[ought-six]

“Pay attention. The Russian Federation by an overwhelming majority voted for this military action.”

Pay attention. In 1939 the German people overwhelmingly supported the invasion of Poland. The reason? The German government’s fiction about “saving the ethnic German minority in Poland that was being abused.” Ever hear of the Gleiwitz Incident?

“if Zelensky were honorable he be at the table but he is a pawn.”

I see. A bully attacks you, but the only honorable thing to do is for you, the victim, not only to not fight back, but to meekly submit. And place yourself at the tender mercies of the bully who says you have no right to even exist.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

The other thing I think is going on is different definitions of "the Crimea" and "the Donbass." My guess is that Russia defines those areas very broadly, including a land bridge between the two covering the entire Ukrainian coastline east of the Crimea proper. As well as all those parts of the Donbass provinces that weren't under separatist control prior to the invasion.

So the "deal" being offered by the Russians is even worse than it sounds.