Normandy, June 6, 2014: through this act Putin personally recognized Poroshenko and the Banderite regime, which, just a month before, massacred nearly 400 Odessites, as legitimate. Otherwise, this act of legitimization of the murderous, anti-Russian and Nazi regime was then further confirmed by the Kremlin when, on the very next day, Putin sent his Ambassador Zurabov back to Kiev so that he could be present at Poroshenko's inauguration on June 7, 2014.
On the inauguration with Zurabov's presence in which Poroshenko openly reconfirmed his anti-Russian position, for example, while Zurabov was reassuring the regime of "partnership" see: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/7/ukraine-poroshenkoinauguration.html
Two days before the elections, Putin was already signalizing that, on behalf of Russia, he would recognize the junta as legitimate:
In a speech to foreign and Russian businessmen at Russia's answer to the Davos World Economic Forum on the shores of its elegant former imperial capital ...
Asked whether Russia will recognize the legitimacy of Sunday's presidential election in Ukraine, he also sounded conciliatory, saying: "We will treat the choice of the Ukrainian people with respect."
That was a sign of goodwill after weeks of criticizing the election, which had raised the prospect of Russia not recognizing the new leader's legitimacy. Putin added that "after the election we will work with the newly elected structure."
Furthermore, according to the Kremlin's own official transcript of the government session presided over by Putin on May 28, 2014--in the same month in which the Odessa massacre, the attack on Slavyansk, and the massacres in Mariupol happened, Putin already outlined the basis of the new "partnership" with the fascists, including Russia's economic and financial support of the Banderite regime:
Energy Minister Alexander Novak: Mr President, colleagues.
Trilateral consultations took place on May 26 between Russia, the EU and Ukraine. The three items on the agenda for these consultations were outlined in your letter to the leaders of European countries. They were, first of all, carrying out our contractual gas supply obligations to Ukraine, measures to ensure reliable transit for European consumers, and ensuring payment for gas supplies to Ukraine in light of the country’s current financial and economic situation.
The outcome of the talks was that Ukraine confirmed the existence of an undisputed debt as of April 1 for the November-March period of $2.237 billion.
As a compromise solution, we and the European Commission proposed the following scheme for resolving the situation. Naftogaz of Ukraine will transfer $2 billion to Gazprom by May 30, and will transfer the next tranche of $500 million by June 7. This is partial payment for the gas delivered from November to April.
Vladimir Putin: To April inclusive?
Alexander Novak: Yes, to April inclusive. The June 7 payment is partial payment for May, since the deadline for the May payment falls on June 7. The bill will be higher of course, for the $500 million here is just partial payment. The two tranches combined come to $2.5 billion.
Once we receive the first tranche, which is due by May 30, we are ready to continue the talks. We agreed to meet again on Friday, May 30, to discuss our next steps, including possible options for future gas payments, taking into account of course that we could discuss a discount, but not a revision of the terms and conditions of the 2009 contract. By the way, Ukraine confirmed that both these contracts are indeed in force and does not challenge the contracts themselves.
Vladimir Putin: It would be hard to challenge them when they were signed by the Ukrainians, signed by the same people who are now in power, and have been in force since 2009. It would be nonsensical to challenge them.
Alexander Novak: Mr President, I want to add that the European Commission supported us, which was important, especially in the last round of talks, and the Ukrainians took some time out until Thursday to hold further consultations with their leaders. In other words, today is the deadline when they are to inform the European Commission and Russia on their decision.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Miller, do you have anything to add?
chairman of Gazprom Management Committee Alexei Miller: We gave our Ukrainian colleagues the preliminary bill for gas supplies for June. The deadline is June 2, Monday, by the end of the day. If Ukraine does not pay the money, then on Tuesday June 3, at 10 am, we will restrict gas supplies to Ukraine. Ukraine has been taking maximum daily volumes allowed by the contract throughout May. Gas supplies for May come to 3.5 billion cubic metres, and the cost for the month’s supplies comes to around $1.7 billion. This means that by June 7, Ukraine’s gas supply debt will come to more than $5.2 billion. There is not much time left. The next consultations are scheduled for Friday in Berlin. Mr Novak and I will take part in these trilateral talks with the European Commission and the heads of Ukraine’s energy sector and Naftogaz Ukraina.
Vladimir Putin: Good, that is agreed.
I think it is clear to any objective observer that Russia’s position with regard to our energy contracts and energy cooperation with Ukraine is not just that of a partner but is more than friendly. Up until now, as I have already said, we were supplying Ukraine for free with more gas than total consumption and our annual gas supplies to a country like Poland. This situation cannot continue forever. This is simply not possible and everyone understands this.
I hope that we will not end up in a situation when we are forced to move over to advance payments. In any case, if the conditions you agree upon with our partners are carried out and payments begin at the amounts that you settled on, the Russian Federation Government will need to decide on what it is ready to accept with regard to further cooperation in the gas sector with our Ukrainian partners. I will then ask the Prime Minister to make the relevant decision.
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