WASHINGTON, April 25 (RIA Novosti), Lyudmila Chernova – Russia has been actively moving to implement last week's four-party deal reached in Geneva, even as the US is undermining it, author and radio host Stephen Lendman told RIA Novosti Thursday.
“Russia is going all out to see that the terms of the agreement are enforced, and it’s President Barack Obama who has everything upside down,” said Lendman, adding that Moscow is setting the standard in terms of execution.
According to Lendman, President Obama’s recent accusations of Russia not abiding by the Geneva accord to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine were poorly thought out, as it was the US who has not lived up to the agreement by sending CIA Director John Brennan and Vice President Joe Biden to Ukraine.
“There is no question what they came to Kiev to say,” Lendman said before speculating that “they urged launching violence against the people of eastern Ukraine.”
The author called outrageous the ongoing events in eastern regions of the country, where a special operation to crack down on pro-federalization supporters was launched by Kiev’s interim government.
“It is inconceivable that the military unleash a military attack against its own peaceful citizens, kill and brutalize them,” Lendman said, adding that the UN Charter affirms the self-determination of all people everywhere.
“And that’s what people in eastern Ukraine are doing, they deserve worldwide praise and support for their courage,” the author added.
Lendman warned that the situation can easily worsen and if the US continues to support the unrest in Ukraine and threaten Russia with further sanctions Moscow “can retaliate in kind” by reaching a gas deal with Beijing and switching to trade to the ruble and Renminbi, bypassing the dollar.
“That would be a terrible blow to the dollar. If you want to hurt America, that’s the way to do it, economically, financially. By attacking the dollar you will attack American strength. It’s like Samson’s hair. You cut the hair, and you take away its power,” said Lendman.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that Russia will pay a high price for its policy on Ukraine and ignoring the Geneva agreements. On Thursday, Obama said that his country and its allies are ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in turn warned Kiev against continuing a special operation against pro-federalization supporters, which has already led to the death of five protesters.
Top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the US and the EU met in Geneva on April 17 and approved a statement calling on the sides in Ukraine to refrain from violence, extremism and provocations, disarm militants and launch a national dialogue on constitutional reform.
