Francona: Putin’s real end game in Ukraine

Rick Francona
5 minute read
Updated 11:55 AM EDT, Sat July 26, 2014
Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 sits in a field at the crash site in Hrabove, Ukraine, on September 9, 2014. The Boeing 777 was shot down July 17, 2014, over Ukrainian territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board were killed. In an October 2015 report, Dutch investigators found the flight was shot down by a warhead that fit a Buk rocket, referring to Russian technology, Dutch Safety Board Chairman Tjibbe Joustra said.
Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 sits in a field at the crash site in Hrabove, Ukraine, on September 9, 2014. The Boeing 777 was shot down July 17, 2014, over Ukrainian territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board were killed. In an October 2015 report, Dutch investigators found the flight was shot down by a warhead that fit a Buk rocket, referring to Russian technology, Dutch Safety Board Chairman Tjibbe Joustra said.
Alexander KHUDOTEPLY/AFP/Getty Images
Australian and Dutch experts examine the area of the crash on August 3, 2014.
Australian and Dutch experts examine the area of the crash on August 3, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A woman walks with her bicycle near the crash site on August 2, 2014.
A woman walks with her bicycle near the crash site on August 2, 2014.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty images
Police secure a refrigerated train loaded with bodies of passengers from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it arrives in a Kharkiv, Ukraine, factory on July 22, 2014.
Police secure a refrigerated train loaded with bodies of passengers from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it arrives in a Kharkiv, Ukraine, factory on July 22, 2014.
Olga Ivashchenko/AP
A pro-Russian rebel passes wreckage from the crashed jet near Hrabove on Monday, July 21, 2014.
A pro-Russian rebel passes wreckage from the crashed jet near Hrabove on Monday, July 21, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Wreckage from the jet lies in grass near Hrabove on July 21, 2014.
Wreckage from the jet lies in grass near Hrabove on July 21, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A man covers his face with a rag as members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team inspect bodies in a refrigerated train near the crash site in eastern Ukraine on July 21, 2014.
A man covers his face with a rag as members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team inspect bodies in a refrigerated train near the crash site in eastern Ukraine on July 21, 2014.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag at the crash site on July 21, 2014.
Emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag at the crash site on July 21, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A piece of the plane lies in the grass in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on July 21, 2014.
A piece of the plane lies in the grass in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on July 21, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
An armed pro-Russian rebel stands guard next to a refrigerated train loaded with bodies in Torez, Ukraine, on Sunday, July 20, 2014.
An armed pro-Russian rebel stands guard next to a refrigerated train loaded with bodies in Torez, Ukraine, on Sunday, July 20, 2014.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Ukrainian State Emergency Service employees sort through debris on July 20, 2014, as they work to locate the deceased.
Ukrainian State Emergency Service employees sort through debris on July 20, 2014, as they work to locate the deceased.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
A woman covers her mouth with a piece of fabric July 20, 2014, to ward off smells from railway cars that reportedly contained passengers' bodies.
A woman covers her mouth with a piece of fabric July 20, 2014, to ward off smells from railway cars that reportedly contained passengers' bodies.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
Toys and flowers sit on the charred fuselage of the jet as a memorial on July 20, 2014.
Toys and flowers sit on the charred fuselage of the jet as a memorial on July 20, 2014.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
People search a wheat field for remains in the area of the crash site on July 20, 2014.
People search a wheat field for remains in the area of the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
A woman walks among charred debris at the crash site on July 20, 2014.
A woman walks among charred debris at the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Emergency workers load the body of a victim onto a truck at the crash site on Saturday, July 19, 2014.
Emergency workers load the body of a victim onto a truck at the crash site on Saturday, July 19, 2014.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
/Vadim Ghirda/AP
A large piece of the main cabin is under guard at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
A large piece of the main cabin is under guard at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
ROBERT GHEMENT/EPA
Victims' bodies are placed by the side of the road on July 19, 2014, as recovery efforts continue at the crash site. International officials lament the lack of a secured perimeter.
Victims' bodies are placed by the side of the road on July 19, 2014, as recovery efforts continue at the crash site. International officials lament the lack of a secured perimeter.
