Meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin
The President had a working meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to discuss the development of transport infrastructure and the capital’s economy, and the implementation of the housing stock renovation programme.
October 22, 2018
Vladimir Putin: Good.
I know that traditionally you help Sevastopol. How is this cooperation going today?
Sergei Sobyanin: Mr President, Moscow and Sevastopol have always been sister cities, even when Sevastopol was not part of Russia; we always helped.
Vladimir Putin: Legally it has always been part of Russia.
Sergei Sobyanin: Yes, it has. We have regarded it as a sister city.
Today the situation is easier, so we are starting to work with Sevastopol more systematically. We have outlined an entire range of programmes to assist Sevastopol in improving parks, public gardens, courtyards and streets as well as in repairing and upgrading social and cultural facilities, schools, clinics and hospitals. These projects are slated to begin next year.
The projects are relatively small, but I believe they are important for Sevastopol and the people living there. It is also important to take a systematic approach, so that these measures would not be a one-off but would follow a plan for several years to improve Sevastopol’s infrastructure each year.
I know that many large projects are being implemented under the federal targeted programmes you approved. I think our task is to improve the city’s infrastructure and public spaces.
Vladimir Putin: Very well. I said that legally Sevastopol has always been part of Russia. It was a city of central subordination, even when Crimea was transferred – illegally – from the RSFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. It is illegal because the decision was made by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, Ukraine and then approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR, while it should have been approved by the republics’ supreme councils and the USSR Supreme Council. But even during this process, which was essentially illegal, everybody just forgot about Sevastopol, and it was not transferred from the USSR to Ukraine. So technically and legally it has always been part of Russia.
Sergei Sobyanin: We could feel this.
Vladimir Putin: It is very good that you help the city and plan to continue this in the future. Thank you very much.
Sergei Sobyanin: Thank you, we will do so.
Slightly but not entirely off topic. I’ve just read this (in Yandex translation) about current developments in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. It doesn’t look good.
Russian original is here:
http://svpressa.ru/war21/article/213481/
Yandex translation:
Kiev intends to crack the Kerch Strait
NATO ships in the sea of Azov-Lavrov it does not seem a fantasy
Sergey Ishchenko
Apparently, the military and political situation in the sea of Azov on the eve of the explosion. Almost simultaneously in Moscow and Kiev there were several events that irrefutably indicate this.
Initial. On October 12, President Petro Poroshenko introduced the decision of his national security and defense Council to protect the interests of Ukraine in the Azov and Black seas, the Kerch Strait, in the South and East of Ukraine by decree No. 320/2018. The partially classified document says a lot of things. But the most important thing, in my opinion, is that in the coming months Kiev decided to unilaterally determine the coordinates of a certain median line in the Azov sea and in the Kerch Strait. This line, according to Poroshenko, will become a new state border between Ukrainian and Russian internal waters. And the agreement on mutual recognition of the Azov sea by internal waters of Ukraine and Russia of April 23, 2004 will be immediately thrown into the basket.
Naturally, Russia will not be able to recognize anything like this. How to agree to share equally with the neighboring state the waters of the Kerch Strait, lying between the Russian Taman and the Crimea? Only, if own hands raise over Crimea Ukrainian “private”. The probability of such a step in Moscow is not worth discussing.
Moreover. Such a ” division “of the Kerch Strait would be a direct invitation to NATO countries at least with a” business visit ” to immediately introduce their warships in Berdyansk and Mariupol. The 6th fleet of the US Navy or its allies at the walls of Rostov-on — don, Taganrog and Krasnodar-only this we lacked in these once surprisingly calm waters!
So-before Moscow Poroshenko rapidly heaps a new military-political impasse. But that his decree № 320/2018 did not seem an empty phrase, he also ordered this week in the Black and Azov seas until the end of 2018 to form a new Regional Department of Maritime security. Which, according to the President of Ukraine, will take under protection and the black sea and Azov borders of his country throughout — from Izmail (Odessa region) to Mariupol (Donetsk region).
See also
Black sea fleet: a marine patrol drown first
Black sea fleet: a marine patrol drown first
Protection of the black sea fleet base in Novorossiysk received two new warships. But why?
Naturally, part of the self-drawn in Kiev “border” in the Kerch Strait will also enter the zone of responsibility of the Department. On 17 October, said Chairman of the state border service of Ukraine the General-Colonel Peter Cigital. According to him, to perform the increased volume of tasks will soon be significantly replenished ship-boat composition of his Department. How to drink — at the expense of urgent procurements from abroad. Because in this way it has already been decided to increase the combat potential of the state border service of Ukraine in the air over the sea of Azov — in France, 24 light patrol helicopters of Airbus will be purchased in bulk.
