Empire of the Ring

Russia’s desire was taking shape in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, but the West was barely responding to it with economic sanctions.

Russia invaded Georgia’s autonomous republic of South Ossetia in 2008 and recently annexed Crimea, and the West had failed to stop it once again. This was because Crimea had been under Russian influence for a long time.

It was a problem because the precedent for the secession of Crimea could be applied to Moldova and Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia where many Russian residents lived.

However, there was no country that would start an all-out war with Russia that had nuclear weapons, on the grounds that it sought separation independence.

Also, European countries were suffering from the shortage of natural gas due to Russian economic sanctions, and they would not be able to block Russia’s economy forever.

Putin, who dreamed of becoming an emperor of Russia, wanted to encompass all the countries that were under the influence of the former Soviet Union.

“Mr. Yaniv said that Putin dreams of becoming a Russian Tsar.”

“That’s nothing new. It’s something that Western countries were already predicting.”

Youngho was sharing the conversation he had with Yaniv and Eriksson.

“We can predict what card Putin is going to pull tomorrow, but the problem is not the business. It’s about Russia trying to exert its influence everywhere.”

“He won’t be able to touch the Northern Kazakh region where Russians live. Putin knows they’ve sworn allegiance to our royal family.”

“The problem is that Putin might interpret it arbitrarily and push it down,”

Youngho wanted to secure a safety device about northern Kazakhstan through this deal with Putin. His promise would not be completely trustworthy, but having him sign a document that wrote he would not touch the northern region would at least build a ground to stop Putin if he tried to take over the regions.

“I don’t know about other countries, but if Kazakhstan is in trouble, its allies won’t stay put.”

“What if Russians in the region ask for separation independence under Putin’s encouragement? It will be a domestic issue and the allies won’t want to get in between that.”

While common conflicts could be helped by allies, it was difficult to intervene in the issue of separation independence of ethnic groups.

That was exactly what Putin was aiming for.

He would push ahead within the Russian people of Kazakhstan and hold a referendum to support the separation of their residential region. Other counties could not stop the separation if most of the residents had agreed to it.

“It’s a shame that I have to go along with Putin’s dream of being Tsar.”

“Your Highness, this is the reality of old satellite states of the Soviet Union. You have to build your strength while maintaining a good relationship with it. If you have overwhelming or equal power with Russia, then you can say something.”

“I don’t want to add a little bit of power to Putin.”

“In the case of the canal, he only makes a toll profit, but our interests are dozens more than that. And the same applies to all the projects that we participate in Russia. When Putin is satisfied with his pennies, we’ll be making a fortune.”

The business with Putin was only making Youngho’s mind complicated. Until Putin arrived at Yaniv’s mansion, Youngho and Eriksson would be busy calculating gains and losses.

***

Putin returned to Moscow after staying only a half-day at Yaniv’s mansion.

Youngho had lunch for half a day and drank vodka with him.

It was quite shocking that the most powerful man took half a day to come directly to Volgograd for a secret meeting with Youngho. Especially in the position of running a huge country called Russia, Putin would have to split every second to do his work since he had a dictator-like authority even though he was called a president. And for a dictator, all authority was concentrated, so his subordinates did not have much discretionary power.

Putin mentioned the canal project and the Siberian development part, and he hurried to thank the royal family for participating directly in the project, not as the Kazakh government.

He brightly said that his approval rating and the public sentiment of him would improve if the Kazakh royal family participated in the canal project.

He explained in detail about why he called Youngho for a secret meeting at Yaniv’s mansion.

It was, as expected, about the development of the Arctic route and the Arctic development.

There was no reason to meet secretly, as this was an issue where he could ask for cooperation through special envoys.

When Youngho was still wondering about that, Putin offered to drink vodka at the end of the day although he was known not to drink often. He then began to put forth his innermost thoughts.

Talking to Putin that day made Youngho realize how much Putin had studied and how outspoken and articulate an economist he was. The bottom line of his story was to ask for cooperation in wanting to be called Tsar.

He wanted to regenerate Russia, but he lacked the power to do so at the moment, so he asked for Youngho’s help. In exchange, he promised to make sure that he would pay back someday.

He said that from now on, Youngho could go through Putin to do any kind of business in Russia. He was bold and confident in any way and did not even bother to hide his collection of funds for governing.

