Issues Under Fire: How Vladimir Putin's Red Line Split Ukraine

Issues Under Fire: How Vladimir Putin's Red Line Split Ukraine 

Finally admitting his military had little to no chance of facing down Pro-Russian Rebels in the areas they'd captured, Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko, humanely ordered his troops out of Debaltseve, the last nasty point of contention left unsettled. The rebels were determined to take Debaltseve to keep for themselves and they did.  

The pictures and video of Ukraine's government troops surrendering and making a hasty retreat (under heavy fire) from Debaltseve told the whole story. Some shellshocked, others humiliated, some in trucks, others on foot, they made they're way through a barrage of rebel mortar and sniper fire, to relative safety back behind established battle lines. 

While the fussing, cussing and back and forth accusations of breaching the security of one another will continue until a final deal is cut, for the most part, this Ukraine conflict has been decided. With Russia successfully defending its border security buffer, as well as its economic and phycological space from perceived Western encroachment, Vladimir Putin can boast to the Russian people, he stood up to the West and won.  

Still, the question remains, how did Vladimir Putin pull off the biggest "gangsta" play in the 21st century against heavy and at times over the top Western pressure to back down. Well, for the astute observer, the answer is not all that complicated. Vladimir Putin was playing defense offensively. Putin felt not only was the West attacking Russia, he felt the West was attacking him personally. From Putin's perspective, the best way to counter Western aggression, would be correctly calculating, who could out last who. 

Knowing it'd be only a matter of time before the U.S. would start talking about arming Ukraine's military, Putin knew it would be only a matter of time before the E.U. would start to bristle at the thought. Knowing it'd only be a matter of time before the U.S. started pushing for more damaging sanctions, Putin knew it'd only be a matter of time before the E.U. would start feeling as much pain as Russia.  

Furthermore, knowing Russia was far too interconnected with the global economy to remain isolated and ostracized too long, Putin knew it'd only be a matter of time before the international community realized the conflict was not worth the cost. Knowing the U.S. and the E.U. was already embroiled in a war against global terror, Putin knew it'd only be a matter of time before the West realized Russia would be one more fight too many. 

Bottom line: Vladimir Putin's patience, determination and discipline, first drove a wedge between the United States and the European Union and then simply waited for the inevitable wedge to form between members of the E.U. Once divided, the West was left confused and looking for a way out.

No matter who you cut it, Putin walking away with Crimea and a huge chunk Ukraine without even admitting his people was involved was impressive to say the least. And, observing how the Obama administration will try to spin this loss will be interesting to say the least too. Podcast Below!