western anger.
Breaking an uncharacteristic silence since the downfall of president Viktor Yanukovych 10 days ago, Putin on Tuesday displayed no fear of a prolonged crisis in ties with the West over the situation in the Ukrainian region of Crimea which is now controlled by pro-Moscow forces.
He also showed zero inclination of recognising the new Kiev authorities which came to power after the ousting of Yanukovych but admitted the deposed leader had neither a political future nor any authority.
The standoff between Moscow and the new pro-West leadership had prompted apocalyptic fears of Russian tanks rolling across Ukraine’s eastern borders in a conflict that could draw in Nato.
But Putin’s comments appeared to calm the wildest scenarios while making clear his steely determination that Russia would not give up its newly-acquired control over Crimea, a region with a majority Russia-speaking population.
Even the format chosen for his comments, an avuncular chat with hand-picked Kremlin pool correspondents rather than an address to the nation, appeared to have been chosen to create a milder impression.
The Russian strongman said Russia would use force as a “last resort” and there was no current necessity to send troops in.
Putin strongly denied that Russian troops were already in Crimea and said that it was “local self defence forces” who were in control of the Black Sea peninsula.
It appears Putin wants to keep Crimea part of Moscow’s sphere, even if the rest of Ukraine is not set to drift to the West after the ousting of Yanukovych.
