This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/25/world/europe/david-cameron-stumbles-over-russias-tripwire.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
David Cameron Stumbles Over Russia’s Tripwire David Cameron Stumbles Over Russia’s Tripwire
(about 1 month later)
LONDON — Just over 14 years ago, Tony Blair recalled in a memoir, he was among the first Western leaders to meet with Vladimir V. Putin as he rose toward the presidency of Russia. LONDON — Just over 14 years ago, Tony Blair recalled in a memoir, he was among the first Western leaders to meet with Vladimir V. Putin as he rose toward the presidency of Russia.
“We were the same age and it seemed shared the same outlook,” Mr. Blair wrote. “I never lost that initial feeling for him, or the thought that had circumstances transpired or conspired differently, the relationship could have prospered.”“We were the same age and it seemed shared the same outlook,” Mr. Blair wrote. “I never lost that initial feeling for him, or the thought that had circumstances transpired or conspired differently, the relationship could have prospered.”
Of course, it hasn’t.Of course, it hasn’t.
Mr. Blair’s courtship of Mr. Putin defined the starting point of a doomed parabola that led from nascent friendship to icy hostility recalling the Cold War and, well before it, the Great Game played out by the rival British and Russian empires in the 19th century.Mr. Blair’s courtship of Mr. Putin defined the starting point of a doomed parabola that led from nascent friendship to icy hostility recalling the Cold War and, well before it, the Great Game played out by the rival British and Russian empires in the 19th century.
Now, in its latest unfolding, the current British leader, David Cameron, is discovering that Russia is not simply, as Winston Churchill put it in 1939, “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” For Western leaders seeking to mold Moscow’s behavior in the latest crisis in Ukraine, it is also what might be termed a tripwire wrapped in a minefield inside a quagmire.Now, in its latest unfolding, the current British leader, David Cameron, is discovering that Russia is not simply, as Winston Churchill put it in 1939, “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” For Western leaders seeking to mold Moscow’s behavior in the latest crisis in Ukraine, it is also what might be termed a tripwire wrapped in a minefield inside a quagmire.
In recent days, Mr. Cameron has sought to project himself as the muscular champion of a tough European response to Moscow’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, who are accused by American intelligence officials of downing a Malaysian airliner, killing 298 people.In recent days, Mr. Cameron has sought to project himself as the muscular champion of a tough European response to Moscow’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, who are accused by American intelligence officials of downing a Malaysian airliner, killing 298 people.
Reinforcing this tilt against the Kremlin, the British authorities have also agreed to a judge-led public inquiry into the death of Alexander V. Litvinenko, a onetime K.G.B. officer and visceral foe of Mr. Putin, who was poisoned to death with radioactive polonium at a central London hotel in 2006.Reinforcing this tilt against the Kremlin, the British authorities have also agreed to a judge-led public inquiry into the death of Alexander V. Litvinenko, a onetime K.G.B. officer and visceral foe of Mr. Putin, who was poisoned to death with radioactive polonium at a central London hotel in 2006.
Urging action against “cronies and oligarchs” in Russia, and striving for the moral heights of the debate, Mr. Cameron seems ready to abandon his cherished aim of securing a warmer relationship with Mr. Putin to advance the interests of British trade — and to criticize those who do not follow suit.Urging action against “cronies and oligarchs” in Russia, and striving for the moral heights of the debate, Mr. Cameron seems ready to abandon his cherished aim of securing a warmer relationship with Mr. Putin to advance the interests of British trade — and to criticize those who do not follow suit.
On Monday, Mr. Cameron castigated France over its determination to deliver the first of two warships ordered by Russia. That transaction, he said, would be “unthinkable” in Britain.On Monday, Mr. Cameron castigated France over its determination to deliver the first of two warships ordered by Russia. That transaction, he said, would be “unthinkable” in Britain.
Suddenly, the tripwires began to quiver.Suddenly, the tripwires began to quiver.
On Tuesday, British lawmakers determined that Britain itself had continued to grant licenses for the export to Russia of sniper rifles, small arms ammunition, night-vision equipment, body armor and other paraphernalia worth about $220 million.On Tuesday, British lawmakers determined that Britain itself had continued to grant licenses for the export to Russia of sniper rifles, small arms ammunition, night-vision equipment, body armor and other paraphernalia worth about $220 million.
The British government denied that the equipment was destined for the Russian military.The British government denied that the equipment was destined for the Russian military.
Then, however, there was the cozy relationship with Russia’s oligarchs who have settled in London’s most luxurious neighborhoods. As a result, some have taken to labeling the British capital Londongrad.Then, however, there was the cozy relationship with Russia’s oligarchs who have settled in London’s most luxurious neighborhoods. As a result, some have taken to labeling the British capital Londongrad.
“When you see how many oligarchs have sought refuge in London,” said Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, the first secretary of the governing Socialist Party in France, “David Cameron should start by cleaning up his own backyard.” As for Mr. Cameron’s criticism of the French shipbuilding deal with Russia, he said, “This is a false debate led by hypocrites.”“When you see how many oligarchs have sought refuge in London,” said Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, the first secretary of the governing Socialist Party in France, “David Cameron should start by cleaning up his own backyard.” As for Mr. Cameron’s criticism of the French shipbuilding deal with Russia, he said, “This is a false debate led by hypocrites.”
The broadside came days after Lubov Chernukhin, a British citizen who is a banker and the wife of Vladimir Chernukhin, a former deputy finance minister in Russia, bid a staggering $270,000 in a Conservative Party fund-raising auction. The prize? A game of tennis with Mr. Cameron and London’s Conservative mayor, Boris Johnson. The broadside came days after Lubov Chernukhin, a British citizen who is a banker and the wife of Vladimir Chernukhin, a former deputy finance minister in Russia, bid a staggering $270,000 in a Conservative Party fund-raising auction. The prize? A game of tennis with Mr. Cameron and London’s Conservative mayor, Boris Johnson.
The timing drew a degree of derision from Mr. Cameron’s foes.The timing drew a degree of derision from Mr. Cameron’s foes.
“My instinct is that Putin just laughs at people who try to have their caviar and eat it,” said Chris Bryant, an opposition lawmaker.“My instinct is that Putin just laughs at people who try to have their caviar and eat it,” said Chris Bryant, an opposition lawmaker.
Within Britain’s rambunctious tabloid newspapers, the response was pithier. “Hand Back The Roubles, Dave,” the conservative Daily Mail said in a front-page headline.Within Britain’s rambunctious tabloid newspapers, the response was pithier. “Hand Back The Roubles, Dave,” the conservative Daily Mail said in a front-page headline.
Even the decision to order the Litvinenko inquiry seemed to encounter skepticism. “What signal does this send out to the world, except that British justice is a movable feast that depends on the state of our international relations?” the same newspaper said in an editorial.Even the decision to order the Litvinenko inquiry seemed to encounter skepticism. “What signal does this send out to the world, except that British justice is a movable feast that depends on the state of our international relations?” the same newspaper said in an editorial.