While Flight 370 was sinking to the depths of the Indian Ocean, Vladimir Putin was watching the European Council make a futile attempt to scare him out of his guts. Now he’s waiting for the Global Policeman to hit Russia with a resolution, which will eventually be filed up in the archives of the United Nations and forgotten. After all, UN resolutions have a reputation to live up to.
Meanwhile, perceptions were made. Opinions were expressed. And among the multitudes, one in particular caught my attention, one public statement by a profusely endeared sportsman and a largely feared opponent in the boxing ring. Wladimir Klitschko, the second longest reining heavyweight champion of all time.
Smiling at the camera, the younger boxer of the Klitschko duo compared Russia and Ukraine to a pair of brothers, Russia the elder and Ukraine the younger, or the ‘‘big’’ and ‘‘little’’ brothers, just like Vitali and himself. His argument was that the big brother has no ‘‘authority’’ to make the little brother dance to his tune, that the little brother has the right to make his own choices. This statement was, of course, of no surprise to me, because the Klitschko brothers have been widely known for their explicit support to the Ukrainian opposition and their evident hatred towards the Russians’ stance on Ukraine. As a matter of fact, the release of this statement was pelted with virtual eggs by the pro-Russian masses. Well, that was quite an achievement considering the fact that most of Klitschko’s demonstrations on the ground were given the same treatment, with real eggs!
This time I say, ‘‘well said Wladimir!’’ since I do respect the boxer’s opinion about the right to exercise discretion. And the Crimean people did exercise their right. I highly doubt whether Wladimir was happy about his statement then.
Meanwhile, Russia’s prospects on going ahead with their arrogant policies have become a subject of great interests to many political theorists, academics and diplomats. Two of the popular opinions are that Russia should not advance towards occupying the whole of Ukraine, to which I agree, and that even though Putin has won over Crimea now, the region is of no strategic importance to Russia today as it did in the past, to which I disagree.
It’s true that presence of military bases in Sevastopol and access to the Mediterranean through the Bosporus serve some of the many primary interests of Russians, but the way I see it, the people matter more than the Black Sea Fleet. Putin’s traction is suffering, and a pool of loyal supporters would be of some great help.
But then again, there are challenges to face. Sanctions, resolutions, criticisms and maybe eggs from Ukraine. From Wladimir Klitschko himself. Laughing them off might be the ”bossy” way, but not always the right way.
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