[Peace-discuss] Chronology of the Ukrainian Coup

[David Johnson]

 <https://www.counterpunch.org/>
https://uziiw38pmyg1ai60732c4011-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/dropzone
/2015/06/cp5.png

 

March 5, 2014 

 <https://www.counterpunch.org/2014/03/05/chronology-of-the-ukrainian-coup/>
Chronology of the Ukrainian Coup

by  <https://www.counterpunch.org/author/renee-parsons/> Renee Parsons 

 

Listening to the US media, even the most diligent news junkie would find it
difficult to know that the U.S. State Department played not only a vital
role in the
<http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/02/23/democracy-murdered-protest-ukrai
ne-falls-intrigue-violence/> violence and chaos underway in Ukraine but was
also complicit in creating the coup that ousted democratically elected
President Viktor Yanuyovch.    Given the Russian Parliament's approval of
Putin's request for military troops to be moved into Crimea, Americans
uninformed about the
<http://michael-hudson.com/2014/03/ukraine-go-west-young-man/> history of
that region might also be persuaded that Russia is the
<https://www.counterpunch.org/2014/02/28/obamas-dumbest-plan-yet/> aggressor
and the sole perpetrator of the violence.

Let's be clear about what is at stake here:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10668978/Ukraine-crisis-even-a-less-menacin
g-Russian-leader-than-Vladimir-Putin-would-not-let-Ukraine-go-easily.html>
NATO missiles on the adjacent Ukraine border aimed directly at Russia would
make that country extremely vulnerable to Western goals and destabilization
efforts while threatening Russia's only water access to its naval fleet in
Crimean peninsula, the Balkans, the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East -
and not the least of which would allow world economic
<https://www.counterpunch.org/2014/02/28/obamas-dumbest-plan-yet/> dominance
by the US, the European Union, the IMF, World Bank and international
financiers all of whom had already brought staggering suffering to millions
around the globe.

The fact is that democracy was not a demand on the streets of Kiev.  The
current record of events indicates that protests of civil dissatisfaction
were organized by reactionary
<http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/02/23/democracy-murdered-protest-ukrai
ne-falls-intrigue-violence/> neo-Nazi forces intent on fomenting a major
domestic crisis ousting Ukraine's legitimate government.   As events
continue to spiral out of control, here is the chronology of  how the coup
was  engineered to install a government more favorable to EU and US goals.

April 11, 2011 - A
<http://www.kyivpost.com/content/business/ukraine-hopes-to-get-15-billion-tr
anche-from-imf-i.html> Kiev Post article entitled "Ukraine Hopes to Get $1.5
Billion from IMF in June" states that the loan is dependent on pension cuts
while   "maintaining cooperation with the IMF, since it influences the
country's interaction with other international financial institutions and
private investors" and further that the "attraction of $850 million from the
World Bank in 2011, depended on cooperation with the IMF."   Well, that
about says it all - if Ukraine played ball. then the loan money would pour
in.

 
<http://sofiaglobe.com/2013/11/22/ukraine-eu-suspension-order-was-economic-m
ove/> November 21, 2013 -  fast forward to the EU summit in Lithuania when
President Yanuyovch  embarrassed the European Union by
<http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=16674.0> rejecting
its Agreement in favor of joining Russia's Common Union with other
Commonwealth Independent States.

November 27, 2013 - it was not until February 23, 2014 when  Anonymous
Ukraine hackers
<http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_23/Anonymous-Ukraine-releases-Klitsch
ko-e-mails-showing-treason-3581/> released a series of emails from a
Lithuanian government advisor to opposition leader and former boxer Vitaly
Klitschko regarding plans to destabilize Ukraine; for example:

"Our American friends promise to pay a visit in the coming days, we may even
see Nuland or someone from the Congress."  12/7/2013

"Your colleague has arrived ..his services may be required even after the
country is destabilized." 12/14/2013

"I think we've paved the way for more radical escalation of the situation.
Isn't it time to proceed with more decisive action?" 1/9/2014

November 29, 2013 -  well-orchestrated protestors were
<http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-nov-2
1-23-coverage-332423.html> already in the streets of Kiev as European
Commission President Jose Manual Barroso announced that the EU would "
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25154618> not accept Russia's veto" of
the Agreement.

