This is the reason why he’s looking for partners worldwide to supply him with more weapons. What’s added more controversy to the story was Prime Minister Cameron’s announcement that London would send its military trainers to Ukraine. Anna Liatsou, independent researcher and author, Frank Esman, prominent author and radio producer (Copenhagen), commented on the issue.
Andrew Korybko: The biggest question that I've been wondering is – what got the EU to change their mentality in the first place? What was the real tipping point? Was it this American talk about arming Ukraine or, possibly, can we trace it back to the Vilnius summit of November 2013?
Anna Liatsou: Let’ me begin with the Vilnius summit, because I think that much depends on that event. What happened in November 2013: Europe supported Maidan and supported the nationalist movements that were opened during Maidan. After that the EU actually lost their control of the situation and at that time the US took the controlling position and had an opportunity to control the situation in the country. The decision of the US to discuss the possibility of supplying Ukraine with weapons is a very tricky decision for the EU. Up to a point they agreed with the US’s policy in the region. But the question is whether the German and the European governments would really be ready to have a war in their region. I mean, the US will not have a war in the US, it will be a war in Europe. And the question is whether the Europeans are ready for that.
Sergei Strokan: Even the Foreign Minister of France said that it was a too tough statement. So, it really means that Europe is split on the question.
Anna Liatsou: I would also like to mention that the UK is also an island. I mean, they also won’t have a war on their territory.
Andrew Korybko: What is your take from Denmark? How does it look in your part of Europe and what do you think Europe has to gain by arming Ukraine?
Frank Esman: First of all, I think arming Ukraine is not really on. I know that the US Republican Party is acting very strongly for it, but there is a certain hesitation in many European countries regarding the arming of Ukraine. So, I actually don’t think it will happen. On the other hand, we will see military advisors from the UK, Poland etc going in, but arming in a large scale – I don’t think it will happen.
Sergei Strokan: In the EU there are countries like Poland and the UK, which say that they have to go on with their own agenda. What is their benefit?
Frank Esman: We should see the background of the whole thing. Obviously, Poland is more worried about what has been happening in Russia and the attitudes of Russia, which have, of course, changed in the last couple of years. So, there is an internal political consideration to be taken into account too. I also think that Germany is sort of balancing this up. I actually don’t think that the major countries of the EU want a confrontation with Russia. And that is why they are hesitating.
Sergei Strokan: This week a fragile truce came in effect. Don’t you think that this is an attempt to rock the boat?
Frank Esman: Of course, if it will be continuing and strengthening, it will break down the attempts to establish some kind of understanding. But I actually think that this is probably is a try to convince Russia that there is a shared neighbourhood and we have to figure out how we handle the security questions there. In the long run the idea of muscle building is something which is to a certain extent necessary to calm down the worries that you have in the Baltic countries. But on the other hand, you will see an attempt to reach some kind of understanding with Russia.
Andrew Korybko: Do you think that these diverging views over arming Ukraine and sanctioning Russia could be splitting the EU even more than it already is?
Frank Esman: I think not, actually. I think that the EU is well aware that the Russian Government will try to split the EU and they will try to avoid it. You might see the occasional diversions of interests and opinions, but no, the EU will not be basically split over this.
Andrew Korybko: As you know, the Cypriot President was in Russia the other day and they signed a small military agreement. Do you think that some members of the EU might be running away from the boss in Brussels pursuing their own interests?
Anna Liatsou: Concerning the military agreement, there actually was a military agreement between the two countries. And as President Putin put it, the military agreement has to do with the coordination of work against terrorism and pirates in the region. So, many countries have military agreements and it has nothing to do with the weapons supply, which might be happening in Ukraine. That is an absolutely different thing. Russia has always had military agreements with France, Germany, Greece, the US and with any other country, and that is a normal situation.
Andrew Korybko: So, you basically think that the way that some EU publications are presenting this is a little bit hysterical.
Anna Liatsou: That is kind of hilarious, because both presidents have said it and I was at the conference and I heard it.
