A previously unknown archival document has surfaced revealing early indications of what appears to be a rejection of established borders by current Russian President Vladimir Putin. The disclosure, reported by “Der Spiegel”, originates from the records of the German Foreign Office.
The document is a memorandum penned by the German General Consul in St. Petersburg, dating back to January 14, 1994. It details a conversation during which Putin, then serving as Deputy Mayor and viewed as a reformer, emphatically reiterated a previously stated position. According to the memorandum, Putin asserted that “the Crimea, the eastern Ukraine and northern Kazakhstan – at least these territories – have never been foreign to Russia, but have always been part of Russian territory”. He elaborated that it was difficult, if not impossible, for Russians to accept the notion that these regions could be considered foreign. The Consul noted that this sentiment held a strong national resonance, potentially challenging comprehension for German observers.
The memorandum is part of an edition being published by the Institute for Contemporary History (Verlag De Gruyter Oldenbourg). At the time of the conversation, significant Russian-speaking populations resided in both Ukraine (over ten million) and Kazakhstan (approximately one million).
The document also captures Putin’s assertion that as long as the economic and social well-being of these populations was satisfactory, there would be “no problems”. However, he observed that dissatisfaction with conditions was contributing to the growing popularity of Vladimir Shyrinovsky, a right-wing populist politician. Finally, Putin cautioned against the West labeling this situation as a resurgence of Russian imperialism, arguing that it was, in reality, a justifiable and expected defense of Russian interests.