US Secretary of State John Kerry, is in Moskova, that den of liars and fakirs. He's meeting with the Federation's chief Officer of Falsehoods and Sleight-of-hand, Valdimir Vladimirovich Putin, cat lover himself. The goal: to iron out differences over the Middle East(Iran and Syria) and discuss current existing financial sanctions that sting the oligarchs, so dear to Mr. Putin's governing style. To wit: I get half, your team, the rest.
What are the chances of this meeting producing results? Given Mr. Kerry's record of late, fairly slim chances, really. The war in Syria has been non stop for over 4 years and Assad is still in the driver's seat; Iran's nuclear negotiators are still making insistent demands from the US before they'll consent to any cutback in their nuclear arms development program, and China's continued development of island bases in the South China Sea is a cause of concern for all regional partners. The US announced that US Navy assets(carriers and subs and missile ships) will soon be in the area. So the great Secretary of State, the former brash Vietnam veteran and outspoken critic of foreign policy of the '60's and '70's, will be chatting up Mad Vlad, injecting a little truth and a little dose of reality to the Kremlin and its occupants. Certainly, Mr. Putin finds dealing with China's President Xi disconcerting(powerhouse vs. doghouse). Energy at cut rates for loans? Sounds a little like begging for favors. Why doesn't Mr. Putin go to the City of London, home to so much Russyan private investment, and ask around for help? Oh, yes, there's the Ukraine/Crimean issue. Hmmmm? Maybe not such a good idea after all. Ok, it made the average vodka-besotted Russkie a little puffed up, the 30-somethings feel more nationalistic, more Russyan. But, is it worth it?
No.
So, Mr. Putin, being pushed and pulled by contrary winds across the steppes, must look into his crystal ball and decide: what will I want for the future of the Federation: continued regional player or global player on the world stage? Leadership: such a lofty, lonely role.
Down south, in the vicinity of Ukraine, etc., the Russyans had hoped to construct a new pipeline to deliver natural gas to southern Europe. Now the West, is proposing its own pipeline to serve the same countries, crossing variously to serve Greece and the Balkans. Competition, always a good thing. Now, Gazprom might have to reconsider outcomes(finances) and the new reality. It's always difficult to ask a Russyan to face "reality" for they prefer the fantasy of their own, comfortable creation.
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