Exclusive: The Ukraine government’s latest maneuver undermining the Minsk-2 agreement with a requirement for a rebel surrender is likely to drive the country back into a full-scale civil war and push the U.S. and Russia closer to a nuclear showdown, reports Robert Parry.
By Robert Parry
By adding a poison pill to legislation implementing the latest Minsk agreement, the Ukrainian government has effectively guaranteed a resumption of the civil war, which U.S. hardliners and the mainstream U.S. media will no doubt blame on ethnic Russian rebels and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The U.S. media has focused on the so-called Minsk-2 agreement’s cease-fire component, first claiming it was being sabotaged by the rebels and Russia but now acknowledging that it is shaky but relatively successful. But the larger point of Minsk-2 was that it would provide for a political settlement of the civil war by arranging talks between Kiev and authorities in the east that would lead to giving those areas extensive self-rule by the end of 2015.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. (Photo credit: Ybilyk)
But the implementing law that emerged this week from the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev inserted a clause requiring the rebels to first surrender to the Ukrainian government and then letting Kiev organize elections before a federalized structure is determined.
The Minsk-2 agreement had called for dialogue with the representatives of these territories en route to elections and establishment of broad autonomy for the region, but Kiev’s curveball was to refuse any talks with rebel leaders and insist on establishing control over these territories before the process can move forward, in effect requiring a rebel capitulation.
Reflecting that view, Vadim Karasyov, director of the independent Institute of Global Strategies in Kiev, said: “Ukraine isn’t going to go along with any legalization of those so-called people’s republics. We need them to be dismantled,” according to the Christian Science Monitor.
The leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” have protested this bait-and-switch tactic, declaring in a statement that the change was unacceptable: “We agreed to a special status for the Donbass within a renewed Ukraine, although our people wanted total independence. We agreed to this to avoid the spilling of fraternal blood.”
Kiev’s maneuver reflecting the bellicose position of neocon Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and other U.S. hardliners puts pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande to either get Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko to return to the original understanding of Minsk-2 or watch the fighting resume leading to a potential showdown between nuclear-armed Russia and the United States on Russia’s border.
The surrender-first-negotiate-later stipulation also raises questions about the strength of Merkel and President Barack Obama to overcome resistance from America’s powerful neoconservatives who have exploited the Ukraine crisis to isolate Russia and drive a wedge between Obama and Putin. The two leaders had cooperated to reduce tensions with Syria and Iran in 2013 when the neocons were hoping for more “regime change.”
Following those Obama-Putin collaborations, Nuland and other neocons both inside the Obama administration and in Congress took aim at Ukraine, egging on public disruptions in Kiev to destabilize the elected government of President Viktor Yanukovych during the winter of 2013-14. [See Consortiumnews.com’s “The Neocons — Masters of Chaos.“]
To a great extent, the Ukraine crisis became Nuland’s baby as she rallied Ukraine’s business leaders and political activists to challenge Yanukovych and discussed with U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt in early February 2014 how, in his words, to “midwife this thing.”
In that same conversation, Nuland expressed her disgust at the European Union’s less aggressive approach to the crisis with the pithy expression, “Fuck the EU.” She also handpicked new leaders, ruling out some politicians and declaring that “Yats is the guy,” a reference to Arseniy Yatsenyuk who became the post-coup prime minister. (This past week, it was Yatsenyuk who oversaw the insertion of the poison pill into the legislation for implementing the Minsk-2 agreement.)
Cue in the Neo-Nazis
The uprising in Kiev reached its peak on Feb. 22, 2014, when a violent coup spearheaded by neo-Nazi militias from western Ukraine drove elected Yanukovych from office, with the U.S. State Department immediately declaring the new regime “legitimate.” The coup government then sought to impose its control over the ethnic Russian east and south, which had been Yanukovych’s base of support.
Protected by Russian troops who were already based in Crimea on a base-lease agreement, the people of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia, an annexation that took place one year ago. Uprisings also occurred in the eastern Donbass region with hastily arranged referenda also seeking independence from Kiev.
