Putin moves to capitalize on Europe's fury with Trump

[Stevicus]

Putin Moves to Capitalize on Europe’s Fury With Trump

BRUSSELS — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia arrived in Austria on Tuesday sensing an opportunity almost unimaginable just months ago: to overhaul frosty relations with a European Union infuriated by President Trump on a host of issues, from climate and Iran to, most recently, tariffs and trade.

Never mind that Mr. Putin was until recently virtually a pariah in Europe after his military interventions in Ukraine, Crimea and Syria; after meddling in European elections and working hard to foment right-wing populist uprisings throughout the Continent; after polluting the political environment with fake news; and after allegedly poisoning a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain, charges Russia denies.

I figured something like this would happen eventually. It was a bad move for all the Russia-bashers to alienate Russia, especially since it was supposedly done with the assumption that Europe would be united in its opposition to Russia. I actually thought it would take longer for Europe to start falling out of the fold, but it was inevitable.

Though careful not to gloat, Mr. Putin had to take great satisfaction in the recent turn of events. Often dismissed as a tactician and opportunist, he was looking more like a grand strategist as Mr. Trump bluntly rejected European demands for an exemption from what Brussels considers illegal and unilateral tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Populist, Russophile parties are in power in Greece, Hungary, Italy and Austria. The prospect of attaining Mr. Putin’s immediate goal of throwing off economic sanctions imposed by the European Union over the last several years suddenly seemed within reach, even without compromise in Ukraine.

The question now is how Trump might respond, although the smart and practical move right now would be to reach out to Russia and try to forge stronger bonds of friendship.

These tensions will be on display this weekend at the G-7 meeting in Canada. That normally American-dominated meeting is likely to see Mr. Trump isolated on the issue of trade, six against one.

Austria, officially neutral, has always had close ties to Moscow and takes over the revolving European Union presidency next month. Austria’s young chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, refused to expel any Russian diplomats following the poisoning of the ex-spy, Sergei V. Skripal, and his daughter Yulia.

In contrast, most other European allies and the United States readily lined up behind Britain and were quick to isolate Russia diplomatically. More than two dozen countries ejected more than 150 Russians, including people listed by their embassies and consulates as diplomats, and military and cultural attachés.

I wonder who our European "allies" hate more, Putin or Trump?

The new Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, told the Italian Senate on Tuesday that it was time for “an opening toward Russia,” which he said had “strengthened its position” in various international crises. He called for lifting sanctions against Russia that he said harm “Russian civil society.”

Trying to isolate Russia is a bad idea. We now have an opportunity to reverse the course that the Russia-hating warmongers would have us take.

Mr. Putin would clearly like to end his isolation. In his current term as president, Mr. Putin has two clear goals, said Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, a research institution.

“First, to keep Russia together, and that’s a helluva job, and second, to make Russia a great power again and seen to be one,” Mr. Trenin said last weekend at a conference in Estonia.

To accomplish those goals, however, “you need economic success.” And for that, Mr. Putin needs European financing, energy markets and technology, Mr. Trenin said. Mr. Putin also wants good relations with Europe, he said, to concentrate on his real priority, which is China, a rising neighboring power with resource needs and ambitions.

China is also a major player which should be considered. There are many US politicians and pundits who are too emotional when it comes to Russia, Putin, Trump, and many other issues that they're missing the forest through the trees.

Still, Russia is cognizant of the fact that Mr. Trump has created a sudden opportunity for them.

“A battle for Russia has begun in international politics!” Vladimir R. Solovyov, the host of a prime-time talk show on Russian state-run television that often reflects the government line, said on Sunday. “Europe is compelled to change its policies on the fly since Trump has declared a trade war.”

Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian ambassador to the European Union, said on Tuesday, “I am closely watching how the situation evolves and when the necessary volume of political will is there — and I see this tendency — then the E.U. perhaps will take the necessary decision to change its course.”

Some people on our side of the pond think that insulting and alienating Russia is a good idea, but it's not. We need to start looking at the bigger picture and not be blinded by egotistical elitists who have been pushing America towards the abyss.

The Russia-bashers need to restrain themselves and stop. Just stop.

 

[Stanyon]

Something I found interesting in that article is that they once again mentioned suspicion of Russia funding the far right without any more explanation or analysis. In the case of Marine Le Pen and the FN in France at least, they did borrow money from a bank that did have Russian ties but the only reason they borrowed from them is because they were one of the very few banks that would lend to them. The FN being a Euroskeptic party was pretty much blacklisted as to getting loans from banks from within western Europe which in a sense was an attempt to silence democracy.

 

[columbus]

The Russia-bashers need to restrain themselves and stop. Just stop.

I don't think bashing is a good idea, but being realistic about Putin and Russian ambition is crucial.

I believe that Putin intends to expand Russian influence around the globe, largely at the expense of the USA. He's already doing very well in the Middle East oil regions. Now Europe, apparently.
At the risk of "I told you so", I have believed since before the election that Putin really wanted Trump to be president. That's because a weak and divisive president helps him further his ambitions a great deal, whereas a hardened player like Clinton would have been a serious obstacle.
Tom

 

[Stevicus]

I don't think bashing is a good idea, but being realistic about Putin and Russian ambition is crucial.

I believe that Putin intends to expand Russian influence around the globe, largely at the expense of the USA. He's already doing very well in the Middle East oil regions. Now Europe, apparently.
At the risk of "I told you so", I have believed since before the election that Putin really wanted Trump to be president. That's because a weak and divisive president helps him further his ambitions a great deal, whereas a hardened player like Clinton would have been a serious obstacle.
Tom

Yes, but I would consider that being realistic also means dropping the posturing, badgering, and unmitigated sanctimony that so many of our politicians and pundits are famous for.

