Posted on 03/01/2014 3:20:51 PM PST by kristinn
President Obama spoke for 90 minutes this afternoon with President Putin of Russia about the situation in Ukraine. President Obama expressed his deep concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a breach of international law, including Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and which is inconsistent with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the Helsinki Final Act. The United States condemns Russia’s military intervention into Ukrainian territory.
The United States calls on Russia to de-escalate tensions by withdrawing its forces back to bases in Crimea and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine. We have consistently said that we recognize Russia’s deep historic and cultural ties to Ukraine and the need to protect the rights of ethnic Russian and minority populations within Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has made clear its commitment to protect the rights of all Ukrainians and to abide by Ukraine’s international commitments, and we will continue to urge them to do so.
President Obama told President Putin that, if Russia has concerns about the treatment of ethnic Russian and minority populations in Ukraine, the appropriate way to address them is peacefully through direct engagement with the government of Ukraine and through the dispatch of international observers under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As a member of both organizations, Russia would be able to participate. President Obama urged an immediate effort to initiate a dialogue between Russia and the Ukrainian government, with international facilitation, as appropriate. The United States is prepared to participate.
President Obama made clear that Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community. In the coming hours and days, the United States will urgently consult with allies and partners in the UN Security Council, the North Atlantic Council, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and with the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum. The United States will suspend upcoming participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8. Going forward, Russia’s continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation.
The people of Ukraine have the right to determine their own future. President Obama has directed his Administration to continue working urgently with international partners to provide support for the Ukrainian government, including urgent technical and financial assistance. Going forward, we will continue consulting closely with allies and partners, the Ukrainian government and the International Monetary Fund, to provide the new government with significant assistance to secure financial stability, to support needed reforms, to allow Ukraine to conduct successful elections, and to support Ukraine as it pursues a democratic future.
I personally therefore could care less if Russia takes them over or not. What goes around, comes around.
When I was taught about the Holocaust in grade and high school many times we learned about the seven million Jews killed. But never a word was spoken about the 3 million Polish Christians killed. I only learned about that in college. Why is that?
Sorry, might be the wrong question to ask since you probably don’t care about those 3 million Polish Christians either.
I was not happy that ANY people were unjustly murdered in the Holocaust. It is heartbreaking to me to read of the slaughter. But to read of the extermination of my own people would naturally upset me more, as there were surely relatives of mine included in that number.
Indeed!
And the media will be beside themselves with joy ;-)
And then there was Stalin's Ukrainian Holocaust.
I don't need to be Jewish, Polish or Ukrainian to understand how terrible they all were.
You’re right.
Los Angeles should be part of Mexico.
It WAS part of Mexico, founded in 1781 and called “El Pueblo de la Reyna de los Angeles”.
In May, 1846, when the Mexican American War broke out, Mexico lost the city.
Now they are back. Do you blame them?
What is an “ehnic Ukrainian”? There is no such thing.
For centuries, since the 17th, they were known as “Little Russians” (Malorosskie). In the West they were called Ruthenians (Rusyns) until the 20th century. “Ukrainian” comes from “man living on the border” (kray in Russian).
Ukraine didn’t exist as an independent state until 1991.
Same thing with the “ukrainian” language, which is just a russian dialect, issued from Kievan Rus (from old East Slavic). In the West, it is mixed with Polish and Lithuanian.
So, WHAT is an “ethnic Ukrainian”?
You know what?
There is a democratic way to settle the question: ask the people what they want.
Ukraine should organize a referendum in all the 27 oblasts (regions) of the country with two simple answers to one question:
Do you want to remain attached:
1 - to Ukraine
or
2- to Russia
The majority of the region population decide.
Those who don’t agree can always move to another oblast.
Too bad he doesn't feel the same way about the People of the United States of America...
Wise post.
So, WHAT is an “ethnic Ukrainian”?
So why don't you apply the same wise principle when it comes to the question ethnicity. It's called ethnicity self identification.
According to a 2001 Ukraine census 78.1 identify their ethnicity as "Ukrainian" while 17.3 percent identify their ethnicity as Russian.
Ethnic Self-Identification in Ukraine.
As I pointed out to you in my first post.
I'll post the map again.
LA was not established by mexico, fact the spanish established san diego and LA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.