[southernindymom]

I am confused here. Are the rebels bad here? Putin is messing where he has no business, but that has never stopped a communist before. I’ve been too busy lately with family issues to have kept up with it.

[elhombrelibre]

These rebels may have grievances but they’re being used by Putin to extend his personal empire. He’s an evil man, but some people here love him because they think his anti-gay policy is sincere and Christ like.

[kronos77]

Ukraine was neutral, nor Russian, nor NATO. It had legally elected president. Yanukovich. EU said that he must cut all ties to Russia. He refused and said, that if so, Ukraine wont join EU.
Than EU/NATO constructed putch using Ukrainian nationalist and neo-nazis (”Kill all the Jews and Russians” ), a coup in Kiev, ousting him - but also loosing control over 1/3 of the country. Than, Russians (1/3 of Ukraine population) and number of Ukrainians revolted.

This is a video of rebels, civilians that are confronting Ukrainian newly-formed “National Guard”, that was formed by new Kiev regime out of anti-Russian and neonazi volunteers .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EmcArAcgJc

As you may see, civilians are very angry and soldiers are ready to shoot at their own citizens.

[1rudeboy]

Ukraine had an agreement with the EU. Russia bribed the Ukrainian president to back out of it and form closer ties to the Russian Federation. Thousands of Ukrainians took to the street, peacefully, until the Ukrainian president became heavy-handed about it. Then violence happened on both sides. A hundred or so protestors were killed. The Ukrainians didn't back down, and the president was impeached and fled the country.

Meanwhile, the Russians militarily occuped an area of Ukraine called Crimea. [editorial note: nothing to see here, just a coincidence /s] Now, other Russians who favor closer ties with Russia (or to ditch Ukraine altogether) are protesting, and Ukraine is trying to get them in line. Presidential election scheduled for May 25, I believe.

That's about it . . . it's a mess. No one comes out of it a champion.