CBS News: Putin: Ukraine war not our fault, U.S. must stop meddling
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday the war raging in eastern Ukraine would stop if Kiev implemented measures agreed to late last year in Minsk, and all the weapons in the region wouldn't even be there if the country's leaders hadn't tried to impose their NATO aspirations by force on thousands of people who didn't share them.
In a question-and-answer session during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin did not, however, repeat his government's denial that Russian troops and military hardware are bolstering Ukrainian rebel forces. The U.S. insists that to be the case and has demanded Russia withdraw its forces and weapons from Ukraine.
Update #1: Putin Says Russia Isn’t Responsible for Causing Ukraine Conflict -- Bloomberg
Update #2: Putin Criticizes US but Offers to Cooperate on Global Crises -- AP
Update #3: 'Only the West can solve Ukraine crisis,' says Putin -- Deutsche Welle
WNU Editor: Russia, the West .... all sides have not been helpful in resolving the Ukraine crisis. But even though they have not been helpful, the real blame for this crisis should rest where it belongs .... on Ukraine itself. Being one whose family can trace its roots in Ukraine back almost 4 centuries .... I know too well that it has always been a divided society with Ukrainians on one side, and Russian - Ukrainians on the other. When it came to elections they voted accordingly, and not surprisingly half of the country was never happy with who got elected. That is why last years forceful and violent removal of the government was a shock .... it broke the old rules .... and (not surprising) it has only gotten worse. Today .... even though foreign forces from all sides are now in Ukraine .... this is still a war where Ukrainians are shooting and killing each other .... and with each passing day this sectarian divide only gets worse.
But there is hope .... many Ukrainians hate Putin .... but as a PEW poll revealed last week .... many Ukrainians are also becoming deeply dissatisfied and angry at Ukraine President Poroshenko .... an anger that is growing as the war continues and the economy continues to implode. There is also deep dissatisfaction in rebel controlled eastern Ukraine .... the people who live there are also becoming tired of war, and they want an end to it. Will this pressure be enough to force the political and military leaders to end the war .... for the moment the answer is no .... but this pressure is building .... and my prediction is that it will be Kiev who will bend first.
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