Why ZELENSKY can't and won't give up Crimea

BBC ^ | April 24 | Paul Kirby

[RandFan]

Vladimir Putin initially denied having anything to do with Russia's capture of Crimea in February 2014, when mysterious masked commandos in unidentified green uniforms seized the local parliament and fanned out across the peninsula.

Those "little green men" marked the start of Russia's war on Ukraine, which culminated in the 2022 full-scale invasion.

The future of Crimea is now at the centre of President Donald Trump's peace plan and has prompted Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky to rule out recognising Russian control of the peninsula.

The exact terms of his plan have not been published, but reports suggest it would include the US recognising Crimea as a legal part of Russia - de jure in Latin.

For Trump, Ukraine's southern peninsula was "lost years ago" and "is not even a part of discussion" in peace talks.

But for Zelensky to renounce Crimea as an indivisible part of Ukraine would be unconscionable.

In the words of opposition MP Iryna Gerashchenko "territorial integrity and sovereignty is a red line for Ukraine and Ukrainians".

Trump made the point that "if [Volodymyr Zelensky] wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it 11 years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?"

Few shots were fired, but Crimea was seized at gunpoint during a power vacuum.

Putin later admitted hatching the land-grab in an all-night meeting with his officials days after Ukraine's pro-Russian leader was ousted in Kyiv.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: bbc; bbcfakenews; crimea; delusionalzeepers; delusionalzeeping; donedeal; giveitupzeepers; paulkirby; rinofan; rinopaul; rupaul; searchstillworks

[JSM_Liberty]

“Vladimir Putin initially denied having anything to do with Russia’s capture of Crimea in February 2014”

I am shocked that a devout Christian like Vladimir Putin would lie about such a matter.

[ClearCase_guy]

Zelensky WILL.

[RoosterRedux]

I think you are correct. Zelenskyy is taking a negotiating position (at best).

[Jim W N]

I think Crimea is what this is all about. Russia needs a warm-water port.

[EnderWiggin1970]

Crimea is 80% ethnic Russian. You’d think Westerners always mouthing off about democracy and self-determination would take that into account in their attempts to regain Crimea as a naval bastion to neutralize Russian access to the Black Sea.

[PGR88]

Russia has controlled Crimea for 250 years and has been fighting Ottoman Turkey (and also the UK, which has always involved itself) for access to, and hegemony over the Black Sea for the last 200 years.

Therefore, the UK (and woke Brussels Euro-goobers) will insist that Ukraine fight to the last man to do their bidding.

Thank God Trump didn’t allow them to rope the USA into their centuries-long power-play.

[silverleaf]

We have many devout Christian leaders who insist J6 was a violent insurrection.
And that Saddam had WMD
And that we were sending men to die and be maimed in Afghanistan so girls could go to school

Just a few

Lets get off our moral high horse about politicians who lie

Crimea was a “ gift” to Ukraine, not territory they conquered or held historically….by Krushchev, who would have never envisioned it not being part of the Soviet Union, much less to become a NATO military outpost

[Sacajaweau]

The Ukrainian soldiers walked away. They wouldn't fight their brothers..yes, it was a civil war...

No one questions whether Kruschev's gift of Crimea was even legal.

[rrrod]

LOL

[Mariner]

If the US formally recognizes Crimea as part of Russia, it doesn’t matter who is opposed.

And if the US removes all sanctions, if the EU keeps theirs, then an enormous amount of US/EU trade will be in Russian product.

Europe needs the US to support them and the “rules based order”. If we do not, the EU as a political construct is likely to slowly crumble.

[Dead Corpse]

Ok... Cool... Now do Southern California...

[TexasGator]

“Vladimir Putin initially denied having anything to do with Russia’s capture of Crimea in February 2014, when mysterious masked commandos in unidentified green uniforms seized the local parliament and fanned out across the peninsula.”

Putin m8scalculated. He thought he could take Kiev in a similar.

Now his country is going broke bogged down in a 3+ year war.

[bigbob]

His agreement is not necessary.

[Ancesthntr]

“For Trump, Ukraine’s southern peninsula was “lost years ago” and “is not even a part of discussion” in peace talks.”
————————
In other words, Trump is recognizing the reality on the ground. Russia controls Crimea, and short of a world war, no force is going to dislodge Russia from that territory. I am glad that Trump, unlike so many other world leaders, including many former presidents, recognizes that you cannot write every single historical wrong, you have to deal with reality as it is at the moment.

Now, slightly switching gears, if Crimea has only been in Russian hands for 11 years and the President of the United States is recognizing that as the current reality, how much more so does this apply to the “West Bank“ (Judea and Samaria) and the Golan Heights, which have been in Israeli hands for 58 years? Frankly, it should also apply to those areas of Gaza that Israel does not wish to let go of, possibly including the entire territory, after the October 7 massacre.

[Kazan]

Crimea would still be part of Ukraine if we hadn't fomented an illegal coup there in 2014 that threatened Russia's access to its naval base there, one the Russians have operated since before the US Constitution was written.

Stop blaming Russia for the abhorrent actions of the Obama regime, the CIA and neocon numbskulls like John McCain and Lindsey Graham.

[Seruzawa]

This has always been about the Black Sea. It has been for centuries.

[Navy Patriot]

Why ZELENSKY can't and won't give up Crimea

I suspect the BBC knows Zelensky will give up Crimea if he's Dead.

We just need to keep the BBC and Paul Kirby close to Zelensky so no one will whack him.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Bigger picture: If Russia really needs Crimea as a warm water port, they better maintain good relations with Turkey. Turkey controls the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara. It does little good to have a port in Crimea if you cannot get out of the Black Sea.

[Son-Joshua]

Just like obama another devout Christian who said if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor. I read that he gets kick backs from obamacare. $40m to date.