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| Putin Pledges to Help but Sees Limits on Role | Putin Pledges to Help but Sees Limits on Role |
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| MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin delivered a short but wide-ranging foreign policy speech on Tuesday, pledging to use Russia’s influence on the separatists in eastern Ukraine while also seeking to reassure his domestic audience that any fallout from the downing of a passenger jet over Ukraine could be contained. | |
| “There is no direct military threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country at the moment,” Mr. Putin said in a 13-minute speech to Russia’s Security Council. | “There is no direct military threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country at the moment,” Mr. Putin said in a 13-minute speech to Russia’s Security Council. |
| He went on to address directly for the first time the demand that Russia rein in the separatists who some Western nations accuse of shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 last Thursday. | He went on to address directly for the first time the demand that Russia rein in the separatists who some Western nations accuse of shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 last Thursday. |
| “We are being urged to use our influence with the militias in southeastern Ukraine,” he said in remarks broadcast repeatedly on state-run television. “We of course will do everything in our power, but that is not nearly enough.” | “We are being urged to use our influence with the militias in southeastern Ukraine,” he said in remarks broadcast repeatedly on state-run television. “We of course will do everything in our power, but that is not nearly enough.” |
| Mr. Putin criticized Ukraine for attacking Donetsk with tanks even as Malaysian officials arrived there to collect the flight recorders from the downed Boeing 777. “It is necessary to call on the Kiev authorities also to observe elementary norms of ethics,” he said in a belligerent tone. “At least to impose a cease-fire for a short time to hold an investigation.” | Mr. Putin criticized Ukraine for attacking Donetsk with tanks even as Malaysian officials arrived there to collect the flight recorders from the downed Boeing 777. “It is necessary to call on the Kiev authorities also to observe elementary norms of ethics,” he said in a belligerent tone. “At least to impose a cease-fire for a short time to hold an investigation.” |
| Russians had been buzzing about what Mr. Putin might say because, uncharacteristically, the meeting with his defense and security chiefs was publicized 24 hours in advance, prompting rumors that Mr. Putin might announce that a peacekeeping force was moving into Ukraine. | Russians had been buzzing about what Mr. Putin might say because, uncharacteristically, the meeting with his defense and security chiefs was publicized 24 hours in advance, prompting rumors that Mr. Putin might announce that a peacekeeping force was moving into Ukraine. |
| Instead, analysts said, by repeating long-held foreign policy positions and stressing again that Russia would cooperate with the investigation, the president seemed to want to lower the temperature caused by months of escalating pressure on Russia because of Ukraine. | Instead, analysts said, by repeating long-held foreign policy positions and stressing again that Russia would cooperate with the investigation, the president seemed to want to lower the temperature caused by months of escalating pressure on Russia because of Ukraine. |
| “The situation is extraordinary — the pressure on Russia is enormous,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of a foreign affairs journal. “Many people are hysterical, saying that the Ukraine war is a prelude to a war against Russia, and a rehearsal for regime change in Moscow. The speech was a signal to calm down a little bit domestically.” | “The situation is extraordinary — the pressure on Russia is enormous,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of a foreign affairs journal. “Many people are hysterical, saying that the Ukraine war is a prelude to a war against Russia, and a rehearsal for regime change in Moscow. The speech was a signal to calm down a little bit domestically.” |
| Mr. Lukyanov and other experts suggested that Mr. Putin might be taking the first steps to distance the Kremlin from the separatists, which could not be done all at once after he whipped up popular support for the idea that Moscow would protect ethnic Russians wherever they lived and annexed Crimea last March. | Mr. Lukyanov and other experts suggested that Mr. Putin might be taking the first steps to distance the Kremlin from the separatists, which could not be done all at once after he whipped up popular support for the idea that Moscow would protect ethnic Russians wherever they lived and annexed Crimea last March. |
| Mr. Putin has faced criticism from nationalists that he was abandoning Russians in Ukraine. The idea that “Putin would not betray national interests in a critical situation,” Aleksandr G. Dugin, a high-profile nationalist, wrote in a recent blog post, “is becoming less and less stable.” | Mr. Putin has faced criticism from nationalists that he was abandoning Russians in Ukraine. The idea that “Putin would not betray national interests in a critical situation,” Aleksandr G. Dugin, a high-profile nationalist, wrote in a recent blog post, “is becoming less and less stable.” |
| At the same time, the public, while apprehensive about the growing conflict next door, has wearied of it and blames both sides. “I think that there is a growing feeling that it has gone too far,” said Olga Kryshtanovskaya, a sociologist who studies Russia’s political elite. “The general feeling is similar to when people see children playing around without adult supervision, and suddenly they set the house on fire.” | At the same time, the public, while apprehensive about the growing conflict next door, has wearied of it and blames both sides. “I think that there is a growing feeling that it has gone too far,” said Olga Kryshtanovskaya, a sociologist who studies Russia’s political elite. “The general feeling is similar to when people see children playing around without adult supervision, and suddenly they set the house on fire.” |
| Not everyone shares the view that Mr. Putin is seeking a resolution to the conflict. Ukraine on Tuesday again accused Moscow of massing troops at the border and arming the separatists. | Not everyone shares the view that Mr. Putin is seeking a resolution to the conflict. Ukraine on Tuesday again accused Moscow of massing troops at the border and arming the separatists. |
