In talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the best path to a resolution of the eastern Ukraine conflict would be for Ukraine to withdraw its military from the protester-held provinces and launch a broad national dialogue on reforms.
Ukraine’s government deployed the military there late last month, with orders to “liquidate” the public protests calling for increased autonomy for the eastern, Russian-speaking region around Donetsk.
The White House was quick to condemn the comments, saying any request for another country to withdraw its troops from its own territory is “preposterous.” They did not mention the fact that the White House has made literally the exact same demand of Russia’s troops near Ukraine’s border for weeks now.
Putin’s call for Ukraine to stop the offensive seems, if anything, a way out for Ukraine’s interim government, which conceded yesterday that its troops are “helpless” in retaking the region from the protesters. Ukrainian officials have also talked up keeping troops along the border for what they predict is the imminent start of World War 3, anticipating fights with Russia.
It amazes me to see that the ONLY person who is acting with some common sense in this whole unholy mess is PUTIN.
America is acting like a "bully boy" demanding the impossible from Russia and seeking total surrender to the NAZI junta which took power in Kiev illegally through force.
This is similar to them insisting that the Palestinians stop killing Isreali's when for every single Isreali killed – the Isreali's kill over a thousand Palestinians. Thats not even counting the thousands dying through lack of food and medicines brought about by US and Isreal policies.
Over its 12 year run, Adolf's German government went from having well calculated and supported big lies, to just blatant insane sounding screaming about the state of the world. Judging from the Obama administration, the USA is well down the same path.
So, after a month of bizarre carping from Barack the Insane and the Earl of Ketchup about how Russia was massing troops inside its own country and making the obviously insane demand that Russia withdraw its troops from its own territory, it now makes the opposite noises about the Ukraine.
Of course, the difference is that the Russian troops weren't massing to commit world-class atrocities on its own people ordered there by insane leaders who are screeching about the need to 'liquidate' the 'terrorists'. The Ukrainian 'troops' (troops should be used carefully since just a couple of months ago they were fascist protesters attacking the police) are a clear and present danger to the well being of people who seem to just want exactly what the citizens of Massachusetts wanted in 1775,
Another way to look at it would be if a world leader had had enough sense to try to ask King George to pull back his Redcoats before the Boston Massacre took place. Except, those royal Redcoats were more professional and better trained than the Ukrainian 'troops'.
"…White House…saying any request for another country to withdraw its troops from its own territory is “preposterous.”…"
Seriously? How can they make statements like this, and also "you don't invade a country on completely phony pretexts" and expect to be taken seriously? I guess that's a rhetorical question because they do it – and no one really raises the obvious question of "Oh, really!??!
Sometimes it's advantageous to have a selective short term memory.
It must be very hard for satirists these days. . .
US political leaders have taken over their role.
The difference between Ukrainian forces and Russian forces is that the former are enforcing the law in their own sovereign territory whereas the Russian troops, and the constant threats of invasion from Putin, are intended to force Ukraine to enforce its laws as Putin wants. Ukraine is not threatening to invade Russia but Putin is threatening to invade Ukraine. Putin himself has called for UN troops, which would be an ideal solution as long as the mercenaries then pulled out, but they don't seem to be under Putin's control any more. What seems to be happening is that the mercenaries are creating a "Ukrainian Kosovo", which will declare its independence but will be recognised by almost nobody.
So let me see if I understand you correctly:
Any group that is able to pull out enough firepower to seize a building in Kiev immediately gets to claim the whole country as "their own sovereign territory." Unless that group likes Russia.
Does that about cover it?
There is an unelected junta running the show in Kiev. Do you understand what "unelected junta" means? Of course you don't, you're Michael Kenny. Like John Kerry, you can conveniently ignore this very important fact and lie through your teeth.
Well let me explain to you: Ukrainian "sovereignty" means jack sh!t now.
Unelected junta is an unlawful gov't who seized power through a violent coup. The nations bordering this state have EVERY RIGHT to protect themselves from the actions of this unelected, unlawful junta.
I'm glad that Antiwar, unlike some other news outlets in deep denial, are showing Crimea as part of Russia and not Ukraine.
I'm glad that Antiwar, unlike some other news outlets in deep denial, are showing on its maps Crimea as part of Russia and not Ukraine.
Now, I, as a citizen of a western country am flabbergasted and incredibly annoyed at the west's complete and utter hipocracy and shameless naivety and ignorance. Imagine how the Russians are feeling…they've been putting up with this shit for decades lol.
So, where is the "Responsibility to Protect" the insurgents demanding autonomy from the central government?
Can we expect a massive barrage of cruise missiles and some Rafales in "kinetic action" sorties to suppress the armored brigades of Kiev while Hillary prepares a mocking speech about "we came, we saw, he died"?
Oh wait, I must be confusing this with something else.