Ukraine mega thread

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by HailGreen28

Putin blamed everything on the Ukrainian government, while absolving Russia of all responsibility. And calls the current government illegitimate, while saying the planned elections shouldn't take place just yet.

Russia already made one naked land grab on Crimea. The same pattern, and denials, are being made on eastern Ukraine now.

I agree with your first and last sentences, but the middle one is wrong on 3 counts:

1) technically the current government is fairly illegitimate, meaning no votes have been held and they came to power not through an election but through popular revolt.

2) he tells the eastern federalists to hold off on their planned referendum (something the West asked him to do)

In this context, we appeal too, to representatives of southeast Ukraine and supporters of federalisation to hold off the referendum scheduled for May 11, in order to give this dialogue the conditions it needs to have a chance.

3) he states Russia agrees the scheduled vote on the 25th needs to take place.

We must do everything possible to ensure that people in southeast Ukraine understand, feel and believe that after the Ukrainian presidential election on May 24 or 25 their lawful rights will be reliably guaranteed.

The question is the old Reagan adage of trust but verify. He also said that the Russian troops have pulled back, our government says they haven't. Really need an independent party (not that there is one in this case) to show satellite imagery showing whether the tanks and troops have pulled back. Even then it wouldn't take long to be on the road again.