by Stephen Lendman

Not a chance. For sure no time soon. Despite EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Sunday saying:

"I often speak to (John) Kerry and there is complete unity in views on the Ukrainian crisis, and similar views exist in other countries, from Canada to Japan. And everyone wants to end the logic of confrontation, the wall to wall."

Western countries must "begin direct discussions with Moscow over our mutual relations and the role Russia can play in other crises." “Russia has an important role not only in Ukraine, but also in Syria, Iran, the Middle East, (and) Libya."

In mid-December, Mogherini announced new Russian sanctions. Prohibiting EU companies from investing in Crimea. Including oil and gas exploration technologies trade.

Crimea is Russia territory. Not according to Mogherini. Saying EU nations "will never recognize (its) accession to the Russian Federation."

In July, they banned all Crimean imports. Consider US-installed fascist putschists Ukraine's legitimate government.

A stepping stone toward EU and NATO membership. An affront to Moscow. A direct threat if Ukraine joins the Alliance.

In his September UN General Assembly address, Obama called Russian "aggression" in Southeastern Ukraine one of the world's greatest threats.

In mid-November, he said America "is leading the world in opposing Russia'a aggression against Ukraine, which is a threat to the world."

Despite Washington's full responsibility. Russia's commitment to world peace. Abhorring war. Going all-out to resolve conflicts diplomatically.

Controlling Ukraine is Washington's pretext. Russia the target. Regime change the objective. Longstanding US plans remain firm.

Carl Gershman heads the State Department-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED). One of America's lead anti-democracy initiatives.

In September 2013, he headlined a Washington Post op-ed "Former Soviet states stand up to Russia. Will the US?"

Calling Ukraine "the biggest prize." An interim step toward regime change in Russia.

"Ukraine's choice to join Europe will accelerate the demise of the ideology of Russian imperialism that Putin represents," he said. Despite hard facts showing no revanchist Moscow aims.

"Russians, too, face a choice, and Putin may find himself on the losing end not just in the near abroad but within Russia itself," Gershman added.

Making it clear Washington's aim is destroying Russian independence. Ousting Putin. Installing pro-Western stooge governance.

Co-opting all former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact countries are steps toward attaining its grand prize.

Eliminating a main rival. Controlling its huge land mass. Balkanizing it. Stealing its resources. Exploiting its people. Isolating China.

Washington's longstanding plans remain unchanged. In mid-December, House and Senate members unanimously passed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act (UFSA) Act of 2014. Obama signed it into law.

Authorizing lethal and non-lethal aid. Besides what's already supplied. Approving more sanctions.

Directing John Kerry to work with Ukrainian officials. Helping them reduce Russian gas imports.

Instructing Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) overseeing all US civilian and international media to submit an action plan to Congress.

Expanding Russian language broadcasting. In former Soviet republics. Countering Russian Federation "propaganda."

Prioritizing broadcasting in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Through Voice of America. Radio Free Europe. Radio Liberty.

Washington's global propaganda bullhorn. Suppressing hard truths. Featuring Big Lies. Turning reality on its head.

Kiev putschists threaten regional security. A dagger at Russia's heartland. Manipulated by Washington.

Russia considers US-dominated NATO a threat to its security. On Christmas day, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed fingers at Washington.

Saying "(w)e have seen and still see attempts to solve complex and not so complex problems in the world in a unilateral way…"

"(T)hrough coercion, interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states in violation of the UN Charter and the principles of the OSCE."

"I believe the most important accomplishment is that our approach in favor of equal, mutually respectful dialogue on any issue in global politics, economics and the humanitarian situation is shared by a growing number of states."

Washington's imperial agenda remains unchanged. Its policies ruthless. Its bullying relentless. Rapprochement with Russia a non-starter.

Moscow's new military doctrine considers US-dominated NATO a strategic threat. Expanding east in violation of international law.

In November, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Moscow and Beijing should jointly stand against Western color revolutions.

Targeting both countries. Constituting a major security threat. US-style "democracy" is America's most destabilizing export. Sergey Lavrov calls it vital to stop.

Nothing suggests change in Western/Russian relations. Mogherini's notion is co-opting Russia like its former republics.

Making it a vassal Western state. MSM in lockstep. Putin bashing remains intense. Even his responsible global outreach efforts are criticized.

New York Times editors mocked them. Headlining "Mr. Putin's Global Courtships," saying:

Once he was welcomed in the West. No longer as tensions grow over Ukraine. He's "pursuing new friends…"

"(I)ncluding one of the world's most noxious leaders, Kim Jong-un of North Korea." Perhaps Times editors didn't notice.

Moscow maintains diplomatic relations with North Korea. At times uneasy during the 1990s. Firm under Putin since 2000.

He was Russia's first head of state to visit Pyongyang. No Soviet general secretary ever bothered.

Russian companies operate in North Korea. Transactions between both countries are in rubles, not dollars.

Times editors repeated the discredited notion about Pyongyang hacking Sony Pictures' computers. Stealing "millions of documents."

Putin invited Kim to Moscow next year. For 70th anniversary commemorations of Nazi Germany's defeat.

Times editors are relentless. Repeating one Big Lie after another. Claiming Putin invaded Crimea. Caused Ukrainian crisis conditions.

Now maintains a "Look East" policy. "(D)esigned to compensate for the loss of economic and political interaction with the West."

Times editors bashed his responsible "efforts to build closer relationships with China and India." Major countries important to all nations.

Putin seeks cooperative relations with all countries. Respecting their sovereignty. Including EU ones and America. Times editors call him an unreliable friend. (S)killful at causing problems."

Despite going all-out to resolve some of the most intractable ones. Don't expect Times editors to explain.

Or Washington Post ones. Bashing Putin relentlessly. A mid-November editorial especially deplorable.

Claiming his "main pillars of support" include "graft, cronyism, paranoia, and resentment at Moscow's diminished post-Soviet stature…"

Saying "it's hard to overstate the importance he attaches to propaganda." Calling him a former "KGB apparatchik…"

Using "information (as) an important instrument of control, influence and intimidation. Western-style journalism and the free flow of news are anathema."

Saying his "war of aggression in Ukraine continues…(He) moved to silence the already muffled voices of domestic dissent and amplify the Kremlin's anti-Western views at home and abroad."

"(B)y us(ing) laws designed to intimidate, and through the implantation of fear, Mr. Putin can go some way toward recreating a Soviet-style grip on the information most Russian citizens consume."

It's hard imagining more convoluted rubbish. Comments legitimate editors wouldn't touch. Polar opposite hard truths.

Russia's political process is open, free and fair. Unlike duopoly power running America. Its media shame their Western counterparts.

A propaganda bullhorn for wealth, power and privilege. Big Lies drowning out hard truths.

Putin didn't invade Ukraine. Isn't waging aggression. Doesn't control Russia's media.

Doesn't rig elections like America's sham process. Or stifle dissent. Or implant fear. Or govern undemocratically. WaPo editors are an instrument of US state propaganda.

So are Wall Street Journal ones. Featuring a mid-December article headlined "Putin's Year of Defiance and Miscalculation."

Repeating the long-discredited canard about taking over Crimea. Claiming "miscalculations restricted his options."

Citing Russia's economy. Affected by sanctions and low oil prices. Ukraine's conflict. Blaming him irresponsibly.

Concluding by saying "(t)he Kremlin declined to comment for this article." Why should it bother? WSJ editors and commentators bash Putin irresponsibly.

In lockstep with Washington's imperial agenda. Its worst crimes. Defiling rule of law principles. Targeting all independent nations for regime change.

Waging war on humanity. Threatening its survival. Don't expect media scoundrels to explain.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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