“If that issue was such a big deal then Russia never would have signed the Budapest Accession to the NNPT.”
The Russian Federation probably has claimed that it has a right and need to ‘defend’ Russians in what has long been recognized as Ukraine.
In 1775 King George III was generally recognized as the lawful ruler of the 13 colonies by both the colonists and the rest of the then modern world.
I suspect no one here will say Massachusetts and Virginia lacked the right to declare their independence in 1776 after the King’s abuses and neglect.
The two new Russian language republics could similarly declare their independence. Like Louis XVI, Vladimir Putin could assist them in securing and retaining their independence.
The Russian Federation probably has claimed that it has a right and need to ‘defend’ Russians in what has long been recognized as Ukraine.
***The time to bring that up was when they signed away recognition of Ukraine borders and sovereignty.
In 1775 King George III was generally recognized as the lawful ruler of the 13 colonies by both the colonists and the rest of the then modern world.
***So... you’re aiming for some kind of analogy here.
I suspect no one here will say Massachusetts and Virginia lacked the right to declare their independence in 1776 after the King’s abuses and neglect.
***And the analogy would be that there’s 2 independent provinces being abused & neglected in Ukraine. The analogy falls real short. First of all, Mass & VA were an entire ocean away from Britain whereas the Donbass is next door to Russia. Russia wasn’t even interested in those 2 regions until oil & gas reserves were discovered there. So they sent in firebrand agitator malefactors to stir up trouble in order to build up excuses to invade & take oil.
The two new Russian language republics could similarly declare their independence.
***And why did they wait until after oil was discovered, hmmmm? Because most people in that region were just minding their own bizness until Ras Putin went in and stirred things up.
Like Louis XVI, Vladimir Putin could assist them in securing and retaining their independence.
***Louis XVI didn’t invade those provinces to take them for himself. Your analogy fails.
A few points about this
One. Even before 2014, there wasn't a majority for independence in Dontesk and luhansk
Two. After 2014, large numbers of people left the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's republic to go to Ukraine. So if you ran a poll TODAY in the DPR and LPR you would probably get a majority wanting to join Russia (not independence) -- is that fair if the pro-Ukraine folks were chased out?
three. conversely - in the remaining parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, the pro-Ukrainian folks numbers rose - so a poll THERE would be for Ukraine. Is that fair?
four. Let's say that the DPR and LPR join the Russian's People's Democratic republic, but then what about the area of Kherson and Mariupol?