| Mr. Putin said that Russia was strong because it stood independent of international alliances — seemingly his response to the charge by Western leaders that it was becoming more isolated. He repeated that he was tired of the language of ultimatums directed at Russia and warned that the country was ready to face any threats from NATO mustering in Eastern Europe; the driving force behind his Ukraine policy has been to prevent it from joining NATO. | Mr. Putin said that Russia was strong because it stood independent of international alliances — seemingly his response to the charge by Western leaders that it was becoming more isolated. He repeated that he was tired of the language of ultimatums directed at Russia and warned that the country was ready to face any threats from NATO mustering in Eastern Europe; the driving force behind his Ukraine policy has been to prevent it from joining NATO. |
| In one significant remark on domestic matters, Mr. Putin said that Russia was not cracking down on civil rights but he added that efforts were being made to weaken the country through various means, including influencing nongovernmental organizations. | In one significant remark on domestic matters, Mr. Putin said that Russia was not cracking down on civil rights but he added that efforts were being made to weaken the country through various means, including influencing nongovernmental organizations. |
| Those words made critics of escalating government moves against independent politicians and organizations more nervous. | Those words made critics of escalating government moves against independent politicians and organizations more nervous. |
| “He always brings up the subject of civil society and links it to national security, and that is scary,” said Ilya Ponomarev, an opposition member of Parliament. “Whenever he says there will be no crackdown on civil society, it means there will be more.” | “He always brings up the subject of civil society and links it to national security, and that is scary,” said Ilya Ponomarev, an opposition member of Parliament. “Whenever he says there will be no crackdown on civil society, it means there will be more.” |
| Indeed, on Monday Russia’s Justice Ministry added five nongovernmental organizations to a register of “foreign agents,” a designation that puts under greater government scrutiny any such organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity. | Indeed, on Monday Russia’s Justice Ministry added five nongovernmental organizations to a register of “foreign agents,” a designation that puts under greater government scrutiny any such organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity. |
| The law, passed in a flurry of legislation that tightened Mr. Putin’s control over civil society in 2012, was strongly criticized by rights leaders who said that the term “foreign agents” was meant to stigmatize them. | The law, passed in a flurry of legislation that tightened Mr. Putin’s control over civil society in 2012, was strongly criticized by rights leaders who said that the term “foreign agents” was meant to stigmatize them. |
| One of the groups targeted was Memorial, Russia’s oldest human rights organization, which gained fame for starting to document political repression in 1987, under the Soviet Union. | One of the groups targeted was Memorial, Russia’s oldest human rights organization, which gained fame for starting to document political repression in 1987, under the Soviet Union. |
| Memorial, along with dozens of other organizations, had boycotted the register of foreign agents, which mandates biannual reports to the government and requires that it call itself a foreign agent in its publications. | Memorial, along with dozens of other organizations, had boycotted the register of foreign agents, which mandates biannual reports to the government and requires that it call itself a foreign agent in its publications. |
| In May, the law was amended to allow the Justice Ministry itself to label organizations. Since then, it has designated nine organizations, including Memorial. | In May, the law was amended to allow the Justice Ministry itself to label organizations. Since then, it has designated nine organizations, including Memorial. |
| Aleksandr V. Cherkasov, who joined Memorial in 1989 and is one of the group’s leaders, questioned the government’s definition of political activity and said that the organization remained independent regardless of its funding source. | Aleksandr V. Cherkasov, who joined Memorial in 1989 and is one of the group’s leaders, questioned the government’s definition of political activity and said that the organization remained independent regardless of its funding source. |
| “There’s a saying that whoever pays the money chooses the music,” he said in an interview on Tuesday. “But we write our own music and we play it ourselves.” | “There’s a saying that whoever pays the money chooses the music,” he said in an interview on Tuesday. “But we write our own music and we play it ourselves.” |
| Pavel Chikov, the chairman of Agora, an human rights watchdog that was also declared a foreign agent on Monday, called the process “unpredictable.” A recent letter from the Justice Ministry had stated that Agora was not in violation of the new law. | Pavel Chikov, the chairman of Agora, an human rights watchdog that was also declared a foreign agent on Monday, called the process “unpredictable.” A recent letter from the Justice Ministry had stated that Agora was not in violation of the new law. |
| “Perhaps someone placed a call about us,” Mr. Chikov said. | “Perhaps someone placed a call about us,” Mr. Chikov said. |
| Since Mr. Putin’s return to the presidency two years ago, Russia has adopted laws regulating Internet bloggers, gay propaganda, public demonstrations, political parties and other aspects of civil society. On Tuesday, the Kremlin also announced that Mr. Putin had signed a law mandating prison sentences of up to five years for repeat organizers of unsanctioned demonstrations. The new law also restricted protest sites, barring oil refineries, Mr. Putin’s residences and courthouses, among other locations. | Since Mr. Putin’s return to the presidency two years ago, Russia has adopted laws regulating Internet bloggers, gay propaganda, public demonstrations, political parties and other aspects of civil society. On Tuesday, the Kremlin also announced that Mr. Putin had signed a law mandating prison sentences of up to five years for repeat organizers of unsanctioned demonstrations. The new law also restricted protest sites, barring oil refineries, Mr. Putin’s residences and courthouses, among other locations. |