The recent
Milan Summit with Ukraine, Russia and the European Union underscores once again
why simple diplomacy may not be the solution to the current Ukraine-Russia
crisis. That was strikingly evident from remarks made by Russian President
Putin questioning arrogantly the sovereignty of Ukraine so that even Germany's
Chancellor Angela Merkel felt compelled to reprimand the Russian President
reminding him of the Budapest Agreement of 1994. She could have mentioned many
more agreements and treaties to which Russia or its predecessor the USSR was a
signatory. A signature on a legally binding document means nothing to Putin or
Russia.