The coup regime responded by declaring those resisting in the east to be “terrorists” and mounting a punitive “anti-terrorist operation” that relied on army artillery to bombard cities and neo-Nazi and other right-wing militias to go in for the brutal street-to-street fighting.
Thousands of ethnic Russians were killed in these offensives as the rebels were pushed back into their strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk. However, receiving supplies and other assistance from Russia, the rebels turned the tide of the conflict and began driving the Ukrainian military back, inflicting heavy losses.
To stop the rout of government forces last September, the first Minsk ceasefire established a tentative frontline around the rebel strongholds. But Kiev continued to squeeze the rebel-held cities by cutting off access to banking and other services while neo-Nazi and other militias undertook “death squad” operations to kill rebel sympathizers in government-controlled zones.
When that first cease-fire broke down, the rebels made new gains against the Ukrainian military, prompting Merkel and Hollande to broker a second ceasefire, which included a structure for resolving the crisis with a political settlement to grant eastern Ukraine substantial autonomy.
But Nuland and other U.S. hard-liners objected to the concessions and trade-offs arranged by Merkel and Holland and accepted by Poroshenko and Putin. The U.S. hard-liners began plotting how to reverse what they claimed was “appeasement” of “Russian aggression.”
The German press has reported on some of this U.S. strategy after the Bild newspaper obtained details of conversations that Nuland and other U.S. officials held behind closed doors last month at a security conference in Munich. Nuland was overheard disparaging the German chancellor’s initiative, calling it “Merkel’s Moscow thing,” according to Bild, citing unnamed sources.
Another U.S. official went even further, the report said, calling it the Europeans’ “Moscow bullshit.”
Talking Themselves into a Frenzy
The tough talk behind the closed doors at a conference room in the luxurious Bayerischer Hof hotel seemed to be contagious as the American officials, both diplomats and members of Congress, kept escalating their rhetoric, according to the Bild account.
Nuland suggested that Merkel and Hollande cared only about the practical impact of the Ukraine war on Europe: “They’re afraid of damage to their economy, counter-sanctions from Russia.”
Another U.S. politician was heard adding: “It’s painful to see that our NATO partners are getting cold feet” with particular vitriol directed toward German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen as “defeatist” because she supposedly no longer believed in a Kiev victory.
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, got himself worked up into such a lather that he started making comparisons to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain going to Munich to “appease” Adolf Hitler, likening Merkel to Chamberlain and Putin to Hitler: “History shows us that dictators always take more, whenever you let them. They can’t be brought back from their brutal behavior when you fly to Moscow to them, just like someone once flew to this city.”
According to the Bild story, Nuland laid out a strategy for countering Merkel’s diplomacy by using strident language to frame the Ukraine crisis in a way that stops the Europeans from backing down. “We can fight against the Europeans, we can fight with rhetoric against them,” Nuland reportedly said.
NATO Commander Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove was quoted as saying that sending more weapons would “raise the battlefield cost for Putin.” Nuland interjected to the U.S. politicians present that “I’d strongly urge you to use the phrase ‘defensive systems’ that we would deliver to oppose Putin’s ‘offensive systems.’”
Yet, through all of the past year’s scheming and maneuvering by Nuland and other U.S. officials, the mainstream U.S. media has studiously ignored the coup side of the story, insisting that there was no coup and adopting an “I-see-nothing” response to the presence of neo-Nazi militias leading the fight against the ethnic Russian east.
For the New York Times, the Washington Post and the rest of major U.S. press, everything has been explained as “Russian aggression” with Putin supposedly having plotted the entire series of events as a way to conquer much of Europe as the new Hitler. Even though the evidence reveals that Putin was caught off-guard by the coup next door, the U.S. media has insisted on simply passing along Nuland’s propaganda themes.
Thus, it is a safe bet that when the current ceasefire breaks down and the killing resumes, all the American people will hear is that it was Putin’s fault, that he conspired to destroy the peace as part of his grand scheme of “aggression.” And, the Nuland-Yatsenyuk sabotage of Minsk-2 will be the next part of this troubling story to disappear into the memory hole.
Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, America’s Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com). You also can order Robert Parry’s trilogy on the Bush Family and its connections to various right-wing operatives for only $34. The trilogy includes America’s Stolen Narrative. For details on this offer, click here.