December 13, 2013 - As if intent on providing incontrovertible evidence of
US involvement in Ukraine, Assistant US Secretary of State for Europe and
Eurasia Victoria Nuland proudly told a
<http://www.sott.net/article/273602-US-Assistant-Secretary-of-State-Victoria
-Nuland-says-Washington-has-spent-5-billion-trying-to-subvert-Ukraine>
meeting of the International Business Conference sponsored by the
US-Ukrainian Foundation that the US had 'invested' more than $5 billion and
'five  <http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/02/27/geop-f27.html> years
worth of work and preparation" in achieving what she called Ukraine's
'European aspirations." Having just returned from her third trip to Ukraine
in five weeks, Nuland boasted of her 'coordinated high level diplomacy' and
a more than two hour 'tough conversation' with Yanukovych.  Already familiar
with Nuland as former Secretary Clinton's spokesperson at State, one can
imagine her discourteous tone and manner when she says she made it
"absolutely clear" to Yanukovych that the US required "immediate steps" .to
"get back into conversation with Europe and the IMF."   While Western media
have portrayed Yanukovych as a 'weak' leader, Nuland's description of a
'tough' meeting can only mean that he resisted her threats and
intimidations.  In what must have been a touching moment, Nuland spoke about
a show of force by government police on demonstrators who "sang hymns and
prayed for peace."

What Nuland did not reveal on December 13 was that her meetings with 'key
Ukrainian stakeholders' included neo-Nazi
<http://propagandamatrix.com/articles/february2014/280214_nazi_party.htm>
Svoboda party leader Oleh Tyahnybok and  prime minister wannabe Arsenly
Yatsenyuk of the Fatherland Party.   At about the same time Nuland was
<http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/02/23/democracy-murdered-protest-ukrai
ne-falls-intrigue-violence/> wooing fascist extremists, Sen. John McCain
(R-Az) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D- Conn)
<http://www.businessinsider.com/john-mccain-meets-oleh-tyahnybok-in-ukraine-
2013-12> shared the stage in Kiev with Tyahnybok offering their support and
opposition to the sitting government.   The
<http://www.businessinsider.com/john-mccain-meets-oleh-tyahnybok-in-ukraine-
2013-12> Svoboda party which has roots with extreme vigilante and
anti-semitic groups has since received at least three high level cabinet
posts in the interim government including deputy prime minister.   There is
no doubt that the progenies of west Ukraine's historic neo-fascist thugs
that fought with Hitler are now aligned with the US as represented by
Victoria Nuland.

January 24, 2014 - President Yanukoyvch identified
<http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_24/Yanukovych-says-foreigners-involve
d-in-radical-actions-in-Kiev-4844/> foreign elements participating in Kiev
protests warning that armed radicals were a danger to peaceful citizens
<http://www.debka.com/article/23700/Yanukovych-leaves-Kiev-Opposition-leader
s-lose-control-of-hard-core-protesters> .  Independent news agencies also
reported that "not all of Kiev's population backs opposition rule, which
depends mainly on a group from the former Polish town of Lvov, which holds
sway over Kiev downtown - but not the rest of the city."  

January 30, 2014 -   The
<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/01/221059.htm> State Department's
website Media Note announced Nuland's upcoming travel plans that "In Kyiv,
Assistant Secretary Nuland will meet with government officials, opposition
leaders, civil society and business leaders to encourage agreement on a new
government and plan of action."  In other words, almost a month before
President Yanukovych was ousted, the US was planning to rid the world of
another independently elected President.

February 4, 2014 -  More evidence of Ms. Nuland's meddling with extremist
factions and the high level stakes of war and peace occurred in her
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSxaa-67yGM> taped conversation with U.S.
Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt discussing their calculations of who's
in and who's out to replace Yanukovych.   Note mention of Nazi leader Oleh
Tyahnybok.   Here are some selected excerpts:

Nuland:   "What do you think?"

Pyatt:   "I think we're in play. the [Vitali] Klitsch piece is obviously the
complicated electron here especially the announcement of him as deputy prime
minister. Your argument to him which you'll need to make,  I think the next
phone call  we want to set up is exactly the one you made to Yats
[Yatsenyuk].  And I'm glad you sort of put him on the spot on where he fits
in this scenario and I'm very glad he said what he said in response."

Nuland:   "I don't think Klitsch should go into government. I don't think
its necessary. I don't think it's a good idea."

Pyatt:    "yeah.I mean I guess.  You think.what.in terms of him not going
into the government,  just let him sort of stay out and do his political
homework and stuff.   I'm just thinking in terms of  the process moving
ahead, we want to keep the moderate democrats together.  The problem is
going to be Tyahnybok and his guys.  I'm sure that's what Yanukoyvch  is
calculating on all this."

Nuland:   "I think Yats is the guy who's got the economic experience, the
governing experience.  What he needs is Klitsch and Tyahnybok on the outside
and he needs to be talking to them four times a week you know.I think with
Klitsch going in at that level working for Yats, it's not going to work."

Nuland:   "My understanding is that the big three [Yatsenyuk, Klitsch and
Tyahnybok] were going in to their own meeting and that Yats was going to
offer in that context a three plus one conversation with you."

