In the Kremlin

The price of the word of the President of Russia

July 24, 2017 Alexander Ryklin

Not the most pleasant moment in life when you are caught by the hand. When the tongue is also extremely painful. The average ordinary person with whom such an incident occurs should be shame. And, depending on the scale, the significance of liar and the status of a liar, society imposes certain sanctions on it. Sometimes, however, only moral. But not in this case.

The scandal with Siemens began in early July, when Reuters announced the information from which it followed that at least two gas turbines produced at the company's factory were inpaid international sanctions. The extremely sluggish bite of the Russian side immediately made it clear that the information is true. Since then, the scandal has only gained momentum and every day becomes heavier in the sense of inevitable consequences.

Another round occurred last Friday, when the German magazine Wirtschaftswoche told the whole world that, it turns out, the President of Russia gave personal guarantees for compliance with all the obligations under the contract with Siemens. The format of the meeting at which these promises sounded deserves special attention.

According to the publication, at an informal meeting that occurred last fall, only Vladimir Putin and the assistant were present on the Russian side, and the former German Minister Sigmar Gabriel and the German ambassador to Russia Rudeiger von Fricha. The presence of the ambassador emphasized the status of the emissar, confirmed his authority to negotiate at the highest level. What did the secret envo of the German government come to Russia and, one must think, large German business?

There is only one question that they could discuss, and this, of course, is not the fate of Siemens gas turbines. The level of negotiators suggests that at this meeting it was about the prospects for the abolition of anti -Putin sanctions. Apparently, in the course of these negotiations, the promise of Vladimir Putin sounded to strictly observe all the terms of the contracts before the abolition of the sanctions, if any. Is it necessary to explain that the format of such meetings implies not only their absolute confidentiality, but also strict adherence to all informal agreements. Moreover, later the management of Siemens, according to Wirtschaftswoche magazine, was informed of the promises of the Russian leadership. That is, in fact, strict adherence to all points of the contract (and most importantly - the failure to use the products of the concern in the annexed territories) was guaranteed by the Government of Germany. And there is nothing surprising in this, since in the world of big policy and big money the word given in the circumstances described, or rather any signatures on any documents. And now Vladimir Putin calmly violates the word given last fall.

It is difficult to describe all the consequences of this event. The main thing seems to me: if until now, someone else in the West had an illusion regarding the normalization of relations with the regime ruling in Russia, now, of course, they are completely and irrevocably buried. “You can’t agree with this guy and nothing! Only pressure and direct blackmail are the only tools that can be used in relationships with the current Russian leadership! ” - This is the main conclusion that makes the world establishment as a result of what happened.

Are there two gas turbines in Simferopol and Sevastopol of such consequences? The question is now rhetorical. I think, by the way, most Russian citizens will answer him in the affirmative today. It's so cool - throw the enemy! So inside the country, Putin only won in the eyes of fellow tribesmen. And the question “Why are cheeses from Germany we crush bulldozers on the border, and are we going to use gas turbines from Germany in a stolen territory?” - This is a question that can sound only from the bowels of the “fifth column”. Any Russian patriot will easily answer you why ...

Photo: Alexey Nikolsky / TASS