THE GENDARME PUTIN

It is perfectly natural for states to defend their borders, understanding as such a crucial element of their own security, but in the case of Russia, since the distant times of the Tsar, followed by the Soviet Union and today's Russia, a strategy has been maintained invariable: expand its borders incorporating strips of neighboring territories, and even entire countries when they considered that a space for growth was necessary, a deformed formula of the German hinterland.

Putin's decision must be seen in that context. In his obsession with not being “encircled” by NATO, he has taken the first step by invading the Ukrainian Donbass and creating the republics of Donet z and Lugansk. President Biden is absolutely right in pointing out that this would be the first step in invading the rest of Ukraine and planting a regime in his pay in Kiev.

At this point, one would have to question the level of seriousness and cynicism in geopolitics that could be attributed to the Russian president. It seems to me that the first is on the ground, while the other has risen to the heights.

Putin has thrown away the Minsk agreement, signed in February 2015, giving proof of this cynicism, and accusing Kiev, like Goebbels, of being the author of this violation of an international agreement.

Javier solana, in an article published days ago in El País, warned that it would not be reasonable for Ukraine to join the Atlantic Alliance now; but precisely, in light of what happened, Zelinsky is left with no other way than to seek NATO protection by imitating the Baltic countries and other Soviet-era states.

For many decades, Russian leaders prided themselves on condemning the United States for being "the world's policeman." The formula figured in the forefront of much of the international propaganda elements established by the Kremlin offices and their adjacent organs. Putin now assumes, without shame, that dark role in Eastern Europe.

The rebellion in Donbass was never the work of its population, but of a group of rebels armed and financed by Moscow. It is true, however, that the population speaks Russian and maintains close ties with the neighbors on the other side of the border. But all the regional consultations carried out by Kiev have shown that Donbass militates for the unity of Ukraine.

A neutral Ukraine would have been desirable. But here too, Putin has been dead wrong in sending his tanks to the Donbass.