US media: Minsk-2 creates a “frozen conflict” in Ukraine

Leading American newspapers on Friday gave a sharply negative assessment of the new Minsk agreements, arguing that they are turning Eastern Ukraine into a zone of another “frozen conflict” for Russia and give Moscow the opportunity to strengthen control over this territory.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper in an editorial writes that the new peace agreement “reinforces the military achievements of Russian President Vladimir Putin, forces Kiev to make additional concessions, postpones further Western sanctions and gives President Obama a new diplomatic excuse not to supply the demoralized and poorly equipped Ukrainian army she needs a defensive weapon. ”

The article states that in Minsk "Germany and France acted as henchmen for the forced surrender of the president of Ukraine."

According to the Wall Street Journal, the agreement “turns Eastern Ukraine into another“ frozen conflict ”for Russia, similar to the conflicts in Moldavian Transnistria and Georgian Abkhazia. At the same time, Russia can unfreeze it when it wishes. One threat of this will allow Putin to keep Kiev under control if he continues to try to forge closer ties with the EU and NATO. ”

Instead of increasing pressure on Moscow with the help of sanctions and the early deployment of troops, “the West is likely to use this cease-fire as an excuse for its almost complete inaction,” insists the Wall Street Journal. “Putin will consolidate his next victory, study the European landscape for finding weaknesses and take another step even before a new president emerges in America who can more actively resist his conquests.”

In a similar editorial, the Washington Post newspaper writes that “the agreement concluded with Vladimir Putin through the mediation of the leaders of Germany and France almost does not limit his ambitions to create a puppet state in eastern Ukraine, which can be used to sabotage the rest of the country. Even in the unlikely event that it is fully implemented, it will only allow Putin to achieve his goal. ”

According to the Washington Post, Putin "also gave President Obama a reason to reject calls from representatives of his administration who are in favor of supplying arms to Ukraine."

“Putin can resume military aggression whenever he wishes, while it will take weeks or months for calls for new sanctions or arms deliveries to gain momentum,” the publication points out, according to Voice of America.