fat chance.
I don’t believe Russia will ever give up Crimea.
I do believe putting the spotlight on it can help pressure Russia into backing down in mainland Ukraine. Just as Putin started the war in Ukraine to shift the focus away from Crimea, Trump can do the reverse as a way of prying Russia out of eastern Ukraine.
But, no, Russia will never give up Crimea.
The only way Russia would surrender Crimea would be upon unconditional access to Sebastopol, which the Ukraine denied and gave rise to the conflict currently underway. So, asymptotically close to zero...
That is what he says he wants. What the Russians will do is maintain their only warm water port and the access there to which is in their national interest. What we need to do is not over throw duly , legally and properly elected governments like we did in the Ukraine with a military junta paid for by printing more money here. That of course CAUSED Russia to protect its port and easement which was under lease until the year 2042. Quit screwing with other folks democratically elected sovereign governments!!
Meanwhile, Maxine Waters is mainly concerned about Limpopo.
If the lawful, constitutional government of Ukraine is restored, I can see that happening. Not otherwise though.
Anyone who thinks Russia will hand over Crimea to a hostile Ukraine - and with it, their most important naval base and shipbuilding facilities, and only warm-water port - has a mental handicap.
Well, that’s just delusional then.
Even in the Donbas, Ukraine’s strategy has been to terrify any additional cities or towns from joining the secession movement; there’s no way they could ever govern the Donbas again. Their tactics make Gen. Sherman look like he was trying to “win the hearts and minds of the people” of Georgia.
Told ya. Now what’s the Left gonna bitch about?
Even if Russia abandoned any claim to Crimea, there’s no way in Hell Crimea would return to Ukraine. Crimea would be devastated, but would go it alone as a “frozen state.”
Mexico wants the Western United States back.
France wants the Mississippi Valley Back.
England wants the Eastern Seaboard back.
Russia wants Alaska back.
Spain wants Florida back.
Return all occupied territories!!!
Like the shallow and arrogant Obama and Clinton, and their scheming neo-con apparatchiks Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt, perhaps Trump doesn’t realize Russia’s access to the warm-water Black Sea and Crimea has been a nearly 400 year project for Russia.
While we’re at it, lets demand China vacate Hong Kong
Given the pathetic state of US armed forces (thanks both to Obama and the Republicans who stood by watching it happen), the US would be extremely hard-pressed to confront two conflicts simultaneously, one in East Asia (China, NK) or Europe (Russia and the Baltics).
Trump could arrange a bargain with the Russians where the annexation of Crimea is recognized in exchange for:
a) withdrawal of forces from eastern Ukraine and a cessation of hostilities there;
b)Some gas/oil deal for Ukraine;
c) No NATO or EU expansion to Belarus or Ukraine (trade treaties OK);
c) Russia re-enters the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty (no Iskanders in Kaliningrad);
c) Russia re-enters the Conventional Forces In Europe Treaty (armor moved east);
d) US and Europe drop trade sanctions;
e) US assists Russia in oil/gas exploration;
d) US, Russia, and Saudis agree to force Iran to cut oil exports and guarantee market share to Russia in exchange;
f)Russia stops arming Iran;
g) Russia and US cooperate against ISIS and partition Syria;
h) Russia agrees to remain neutral in any US-China-NK conflict
You might say this asks a lot of the Russians, we might throw in removal of new, permanent NATO bases from Baltics. The sanctions are hurting the Russians: Putin has already had to cut his defense expenditures. The Russians also have to know that NATO poses no strategic threat to Russia-- this is all about prestige, so if we combine economic incentives with high level cooperation, we can probably get a lot. They also have to know that China poses the only real strategic threat to Russia, especially over the Amur river basin in Siberia, which Russia seized in the 19th century.
The two are mutually exclusive.
BTW, they could easily do it (take Western Europe). Who would stop them?
It has been obvious for some time that they are intent on starting some sort of showdown with Russia.
Why?
I have no idea - But where Hillary and Obama were once bending over for Putin, democrats now seem to want a war with him.
If democrats could maneuver President Trump into a confrontation with Putin they would damage him and further alienate Russia - both of which seem to be their objectives.
Putin probably agreed as soon as Ukraine return it’s former legally elected president to office.
That’ll be “Korea” to all you Mad Maxine Waters constituents out there.
Ain't gonna happen
Uh.....this isn’t going anywhere. DPR isn’t budging. For anyone.
Not that I side with then in any way, I’m just saying. Understand these people’s motivation and witness who it is that is the aggressor on the battlefield. They have ZERO fear of Ukrainian forces.