He must also believe Victoria Nuland was really just handing out cookies when she went over there.
1. Crimea was part of Russia until the mid 50’s when the soviet union ‘gave’ it to Ukraine.
2. The population there is Russian speaking and majority ethnically Russian.
3. When the soviet union dissolved Crimea voted to return to Russia. It was overruled by the Ukrainian govt. for various, fairly self-serving reasons.
4. Another referendum was held in 2014 in which they voted again to leave the Ukraine and join Russia - the election of a corrupt, liberal, globalist govt in Kiev prompted the vote.
Sorry but I don’t see this as Russian aggression. At all. Even though it is a key piece of geography.
Are the people of Crimea not allowed self determination?
Crimea is very much misunderstood in the West. It has been Russian since Catherine the Great annexed it in 1783. Prior to that, it had belonged to the Ottoman Empire.
In 1954, Kruschev transferred Crimea within the USSR to Ukraine, to win support from Ukrainian bosses for his ascension to supreme leader after Stalin’s death.
Here is an analogy: Long Island is part of New York since 1783 or so. Then in 1954 it is transferred from NY to CT in return for critical CT electoral votes. A half century later, NY state takes Long Island back.
The Russian RE-annexation of Crimea is not a cause for the USA to meddle in.
And it’s not much different with Eastern Ukraine. The borders between Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Belorussia etc have shifted over and over during the past century. There are no natural boundaries (mountain ranges or rivers) so the borders are mostly based on who has joined what rising or falling empire.
Ethnic/linguistic populations often find themselves on the “wrong” side of newly-drawn borders, and a few generations later, they want to rejoin their ethnic/linguistic brothers on the other side. Again, this has happened over and over and over again across the plains of Eastern Europe.
Imagine Russia now demanding that we give the Southwest back to Mexico, or demanding the return of the “swindled” territory of Alaska. We’d laugh in their faces.
Only the Perpetual War Party wants to go to war with Russia over Crimea or Eastern Ukraine.
wasn’t Crimea part of the Russian empire for about 300 years, then part of the Soviet Union for 80 years. Crimea isn’t worth a single American life, so enough of the Red Lines.
President Trump doesn’t use absolutes like “red line” and “never.” There’s always a deal that can be made.
In other news, Russia is claiming that Seward’s Folly (the
Alaska purchase) is void for fraud and they are setting up a naval base in Anchorage.
I agree with others. Crimea is Russian. Putin will never give it up, nor will anyone who comes after him. We can use it as a bargaining chip, but don’t overplay it because from Russia’s point of view it is a non-negotiable.
Now, in the current climate, Trump’s hands are tied, he can’t recognize Crimea as Russian without being further accused of being a Russian spy, even though it would only be recognizing reality. He can’t do it openly, we will have to move to that position in the wake of something that changes the political climate with Russia and for Trump himself.
But while for political and negotiating reasons we may pretend to believe Crimea is Ukrainian, its important to never actually believe your own hype.
This is a foolish position for the US, and Trump, to take.
Foolish.
Crimea has been Russian since 1783. It’s a neocon fantast to think Sevastopol will ever be turned into a NATO Navy base.
This stamping our feet would make as much sense as Russia saying it will never accept California being part of America.
Anyone who thinks Russia will give up Crimea is crazy.
They can and will go to global thermonuclear war to hold it. It’s their only warm-water port and biggest naval base.
Those who are pushing for Russia to release it are a serious threat to the continued existence of mankind.
He must also believe Victoria Nuland was really just handing out cookies when she went over there.
How many times does the Crimea need to vote for Ukr-exit?
Also (he went on to say) neither the British subjugation of Wales, nor the Italian occupation of Sicily.
Trump paying back Putin for helping in the election.