Странно ! Ð’Ñ‹ читаете по-английÑки, но не напиÑать , что Ñзык !
(thank you, Google Translate)
If there were more journalists like Robert, when much less blood would be spilled in this world.
I agree, I am thankful for Robert Parry’s reporting especially at this time that the MSM seems to parrot the government line without question. Another journalist that I am really coming to like, and he sometimes submits articles to Consortium News as well, is John Pilger. I looked into his background and have since watched many of his documentaries which can be found on YouTube. I highly recommend looking into him and watching documentaries such as “War on Democracy” or “Stealing a Nation” etc. I think the biggest problem today is that too many people do not realize our history, as nefarious as it is, and this allows history to repeat itself with the same lies being used again and again to bring us to war.
McCain is hilarious, talking about Hitler.
McCain and many U.S. politicians have taken a page right out of Goebbels book. THEY are the ones increasingly showing fascist bellicose to the entire world.
They are text-book cases of “Projection,” which makes sense because they display tendencies of psychopathy and narcissism and cronyism. Pyschological projection, of course, is when someone denys their own crimes and instead attributes them to others (in this case Russia). Also known simply as “bullying” and “projection of general guilt.”
amazing!
in the U.S. there are media who write the truth and not what is beneficial to the U.S. government!
respect Robert Parry!!!
I am really sad to read this! I was hoping that this conflict would be over and Eastern Ukraine could start rebuilding in its’ new autonomous region within Ukraine. I hope that Europe will start showing the truth and shun Ukraine for its’ actions – but I won’t hold my breath. I did find it interesting that Britain, Germany, France, and Italy are going to being founding members of the AIIB which was started by the Chinese and shunned by the US. Maybe there is hope but I am not sure how far Europe is willing to move away from Washington’s umbrella. I am just so tired of wars and all of the lies by our politicians, and media, it just feels like we are living in some Orwellian Matrix sometimes.
The situation for freedom of speech and personal security in the Ukraine appears to be worsening. The Ukrainian government has withdrawn the license of Euronews because of apparent “legal reasons”. The truth is that the Ukrainian licenses are owned by the Ukrainian Dmytro Firtash, an opponent of the current Kiev government and advocate for creating a common economic area reaching from the Far east to Lisbon. This is another step in effectively abolishing the freedom of the media in Ukraine. The situation in Russia is not really encouraging either but at least Euronews, BBC, CNN are still available and I have not heard of any “license-withdrawal” over there. Another scary development in the Ukraine is the death of 6 ex-Yanukovich associates in the last 4 weeks, all of them apparently committing suicide: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31855700. I am wondering whether there is any connection to the murder of Nemzov on the Red Square a couple of weeks ago. It seems that the Ukraine is developing increasingly into a full scale dictatorship, worse than before the coup in Feb. 2014 and I can only conclude that all this is just the build up for a new spring offensive of the Ukrainian army with increased undercover support by the west.
Just to follow up on that: as far as opposition media are concerned, the situation in Russia is usually misrepresented in Western media. For instance, the channels “Dozhd’ ” and “Echo Moskvy” are staunch opponents of the current government and their philosophy in general, yet they are widely available and have some support among the general public. Western media are of course also available, however people feel that they have discredited themselves after their Ukraine coverage (you can’t hide the truth if those events are happening just across the border).
Thank you Robert for the truth
This is surprisingly sane article.
Thanks to the author from the Kremlin Troll. :)
Like any other topic discussed here, the only way to put a stop to the lunacy is to take away the power that these dangerous representatives of our once-proud country. Victoria Nuland should be hanged from the nearest tree in broad daylight. Her actions will surely bring death to many Ukrainians, Russians and , ultimately, Americans in wars that she is trying to incite. Until yesterday I believed that there is no chance of taking that power away. I’ve learned of a push by former Senator Tom Coburn of legislation considered in 40 of the 50 states to convene a “Convention of States” that will strip the Federal Government’s power to operate. I’m suggesting to everyone here to PLEASE research ALL criteria of this topic before commenting as I considered dismissing it’s success until getting ALL the answers to my questions. At the very least, this whole endeavor gives a tiny glimmer of hope that monsters put into positions of power like Nuland may be neutralized by an enlightened citizenry who have had enough and see the damage that our federal government has done to THE WORLD. I’m looking forward to any educated comments on this topic.
