If separated during the war Ukraine again knit? The hope is almost faded these days. Just deleted the last link, which for three years of war linked the separatist-controlled region with the rest of the country: the economic interweaving. It is a grim spectacle that we are seeing there, and his miserable characters are the most influential politician of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and the richest Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov.
Ukrainian President in mid-March announced the introduction of the embargo separatist-controlled areas. Until further notice prohibited any exchange of goods and raw materials. Poroshenko took the decision on the blockade against their will. He loudly stated that he believes this decision is harmful — because it’s own side affect stronger than the separatists. But nothing helped. The radicals of the Kiev Parliament and an angry military veterans forced upon him the decision that they just blocked railroad crossings in the separatist-controlled region.
And Poroshenko knows how dangerous it is in Ukrainian politics contradict the true or the self-proclaimed patriots. How could he otherwise explain that is trade with the enemy, at that time, as being the new bloody battles? The President tried unsuccessfully to lift the blockade with the help of police violence. And so in the end he was too weak to stop this movement, it just became the head of the movement and declared an embargo of the government’s policy.
Here comes into play the second the unfortunate hero. Rinat Akhmetov has for many years been master of the economy of Donbass coal mines, steel mills, electric power and heating stations. The front line separating the Donbas was divided, and his economic Empire. But only in theory, in reality, coal, coke and ore continues to be transported from one part of the country to another, as if nothing happened and as if the right and left of the rail track shot. This bizarre situation suits both parties: the government in Kiev, because the enterprise Foundation to pay their taxes outside the separatist-controlled areas. And true Moscow rebels, because jobs in the mines and factories of Akhmetov fed in difficult times, tens of thousands of residents.
Now this is a mutually beneficial interweaving violently interrupted. The blockade has cost the separatists put Ukrainian all major enterprises under its control. But actually the control is not in them, and Moscow, which does not trust the local warlords in Donbas that they will be able to manage modern steel mills or coal mines. Overheard from one of the Ukrainian secret service of the telephone conversation of the head of the “Donetsk people’s Republic”, it follows that high government officials in Moscow are deciding which company under whose coercive control goes. There decide how to replace missing steel mills, Ukrainian iron ore. Kiev, for its part, must decide how he will do without coal from separatist-controlled areas, and also taxes, which was going to be there.
So torn to pieces that should be joined together. Instead, the Eastern part of Donbass fused with Russia. Moscow in February is already recognized passports “people’s republics”. It is now followed by the economic interweaving. In front of us takes shape alternative sketch of the Minsk agreement of February 2015: a long section of Ukraine.
The Minsk agreement stipulates that the Donbass was to be again integrated into the Ukrainian state, though on terms that the state is simultaneously opened to the influence of Moscow. This was the triumph of Vladimir Putin. It was a bonded contract, imposed on the weak side by force of arms. But it became clear that Kiev does not want thus to fulfill the contract and does not want to Finance part of the country which he has no control. Poroshenko held back the West with the help of the shrew tactics and confessions in the words of the Minsk agreements, and therefore, it dashed the plans of Moscow. And this, too, was a kind of triumph. But in the end, all cheering the separatists, in any case, those who are seriously looking for joining Russia, not just enrichment, and adventure. From the very beginning was against the Minsk agreement and felt as if Russia is pushed, even pushed in the direction of the Ukrainian state in which they no longer wanted to enter.
Now Russia made this step and took over the entire responsibility for economic life in Donetsk and Lugansk. In the face of Akhmetov deprived of power the man who was above all interested in the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Two years after the Minsk agreement, Donbass is actually included in the composition as “part of a Russian Federal region,” exults one of the leaders of the separatists. In Moscow about it, no one openly tells. But no way back anymore.
