ASIP

Ukraine has existed as a unified state for many years and has not have big problems with that. Federalization is a method Russia wants to divide Ukraine and create a number of small weak "kingdoms". The goal is clear - to retain Ukrainian market and military industry under Russian control. Everybody understands this. This is a very bad, more correctly, fatal idea for Ukraine. No serious pro-Ukrainian politician accepts it. By the way, Russia is in no way a federation. All regions are strictly controlled from Moscow (the only exception is Chechnya). There is though consideration of so-called decentralization of Ukraine, with more powers delegated to provinces, but keeping some key functions in the capital. As an successful example, Poland is viewed. Ukrainian problems are caused by deep corruption. If the country won't find a way to bring corruption to a sustainable level, people won't see a better life.

Good point! Add that UN and all international organizations that monitor elections were forbidden to enter Crimea. And hundreds of Russian soldiers with loaded rifles and machine guns in the streets. I have to correct you. The parliament could not force him out, otherwise it would has been done long before. And yes, his party has majority. Yanukovich knew that well and behaved defiantly towards the parliament. The negotiations (Ukrainian opposition+Yanukovich+Russia+EU) about his resignation had lasted for some time. After mass killings in Maidan, he agreed - not to step down - for a new presidential election near the year end, after the country would return to the constitution of 2004, which he unilaterally changed. This constitution has powers of the president and parliament balanced. Suddenly, in the middle of negotiation he disappeared. Rather then invoking impeachment, the parliament used other clause of the constitution to terminate his presidency - "not being able to perform duty of the president." The speaker of the parliament assumed duties as an interim president. A new presidential elections were called as soon as possible - in three months (one can compare to less than two weeks of the Crimean so called referendum). Now Russia claims the Ukrainian parliament violated the agreement and the government is illegitimate. Needless to say that the Russian representative did not sign the agreement of 21 February, which Russia insists must be obeyed.

It seems you cannot comprehend a logical notion that being a Ukrainian Russian does not necessarily means wanting to live in Russia. Do 100% of French speaking people in Quebec want separation? 42% of Crimean population are not Russian. That's a lot. Not true. The president fled the country in the middle of negotiations. Nobody expected that. Nobody tried to stop him (he fled in the middle of the night with a large convoy). After leaving Kiev he stayed in the country for two or three days. His personal safety was guaranteed by at least words of European participants of the negotiations. He was not forced out. A date for a new presidential election was set for late fall. He simply fled as a thief. No government buildings were taken over by protesters. They took only a couple of floors in an office building, called the Trade-Union Building and arranged a rest area and a kind of hospital there. You have no idea what every Crimean wants. The results of the so-called referendum simply cannot be verified. There are indications they were fabricated. And, contrary to you, the international community understands this.

Stop spreading myths. Crimea was Ukrainian. It is inhabited by many nationalities. Russian are invaders there and do not represent overwhelming majority. Many Crimean Russians are Ukrainian patriots. There was no coup in Ukraine. The government is the same as it has been for several years. The only event happened, the President fled the country and is in hiding. The speaker of the parliament is now an interim president until duly performed election. The international community has no problem with recognition of Crimea as a part of the Ukrainian state.

What assurance do you have that more than 35% of Crimean people voted? How many non-Ukrainian citizen voted? Who certified results of vote counting? Why the new Crimean power did not allow any international organization to monitor this so called referendum if they claim 97%? Did you know that the initial number was 123% of voter participation? Compare with the referendum about Quebec separation.

She's never been a President of Ukraine. She may be lying, but the problem is that there is no tape of this conversation presented. Just a digital file "leaked" in Russian media. Did anybody claimed possession of the tape? Her conviction was pure political vendetta. The deal she concluded with Russian Gasprom corporation is now under investigation. I want to recall you that in the Ukrainian parliament the deposited President party still has the largest number of MPs (216 out of 450, if my memory is OK). And this is a big brake for Ukrainian democracy. Sure she is a controversial figure, and my attitude towards her was negative three weeks ago. But what I see now, she's changed. I agree with almost everything she says. Of course, I know the difference between words and deeds. The current Ukrainian parliament is far from being inspiring, but she is definitely the brightest mind there.

