ASIP

Stop dreaming. Get real. There was no revolution in Ukraine. There was the same democratically elected parliament "before" and "after". Until the recent election.

Your "granny Paulina" (a strange spelling for a Kievan) lied you. The price on basic sorts of bread (and it is really good bread) increased in Kiev by average 10% since the war began. http://kiev.segodnya.ua/kbusiness/skolko-budet-stoit-hleb-v-kieve-599985.html Next time be more realistic, otherwise I will complain to your supervisor in Olgino.

No. That was true in August of the last year. The situation has changed drastically for the last five-six months. Now, according to Ukrainian reports from the front line, ratio of locals to Russian military among captured separatists is 7-8 to 3-2. "True" rebels who joined anti-Ukrainian military units in the beginning of the conflict are dead by now. The Russian army established relatively strict order among rebels group. Those who didn't want to subdue to the direct Russian command were dispersed or killed. There is practically no any economy on most of the rebel controlled territory. There is no income to dozens of thousands of men. Russia pays money for them to join "rebel's army". And they do join it. Plus, there is an influx of Russian volunteers. They become a disposable human material that continuously attack Ukrainian Army positions, wearing out the defence and finding weak spots. Russian army personnel constitute artillery, tank, anti-aircraft, reconnaissance and electronic countermeasure units. They normally do not have immediate contact with the Ukrainian Army. They act when a weak spot is found and a decisive blow is required, or when separatist infantry retreats under attack of the Ukrainian Army. Though, the latter situation is very rear as Ukraine obeys Minsk agreement of September 2014 and do not advance.

Because the United States promised to guarantee integrity of the Ukrainian territory for the surrender of Ukrainian 2000 (or so) nuclear warheads in 1994.

In no way I am going to justify actions of Hitler. He's one of the biggest world's villain. What I meant is that Hitler was a product of the Western civilization. He had some principles. He never used WMD. He negotiated. Putin is a product of the unscrupulous bottom of the Russian society. He has mentality of a third-rate criminal. He's blackmailed the world with a nuclear strike. He has no mercy for its own people. He does not negotiate, he lies and takes advantage. He's a villain, blood-thirsty villain.

Sorry, pal, you are out of reality. There is no any resource in Donbass that Russia needs and can maintain. You probably never heard that Russia insists now that Donbass is a integral part of Ukraine. Russian commandos have even killed several warlords in Donbass who proclaimed independence of the rebel territory. Ukraine is loosing but is far from being finished. Modern Russian weapons and unlimited supply of them take toll on Ukraine. Merkel and Hollande are not going to fight for Ukraine (it's completely understandable) but they haven't sold Ukraine at least yet. Please do not equate the US and Obama. The weapons can be supplied by: 1. US, 2. Poland, 3. Lithuania, 4. UK. No magical weapons are required just those that were used against Saddam Hussein. Really new western conventional weapons will finish the Russian Army very quickly.

No. The poster says the truth. Russian people had a period of real prosperity (never seen before) during 2010s. The question is for how long and for what price. And the price is transformation of Russian economy into a service to pump oil and gas abroad. Enormous corruption. You are absolutely right about the thieves. Democracy has gone. A crisis was imminent. This is the reason behind Putin's spin of nationalism in Russia. But its wave will inevitably subside. If oil prices will be low, the Russian people prosperity will evaporate.

Gentlemen, You are all smart guys, but sorry you have no idea what is going on in Ukraine (and Russia). Briefly. 1. Putin is a new czar of Russia. Right now Russia = Putin. His power is absolute. There is no any feedback from people. 2. Putin does not want to annex any part of Ukraine other than Crimea. 3. Putin does not want to start a new world war (he has no resources, his money is in the Western banks or real estate). 4. Putin wants to remain a ruler of Russia until his last day. He is ready to sacrifice millions of lives to achieve his goal. 5. Putin is not Hitler. Putin is much worse. 6. Modern Russia is not a new Soviet Union, it is much weaker. 7. There is no any significant separatist movement in mainland Ukraine. This is a war between Russia and Ukraine. That's it. It is very difficult to deal with Putin. However, it is still possible. If the West wants to bring Russia to some controllable condition, IMHO, two things are required: 1. Do not allow Putin to crush Ukraine (by providing Ukraine with modern weapons, recce technology and communications, economical support). 2. Mount economical and political pressure on Russia. Sooner or later, Russia will follow the path of the Soviet Union. No NATO troops are required.

The first map is irrelevant. On the second map, only small portions of both Ukraine and Russia are shown. If you look at a normal map, you should realize that your idea about a buffer zone is far from possibility.

For the second time I ask you whether you heard about Minsk agreement? Have you ever looked at the map? Do you know where Russia is, where Ukraine is and where fighting is? Judging from your mantra about the buffer, you have no idea about either.

WTF? Have you heard about the Minsk agreement? The Ukrainian army is in the Donetsk airport.

Really?! Since you are unable to get any real information about situation in Ukraine, I inform you: Russia Today was caught spreading forged "documents" again. They altered routine reports of the Ukrainian Emergency Situation Agency. There was no any concern of radioactivity level at that or any other Ukrainian NPP. By the way, as always you demonstrate complete ignorance of Ukrainian geography. The plant is pretty far from the front line.

