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The Pushback in Ukraine
NYT ^ | May 23, 2014 | Adrian Karatnycky

Posted on 05/23/2014 10:15:10 AM PDT by 1rudeboy

KIEV, Ukraine — A few short weeks ago the Kiev I visited was awash in talk of terrorist plots and civil war.

The lightning-quick annexation of Crimea by Russian troops had created much anxiety. People feared that the commemoration of May 9, the day on which Ukraine and Russia celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II, would encourage pro-Moscow insurgents to seize government buildings beyond their strongholds in eastern Ukraine. Hundreds of well-armed and well-trained men, many with links to Russia, had already moved into hard-scrabble industrial cities near the Russian border. There had been violent clashes between Ukrainian patriots and pro-Russian separatists in Odessa, in the south.

The mood today is markedly different. Voters throughout Ukraine will go to the polls for the presidential election on Sunday amid clear signs that major unrest is abating and that President Vladimir V. Putin is backing away from his gambit to annex more Ukrainian territory.

This is a remarkable reversal. After Russia’s flash invasion of Crimea, Mr. Putin had seemed to be on the march. It is believed that, emboldened by the weak Western response and rising popularity at home, he then approved the offensive in eastern Ukraine. He reportedly sent in Russian fighters to support the ethnic Russian minority and Russian speakers in the region, apparently in the hope of triggering a separatist insurgency and eventually splitting up Ukraine — or at least weakening the new non-Moscow-aligned government in Kiev.

But the effort soon stalled. If Moscow’s so-called green men were largely welcomed when they swept into Crimea, its proxy fighters got little assistance from locals when they slipped into eastern Ukraine.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: ukraine
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1 posted on 05/23/2014 10:15:10 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

I wonder if Adrian Karatnycky plays chess. I’m pretty sure Putin does.


3 posted on 05/23/2014 10:21:39 AM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: demshateGod

I wonder who John McCain is campaigning for.


4 posted on 05/23/2014 10:23:07 AM PDT by McGruff (What if I told you your leaders were lying to you?)
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To: McGruff

certainly better than the thief tymoshenko


5 posted on 05/23/2014 10:24:27 AM PDT by ghost of stonewall jackson (An amateur built the Ark; professionals built the Titanic)
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To: McGruff

George Soros. RT tweeted it yesterday.


6 posted on 05/23/2014 10:37:52 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

“amid clear signs that major unrest is abating”

The truth is that the unrest may be abating in Kiev, but not in the South/Southeast of the country.

Ukrainian Army troops are defecting in ever-greater numbers now, and more have been killed in the last week, than in all the weeks leading up to this. Gotta admire the Orwellian-like spin of the Times, though.

The REAL question should be:

Will the Kiev Coup leaders, and their Oligarch supporters, give up power to Poroshenko, who is widely expected to win the election?


7 posted on 05/23/2014 11:02:19 AM PDT by tcrlaf (Q)
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To: tcrlaf

Of course, Ukrainian troops are defecting in “ever-greater” numbers now. Let Putin deal with those homos.


8 posted on 05/23/2014 11:07:07 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

Will the Kiev gov, and the Billionaire Oligarch’s they appointed after the coup, like Kolomoysky, give up power if Poroshenko wins??


9 posted on 05/23/2014 11:09:41 AM PDT by tcrlaf (Q)
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To: tcrlaf

If Bugs Bunny and The Road Runner had an “altercation,” who would win?


10 posted on 05/23/2014 11:12:35 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

Actually, they became quite good friends.

The Bugs Bunny Road-Runner Movie
http://youtu.be/lX51bfLKeb0


11 posted on 05/23/2014 11:18:06 AM PDT by tcrlaf (Q)
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To: tcrlaf
Slavyansk calls for 'evacuation' due to Kiev militant preparation for massive bombing of the city. Looks like the rumor Right Sectors plan to invade and destroy the city is playing out as planned....likely with Ukraine Fly-power...

If Keiv Government can continue to esculate the war in the East throughout the voting.....this guarantees there will be no voting coming from the East, thus secures whatever Pres. candidate of their choosing......IMO Yulia she-devil is behind this as well as she knows the EAst opposes her.


12 posted on 05/23/2014 11:59:51 AM PDT by caww
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To: caww
Square in Kiev just before elections tomorrow...Christmas tree still up.


13 posted on 05/23/2014 12:03:55 PM PDT by caww
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To: caww
Bombed house in Semenika.....many more as well...


14 posted on 05/23/2014 12:06:21 PM PDT by caww
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To: 1rudeboy

Putin is caving. All hat, no bear (cattle).


15 posted on 05/23/2014 12:07:27 PM PDT by Chad_the_Impaler
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To: caww
Alert.....Evacuation for all citizens in Slovyansk:

Slovyansk civilians have had homes bombed throughout this past week...this will esculate now with the Ukraine Army and Right Sector's planned advance on the city...evacuations are posted to all citizens....intentions are to bomb the city....all sides are in agreement citizens need to leave now.


16 posted on 05/23/2014 12:13:55 PM PDT by caww
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To: Chad_the_Impaler

Oh I don’t think he’s caving...this attack forthcoming, and the evacuation of the people, is all about attempting to get Russia to act. I don’t think he will because he recognizes this is an effort By Kiev Gov. to force his hand into all out war with the US.....he won’t do that over Ukraine....and neither will Obama.


17 posted on 05/23/2014 12:17:17 PM PDT by caww
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To: caww
Ukraine Army continues attacks on Sloviansk


18 posted on 05/23/2014 12:20:09 PM PDT by caww
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To: caww

19 posted on 05/23/2014 12:21:15 PM PDT by caww
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To: caww
Heavy artillary attack in Sloviansk today


20 posted on 05/23/2014 12:27:28 PM PDT by caww
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