Russia should show good faith by reining in Ukrainian rebels

A victory celebration by billion- aire businessman Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine’s presidential election was short-lived this week after pro-Russia rebels in the east escalated their conflict with the central government in Kiev by occupying a major airport.

Nonetheless, Poroshenko, the candy tycoon who won at least 56 percent of the vote, made it clear that while he is committed to closer ties with Western Europe, he believes dialogue with residents of Eastern Ukraine is essential.

But peace will not be achieved unless and until Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is largely responsible for the bloody uprising in the Crimea and other areas populated by Russian-speaking Ukrainians, makes clear his intentions.

Several weeks ago, Putin, when faced with a tumbling economy as a result of sanctions imposed by the United States and other industrialized nations, announced that he was pulling back some of the Russian troops amassed along the border with Ukraine.

However, this week’s takeover of the airport by the rebels — the government in Kiev responded with an airstrike — suggests that Putin isn’t committed to a peaceful resolution. Indeed, Russia’s annexation of Crimea served to embolden other regions that view the central government as the enemy.

Putin has demanded that Ukraine decentralize its government, which would give more power to regions including Crimea. But that is not going to happen so long as the rebels in the east continue their bloody campaign to become part of Russia.

President-elect Poroshenko, who will be sworn in after confirmation of the election results, has taken a strong stand against the uprising, saying he would not negotiate with armed insurgents. He has called them terrorists.

“Peace can only be achieved through a dialogue with people,” the billionaire said. “This process cannot be stopped with the use of arms only; arms can be used exclusively against killers and terrorists.”

In other words, the government of Ukraine is not going to sit back and let the rebels expand their occupation of cities in the east.

FEARS OF REPRESSION

But the new president must also know that since the ouster of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February, Russian-speaking Ukrainians have expressed fear of repression from the government.

It’s up to Poroshenko to reassure those disaffected Ukrainians that he’s sincere when he says he will guarantee their rights.

While he’s working to end the uprising in eastern Ukraine, the U.S. and other nations that rightly worry about Russia’s expansionist goals should intensify the pain of economic sanctions.

President Barack Obama and other leaders were correct in their assessment that targeting Russian oligarchs and businesses, most of them aligned with Putin, would cause deep divisions in Moscow.

With their riches in jeopardy, Putin’s backers are demanding that he find a solution to the Ukraine problem. Individual riches will trump nationalism every time.

Putin’s announcement that he’s withdrawing Russian troops from the border was prompted by pressure from the wealthy. Individuals or companies with influence in specific sectors of the Russian economy such as energy and banking have been particularly hard hit by the sanctions.

The U.S. and others should tighten their grip on Russia’s economy until Putin has no other choice but to tell the rebels that they cannot expect any support from Russia.