Vladimir Putin's statement, made after the annexation of Crimea and the beginning of Russian aggression in Ukraine, not original. They are painfully reminiscent of the rhetoric of Nazi Germany in 1938-39, when Hitler decided on the Anschluss of Austria, and Europe still continued to hope that everything would turn out.

According to Цензор.НЕТ With reference to НВ, the Swedish economist, senior researcher, Institute of world economy Peterson Anders Aslund рассмотрел проблематику perspective of community in the rhetoric of the Russian President and the arguments that his aggression was justified Nazi Germany.

1. The key idea of Putin is that ethnicity is defined by language and ethnicity, and not citizenship and passport. This argument is painfully reminiscent of the ideas of the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Gerner and his "Treatise on the origin of language, 1772, which became the basis of the German linguistic nationalism.

2. The argument about the historical importance of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia that allegedly gives Russia special rights to them, Putin formulated as follows: "In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia". Nazi Germany similarly justified their conquest after 1938. It scares me that Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, is also "historically important" for Russia, because it is the cradle of Orthodoxy.

3. But the story of the unjust: "unfortunately, what seemed impossible became a reality - grieving Putin. - The USSR collapsed. Only when Crimea became part of another state, Russia realized that it, in fact, robbed. But Putin's thoughts extend far beyond Crimea: "millions of people fell asleep in one country and woke up in another, the night turned into minorities in former Union republics, while the Russian nation became one of the world's largest ethnic groups, divided by borders". This is the kind of loss felt by the Germans after due to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 lost German-speaking lands. Note that both events - the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and the Treaty of Versailles - two decades later was accompanied by the rise of revanchist moods.

4. The boundaries were defined incorrectly: "After the revolution, the Bolsheviks, God will judge them, gave up huge chunks of territories that historically belonged to southern Russia, USSR. Then, in 1954, it was decided to give Crimea to Ukraine. It was a personal initiative of Khrushchev". Assuming that one of the Russian leaders surrendered the interests of the Russian Federation, Putin repeats the complaints of the Germans that the Treaty of Versailles was the result of betrayal.

5. Russia betrayed post-Soviet leaders. The Nazis also claimed that the leaders of the Weimar Republic had betrayed Germany.

6. Like Hitler, who in 1939 was told about the shortcomings of the Polish leadership, Putin expressed sympathy for the unfortunate Ukrainians is run by incompetent leaders (including those whom he supported).

7. Putin believes the new Ukrainian government is illegitimate. "Those who stood behind the latest events in Ukraine had a different agenda: they were preparing yet another government takeover, planned to seize power, stopping at nothing. They resorted to terror, murder and riots. Main perpetrators of the coup were nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites". It's quite ironic that Putin accuses Ukrainian authorities of Nazism.

8. Despite the prevailing injustice in the world, Putin came to the aid of oppressed Russian-speaking: "Those who opposed the coup were immediately threatened with repression and punitive operations. And first in line was, of course, the Crimea, the Russian-speaking Crimea. In this regard, the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol turned to Russia with an appeal to protect their rights and life itself, to prevent that from happening, and is still happening in Kiev and in Donetsk, Kharkov and other Ukrainian cities. Of course, we could not respond to this request, could not abandon Crimea and its residents in distress, otherwise it would just be a betrayal." The conclusion from this is that Moscow believes it has the right to interfere in the Affairs of other States under the pretext of protecting Russian speakers, regardless of international law and existing treaties.

9. Putin denied the involvement of Russian military in the annexation: "Russia's Armed Forces never entered Crimea, they already were in compliance with the international Treaty. Yes, we strengthened our group...". However, these soldiers seized Parliament, airports and subsequently, the entire Crimea, disregarding a Treaty of friendship and cooperation with Ukraine in 1997.

10. Putin raised the controversial issue of self-determination: "as it declared independence, decided to hold a referendum, the Supreme Council of Crimea referred to the Charter of the United Nations, which speaks of the right of Nations to self-determination". Here only with the question of self-determination is not so clear. In relation to Chechnya of the Russian Federation followed a very different position. Yes, international law is the term "right to self-determination," but he concedes three additional principles: national integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of existing borders that are recognized as high a priority.

11. Like Nazi Germany, Putin has attempted to legitimize the annexation of Crimea fake "referendum" held under the control of Russian soldiers and without the presence of international observers. "in Crimea on March 16 was held the referendum, he was in full compliance with democratic procedures and international legal norms. In voting have taken part more than 82% of voters. More than 96% were in favor of reunification with Russia." After the Anschluss of Austria to join Germany voted 99.8 per cent of citizens.

12. Finally, the main conclusion is Putin to blame the West. "Our Western partners headed by the United States of America prefer in their practical policies to be guided not by international law but by the law of the strong. They believe in their exclusivity and exceptionalism, that they are allowed to decide the fate of the world that can ever be right. They are exactly as they please: here and there, they use force against sovereign States, building coalitions based on the principle "who is not with us is against us". About the same Hitler accused Britain and France that he had to attack Poland.

Russian military aggression had not the slightest legal justification. European armed forces are not in the best condition after two decades of disarmament, and the EU is not ready to fully stand up to Putin. This is also reminiscent of 1938. Putin's little to care about the truth and even less to international treaties or norms, especially if they are disadvantageous to him. If he can get Ukraine, the Russian President will target other countries where there are Russian-speaking population. According to a Russian proverb, the appetite comes with eating. Putin will not stop after the first course - and only the West can prevent Russian aggression.

Source: http://censor.net.ua/