Cú Chulainn

3. What Lavrov said is factually correct. The way in which Yanukovych was removed was unconstitutional and a direct violation of International Law. In fact, technically speaking, Viktor is still the President today. But what some can’t fathom is WHY Russia recognised Poroshenko?

4. At the time of the Maidan events, the fire in Syria was already raging, & Al Nusra/ISIS was on the verge of taking Damascus. Assad was in serious trouble. Russia already had notions, as far back as Libya events, that Assad would eventually make the call to Moscow for help.

5. The call arrived in late 2015 from Tehran, & Moscow already knew that a small fleet of jets and a very limited ground contingent would be enough to keep the Syrian State intact. In order to keep the geopolitical game in Russia’s favour, Minsk helped to bridge the 12 months...

6. …between early 2014 and late 2015. Minsk II in early 2015 was an updated package of measures to account for the Debaltsevo caldron and the new position of the EU/US. The deal suited both sides - EU/US to buy time, and Russia - to switch the great game to the Syrian theatre.

7. Moving back to Maidan: knowing what was on the horizon, Moscow recognised Poroshenko as the winner of the elections. It was known that such a move would change absolutely nothing. The Junta was going to proceed along the Banderist path regardless of any recognition in Russia.

8. The junta in Kiev determines its own legitimacy by referring to the constitution, which they quickly changed (reverted back to the 2004 version) after the elections to enable certain shady things. Russia’s recognition of Poroshenko only affects dialogue with the West.

9. The US wasn't going to not recognise Poroshenko, & Russia, knowing that the Syrian adventure was about to begin, wasn’t in a position to outmanoeuvre the West. Turk Stream and S-400 at this time essentially didn’t exist - two huge pieces of future leverage against the West.

10. In the end, the Junta is not able to prove its own legitimacy, because it is still unable to prove that Yanukovych relinquished his powers and cannot explain why he fled the country. And they will never be able to dig themselves out of this hole.