Trump should arrest Putin before organizing a new invasion of Ukraine

Five weeks after the seizure of three Ukrainian ships in international waters near Russian troops occupied by Crimea

Meanwhile International attention has already left the region and the Russian army – on the contrary, their concentration on the eastern border of Ukraine and the Crimea has forced the government in Kiev to be heard and independent experts are talking You say that the regime of Vladimir Putin is likely to prepare a new assault on a neighbor, writes in the Washington Post editorial, and instead of saying that wait for the Kremlin to make its next step, the administration of Donald Trump should have worked closely with his allies to deter Russian aggression

The edition recalls that Moscow troops have seized three Ukrainian vessels and 23 seamen on 25 November, thus violating international law and bilateral agreements with Ukraine. But despite the fact that Donald Trump abolished shortly after the meeting with Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin remained virtually impunity for the crime. Now, Ukrainians and independent observers warn that Putin is preparing a ground offensive. The Washington War Research Institute called attention to the fact that the Russian military convoy was approaching the administrative boundary between occupied Crimea and mainland Ukraine. In addition, Russia has launched additional fighter jets on the peninsula. Although the exact purpose of this movement of force is not known, the Institute warned: "The data indicates that Putin is preparing an attack."

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The Russian autocracy has reason to intensify the war who has been brooding for several years. He seeks to undermine the work of Petro Poroshenko's administration, which will be running in March. In addition, he is upset by the creation of an independent Russian Orthodox Church. Of course, Putin is also convinced that Trump, who recently announced loud and clear the refusal of the United States to play the role of the "police world", is precisely not inclined to defend distant countries such as the Ukraine against Russian tanks.

Of course, Putin could try to achieve his goals. by increasing the level of tension and demonstrating the ability to block Ukrainian ports with impunity. Whatever his intentions, the United States and NATO must act in concert to punish Putin for his behavior in the Kerch Strait and to contain the escalation. A number of measures can be taken: from sending warships in the Black Sea with the entrance of the port of Odessa until the deployment of observers of the NATO and the European Union in East of Ukraine. Moreover, at that time, Russia was no longer punished by new sanctions in the Kerch Strait, but was worth it.

Still dreaming of friendly relations with Putin. It will not be possible to reach them if the Russian autocrat organizes new attacks against Ukraine and other neighbors. It is in Trump's interest to make Moscow understand that further attacks will provoke an even more rigorous response from the United States.