Russia Tells Ukrainians: 'Referendum' Or We Can't Protect You As Ukraine Proposes State Of Emegency

Zero Hedge ^ | 7 April 2014 | Tyler Durden

[Errant]

The relative calm of the last two weeks as US talking-heads proclaim Ukraine 'fixed', Russia 'under control', and Europe 'recovering' is being obliterated this morning. The storming of various non-Crimean Ukrainian city government buildings suggest round two of the push is beginning and Russia is wasting no time explaining how this will go down. Russian Senator Viktor Ozerov stated that "Russia has no right to [send peacekeepers] unilaterally" to Eastern and Southern Ukraine (unless the UN agrees)... but... "Russia is interested in stability in Ukraine. At the same time, the will of the people must be documented. A referendum is the most democratic way of expressing one's will." In other words, "we can't help you unless you hold a referendum to annex." Stage 2 is beginning... and it seems Ukraine is getting it as they are preparing to issue a state of emergency.

[Errant]

Also: And Another Region Seeks To Join Russia [ Moldova's Transnistira region]

[Darteaus94025]

Ukraine, welcome to Russia!

I wonder what excuse the Obamination will offer this time...

[tet68]

Viktor Ozerov

Zero’s opposite number?

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

If no Russian troops were present in Moldova’s Transnistira region, does anyone honestly think that the West would allow them to hold a referendum?

The West will aloow a majority Albanian referendum in Kosovo, despite this scuttling the territorial integirty of Serbia>

If Moldova used the same rational in primarily Russian areas of Moldova that was used in Kosovo, the West would say the exact opposite: NO.

And that is why we are in the mess we are in and will continue to be in.

We must have a consistent policy that is the same for everyone.

[tcrlaf]

Trans-whatever wanting to rejoin Russia isn’t really surprising, as this is still unfinished business left over from the breakup of the Soviet Union. The Ethnic Slavs on the east side of the river didn’t care for the outlawing of Russian language and culture.

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, as well, which puts an economic reason for the move, as well.
Romania wants Moldova to join NATO, too.

[bigbob]

I think Putin is just biding his time, knowing Obama won’t make anything but noise, while the economy reacts and rebalances, so as to minimize the economic impact. He can afford to lose 20%, then gain back 10, repeat til he has what he wants and then gain it all back.

[goldstategop]

Russia needs to be “invited” in. Vladimir Putin avers his respect for international law.

And if eastern Ukraine doesn’t extend one? Sorry, dear fraternal brethren, our hands are tied. Its up to you to gain your freedom.

[mac_truck]

American economic sanctions are pretty trivial at this point, and the Europeans, who have more bilateral trade with Russia, for the most part seem to be ignoring the EU sanctions protocol as well.

[Errant]

We earnestly abandoned the moral high ground of not meddling in the affairs of other countries back about Libya (We came, we saw, he died - HRC). So even if Putin is instigating, most of the egg will be on our face.

These gambits are won years in advance - Putin is an excellent chess player, we're stuck with a checkers player with a checkered past.

[wonkowasright]

So the party that lost the election, then came to power in a violent coup, is now going to declare martial law to prevent the citizens from once again expressing their will at the polls ?

Hysterical.