Serious analysts in Russia do not believe those large numbers from polls despite the fact that the Levada Centre is independent and has good reputation. In totalitarian states people do not say that they think.

For very short periods of time, in certain places (pogroms) - yes. In 1960 - 1980s Jews did very well in Ukraine. 1990s were hard times for everyone. This is what I saw. Before WW II, it seems, they were OK too, at least compared to other ethnic groups.

I have no problems with the messenger. I state that your interpretation of the information in the message is not correct. By the way, today the Ukrainian Defence Council presented photographs of the cluster warhead rocket with the sender's address. And the address is "Russia". http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/ukraine_has_evidence_that_cluster_bombs_were_used_by_russian_troops_326764 http://gordonua.com/news/war/SNBO-raspolagaet-dokazatelstvami-obstrela-sil-ATO-s-ustanovok-Smerch-47585.html This means the Putin's propaganda is successful. (The Ukrainian side are not angels, especially paramilitary units. A war is a war. Bad things happen. But you must understand the distinction: for the Ukrainian side (not army) violation of Geneva convention is exception, for Russian army and rebels in Ukraine - it's a way of doing business).

Half of the truth is a lie. Ukrainian government denies using cluster bombs. Rockets with cluster warheads was certainly used by the Russian army against Ukrainian convoys. Though, it is possible Ukrainian army used these rockets too. The rockets do not have a sender's address. Amnesty International and OSCE don't do proper investigations. They collect fairy tales.

Sure! I made no claims requiring any proof. I just convey information. I do not need your agreement with my information. You may express your personal opinion. Sometimes your opinion matches the reality sometimes not, that's fine. I interfere only when you step beyond just an opinion and try to present a situation as a fact when reality is different.

Where do you get your "news"??? There is no any "battle for Donetsk" right now. The Ukrainian army obeys the Minsk accord and does not move forward. The rebels are using this and trying to grab more territory during this so called ceasefire. The Ukrainian army fires back. As for Donetsk itself? It is not clear what is going on inside the city. It is a strong indication that there are some anti-rebel guerrilla-type fighters sabotaging rebel ammunition warehouses. About the destiny of truth in war - I concur.

E.g., https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&q=%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5+%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B+%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0+%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%8F&oq=%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5+%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B&gs_l=serp.1.1.0i19l4j0i30i19l3j0i5i30i19l2.495948.507772.0.510052.18.18.0.0.0.0.462.2526.5j11j1j0j1.18.0....0...1c.1.56.serp..10.8.1417.fg1eghPj36g Please note that I am not trying to prove something. I am just explaining to you what is going on.

I am not sure you follow the topic of our discussion with Big Guy. This is the price of the natural gas Russia had supplied to Ukraine before the cutoff. Under the international court I meant Stockholm arbitration. E.g., http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/10/14/naftogaz-ukraine-appeals-to-stockholm-court/ It is a trade issue. Formally, Russia and Ukraine are not in a state of war.

Is it difficult to understand that I am getting my information directly from press-releases of the Russian and Ukrainian governments and interviews of immediate participants of the negotiation? Do you realize that in Ukrainian media the situation is discussed little bit more thoroughly than Al-Jazeera does? Russia has agreements on gas supply with European countries. Limiting the supply does not serve well for the perception of Russia as a reliable supplier or that Russia doesn't use energy supply as a political weapon. Don't forget, supplying less (to Europe, not Ukraine) means less money coming to the budget. It's a stupid business model.

As usual, you demonstrate magnificent ignorance of the actual situation. Russia is in the corner in the gas question. It can, of course, shut off the valve, stopping gas supply to Europe, but it will be an act of desperation, not strength. The numbers of the Ukrainian debt for the supplied Russian gas you provided is a figment of Putin's imagination. That's why they are changed every week or so. Ukraine is ready to pay its debt, but calculated in accordance with negotiated contracts and not based on arbitrary ideas. The case is in the international court now.

Not true. The only force preventing Ukraine from taking control over its territory is the might of the regular Russian army located within Ukraine and around its borders. Not true. It's your pure fantasy. Just look at the map. What "Eastern part of Ukraine" ? It's only approx. half of two oblasts out of 24. What a buffer zone? 300 km of the border out of 2000 km? It physically cannot be a buffer zone. What the most important, there is no plan to partition Ukraine. All sides are talking about unified Ukraine. Obviously I am leaving the Crimea issue aside. But it is not a partition, it's just an aggressive annexation. You've never been there, you are not able to speak Russian or Ukrainian (to get first-hand information), but you are judging about "the reality" in that region... How familiar... Unfortunately, the conflict will not end soon.

Putin's propagandists have no shame in their blatant lie. MisArt, you are pure provocateur, you don't follow latest news: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11133875/Facts-distorted-as-Moscow-claims-hundreds-of-bodies-discovered-in-Ukrainian-mass-graves.html Do you think your post is consistent with the rules of this forum?

It's one of Russia propaganda myths about their Fuhrer. This is not true. He didn't make it. With all the rest of your post, I agree.