This Is No Carnival! DNR Leader Mocks Rasmussen Peace Plan for Ukraine

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- On the threshold of the Munich Security Conference the former Secretary-General of NATO, Rasmussen, voiced the concrete plans that might sound controversial. He shared the number of Blue Helmets and which nations will join the peacekeeping mission. Let's analyze his suggestions. Surprisingly, he plans to deploy 20,000 peacekeepers.

- From Brazil and Belarus.

- Yes, he's referring to Belarus. The Brazilians will probably freeze a little but Rasmussen is sure it's the right way to proceed.

 

- The neutral Sweden is supposed to lead the peacekeepers. The plan was published on the Reuters website — a rather serious news agency. Let's listen to his concrete suggestions.

"The United Nations should consider a force of some 20,000 soldiers from non-NATO countries and 4,000 police to help resolve the crisis in Ukraine. The operation would need a mix of some European countries, such as Sweden countries with a track record in peacekeeping, such as Brazil and countries that have Russia’s trust, such as Belarus," — said Richard Gowan, author of the report.

"If you were able to get a significant presence on the ground reasonably quickly you would want to move toward local elections within 12 months and then keep peacekeepers there for a cooling-off period, say two years in total," — Gowan said.

- Here's the situation, Mr. Hinstein. Here's a present for you — your friends from Belarus. And we decline.

Alexander Hinstein, National Guard: Well, Brazil is also supposed to be our friend bearing BRICS in mind. But who's Rasmussen today?

- Poroshenko's adviser.

Alexander Hinstein, National Guard: We should have begun with that. When Rasmussen was the head of NATO or the PM of Denmark he could speak on behalf of the official organizations being backed by the real power. Today, he speaks on behalf of the Ukrainian government because he's Poroshenko's part-time adviser In this context, treating his words as a position that needs to be understood and discussed would be too flattering for this mister. Regarding his suggestions: We're democratic people — we'll consider any suggestion even from a hobo.

- But they can submit this plan in Munich.

Alexander Hinstein, National Guard: They sure can.

Jakub Korejba: And they'll do it.

Alexander Hinstein, National Guard: They sure will. You know, it's like that story: "... we now have to persuade the bride". Did anybody analyze their suggestions?

- We have various traditions in Russia. Sometimes, no persuasion is needed.

Alexander Hinstein, National Guard: We're talking about the traditional approach to family values Did anybody analyze their suggestions? Is the neutral Sweden ready to lead their movement?

- Did anybody ask Belarus and Brazil?

Alexander Hinstein, National Guard: You're right, Brazilians might freeze a bit. And I can't really imagine people from South America feeling comfortable at the border of Novorossia and Ukraine amidst the freezing weather and constant snowfalls. In general, a plan to deploy peacekeepers is worth discussing but the devil is in the detail. Today, we have the CIS peacekeepers. They're fairly actively engaged. I have an authority to say that because partially the forces are constituted by our National Guard soldiers: both OMON and ZUBR are deployed in the CSTO countries No problem, let's deploy the CSTO peacekeepers. It would solve the problem much more effectively than a Brazilian carnival. Although holding a small Rio Carnival at the border of Ukraine and Novorossia would look quite pretty from a creative point of view.

- Oh, that's true. We're amusing Eduard Basurin the Deputy Defence Minister of the DNR. Rasmussen expects Brazilians to come to you, Mr. Basurin. Are you expecting them? OK, let's be serious. Turchinov openly says that excuse me, I'll use their term that they are "wrestling away" the Grey zone from you and are moving almost 10 km forward. They aren't trying to hide it. What's happening? Has the red line been moved? Is your territory becoming small, or not?

Eduard Basurin, Deputy Defence Minister of DNR: Good evening. Shall I resort to sarcasm or humor?

- Use both. Humorous sarcasm.

Eduard Basurin, Deputy Defence Minister of DNR: OK, I'll try to do that. Well, since 2015, Ukrainian forces have been advancing into the Grey zone. They have been taking the residential areas that weren't occupied when the agreement was signed in February 2015. Sarcastically speaking Mr. Turchinov might no know the word "distance". Perhaps he meant the square where he's been gradually accumulating forces? Or the length of trenches they've been digging? He added their lengths together and got 10 km. On the other hand, jokes would be rather inappropriate because Ukraine is constantly saying that it's violating the Minsk Agreement and doesn't give a damn about the world community. It's impossible to negotiate with a state that doesn't fulfill its commitments. His statements are for home consumption for the people who live in Ukraine. And then, they showed the world community that Turchinov is the head of some cult.

- Mr. Basurin, can you add something regarding the Brazilian military? Have you studied Rasmussen’s plan and its text published on Reuters?

Eduard Basurin, Deputy Defence Minister of DNR: Well, speaking about the Brazilians you mentioned a small carnival. We have a small area with a sandy beach but I don't think they'll like it there in winter. They may find it acceptable in the summer.

- Thank you. Let them consider the plan at the Munich Conference. Deputy Defence Minister of the DNR Eduard Basurin has commented on the situation with his humorous sarcasm and sarcastic humor. Mr. Kopatko.

Evgeny Kopatko, social scientist: It's not that funny after all. Sad, actually. But when you showed the map and the flag of Sweden I remembered that 309 years ago the Swedes stood 400 km from Donetsk. You know the rest of the story. Picking up the sarcastic line, I'd say it would be funny if it weren't so sad. He's absolutely right, I agree with my colleagues. First, he's an adviser. Secondly, a part-time adviser. We must understand that there would be no Minsk. Here's the Swedish flag, how curious. It's not so far from Poltava, if you catch my drift.