[War] Russia: "A New Beginning"

[Michael Downey]

"A New Beginning"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
03 August 2014
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A chronic problem that had always plagued Russia's relations with the
rest of the world, Europe in particular, was that Russia often mistook
being powerful as being strong. The two concepts did not necessarily
go hand in had. Oh, President Nemerenko recognized without question
the need for a well-equipped, well-trained and capable Russian
military but also recognized that the best way to defeat a potential
enemy was to become their friend. Friendly relations had the advantage
of trade, a top issue for the growing Russian economy. New markets for
Russia's exports and new sources of imports.

"Yet after the fall of the CCCP, Putin and his cohorts sought to try
and reestablish Russia's hegemony over," Nemerenko observed to Foreign
Minister Denemetov. "Using bully tactics to try and strong-arm the
post-Soviet states into towing Moscow's line as if they were still
SSRs."

"Which of course only drove more and more of them into the arms of
NATO and the EU," nodded Denemetov. Both she and Nemerenko had served
together in the Foreign Ministry for several years before Nemerenko's
move into the Duma and later the Kremlin. "Such strong-arm tactics
ended when President Severov turned the nation's attention inward. Now
that your administration is a year into office, Eastern Europe is
beginning to wonder what our policy will be."

"The days of Russian hegemony are over," stated Nemerenko
matter-of-factly. "We will always be willing to defend our interests
against overt, or covert, hostility but the expansion of NATO and EU
into Eastern Europe would make past views of regional hegemony in the
post-Soviet era a pipe dream. Our policy towards our former brothers
and new neighbors will be what they should be; neighbourly. Russia's
objectives are simply peaceful, cooperative and trade-oriented."

"Even five years after Putin being deposed, there will still be
weariness from many states."

"I know," replied Nemerenko. "We must take the initiative and set an
example of our desire for more cooperative relations with our
neighbors. To that end I think it's time you went on a trip."

"A goodwill tour of our immediate neighbors," said Denemetov,
immediately seeing Nemerenko's intent. "If we could foster better
relations with those states that have had the most difficulty from our
past hegemonic ambitions it would set an excellent precedent for the
rest of Europe."

"Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, the Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Kazakhstan," said Nemerenko, listing off the former SSRs. "You are
to visit each one of them. Russia will offer to sign treaties of
friendship and trade with all of them."

Denemetov nodded. It would, as they had discussed, set a good example
and help keep Russia's Western borders secure. If it all went
according to plan. That was the major obstacle in diplomacy, you never
quite knew how people might react.

"We should pay particular attention to the Ukraine," suggested the FM.
"Our past meddling in Kiev's affairs has been particularly acute. Many
in their government still suspect the SVR in having a hand in the
assassination attempt on Yushchenko." Hell, Nemerenko's own
grandfather had been Ukrainian and had always (in secret of course,
this had been the CCCP) bemoaned Russia's imperial domination of their
little brother state.

"For all I know they might be correct," said the President dryly. One
of those little secrets that had been purposely lost in the post-Putin
reforms to the state intelligence apparatus. "I want you to offer a
permanent non-aggression pact to Kiev. The greatest fear the
Ukrainians have in the back of their minds is Russian troops moving in
to impose some sort of puppet government on them. A non-aggression
pact would alleviate those fears."
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Actions:
1) The Russian Federation intends to pursue a more cooperative,
peaceful, trade-oriented policy towards all Europe, particularly the
post-Soviet states.
2) Foreign Minister Irena Denemetov will conduct a goodwill tour of
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan to promote these proposals.
3) Particular attention will be paid to improving relations with
Ukraine. FM Denmetov will offer Kiev a specific non-aggression pact