Vadim Ghirda
A man looks through the debris at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
A man looks through the debris at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
An envelope bearing the Malaysia Airlines logo is seen at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
An envelope bearing the Malaysia Airlines logo is seen at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Armed rebels walk past large pieces of the Boeing 777 on July 19, 2014.
Armed rebels walk past large pieces of the Boeing 777 on July 19, 2014.
ROBERT GHEMENT/EPA
Ukrainian rescue workers walk through a wheat field with a stretcher as they collect the bodies of victims on July 19, 2014.
Ukrainian rescue workers walk through a wheat field with a stretcher as they collect the bodies of victims on July 19, 2014.
Dominque Faget/Getty Images
A woman looks at wreckage on July 19, 2014.
A woman looks at wreckage on July 19, 2014.
Alexander Khudoteply/Getty Images
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe delegation arrives at the crash site on Friday, July 18, 2014.
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe delegation arrives at the crash site on Friday, July 18, 2014.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
A woman walks through the debris field on July 18, 2014.
A woman walks through the debris field on July 18, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard at the crash site.
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard at the crash site.
Dmitry Lovetsky/ap
Wreckage from Flight 17 lies in a field in Shaktarsk, Ukraine, on July 18, 2014.
Wreckage from Flight 17 lies in a field in Shaktarsk, Ukraine, on July 18, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man covers a body with a plastic sheet near the crash site on July 18, 2014. The passengers and crew hailed from all over the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany and Canada.
A man covers a body with a plastic sheet near the crash site on July 18, 2014. The passengers and crew hailed from all over the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany and Canada.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A diver searches for the jet's flight data recorders on July 18, 2014.
A diver searches for the jet's flight data recorders on July 18, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Coal miners search the crash site.
Coal miners search the crash site.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the ground July 18, 2014.
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the ground July 18, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
People search for bodies of passengers on July 18, 2014.
People search for bodies of passengers on July 18, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A woman walks past a body covered with a plastic sheet near the crash site July 18, 2014.
A woman walks past a body covered with a plastic sheet near the crash site July 18, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Belongings of passengers lie in the grass on July 18, 2014.
Belongings of passengers lie in the grass on July 18, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
People inspect the crash site on Thursday, July 17, 2014.
People inspect the crash site on Thursday, July 17, 2014.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
People walk amid the debris at the site of the crash.
People walk amid the debris at the site of the crash.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Debris smoulders in a field near the Russian border.
Debris smoulders in a field near the Russian border.
Pierre Crom/Getty Images
Fire engines arrive at the crash site.
Fire engines arrive at the crash site.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A man stands next to wreckage.
A man stands next to wreckage.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Debris from the crashed jet lies in a field in Ukraine.
Debris from the crashed jet lies in a field in Ukraine.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Family members of those aboard Flight 17 leave Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Family members of those aboard Flight 17 leave Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Robin Utrecht Photography/Getty Images
A large piece of the plane lies on the ground.
A large piece of the plane lies on the ground.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Luggage from the flight sits in a field at the crash site.
Luggage from the flight sits in a field at the crash site.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A couple walks to the location at Schiphol Airport where more information would be given regarding the flight.
A couple walks to the location at Schiphol Airport where more information would be given regarding the flight.
JEROEN JUMELET/AFP/Getty Images
Flight arrivals are listed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia.
Flight arrivals are listed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images
Debris from the Boeing 777, pictured on July 17, 2014.
Debris from the Boeing 777, pictured on July 17, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man inspects debris from the plane.
A man inspects debris from the plane.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Wreckage from the plane is seen on July 17, 2014.
Wreckage from the plane is seen on July 17, 2014.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man talks with security at Schiphol Airport on July 17, 2014.
A man talks with security at Schiphol Airport on July 17, 2014.
Robin Utrecht Photography/Getty Images
Wreckage burns in Ukraine.
Wreckage burns in Ukraine.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man stands next to the wreckage of the airliner.
A man stands next to the wreckage of the airliner.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to <a href="https://twitter.com/MatevzNovak" target="_blank" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
A piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to <a href="https://twitter.com/MatevzNovak" target="_blank" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.
A piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to