I’ve learned of a push by former Senator Tom Coburn of legislation considered in 40 of the 50 states to convene a “Convention of States†that will strip the Federal Government’s power to operate.
You ought to be careful what you wish for – everything I’ve ever read about the US in the Good Old Days of the Articles of Confederation government suggests it was a total disaster. Reviving that system, or something much worse, will have outcomes desirable only for the super-rich and their delusional “libertarian” puppets.
Speaking of which, a search on Google News for recent Tom Coburn activities says he has just joined the Manhattan Institute. More on that outfit:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Manhattan_Institute_for_Policy_Research
As for Coburn himself, he’s a bit wacko. From his DC desk he instantly detected that Terry Schiavo’s autopsy was bogus.
Before Schiavo’s death, Coburn was one of two doctors in the Senate to question her medical condition. Coburn was quoted by The New York Times as saying: “All you have to do is look at her on TV. Any doctor with any conscience can look at her and know that she does not have a terminal disease and know that she has some function.â€
And he’s a proud Global Warming denier.
Tom Coburn doesn’t deny that he’s in denial. The Oklahoma Republican senator — who has previously called global warming science “crap” — described himself Monday in terms an environmentalist might use. “I am a global warming denier,” Coburn said, according to the Tulsa World. “I don’t deny that.â€
If this character is successful in peddling his name so as to get us a new Constitutional Convention, the only real winners will be the Billionaires.
In this struggle between regional ethnic factions whose leaders could not resolve their differences under democracy, the essential fascism of the Kiev regime is shown by its insistence upon controlling the territory and lives of the other faction.
The essential motive of the US is also shown by its provocation of Russia on its very borders, as it did in setting up Al Qaeda in Afghanistan to drive out the USSR, and in Korea to provoke China. These are all right-wing scams to terrorize the people of the US so that the right wing can pose as protectors and demand power to tyrannize We the People. This scheme has been the disease of democracy since long before Aristotle warned of it in his Politics two milennia ago.
The essential dishonesty and hypocrisy of the US has been proven by these acts, and by its attacks upon democracies around the world, as in Iran 1953 and throughout Latin America, always claiming that its attacks upon socialism somehow mysteriously advance democracy. But the US does not have democracy itself, with its mass media and elections obviously controlled by the rich. The US must attack itself to promote democracy, for as Jefferson said “The tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants.”
John Helmer has two good articles about the IMF deal and how it’s breaking its own policies to give money to Ukraine.
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=12920
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=12944
IMF doesn’t lend money to countries at war, but according to Helmer’s article, they have accepted the ceasefire as “not at war,” with no clear provisions for what will happen if the ceasefire is broken. In fact, it has been broken daily, as OSCE monitors report in their daily updates. The reports clearly show that it’s not just the rebels who are doing the shooting. OSCE monitors also report being held up at government checkpoints and in some cases turned away.
The U.S. and Europe are finding ways to fund the Ukraine government’s war efforts, with speculation that private military companies are negotiating directly with Kiev (the latter not in Helmer’s article but elsewhere). The IMF is making up rules as they go along and in some cases brazenly violating their own policies to give billions in cash to Kiev, knowing full well that it’s going to be spent on arms.
The second of the above articles details how Ukrainian banks are getting infusions of cash, with little supervision, even though the last time they received money, it “somehow” just disappeared out of the country. Kolomoisy’s Privat Bank is a big winner this time around.
Who the hell is going to stop these people?
Good question, indeed ,Pat.
In the eyes of US neocons, Ukraine is a battle that must be won at any cost. Money and lives mean nothing. It is a stepping stone for the ultimate dismemberment of Russia.