Starting to look you are unable to read even a headline. The call was made, the content was falsified. Isn't that clear? The second man, Shufrich, also denied the phrase you tried to spin out.

Why do you think an English link must exist?! Get back to ground. Or ask CBC to provide information, at least, I hope, you pay their salaries. Right now, people in Ukrainian streets have more important stuff to do other than worrying about some Canadian coach potatoes. You'll never get true information from third hand sources. There is an excellent Israeli military history forum with direct discussion of this (Jews in the current Ukrainian revolution) topic. No English, though. http://waronline.org/fora/index.php?threads/%D0%9D%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8-%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B.571/

Look at the map. Annexation of Transnistria itself changes a little. Russian 14th Army is already there. Big problems will appear if Russia rams a land corridor to Transnistria from Crimea or even from Southern Russia (Rostov region). Several Ukrainian regions must be occupied by Russia. This will be a choking squeeze for Ukraine. The loss of those regions, not Russian presence in Transnistria is a major threat for Ukraine. This scenario cannot be excluded.

Ha-ha! You do really have no idea what is going on in Ukraine. Jewish people are integral part of the current revolution in Ukraine. There is no Nazi government in Ukraine. For your very limited knowledge, the Ukrainian parliament was democratically elected several years ago. It is the same parliament now. The best ridicule of distorted "understanding" like yours is the newest Ukrainian word "zhidobanderevets". If you cannot tell it, your claims about modern Ukraine are worth nothing.

It's ridiculous! Your link contains a collection of Russian propaganda "gems" that has been a laughing stock in Russian-speaking internet for some time.

Do you realize that you are spreading dirty lies here? This Russian propaganda was dismissed immediately by both people. http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/international/2014/03/140324_tymoshenko_shufrych_leaked_tape.shtml http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/03/tymoshenko-denies-wipe-out-russians-comment-201432513315433906.html

Your understanding has nothing to do to the real world. Results of this so-called referendum were fabricated. The technology of rigging has been mastered at previous Russian "elections." Only about 35% of Crimean population took part in voting. http://zn.ua/POLITICS/dzhemilev-v-krymskom-referendume-uchastvovalo-vsego-34-krymchan-141908_.html This was confirmed by a couple of other independent sources.

At least, condemn the aggressor. Canada must not remain silent.

Can you embrace an idea of doing something to stop a new Hitler? How come "the best interest of Canada" is to bend before Russia?

The second question is far from the status quo. It means the Crimea is an independent state and has yet to negotiate any treaties on its relation with Ukraine. "Within Ukraine" is the fig leaf for ignorant people to pretend that voters have a choice.

No, gentlemen, money issues are secondary here. The most important goals for Putin are: 1. Building an Empire, keeping Ukraine as a subject. 2. Crush the Ukrainian example of overthrowing a dictator to prevent its occurrence in Russia. In terms of nat. gas supply, Russia has no problems with Ukraine. Before this crisis, joining NATO was out of consideration for Ukraine.

Relax. I do not think you are in a position to tell me your fantasies about Ukraine like they are "history". Hint. Being an ethnic Russian in Ukraine does not mean this person is eager to live in Russia. You seem cannot realize this notion.

Ok. Do you admit that before 1992 (collapse of the USSR), Crimeans had no problems being within Ukraine? Emergence of separatist movements is absolutely common thing in the ex-USSR. Every thug saw an opportunity to become a king in a small kingdom. Don't mix that with wishes of ordinary people. The Crimean separation found some ground among population after year 2000, when oil prices jumped and Russia was able to recover from default of 1998. Economically, Ukraine lags oil-reach Russia. This is the only reason general population would consider joining Russia. This only reason was non-existent before 1992 (actually, the situation was reversed). Your "ever" is utterly false.

