Mike Marta

Response to the Andre Illarionov Seminar

10/27/14

Mr. Illarionov hit on a variety of topics the other night, however what I found most prominent was the constant underlying theme that Vladimir is both deceptive and manipulative in his recent endeavors involving Ukraine.  Mr. Illarionov started off by talking about how Putin’s propaganda has portrayed the image that the current situation between Russia and Ukraine is a “crisis” when in reality the majority of the world knows that Russia and Ukraine are at war.  Putin has effectively backed himself into a corner where, as Mr. Illarionov put it, “It is impossible for Putin to compromise with the Anglo-Saxon world”.

Even though Ukraine was the second largest providence in the USSR behind Russia itself Ukraine has since removed itself from Russian ties, especially in light of recent events.  Mr. Illarionov also quoted Ukrainian President Kuchma in a conversation between Putin and Kuchma stating (to Putin) “You don’t understand, Ukraine has become a different country”.  It is clear that Putin is becoming not only frustrated with Ukraine but also desperate as he threatened to invade more Ukrainian providences if Ukraine signed any agreements with the EU.

However what I found most interesting about this seminar was Mr. Illarionov’s parallels between Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler.  While Adolf Hitler believed the goal of the Third Reich was to “unite German people”, Vladimir Putin has been quoted saying that he is trying to unite Russian people, both ethnic and Russian speaking which would include providences in Ukraine and other near by ex-soviet nations.  In addition Hitler also started off annexing nations such as Hungary and Austria claiming that the people there were “ethnic Germans” just as Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea and claimed that the large majority of people there were “ethnic Russians”

In addition Putin has committed several deceptive acts, which not only include breaking the Budapest agreement but also the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger jet.  Putin denied these acts however the only people who could have given permission to the Russian soldiers to fire upon the Ukrainian jet would be a high ranking Russian military Officer such as a general or Putin himself.

I found Mr. Illarionov’s seminar to be not only thought provoking but also eye opening.  He brought up several points that we as citizens of the US might not take into account or even realize when discussing the war going on in Ukraine.