If Russia is gaining influence around the globe at the expense of the USA, that's largely the fault of reckless policies we've been engaging in since the end of the Cold War. Once the Cold War was done, we should have pulled back and stopped pretending to be Captain America, Guardian of Truth and Justice. We should have anticipated the consequences of such wanton hubris exuded by the leadership of both parties (including Hillary).

 

[Estro Felino]

Our new Government is a Populist, Nationalist, pro-Russian Government.

We Italians will fight to lift the sanctions on Russia and strengthen our relations with Putin
We will be the first EU country to recognize officially the annexation of Crimea.
We will give Putin all the support he needs to regain credibility

Putin

I wonder who our European "allies" hate more, Putin or Trump?

In my country Trump is admired...but Putin is admired by the majority, and our pro-Russian parties in charge shows it.

That's because Putin is against Soros...who has turned into the number one enemy in my country.
Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Austria, and other Slavic nations are on our side.

I don't think bashing is a good idea, but being realistic about Putin and Russian ambition is crucial.

I believe that Putin intends to expand Russian influence around the globe, largely at the expense of the USA. He's already doing very well in the Middle East oil regions. Now Europe, apparently.
At the risk of "I told you so", I have believed since before the election that Putin really wanted Trump to be president. That's because a weak and divisive president helps him further his ambitions a great deal, whereas a hardened player like Clinton would have been a serious obstacle.
Tom

We are still a NATO country...so we don't have the slightest intention to quit the NATO and our allies.
At the same time our loyalty to the US cannot preclude us to become Russia's allies, since Putin has always defended European Nationalism.

 

[Nakosis]

Yes, but I would consider that being realistic also means dropping the posturing, badgering, and unmitigated sanctimony that so many of our politicians and pundits are famous for.

If Russia is gaining influence around the globe at the expense of the USA, that's largely the fault of reckless policies we've been engaging in since the end of the Cold War. Once the Cold War was done, we should have pulled back and stopped pretending to be Captain America, Guardian of Truth and Justice. We should have anticipated the consequences of such wanton hubris exuded by the leadership of both parties (including Hillary).

A group divided against itself cannot stand as they say. The US is pretty divided at this point.

 

[Stevicus]

A group divided against itself cannot stand as they say. The US is pretty divided at this point.

We've seen sharp divisions before, but we've been able to overcome them. Sometimes it just takes a willingness to compromise.

As I've said many times before, there are reasons why many people (both lower class Americans and even many people all around the world) are responding negatively to the hubris of America's elite. If you (generic you, not you personally) alienate, ostracize, and/or ignore entire classes and regions of people, eventually you'll find that they're not going to be willing lapdogs anymore. Eventually, there's a point where diminishing returns set in, and the people will no longer believe the BS of the ruling class.

If the ruling class had made conciliatory gestures towards the common people 20-30 years ago (or even 10 years ago), we might have avoided this current divide. But they have always been too arrogant and full of themselves all these years, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Putin Moves to Capitalize on Europe’s Fury With Trump



I figured something like this would happen eventually. It was a bad move for all the Russia-bashers to alienate Russia, especially since it was supposedly done with the assumption that Europe would be united in its opposition to Russia. I actually thought it would take longer for Europe to start falling out of the fold, but it was inevitable.



The question now is how Trump might respond, although the smart and practical move right now would be to reach out to Russia and try to forge stronger bonds of friendship.





I wonder who our European "allies" hate more, Putin or Trump?



Trying to isolate Russia is a bad idea. We now have an opportunity to reverse the course that the Russia-hating warmongers would have us take.



China is also a major player which should be considered. There are many US politicians and pundits who are too emotional when it comes to Russia, Putin, Trump, and many other issues that they're missing the forest through the trees.



Some people on our side of the pond think that insulting and alienating Russia is a good idea, but it's not. We need to start looking at the bigger picture and not be blinded by egotistical elitists who have been pushing America towards the abyss.

The Russia-bashers need to restrain themselves and stop. Just stop.

We always had relations and ties with Russia even at the height of the Cold War.

For some reason people are thinking or more accurately trying to get people to think that this is unusual for american-russian relations to have meetings and exchanges time to time.

 

[Shushersbedamned]

@Stevicus am sincerely curious, is Kremlin payin you for writing all this trash?

 

[Shushersbedamned]

Oh Yes, it's all over the place. The same article no original source. Who actually made this up? Well we know it ain't someone who can write because that article, though it goes on forever never arrives to the point. Like all propaganda it constantly assures the reader we are coming to some great revelation soon - and then it just fades like an orchestra suddenly sucked underground.

 

[Stevicus]

@Stevicus am sincerely curious, is Kremlin payin you for writing all this trash?

No. Is someone paying you?

 

[Estro Felino]

For some reason people are thinking or more accurately trying to get people to think that this is unusual for american-russian relations to have meetings and exchanges time to time.

Well...the NATO said the US will not consider the idea of lifting the sanctions

 

[metis]

Our new Government is a Populist, Nationalist, pro-Russian Government.

That's truly unfortunate-- "To cooperate with evil is evil"-- Gandhi.

 

[Estro Felino]

That's truly unfortunate-- "To cooperate with evil is evil"-- Gandhi.

Honestly ...anyone in my country considers Putin as a hero.

 

[metis]

Honestly ...anyone in my country considers Putin as a hero.

Then it's really gone downhill since we stayed there last.

BTW, for what it's worth, my wife is from there and is a very devout Catholic who loves this pope.