Of course, all of these exciting frontier “dance” in Kiev around today entirely under the control of the Kerch Strait would have looked almost amusing if not for the weighty political support for the efforts of Poroshenko from abroad. It seems that there are just eager to quickly get involved in a fierce battle for the sea of Azov. The high-profile public sign of this was the statement of Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, made on Thursday in an interview with RT, France, Le Figaro and Paris Match: “Ukraine wants to invite NATO exercises in the sea of Azov, but there will be impossible to go through because our agreement with Ukraine requires mutual consent for the passage of warships in the sea of Azov. But they want it, and they actively indulge in it”.
It turns out that NATO is already at the start in anticipation of when Azov, albeit contrary to Russia’s objections, will lose the status of the inland sea? If Lavrov found it necessary in public in such a tone to discuss the idea of NATO exercises near Berdyansk and Mariupol — then the corresponding plans in Brussels and Washington have already been issued. And even brought to the attention of Moscow.
Why is NATO? The logic of such a step in September was expressed by the American private intelligence and analytical company Stratfor (Strategic Forecasting Inc.). In her opinion, Washington is able immediately after the abolition of the Russian-Ukrainian Treaty on the inland sea to significantly increase support for Kiev in this direction. For example, sending NATO warships through the Russian-controlled Kerch Strait to visit the Azov ports of the country. This can, Stratfor believes, dramatically change the nature of the conflict.
And do not dismiss such intentions from the threshold, referring to the well-known Azov shallow water. Yes, the ships of the 6th fleet of the U.S. Navy to go in there difficult. Sludge main “workhorses” of the fleet — destroyers URO of the “Arleigh Burke” — more than 9 meters, taking into account the Radome hydroacoustic station podlinnoi any “Arleigh Burke”. International rules of passage on the Kerch-Yenikalsky canal do not allow ships and ships with a draft of more than 8 meters. And not Russia invented it — these are the hydrological features of the channel.
But those who soothe themselves completely lose sight of the other possibilities that NATO countries have in the Black sea. For example, under the appropriate political conditions, ships of the Romanian and Bulgarian Navy could go to the Azov ports of Ukraine (Turkey will not take into account, given its complex relations with Washington).
There is no doubt that any request of Americans in Bucharest and Sofia in recent years respond with dear soul. At the same time, both fleets have someone to send to such a clearly anti-Russian campaign. The Romanians, for example, – very old former Soviet missile boats such as “Lightning” project 1241. Or a relatively small corvettes project 1048 M (NATO code Tetal II). The Bulgarians have the same “lightning” and small anti-submarine ships of the project 12412.
Russia, of course, is able at any time in many ways to block the Kerch Strait on the way of such “guests”. Including by force of arms. But, first, what we do will remain the Foundation, after the abolition of Kiev of the agreement of 23 April 2004? And, secondly, on a head-on collision with NATO near Kerch still it is necessary to decide. Will it work?
It seems very likely that this is what Moscow may have problems with. You remember declared in Kiev heroic September “break” two unarmed auxiliary vessels of Naval forces of Ukraine from Black to the sea of Azov? Outwardly almost senseless from a military point of view, the transition of the control ship “Donbass” and the sea tug “Korets” from Odessa to Mariupol? It is possible that the main thing that day for Kiev and the Pentagon was to understand how Moscow will react to the appearance of uninvited “guests” in the Strait? And it seems that the Russian side before the latter decided to skip the “Donbass” with “Corazon” in our common as the sea or does not skip?
Let’s analyze the details of that demonstrative operation again. It is absolutely certain and in Moscow, and in Sevastopol in the highest political and military circles reigned uniform stir. Why else would the Ukrainian, accompanied by two rusty “troughs” at the same time was to attract surpasses them in the combat power of our medium reconnaissance ship of the project 864 “sea of Azov”, the border patrol ship “Amethyst” and “don”, anti-sabotage boats of the type “Raptor”, boats of a Coast guard of FSB of the Russian Federation? Total – up to 10 units.
Why the commander “Azov” risky maneuvered, approaching boards with “Donbass” literally on a pistol shot — on a distance of only two cable (about 350-400 meters)?
Why on that day near the Kerch Strait for hours barraged reconnaissance aircraft Boeing RC-135V of the US Air force with the Board number 64-14848?
Why was there in the air Ukrainian military transport aircraft An-26?