They - who? Give names, please.

This statement is just plain false. Thus all your assertions are not true.

Let's be clear, protesters used hunting and pellet guns, riot police used AK-47-type assault rifles. Those weapons are not accurate and did not cause any significant number of fatalities if any. A certain number of protesters were tortured and killed by pro-Russian thugs that Yanukovich's police used against protesters. Two persons were burned alive when police put fire on the Trade Union Building where protesters organized a rest area. This is the only damaged building in Kiev. Most of victims were killed by two (it's my opinion) snipers. That these snipers were shooting both sides has been known from day one because of a large number of video recording. The number of killed protesters to the number of killed police is approximately 10:1 ratio. They were extremely professional shots from a long distance with a higher caliber bullets. There were some discussions of the situation in Russian and Ukrainian forums. Briefly. There were three groups of snipers on Maidan. They all are government men. 1. Anti-terrorist group "Alpha" from National security service. 2. President security group with the son of Yanukovich, Alexander, as their commander. 3. Snipers from military (I do not remember precise details). More or less clear situation exists with group "Alpha". It seems, they did not shot. But from radio intercept done by a HAM amateur they noticed an unidentified source of sniper fire from deep inside of a room in a hotel. Yanukovich's son, his group, minister of Interior, Attorney General are all fled Ukraine. According to a law, government snipers can shoot only on armed terrorists and only after authorization by at least a minister. It is obvious, that minister should ask president first. Among Ukrainian people there is a strong perception that Yanukovich could not order shooting protesters. He is not so stupid to not understand consequences. He's a big coward. And he had no reason to shoot on riot police. People think that there were rogue snipers, whose goal to spill blood a lot of blood to destabilize the situation. The number one person who benefits from this is Putin. After violence stopped, the new Ukrainian government immediately started an investigation of shootings on Maidan. Best available experts were called for. I think, in some time, results of this investigation will be published.

Quite opposite. EU and US warned Putin about consequences and are waiting for a response. It has been unequivocally stated that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine. Putin has a choice: to negotiate a withdrawal of his troops to barracks or be subjected to sanctions until this withdrawal will take place. Once Russian troops are removed from Crimean streets, Ukrainian police with the help of Crimean Tatar quickly establish law and order in the region. Disclamer. If Putin were a sane man, he would not think about any further military action now. However he's insane. He's actions are unpredictable. The principal indicator will be decision of Russian Parliament about incorporation of Crimea into Russia. This, not the "referendum", will be an open challenge to the West.

In both cases it is Russia behind with attacks. A week ago there was a series of orchestrated sieges of provincial legislation buildings in Southern Ukraine by crowds agitated by Russian provocateurs and local Russian nationalists. It is very easy to cross the Ukrainian-Russian border. It was well documented (buses with Russian license plates parked nearby, the same people agitating the crowd in different cities . After the provocateurs achieved their goals - putting a Russian flag on the building they withdrawn. Ukrainian police now is extremely cautious and do not use force. Gradually, new administrations take control in regions.Now Russia is able to disrupt order only in three eastern regions having very long border with Russia. In Crimea the thugs were able to grab power because they are protected by Russian guns. Your last suggestion is valid for people who have blinds on their eyes. "He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch." A conscious person must tell good from bad. "Know Them By Their Deeds."

I've just watched a press conference of a representative of Crimean parliament of March 6, 2014. They already have a law that Crimea is a part of Russia, the only legal army on the Crimean soil is Russian Army, and Ukrainian army are illegal occupants. They do not recognize Ukrainian government in Kiev. Several journalists asked "If you have already decided to leave Ukraine, why do you need a referendum?" The answer was like just in case. This is a true story looking like a theater of nonsense. I have a video clip. This must be on BBC. This is just a typical example how Putin-Goebbels brain washing machine works. Putin is a sick man, he thinks nobody can see through his tricks.