Posted on 09/22/2022 11:21:30 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
Russia had already declared its intent in spring, and is now going ahead with plans to annex the territories it has occupied in the south and east of Ukraine on a fast-track basis. Simultaneous votes in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions have been scheduled from September 23 to September 27. In a speech on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Moscow would recognize the results.
Just as it did with the Crimean annexation in 2014, Russia is making a point of appearing not to be involved. It was local Ukrainian politicians supported by the Russian military who announced the so-called "referendums." As in the case of Crimea eight years ago, the vote has been brought forward from a previously suggested date — that of November 4. Regional referendums are banned in Ukraine. Like in Crimea, there will be no independent election monitoring.
Yes' or 'no'
However, that is as far as the similarities go — there are far more differences.
Russian media are reporting that there will be regional differences. In Donetsk and Luhansk, the ballot will pose a single question, to be answered with a "yes" or a "no," on whether to join the Russian Federation.
In Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, three questions will be asked but only one "yes" or "no" answer will be possible: "Are you for secession from Ukraine, establishing an independent country and joining the Russian Federation?"
Voting will also take place in Russia, where hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled since 2014. The majority of Ukrainian refugees, however — several million — have fled to regions controlled by Kyiv and abroad.
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
Whatever reasons for dimantling Russia are irrelevant because we are flat broke and in debt to our eyeballs. National debt stands at $31 Trillion and growing $3 to $4 Trillion each year. That is way bigger than our GDP. Which knucklehead besides Brandon wants to borrow more BILLIONS, add to the national debt and ship the money to Ukraine, the most corrupt country in Europe?
Have you got no decency Brandon?
Is this why Zelensky has outlawed all opposition parties? Because everyone agrees with him?
Russians can’t and have not seceded from Ukraine. Only Ukrainian’s can secede from Ukraine. Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea seceded from Ukraine. Revolutions have consequences. Overthrowing Democracy disenfranchises voters.
All the people you quote are just as full of shinola as the rest of the Putinists.
Your counter sources are where?
Thank you for your participation in the game.
The bridge from where you crawled from is assuredly missing you by now....
Your lies cannot alter the facts. RuSSian proxies are responsible for attempting to “detach” parts of Ukraine. RuSSia has been meddling in Ukraine’s affairs for far longer than 2022. RuSSia has been trying to overthrow the Kyiv government and install a Moscow puppet.
But what can you expect from a fascist nation like RuSSia which has zero history of real freedom and has been ruled by a murderous despot for 20 plus years.
Bidenistas support Biden and globalism, NATO and endless war.
The world is done with us for this reason. Say goodbye to the petrodollar and reserve currency. Obama and Biden have destroyed us much much more internationally than expected. Most Americans are clueless...”oh poor Ukraine” is the limit of their thinking ability.They don’t want to have to read the stuff below or think. Just turn on that sitcom and relax.
China just surpassed us in lifespan, the ruble and yuan are stronger than the dollar, and
We spend almost twice as much as Russia and China together on world military spending, yet our weaponry is lagging behind theirs.Our literacy rate is what? Russia had a 99% literacy rate in the 90s. I met a ten yr old boy there who spoke perfect English and was choosing a third language to study.
This used to be a great country. Now the entire world laughs at our demented leader and shows video clips of him, saying he is greeting the ghost of Ukraine.
FR thinks Putin is the big bad wolf. Guess again. The wolves are in the white house, not Russia, playing empire games with other superpowers while the streets of our cities are filled with homeless and trash. I guarantee you won’t see that in Moscow. The Moscow Metro is pristine and beautiful, no trash or graffiti anywhere.
Let’s make America better.
https://thesaker.is/russia-and-china-havent-even-started-to-ratchet-up-the-pain-dial/
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/04/15/pepe-escobar-on-the-dawn-of-a-new-global-financial-system
https://thecradle.co/Article/Columns/7385
Been watching the upheaval going on over there.
Jury is out.
You Russkis can’t think in terms of anything but top down. Entirely ignorant of currents of history.
Equally incorrect are those who state Pooty is solely responsible for Russia attacking. (That would include Biden.)
Yet another freeper only able to make a vague generalized accusation. Be specific and point out what you mean. Give examples. Provide links. Discussion will keep your mind active. Insults just destroy your character and credibility.
Please share more.
Do you know that Zelensky is very proficient at jailing and murdering his opponents? Much more corruption than Russia.
Thanks for a real discussion post. Not a one liner, no insults. Facts and links.
If he’s that bad Ukrainians will throw him out. Obviously, he isn’t.
Russia has spent hundreds of millions of dollars corruptly buying European politicians. Every FOP owns a mega yacht or two. The Russian army has proven to be every bit as corrupt and incompetent as Russian society in general. Russian corruption makes Ukrainians look like pikers. It’s hilarious you can see Ukraine as corrupt and Russia as not.
Your point about the displaced population(s) is key. Mariupol, for example, had swung pro-Ukraine in recent years.
BTW, I stumbled into a fascinating documentary about what happened to the defense industry in Ukraine. I knew a few bits and pieces, but this really pulled it together for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbpxL5sKzyE
It’s pretty clear to me that with decent investments (could come from future energy sector profits), maybe a few new / young hot shot engineers to add to the remaining old guard. and reduced corruption, Ukraine could have become a very significant source of low cost weapons to its EU neighbors like Poland, those weapons equal to or better than any but the top Russian gear (which Russia has never been able to produce on its own in numbers).
This adds a new dimension to something I’d figured out a while back. It isn’t NATO on Russia’s border that is intolerable to Russia’s leadership. (BS argument anyway, as it wasn’t going to happen.) It is a Ukraine finally able to meet its true capabilities.
There are quite a few excellent comments after the vid, too. The supply chain issues / analysis hold for many non-defense industries also.
Luhansk, Donetsk and Crimea did not secede from Ukraine, Russian backed militias who had ceased power declared that they had seceded. Their declarations have no authority.
But you want to play role of world policeman with national debt to your eyeballs? Have you no decency?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.