Copernicus
Industrial Grade Linguist
Let's not forget that Putin's recognition of his Donetsk and Luhansk proxies is not recognized as legitimate by the rest of the world. Under international law, those areas are still Ukrainian territory. I understand that Russia played this same game in Abkhazia and South Ossetia before--recognizing the separatists as legitimate governments and then moving in "peacekeepers". But Abkhazia and South Ossetia are still considered Georgian territory by the vast majority of governments in the world, and Donetsk and Luhansk are still Ukrainian territory.
As usual, barbos is completely wrong about the reality of what is going on in Ukraine. Russia always had troops in the rebel areas of Luhansk and Donetsk. The rebel insurrectionists would have been eliminated long ago by government forces without Russian weapons and troops. However, Putin's government never acknowledged the existence of those troops, because they would be technically in Ukraine. Now that he has declared the rebel groups as legitimate governments, Putin is sending in additional troops as so-called "peacekeepers". That is actually an invasion of Ukraine under international law and norms. Moreover, Putin is claiming that the government-held areas in those regions are part of the "legitimate" state that it has appointed itself to defend. Hence, the pretext for attacking Ukrainian troops across the ceasefire line (such as it is), is already in place.
This is indeed the anniversary of the ouster of Putin-lackey Viktor Yanukovych--February 22. That is why this is all happening so quickly now. Putin is making a statement about the Maidan Revolution, which he saw as a clear rejection of his autocratic rule over their region.
As usual, barbos is completely wrong about the reality of what is going on in Ukraine. Russia always had troops in the rebel areas of Luhansk and Donetsk. The rebel insurrectionists would have been eliminated long ago by government forces without Russian weapons and troops. However, Putin's government never acknowledged the existence of those troops, because they would be technically in Ukraine. Now that he has declared the rebel groups as legitimate governments, Putin is sending in additional troops as so-called "peacekeepers". That is actually an invasion of Ukraine under international law and norms. Moreover, Putin is claiming that the government-held areas in those regions are part of the "legitimate" state that it has appointed itself to defend. Hence, the pretext for attacking Ukrainian troops across the ceasefire line (such as it is), is already in place.
This is indeed the anniversary of the ouster of Putin-lackey Viktor Yanukovych--February 22. That is why this is all happening so quickly now. Putin is making a statement about the Maidan Revolution, which he saw as a clear rejection of his autocratic rule over their region.
