Ukraine’s President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded that the international community impose new sanctions against Russia to punish them for a new decree offering Russian passports to ethnic Russians in war-torn eastern Ukraine.
Since Ukraine’s revolution installed a pro-West government, measures
against ethnic Russians sparked a rebellion in the far east, which ended
in a stalemate, and the region remains under de facto rebel control.
People in these areas have no access to certain government services, like getting passports. Russian President Vladimir Putin today vowed to greatly simplify the means of them getting a Russian passport, which he said was a “purely humanitarian issue.”
Zelensky, on the other hand, is presenting it as proof Russia is an
“aggressor state” and claims their offer of passports reflects them
occupying eastern Ukraine.
This is a troubling first stage for Ukraine-Russia ties after the new
election in Ukraine. Zelensky’s position to a fairly minor Russian move
meant to increase ease of travel for Ukraine’s Russian minority is being
used as an excuse to push global action against them, suggesting the
new Ukraine government is going to continue its hostility toward Russia
under every pretext.
Classic case of meet the new boss same as the old boss.
I hope he was a better comedian.
it is getting hard to post simple messages. So, let me rephrase. The comedian has a financier and political sponsor, Kolomoyski, at present in Israel He ran into trouble with Poroshenko, and this is his revenge. The new president will have to appease Nazi hard right, so he will say what he must. But we will have to see how it plays, now that the new president, current prime minister and their key financier are all Israeli citizens.
He a comedian? He has a boss and a financier, well known tycoon Kolomosky. He ran into a spot of bother with Poroshenko, and had to hide in Israel. Let us see how Ukrainian far right with their Nazi torch parades coexists with the jewish President, Prime Minister and the tycoon behind them. At least it will become clearer the nature of the anti-Russia crusade in Ukraine.
The US instigated an anti-democratic revolution, that regime withheld government services from ethnic Russians, those ethnic Russians turn to Russia for basic government services… and who ends up indignantly outraged? The aggressors in this mess and their allies, of course, who have no principles except “do as we decree!”
To hell with the 404 nation…. They are living on borrowed time… and borrowed money.
Even former “pro Russian” president Viktor Yanukovych protested the Russian anexation of Crimea, and maintains Crimea should be reunited to Ukraine.
Just because Zelensky claims to be pro peace doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t protest Russian actions that are against Ukraine’s interests.
I am not seeing here any Ukrainian interests. Ever since Ukraine gained independence from Soviet Union, it skirted the issue of its legal responsibility, that is honor referendum of the citizens of the Republic of Crimea. Crimea had the status of the republic in Soviet Constitution, and had a right on referendum in the case of Ukrainian succession. Even if we dismiss such legal obligations, let us remember that Crimea was Russian ever since its Russian ruler accepted Christianity on Crimea back in 10th century. And regardless of how many powers occupied it, it maintained its Russian majority, even after millions of them were sold into slavery for centuries. Until Russia liberated Crimea from Ottoman rule and ended slavery. It was Ukrainian president of the Soviet Union that decided by a decree to have Ukraine manage Crimea, as it was deemed easier geographically. This was a theft, of course, the one that was finally righted. Crimea has been illegally annexed by Ukraine, and has been returned to Russia. Crimea’s population supported it overwhelmingly. Contrary to the empty headed propaganda, Tatars of Crimea supported the return of Crimea to Russia. In Ukraine, they had no opportunities, while in Russia, they can attend universities in their own language in Tatarstan, as well as have great employment opportunities. The propaganda and realities are not the same, so I hope our intrepid reporters will, one day, try to get the real story, not perpetuate cheap political narratives.
Even during the years of Ukrainian rule over Crimea, Russia bore the burden of financing Crimea. Not only that it paid to Ukraine the lease for its naval base, but it also ended up being the largest employer both in private sector and military sector, and paid most of the retirement checks to Crimea citizens. Same was true of other services. Even then, most Tatars, especially young, sought Russian visas to go to school or get work visas.
But same is true of Ukrainians at large. While many of them today emigrate to the West, still the largest number of Ukrainian emigrants live in Russia, and supplement their families’ income in Ukraine.
As for the Donetsk and Lughansk regions — it should not be too hard for Ukraine to implement Minsk II agreement. A 10 year old can understand its simple contents. In fact, the regions would return to Ukraine, and Ukraine would take control of the border. But Ukraine would have to allow voting in the region, and allow them the autonomy as spelled out in Minsk II. The problem is — Ukraine does not want to solve the issue. Because it does not want in any way to return the autonomy to all regions that was taken away following the coup in 2014. It is not only two pro-Russia regions that rebelled that would like the autonomy to be returned. This is true also of the pro-EU regions in the west of Ukraine. So, for as long as Kiev clings to the centralized powers seized in 2014, they cannot allow the two regions to be an exception to the rule, while excluding other regions from regaining their rights as well.
The current situation is a difficult one — the new president was elected with an overwhelming support from the pro-Russian voters in Ukraine. But if he does not bow deeply to the far right, he will be in trouble. Interesting times ahead.
The reunification was/is Crimea with Russia, as the people there want/wanted.
Pro-peace? Ukraine is not a real country willing to negotiate.
So much for hoping the new guy would change things…
Volodymyr Zelensky: A Jewish Comedian. That is what Israreli news papers describe him. He certainly is one.