Political Quotes

“Today I would like to address Russia and its aggression in Ukraine. Ukraine is ultimately a story of a ruler whose goal is to stifle opposition and turn away from a failing economy, corruption, and authoritarianism in his own country by creating the semblance of economic stability and popular support for his rule. The United States and its allies must strive to ensure that the story of oppression and authoritarianism is not allowed to continue. {time} 1015 Putin is aiming to distract the focus of the West from his regime and his failing economy in Russia by directing the Russian people to an external enemy which has the potential to become a model of Western democracy, and that country is Ukraine. Just over a year ago, not even a week after the end of the Sochi Olympics which President Putin staged for a record $50 billion to boost his popularity in Russia and in the world, Putin quickly shed the garb of a successful master of ceremonies and sent his troops to reclaim and illegally annex Crimea, then trump up a referendum in an attempt to justify this annexation. With his immediate mobilization of the Russian military to try to tamp down calls for democracy in Ukraine, Putin planned to send a signal to Russian citizens and the world that he remained popular and strong in the face of growing calls from protesters in Ukraine for pro- Russian President Yanukovych to step down. But Putin's goal to maintain his popularity through military force failed.…”