Putin continued to share his memory of the night when the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989. Putin called Moscow to ask for emergency relief, but no one answered. The Soviet Union was already falling apart.

After its fall, the Soviet Union fell into the pit of chaos and instability due to corruption, unemployment, and inflation.

Putin felt insulted and shamed, and could not even sleep with misery.

He studied and studied to contemplate on how to restore the country.

Finally, he was elected as the president. At the beginning of his regime, he showed no mercy to those who resisted him. He saved Russia just before it was torn apart.

From the early days of his inauguration, he began to develop Siberia and the Far East in earnest.

He said that he wanted to keep the U.S. in check and embrace Europe and join Asia to make the Great Eurasian Union of the 21st century, which would seek new order in the Old World.

Putin was hoping to be remembered as a leader comparable to the 18th century’s Czar, Peter the Great. That was why he wanted to be called Tsar.

“Mr. Yaniv, I knew that he was a knowledgeable person, but he is quite outspoken and ambitious.”

“I see Putin differently now, too. He’s shown his innermost thoughts. This means he will leave the decision up to us.”

“Don’t tell me he’s secretly meeting all the leaders of the old satellite countries one by one and scaring them. He’s strangely forcing us to join his idea. I came here because I wanted to know what Putin was thinking, I feel better now that I found out what it is.”

“What are you saying?”

“I realized once again that if we don’t have strength, we’ll be taken one day.”

“…”

“We’ll be safe for the time being only if we hold Putin’s hand, and take profits from it.”

“Aren’t you afraid of him?”

“He put out his mind because he was wary of me too. He wants to coexist.”

“Do you mean he’s recognizing the power of the Kazakh royal family?”

“It’s because we are no match to him. His message to us is to stay out of the way unless you’re going to help.”

“You’re rather calm.”

“Russia is stronger than Kazakhstan. I’m not too stupid to admit that. Right now, we don’t stand a chance, so we need to stay low.”

“So you’re going to invest?”

“I should. Putin’s promise to pay back means that Kazakhstan will be safe as much as I have invested. That is of course for a while.”

Yaniv looked at Youngho absurdly.

Even though Putin shared his great ambition as a threat, Youngho did not seem to be shaken a bit.

“You are quite bold.”

“I want to watch if Putin’s ambition will succeed. I’m rather excited since being next to someone strong will make me stronger too.”

“I want to see if Putin’s ambition will succeed. I’m looking forward to being strong when I’m next to someone strong.”

“Since you’re going to invest in this, there won’t be a trouble.”

“Are you going to invest too?”

“Putin is forcing it to us, how can I step back? If I want to live in Russia without trouble, I have to invest. But, I’m going to have to set up a safety device too.”

“You can establish your company in a foreign country. Sergey would know about it well.”

“That’s sweet honey for now, but one day I’m going to get caught for it.”

***

“You also thought of running Central Asia, didn’t you? And you absorbed Kyrgyzstan. Putin is a man who has arms, manpower, and land. It’s not strange to have such ambition for a president of such power.”

Eriksson said it as if it was nothing.

“I was surprised by it, but you don’t think it’s a big deal.”

“The Scandinavians are still under the threat of Russia. There’s nothing to cry about. You know to achieve big, you’ve got to aim high.”

“Oh, please don’t think of me the same as Putin. As long as Kazakhstan is safe, I have no intention to take another country.”

“No, I’m sure you have a similar dream, or you wouldn’t have taken Kazakhstan. You did it to achieve peace of the autonomous state and you will do it again to keep Kazakhstan’s peace. When the world pushes you to do so, what are you going to do?”

“I’m saying I have no such ambition. Putin’s offer is too overwhelming for now.”

“Your Highness, maybe we’ve got a good chance. Let Putin chase his impossible grand dream and we can pursue practicality.”

Youngho had to agree that a leader of such big country could have such ambitions. Even China was trying hard with its One Belt One Road. Still, there was no guarantee that one’s dream would come true.

“The dice are already rolled. If Putin has expressed his intention, whether he believes in us or not, he has accepted Kazakhstan as a companion.”

“You mean a best man, not a companion.”

“What about a best man? We’re the only ones who need to stay alert.”