Pyatt:  " That's what he proposed but knowing the dynamic that's been with
them where  Klitsch has been top dog;  he's going to take a while to show up
at a meeting, he's probably talking to his guys at this point so I think you
reaching out to him will help with the personality management among the
three and gives us a chance to move fast on all this stuff and put us behind
it before they all sit down and he explains why he doesn't like it."

Nuland:  . "when I talked to Jeff Feltman this morning, he had a new name
for the UN  guy .Robert Serry  - he's now gotten both Serry and
<http://www.sify.com/news/ukraine-ban-highlights-need-for-resolution-of-poli
tical-crisis-news-default-ocmx9iccdhf.html> Ban ki Moon to agree that Serry
could come in Monday or Tuesday. so that would be great I think  to help
glue this thing and have the UN help glue it and you know fuck the EU."  

Pyatt:   "Exactly.   I think we've got to do something to make it stick
together because you can be pretty sure the Russians will be working behind
the scenes.    ..Let me work on Klitchko and I think we want to get somebody
with an international personality to come out here and  help midwife this
thing."

Nuland:  ".Sullivan's come back to me saying you need Biden  and  I said
probably tomorrow for an" 'atta' boy' and get the deeds to stick    so
Biden's willing."

February 20, 2014 -   Foreign ministers from Poland, Germany and France
visiting Kiev secured President Yanukovych's
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/ukraine-eu-foreign-ministers-a
gree-sanctions-officials>  agreement that would commit the government to an
interim administration, constitutional reform and new parliamentary and
presidential elections.  With "no clear sign that EU or US pressure has
achieved" the desired effect,
<http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7be2df76-8617-11e3-b30d-00144feab7de.html#ax
zz2uqSgRPgy> opposition leaders rejected Yanukovych's compromise which would
have ended the three month stand-off.  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov called on the German, French and Polish
<http://www.debka.com/article/23700/Yanukovych-leaves-Kiev-Opposition-leader
s-lose-control-of-hard-core-protesters> foreign ministers to step in and
take responsibility for upholding the deal they helped forge and not let "
<http://www.infowars.com/this-is-how-the-new-government-in-ukraine-deals-wit
h-opponents/> armed extremists" directly threaten Ukrainian sovereignty.

February 21, 2014  -  At a special summit in Brussels, European foreign
ministers  <http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/02/21/ukra-f21.html> agreed
to adopt sanctions on Ukraine including visa bans and asset freezes. The EU
decision followed "immense pressure from the US for the European powers to
take punitive action against the Ukrainian regime."  Washington had already
imposed travel bans on 20 leading Ukrainians.

February 22, 2014 -  An hour after
<http://www.businessinsider.com/yanukovych-leaves-kiev-2014-2> refusing to
resign, the Ukrainian Parliament voted, according to Russian president
Vladimir Putin, in an
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/putin-ukraine-unconstitutional-coup-y
anukovych-legitimate-leader-article-1.1709894> unconstitutional action to
oust President Yanukovych and that pro-EU forces
<http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2014/02/25/police-state-ukra
ine> staged a 'coup'.  Yanukovych departed Kiev in fear for his life.

March 1, 2014 - During a
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/28/readout-vice-presiden
t-s-call-ukrainian-prime-minister-arseniy-yatsenyuk> conversation initiated
by the vice president, Biden delivered his 'atta boy' with a phone call to
newly installed prime minister Arseniy
<http://www.infowars.com/central-banker-appointed-as-prime-minister-of-ukrai
ne/> Yatsenyuk  reaffirming US support for Ukraine's 'territorial
integrity."

All of the above machinations expose an incoherent and corrupt American
foreign policy with a litany of US hypocrisy that might be hilarious if not
for potentially grave global implications.   The comment "you just don't
behave by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext" might
just win Secretary of State John Kerry the Hypocrisy of the Year Award.
Kerry, of course, famously supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq seeking
weapons of mass destruction.

But then again, the President's own
<http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-obama-putin-ukraine-20140304
,0,5279776.story#axzz2v5mfLGat> comments that "..countries have deep
concerns and suspicions about this kind of meddling.." and that ".as long as
none of us are inside Ukraine trying to meddle and intervene.. with
decisions that properly belong to Ukrainian people." while  announcing
<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/04/obama-russia-ukraine
-1-billion-putin-crimea/6006759/>  $1 billion aid  package to Ukraine (but
not Detroit) would be a close runner-up for the Award.

Renee Parsons was a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives and a
lobbyist on nuclear energy issues with Friends of the Earth.  in 2005, she
was elected to the Durango City Council and served as Councilor and Mayor.
Currently, she is a member of the Treasure Coast ACLU Board.

 

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