Why over masts “Donbass” and “Korets” repeatedly at small height the Russian multipurpose fighters su-30SM raised on alarm from the Crimean Belbek airfield rushed?
Can’t find other explanation: this “dump a dog” abeam Kerch occurred only because of Moscow there was a reasonable suspicion: Kiev went on a large-scale provocation. It had been considered for the benefit not to aggravate. And auxiliary vessels of the Navy not without nerves passed there where they went. But it became obvious that our country does not have a clear plan of action in case of such sudden passes. This did not escape the attention of the people who sent their Boeing RC-135V reconnaissance aircraft to the area of the imminent conflict on September 21.
Now imagine what would happen if the risky course of “Donbass” and “Korets” will soon be followed by NATO warships? Little, judging by Lavrov, will not seem neither to them nor to us. So Washington is just what you need!
See also
Poroshenko: my boys are stronger than NATO pilots and Russian flyers
Poroshenko: my boys are stronger than NATO pilots and Russian flyers
Victory in the training battle of su-27 Ukrainian air force over the American F-15 “inspired” the President
Another clear sign that the situation around the Azov sea is about to get out of control of Moscow. Our military leadership has decided to immediately build up forces in these waters. Additional warships on inland waterways to the South follow from the far North-West of Russia. Namely: from Arkhangelsk, accompanied by tugs to Rostov-on-don, two border patrol ships of the 3rd rank of the project 10410 of the “Firefly” type (according to NATO classification Svetljak-class) — PSKR-920 “Syktyvkar” (until may 1996 — “Brilliant”) and PSKR-921 “Kizlyar” (former “300 years to the fleet of Russia”) moved. On October 10, they passed through the Cheboksary reservoir.
Interesting comment Anonymous.
In regard to the post – very interesting that VVP made this comment today whilst that buffoon Bolton is in Moscow. Sevastapol was never transferred to Ukraine and is and has always been legally Russia. He made this point 3 times in this short conversation.
He is prepping the world, “we are the legal owners of this land, it can be proven in a court of law. Therefore ANY ACTIONS we choose to take are well within our legal rights.(the moral high ground) The big problem is a significant portion of the worlds governments no longer understand or respect legal rights. The “color revolution” is a perfect example.
Not really. He was just trying to make a moron listen to him. Very irritating that moron did not want to concede even when Putin said, essentially, the city was under special jurisdiction during the USSR period, and was not transferred as Crimea was (although illegally.) What’s the resistance here? He thinks Putin’s re-writing history every time he says something? Take a lesson, son!
Lots of cities are under special status. City of London, Washington DC, and so on. What a Russian leader has to put up with.
If there really is a ‘conflict’, then any Ukrainian or NATO surface ships in the Sea of Azov die in the first 5 minutes of fighting.
Funny how they want half the Kerch Strait, when its Russian land on both sides of the strait.
Even if a NATO ship managed to live 5 minutes of wartime in the Sea of Azov, they are now cut off and can’t go anywhere. I’d imagine the Russians have defenses around their nice new bridge, so no way does a ship go through there without Russian permission.
The Sea of Azov is really shallow. Large parts of it are no more than 2-3 meters deep. Ships can only reach ports through specially dredged ship channels.
It is completely impossible to even imagine Trumpette sitting down with the Mayor of Washington, DC to “to discuss the development of transport infrastructure and the capital’s economy, and the implementation of the housing stock renovation programme.”
That’s an obvious difference between good government by a chief executive, and bad government by a chief executive (aka, Trumpette just in case it wasn’t clear). One is trying to solve problems. The other would probably yell “You’re Fired!” at any aid that tried to even mention problems such as DC needing a housing stock renovation program.
From what Auslander has told us over the years since Crimea returned, the Black Sea, much less the Avov Sea, is a Russian lake. Anything that floats will be sunk in less than a minute should it make itself a target.
The Avov is fairly shallow, ships get escorted under the Kerch Bridge, and anything in the air can be taken down in seconds.
The Southern Military District is staffed, armed and ever-alert and Crimea is a massive citadel with every weapon system in the arsenal.
The best equipment, top personnel and a very aggressive posture would snuff nonsense from Kiev and/or Romania or any other mentally challenged vassal of NATO or the US itself.
Suggesting that the Ukies can do something there is silly.
Someone might think they can flex their muscles in the region. But Russia isn’t like any other nation. They are prepared to handle all comers. It won’t be a fair fight. It will be very costly and terminal to men and machines.
