“Ukraine crisis, rbmillerjr wrote:
“One could say with some accuracy that Russia has stronger ties to Crimea than does the Ukraine.”
Yes. People who speak with very little accuracy and spout Russian propaganda.”
I don’t pretend to know a lot about Crimea or Russia, I just know in the last 230 years Crimea has only been part of The Ukraine for the last 60, and Russia for the rest. I also know that demographically 60% of the Population of Crimea identifies themselves as Ethic Russian while less than 25% see themselves as Ethic Ukrainian. Theses are not numbers or History the Ukraine even disputes, nor do they in themselves indicate the wishes of the people of Crimea which I regard as the Primary concern in which Federation they should be a part of.
But short of a legitimate vote on the matter in Crimea I don’t see any resolving of the question of who should legitimately own Crimea, and in any case it is not worthy of either our attention or money. Like it or not this sort of thing happens all the time thou-out human history and in all places in the world.
If we want to enforce some standard upon the world, the blood and treasure never mind lack of moral right would bankrupt us.
“If this were the case, Russia would not have had to illegally annex the Crimea.”
Im unaware of any clause in Russian law that makes annexing Crimea illegal. Admittedly of course I know little of Russian law, but such a thing is not something I would expect to find in Russian law. Such a breach of Russian law is in any event their business.
IF we wish to get involved we should find something of interest and value enough to us to be worth getting involved. The morality of Russians actions notwithstanding.
Well, all of ukraine was "Russia" for a lot of time, as was Belarus, lithuania, Finland, Poland etc. -- that's not a valid argument
Crimea was going to go to Russia no matter what
NOW, the problem is the east and south of Ukraine which has some people who call themselves ethnic Russian and many who call themselves ethnic ukrainian but speak Russian at home
It's not that simple
“Im unaware of any clause in Russian law that makes annexing Crimea illegal.”
One of the dumbest things I’ve ever read on FR. Russian law does not supersede Ukrainian law. Crime was sovereign land of Ukraine. Period end of story. Russia took it illegally.
“Such a breach of Russian law is in any event their business.”
Of course, it is Ukrainian law that is valid in this issue. And that is no business of Russia.