In March, Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was raised in East Germany under Communism, told President Obama by telephone that after speaking to President Putin, she was not sure he was in touch with reality, he was "in another world." This would explain his bizarre statements of late like the "internet emerged as a special project of the CIA." He's convinced that the revolt of the Ukrainian people is the direct result of western interference.
Yesterday Chancellor Merkel told Putin she was disappointed that because Russia hadn't done enough, the Geneva accord process had failed. In reply, the Kremlin said they were disappointed with the unlawful Ukrainian government for agreeing to the Geneva accord in the first place. Now there will be more sanctions and more angst and yesterday, acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatseniuk accused Russia of wanting to start World War Three.
In March, Putin held a press conference and it was reported that he seemed nervous, angry, cornered and paranoid. He made it clear that Yanukovich was illegally overthrown and the government taken over by force. From Putin's point of view, he has a valid point - the Ukrainian people democratically elected Yanukovich and that should be an end to it, but the thing Putin refuses to acknowledge, is that somewhere along the way, they changed their minds.
At the press conference, he was asked what mistakes Yanukovich made as president?
You know, I can't understand that...not because I don't know the answer, but because it wouldn't be right for me to say....did you know they burned someone alive in Kiev, just like that? Is that what you call a manifestation of democracy?.....and this isn't the first time they've done this in Ukraine...no.....sometimes I get the feeling....these people in America.....they are sitting there, in their laboratory....and doing experiments, like on rats.....you're not listening to me, I've already said that yesterday.....I met with three colleagues...colleagues....you're not listening.....it's not that Yanukovich said he's not going to sign the agreement with Europe, what he said was that, based on the content of the agreement, having examined it, he did not like it.
But Mr Putin, what about the snipers in Kiev who were firing on civilians?
Who gave them orders to shoot? Those were provocateurs....didn't you read the reports? they were open source reports....so I don't know what happened there, it's unclear.
But did you see the bullets piercing the shields of the Berkut special police?
That was obvious...as for who gave the order to shoot, I don't know...Yanukovich didn't give that order, he told me.....I only know what Yanukovich told me....and I told him don't do it....you'll bring chaos to your city..and he did, and they toppled him.
Is Putin obsessed with the idea of bringing mother Russia back to greatness by grabbing land he no longer has any right to? It certainly looks that way. As the new world evolves, the old Russia is cracking and breaking off and his advisors need to tell him that no matter how painful this may be, there's nothing he can do to stop it, it's too late.
The feeling among Moscow journalists is that Putin is no longer getting sensible advice but is surrounded by yes-men. Perhaps he needs to talk to ex President Bush who once said he had a glimpse into his soul.
President Bush heard a story about a cross Putin's mother gave him that she had blessed in Jerusalem and asked him if it was true. "A look of shock washed over Putin's face" he wrote. He then told him the story of recovering the cross from a house fire and when a worker found it in the ruins, it was as if it was meant to be. Bush replied "Vladimir, that is the story of the cross, things are meant to be."
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