3 forster st port kembla
This week Germany, France, and Italy decided to follow Britains lead and join China’s new bank the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This is a huge move by our European Allies. I’m not sure how big of a game changer this all maybe, but it s not the direction the US wanted to see these Europeans move towards. The world is getting sick and tired of all these false flags, and wars. If the US wakes up someday and notices we loss all our play pals, well it should come as no surprise.
http://thebricspost.com/eu-allies-defy-us-to-join-china-led-asian-bank/#.VQup_hj3arU
The moves to establish international trading terms using currencies other than US dollars is a huge ‘game changer’. If successful, it could mean the end of the US dollar as the worlds reserve currency.
The USA would not be able to fund unlimited wars by printing money as it does now. If everyone else in the international community came to similar arrangements, the USA would be broke within weeks.
Well said, Donald.
From Russia:
“If Washington welcomes the action, which undermines the Minsk agreements, then we can only conclude that Washington is inciting Kiev to resolve the issue by military means,†said Lavrov at a media conference in Moscow on Thursday.
http://rt.com/news/242273-lavrov-washington-kiev-military/
Since Kiev can’t possibly win future military actions, this can only be an attempt to keep the sanctions on Russia. Unfortunately, thousands more humans will be killed. And Ukraine will continue to be devastated.
It’s hard for me to believe the Europeans will be stupid enough to go along with this. But time will tell about that.
One can hope that Germany and France will stand up to the U.S. & U.K. Judging from the Spiegel article a few weeks ago that Germany is fed up with the NATO / U.S. war mongering and propaganda in regards to Ukraine, there is at least a small hope.
This article is garbage, thanks for making me laugh. Russia has openly admitted to there part in taking Crimea. A piece of Ukraine that was not there to take. They will admit to starting and keeping what is happening in the East going. Russia deserves what will happen to them. It is not the Russian people but there fascist government that has caused all this.
Great constructive criticism. Your nuanced position and diplomatically worded concerns would likely take you far at the U.S. State Department.
You would achieve a little more credibility were you conscious of the various ways to spell there/their/they’re and the appropriate time to use each.
Crimea wasn’t Kruschev’s either to give away to Ukraine ( his home country) in 1954. It was part of Russia.
Indeed. You are absolutely right.
Actually, it was General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev to give. At the time he was the one who could say if he wanted it to go to Soviet Ukraine or stay with Russia. It is like me giving you a book and then saying, no I want that back, give it to me or I will kill you.
I’m sure you would have preferred a bloodbath in Crimea with the Right Sector ethnic-cleansing the peninsula from the Russians. As to the fascist government, you seem a bit confused: which government bombs women and children with the help of neo-Nazis ?
What do you think is happening behind close doors in Crimea right now with the ones who are not Russian there? Like the Crimean Tatars?
So what do you think is happening? Could you provide some sources?
I am not sure, but I see a lot of articles on how rough it is getting there for anyone not Russian and not changing passports.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/tatar-leader-urges-west-to-maintain-sanctions-over-crimea/2015/03/19/5e97acea-ce81-11e4-8730-4f473416e759_story.html
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/03/19/crimean-tatar-leader-calls-on-west-to-maintain-strong-sanctions-on-russia-over/
http://news.yahoo.com/energy-crimean-tatars-top-agenda-turkeys-erdogan-visits-094047469–finance.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/world/europe/under-russia-life-in-crimea-grows-chaotic.html?_r=0
Under the Ukrainian rule, the situation was much worse for the Crimean Tatars. They had essentially no rights and were considered a prototype for separatists.
Now the Crimean Tatar language is an *official* language of Crimea along with Russian and Ukranian (unlike ever before). The vice-speaker of the Crimean Parlament is a Crimean Tatar (Remzi Ilysaov). Finally, Crimea is the wealthiest and safest part of what was known as Ukraine.
So what is your suggestions how we are supposed to deal with “the Russians”? Nuke them? When I look closely at the language of your comment I can see a lot of Hitler and Goebbels in there (“Russia deserves what will happen to them”), fortunately the Kremlin including Vladimir Putin has so far refrained from any language like that.
