WASHINGTON, May 24 (RIA Novosti), Lyudmila Chernova - At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russia President Vladimir Putin was diplomatic in his language, but conveyed an important message for business leaders to take back to Washington and European capitals, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Paul Craig Roberts told RIA Novosti Saturday.
“The message that powerful economic interests from the US and EU received is that it will lead to trouble if Washington and European governments continue to ignore Russia’s concerns,” Roberts said.
He noted that Putin criticized Washington for bringing the Ukrainian crisis to Russia.
“Putin also criticized Europe for being Washington’s vassals for supporting Washington’s propaganda and interference in vital Russian interests,” the former treasury official added.
Roberts thinks that Putin made it clear that the lack of dialogue with Russia could lead to the West making the mistake of putting Ukraine in NATO and establishing missile bases on Russia’s border with Ukraine.
“Putin is learning that Russia cannot rely on good will from the West, and has made it clear, short of making a threat, that Western military bases in Ukraine are unacceptable,” he concluded.
Roberts is certain that Washington will continue to ignore Russia, and stressed that European capitals will have to decide whether Washington is pushing them into conflict with Russia that is against European interests.
“Thus, Putin is testing European politicians to determine if there is sufficient intelligence and independence in Europe for a rapprochement,” he asserted.
Besides Putin’s speech, there was one more important development from the forum, Roberts emphasized.
“It is the large number of participants despite Washington’s pressure on US and EU companies to boycott the forum,” he stressed, explaining that there are official delegations present from 62 countries and CEOs from 146 of the largest Western companies.
