In contrast to the United States, Russia has announced that they “respect the will of the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions” after Sunday’s referendum, in which voters there overwhelmingly backed the People’s Republic of Donetsk protest movement.
Exactly what this means for those regions isn’t clear, and Russia was similarly vague on their view of the matter, beyond saying that now more than ever they support renewed dialogue between Ukraine and the protesters.
Russian officials did not address the calls from some in the protest movement to consider accession into the Russian Federation, and indications are that Russia would prefer not to see that happen, as integrating the impoverished industrial area would be extremely costly.
Ukraine’s interim government, itself created as a result of protests, has ruled out any negotiation with the eastern protesters, who they dubbed “terrorists.” They have likewise condemned the referendum.
Long live the new Peoples' Republics!! In the absence of quick Russian absorption, which clearly is not now to be expected, the leadership should move to turn all industrial property over to workers councils and distribute the largest estates to peasant owners. Local social services should be commandeered from Kiev's fascist overseers and the overseers themselves tried for treason. A standing Peoples' Army should be formed for the defense of the state and at the earliest possible time. The consistent application of socialist principles is vital to the life of these new nations. They will not survive otherwise given the hostile machinations of Western imperial capitalism.
Apart from resisting the jackasses from Kiev which they seem to be doing a reasonable job at so far. they should do nothing except winding up the state and selling its property off the the highest bidder and the inhabitants go about their business as usual.
Spoken like a true libertarian, heath. But, sadly, "market" solutions to the property question will only reinforce the very fascism that until now has ruled these people. Haven't we had enough of the kind of economic "liberty" that Kiev has tried to shove down their throats? I say socialist solutions are the only realistic ones to employ given the imperial threat and the exploitive impulses of capitalism. Donetsk must organize, not disintegrate.
Given the conditions under which the vote took place, Putin was very stupid to appear to approve it. The most Donetsk can hope for is to live in a Kosovo-style limbo, unrecognised by almost everybody. If Putin won't annex it, he's hardly likely to send in troops, Transnistria-style, since the international community would regard that as amounting to annexation. Essentially, either the Donetsk rebels have shot themselves in the foot or they hav shot Putin in the foot.
Again you are a simpleton. Putin is playing it cool while DC makes itself look like the bunch of power hungry hypocrites that they are, When he goes to Beijing n May 20th and announces that all oil/gas deals will be done in rubles and yuan the game is going to get really interesting France needs the business and so dos Germany from Russia. Barack is going down like the buffoon he is.