Michael you clearly are a fan of Victoria Nuland and General ‘Dr Strangelove’ Breedlove. Says it all. You are fully aware that the overwhelming majority of Crimeans voted to return to Russia after their asinine President threatened the language rights of their Russian speaking citizens. Precedent for the publics will to break up a country includes Kosovo, Czechoslovakia, and a vote in Canada narrowly lost by the Quebec Separatists. The New York Times and Washington Post are in a hopeless state of denial and lying to the American public about this history. Why? Because it doesn’t support their PNAC driven hegemonic agenda.
In case you aren’t aware Russia has a democratically elected and popular President. An imperfect election no doubt but so is your American election with the Koch brothers and their rich friends planning to toss in a few billion dollars and your Supreme Court making a mockery of the process.
You think it is funny but the laugh is on you.
Thank you! Great reply!
First, I like to say I am not embarrassed for what I say, and I don’t care if my name is on here. I can see a lot of you on here like to say you did your research and did your reading in books. Let me explain to you something about me. I am American before all else, but I am Ukrainian American. My mother is from Odessa and my family from Ukraine is from mostly Odessa but also some in Lviv and Yalta. In case you didn’t know Yalta is in Crimea. I go to Ukraine 2 or 3 times a year. I hear from my aunt what was happening and what does happen in Ukraine and Crimea. My grandfather was from Russia till he moved in Ukraine to be with my grandmother. So despite what you talk about, I have seen it. Yes, you are 100% right that Ukraine is not a perfect place and far from it. It is reason my mom moved to the USA. But it is Ukraine not Soviet Ukraine anymore. Times changes and I think that people need to open there eyes and see what is happening started with Russia’s involvement with choosing to take Crimea. As far as a vote. Lets be real, If I want to take something and I have control the vote, I am pretty sure lets say about 100% that it will go my way. Something like what Putin has done in Russia for 18 years. Have you seen or think it is funny how when people in Russia find out the truth, and get ready to blow a whistle they always end up dead? So little of what you say on here effects me. However, I do have to say this to the man who asked ” So what is your suggestions how we are supposed to deal with “the Russiansâ€? Nuke them? “, I have to say I am not sure. It is the question. But I can tell you the answer is not to let the Pro Russian in Ukraine run Ukraine. Like the bombing my family has to deal with in Odessa, by pro Russians. Here is the facts. In the United States we are people from all over the world. If you are living in the USA then you are American, or better be. So it is same with Ukraine. If you want to live there then be Ukrainian. If you love Russia and want to be part of Russia so much, nothing is stopping you from moving there, and stop making war in Ukraine.
” I don’t care if my name is on here” — Michael Tucker, “Ukrainian American”, with a well-known Ukrainian name, Tucker and matching command of English (does he spend ANY TIME in USA?)
“like the bombing my family has to deal in Odessa, by pro Russians” — this person is not that familiar with Ukraine either
WHAT IS THIS TUCKER ENTITY?
I like how you don’t read the whole story. If you read it you know my father is American as I am and this is why I have an American last name. I am not familiar with Ukraine? I have been there 2 times in the last 6 months. Both times in Odessa. How many times you been there in your whole life? And so you know my mothers name was Zhukova. That’s of Russian background. Because my grandfather was Russian, which you know if you had read anything.
Stupid. Ukraina Kiev government has been controlled by fascists, supported by the US and some from the EU. AS to Crimia, it had been Russia from the time of Ekaterina, but that stupid Soviet leader changed its status to Ukraina illegally under the USSR constitution, but since it was the time of the USSR, there was no problem. But this illegality is now causing problems. Since it was changed illegally, it has been Russia for about 300 years. As the majority of people are Russian and since the fascist Kiev government baned the US of Russian language, they voted to belong to Russia successfully. There have been many occasions in which people voted and changed their countries status. Scotland might become an independent country, and there are many candicates such as Barcelona. In addition, Russia has Black Sea Fleet base there, therefore if it had remained in Ukrana and if Nato had moved into there, there could have been WWIII. Therefore, the move by President Putin saved this world from WWIII, and for his act we should thank him and vote him a true novel prize winner.
