“...several referendums show the Russian ethnic sizable majority wants out...”
I’ve told you twice already, Russian speakers in the Donbas ain’t ethnic Russians in large part. Check the last names in the Donbas. There often Yeremenkos and other typical Ukrainian names. The Ukrainian language survives in Donbas in the smaller agricultural villages. How in Hades can you put any faith in a referendum when Russian agents and troops were there? How is it thousands of Russian speaking Donbas Ukrainians are busy fighting for Ukraine. It is because they remember the 1920s, the 1930s, and 2014. Russia wants to replace Ukrainians and you want to reward them for their genocide. You’ve been in Moscow’s camp on this thing since day one. What is your ulterior motive Mister Mississippi now in Tennessee?
The referendums are what they are
As is Ukraine behavior in Donbas since 2014
Parse it how u wish
The media u now trust sure does