Putin accuses Ukrainian president of provoking confrontation to boost popularity
Source: Politico-Europe
Petro Poroshenkos support is so low, you need to do something to aggravate the situation, Russian president says.
By ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH 11/28/18, 1:48 PM CET Updated 11/28/18, 1:55 PM CET
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko of provoking the crisis in the Kerch Strait on Sunday to boost his popularity ahead of an election.
The incident was a provocation organized by the current government
in the lead-up to the presidential election in Ukraine in March next year, Putin said at a forum in Moscow, according to the TASS news agency.
The Russian president said Poroshenkos popularity is so low, he risks not getting through to the second round of the vote, so you need to do something to aggravate the situation and create insurmountable obstacles for his competitors, primarily from the opposition.
Russia on Sunday opened fire on two Ukrainian armored artillery vessels and a tugboat off the coast of Crimea, with the countrys FSB security service claiming the vessels had illegally entered Russian waters. Russian authorities seized the three ships, detaining 24 sailors. In response to the incident, Ukraines parliament on Monday voted to introduce martial law in the country for 30 days.
Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/russian-president-vladimir-putin-accuses-ukrainian-leader-petro-poroshenko-of-provoking-kerch-strait-crisis-to-boost-popularity/
Botany
(70,476 posts)..... 2016 Presidential run.
bluestarone
(16,894 posts)End of story!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turbineguy
(37,312 posts)he could use a good distraction.
thucythucy
(8,043 posts)Putin's popularity is in free fall because he's now pushing "pension reform"--meaning he wants to gut incomes for retirees to further enrich himself and his billionaire cronies. And so we have a convenient little military confrontation to take Russian minds off the impending rip-off.
deminks
(11,014 posts)iamthebandfanman
(8,127 posts)Putin knows theres a president in office who wont do jack shit to protect the Ukrainian people.