General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Robert Parry: When Henry Kissinger Makes Sense [View all]karynnj
(59,475 posts)It does seem likely that he already planned to leave when he agreed to the deal. I remember that that week was a rollercoaster - the heightened protests and the increased violence, then the deal which seemed a really good turn of events - then the President fleeing and the government essentially without a head for a day of two - then the Parliament's actions in defining an interim government - followed by the Green men in Crimea.
It might be as likely that the offer of sanctuary was given precisely with his running away if there was a deal. After all, the deal was a victory for the protesters and could easily have been seen by Moscow as a loss for them. So, even though he could have stayed in power and I assume most Ukrainians thought he would, the offer could have been just for that immediate time and he may have thought he would be more welcomed than he was by Russia.
While there are alternative commentaries on almost anyone else as to their role, I suspect no one is regarded poorly by as high a percent of the Ukrainians than him - exposed as corrupt and exposed as selling out his country to Russia.