I can see you buy into the Russian propaganda. I will agree Crimea consist of mostly Russian people. But doesn’t make it Russian territory. I think if that was the case would Texas be Mexican territory? Ukrainian territory is Ukrainian. If you don’t like it then move to Russia. It is not that hard. As far as Putin is concerned. He does what is best for him first and then his country. He is no different then people in power from anywhere. It is known if he lost Crimea, he would have no Black sea fleet. Which he needs who knows why. Because if there was a WWIII the black sea be in USA hands pretty fast. He is the history of why Crimea was gifted to Ukraine. It was not illegally, but made to look this way so Russia could take it back and look right to do it.
http://iccrimea.org/historical/crimeatransfer.html
Well said, Donald.
And you absolutely not embarrassed that you repeat the Western propaganda?
Putin acknowledged that the Russian amriya helped the Crimean government to hold a referendum in a peaceful environment. Crimean government appealed to Putin asking about it
Russian army could not invade Crimea, since entire Crimean Russian base located. Russia to pay for them since 1991
The author, please do not print more truthful articles.
If all follow you, then kremletroli will not work, and they will have to work, not sit on the internet at work =)
I hope the Guardian and FT, and other mainstream media did not follow your example and will kremletroli long to tell the truth on their pages
You yourself are rubbish!
One of the problem of no sign in system is then not being able to see what else screen name “Michael Tucker” has posted.
One can speculate what would be learnt.
Your comment is specious as you have poor command of the Engish language besides being “in the dark.” Bone up on everything, chum.
Errata;
“L” left out of English …mea culpa.
Typical American conservative response. Lacking any education in world geo-political history, you vocalize the war mongering attitude that what America says is sacrosanct, above reproach.
It is America that is becoming the fascist danger to world peace, not Russia. While no country can claim to be the world’s best, Russia is far from starting WWIII, but you can be certain of one thing, they can not bre bullied.
Fascism — “A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism.â€
☯ American Heritage Dictionary, 1983
So says Mr. Turker, no doubt an admirer of Hitler’s army that invaded Crimea in 1941 and the Anglo-French force in 1854. It seems Imperialists are intense fans of invading Russia every century or so. Crimea will and always be an important Russian land mass, the majority of its population are Russian speaking folk. Its people decided democratically to secede; that’s a fact bub.
Pleased the article amused you. Especially when you have all the facts to back up your statement about the article being a ‘piece of crap.’ But we’ll see who has the last laugh. Just a waiting game.
I have been reading Robert Parry for a number of months now, and he has some important facts to offer, and I praise his determination to get this side of the story across.
But, the shout down this Mike Tucker got here is sounding fanatical to me. He says Russia is in the game too, but nobody can validate this? I know people want better than what the capitalists are offering, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of the truth about Russia’s pragmatic power game. It is always a temptation for good hearted people to back the underdog uncritically of whether it too might be mad.
Idiot. You are completely blind. Ask the NATO and neo-Con ciphers why there is a war in the Ukraine. Putin is a nationalist–not a globalist–and this is why he is being targetted. The Ukraine will be used as a knife to the neck. The fall out will be a mass genocide of Eastern Ukrainians–which is being planned as I speak. This synthetic conflict will kill millions–which is just part of the overarching plan. And an idiot who gets his information from the main stream deserves his ignorance–but don’t publish your comments as you waste the time of intelligent people…
Is the politics of Russia nationalism? That is what is claimed by some. However the formation of the SCO and the overt international nature of this move indicates that something else is going on.
I personally take the position that the separatists are on the moral high ground, which I suppose you agree with. The issue which is not getting the attention is how the Kremlin is going to make use of this fact to further it’s agenda.
Let’s recall the past in which the old Soviet system changed its name, but not its content. Then it joined the West in the phony war on terror as a cynical gambit to maintain a grip on southern oil rich areas. Now it has a Chechen hanging by his thumbs for a murder done by a third party.
How can reasonable people believe that Moscow’s intentions are really so Christian?
To Michael :Garbage or not, the fact is that all this started not because support of Russia (this support came after the so called anti terrorist operation started) but because the party of war sitting in the Rada do not care about different point of views ;They just want to impose their point of view by force because they are still thinking in soviet style and act soviet style (by sending tanks).Guys like you simply did not expect the reaction of local people who decided to defend their homes.