Yup, but as they say in Alcoholics Anonymous, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.” Poroshenko’s action can only be described as insane. Have they forgotten the “cauldrons” already?
So, President Putin begins to lay new groundwork, to again reduce the size of the most corrupt country in Europe. S L O W M O T I O N C H E S S ! ! !
As President Putin said in the article, Sevastopol is a city that has always had special status along with Moskau and St. Petersburg. President Putin is speaking 100% truth when he stated that Sevastopol never had it’s administration or physical extant ‘transferred’ to Ukraine SSR. One thing President Putin left out was the citizens of The Autonomous Republik of Krimea and The Federal City of Sevastopol by USSR law should have voted to approve any change in their status. This was not done under General Secretary Kruchchov, ergo the entire process mentioned by our President truly was and is illegal.
When SSSR fell apart, Ukraine simply took over Krimu and Sevastopol, or so they thought. There was enough turmoil in Krimu and Sevastopol that two ‘referendums’ were held, the first under Kravchuk, the second under Kuchma. No vote tally was ever made public, after both referendums it was simply stated that ‘the people’ voted to ‘stay’ with Ukraine. The economy and local conditions were in such turmoil at the time that the citizens had not the time to turn out en mass as they did ten years later.
One curious little detail seemingly, but not really, forgotten, is around 01 March 2014, a citizen called local Opolchensya and reported a small fire at the OVIR facility on Ulitsya Hor’koho, part of the Nahxkimov District Administration complex. On arrival, Opolchensya and the fire brigade found a small group of armed ork SBU burning the ballots from the two referendums in Sevastopol. After a rather spirited discussion concerning the merits of this task, the process was curtailed, the orcs were invited to go roast marsh mellows elsewhere and OVIR was locked down tighter that the Czar’s mistress’ bedroom chambers. However, enough ballots were burned that the true outcome of the voting can never be ascertained, although the locals know very well the voting was, like in March of 2014, overwhelmingly in favor of being part of Russia.
The rebuilding and renovation of Sevastopol and Krimu will take years. One can not repair and upgrade 35 and more years of benign and not so benign neglect in months or a few years, although a quite spirited effort is underway to rebuild and modernize infrastructure from the ground up. In spite of the hordes of carpet baggers running down here from the mainland to skim as much as possible from the government renovation grants, we will persevere and bring this little city up to the standard it should, and did, have.
As for the article Anonymous 5:21 put up, a five minute search will find a plethora of such articles pontificating on the merits of both sides as to the current and future aspects of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, each embellished with heavy diction from ‘expurts’ no one ever heard of.
Fact. The Sea of Azov is a Russian lake. Look at a map. To get there, one has to pass in a narrow passageway Russian territory on both sides. The most narrow parts are ten miles and considerably less between terra firma on each side. In military parlance, this is what is known as point blank range, IOW shoot ’em over open sights.
Fact. The Black Sea has been a Russian lake for 200 years and more. To get to the Black Sea by ship from the Med, one has to pass through Turkey and navigate a narrow exit from the straights. If you think for one minute that said exit is not under constant surveillance by Russian Armed Forces, well, I’ve got some ocean front property near Ufa I’ll sell you at a good discount.
Fact. If one goes to the mainland for any reason whatsoever, the moment it is mentioned that one resides in Sevastopol the mainlanders shower you with complements and can not do enough to help you with whatever you need. Even paying for a lunch is difficult if those in the cafe know where you come from, this over four years after the citizens of Sevastopol put the orcs out. That in and of itself shows what the citizens of Russia think of Sevastopol, and this fact in and of itself means that as far as the citizens of Russia are concerned, Sevastopol was, is and will forever be Russian. Any pontifications to the contrary are simply an exercise in bovine scatology.
Auslander
Author
An Incident On Simonka https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERKH3IU March 2014. NATO Is Invited To Leave Sevastopol, One Way Or The Other.
Sevastopol, The Third Defense. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KRPLS4 Book 1, A Premonition, The Move South. Set against a backdrop of real events and real places, the reader is left to filter fact from fiction.
Never The Last One https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGCY8KK A deep look in to Russia, her culture and her Armed Forces, in essence a look at the emergence of Russian Federation.
Aus, well said. Although, while everyone is taking Russia this, Russia that, Putin has his trump card, which Novorossiya. Officially, unless attacked directly, he is going to wait and then release opoltchentsiev and take the rest of Novorosiya without officially making any aggressive moves against Ukraine. The West will jump up and own throwing tantrums but this will be all they can do and Russia will cut the Ukraine from the Black Sea totally. This will be the end of American wet dream there.