RE: Ukraine must change its constitution to guarantee it won’t join any “blocs”, i.e. NATO + EU.
And what security guarantees does Ukraine have that Russia won’t invade her again if she does? This is obviously a non-starter.
RE: -Must recognise Crimea as part of Russia.
An acceptable solution would be for Crimeans to vote in a referendum whether or not they want to be Russian or Ukranian or independent.
RE: -Must recognise the eastern separatist regions as independent.
A face saving solution would be for Crimeans to vote in a referendum whether or not they want to be Russian or Ukranian or independent.
SAME HERE.
Let the people decide. The solution would be for Eastern Ukranians to vote in a referendum whether or not they want to be Russian or Ukranian or independent.
Lessee here - cede areas long claimed by Russia and end the latest Euro-pissin contest or have the country leveled. Tough choice.
Maybe the Pooty Off Ramp.It is much as you predicted.
I notice that dropped from his demands are demilitarization, “de-nazification,” and, at least implied, regime change.
The war may not be going as well as putin thought it would.
Perhaps counter with:
not joining any military blocs (including Russia’s);
can “associate” and trade with EU without joining as a full fledged member;
Russia can have the Crimea and a set amount/year of water via canal from Ukraine;
Russia can have the breakaway provinces with compensation for all Ukrainians who want to relocate out of them;
Ukraine will receive 50% of revenue from the oil, gas, and minerals in the breakaway provinces in perpetuity;
Russia will pay to rebuild and replace all damage they have done in Ukraine;
Russia will pay compensation for Ukrainians they have killed, injured, and displaced; and,
Ukraine will have unlimited rights to develop, produce, and sell oil, gas, and minerals in areas in its own offshore zone and the offshore zone of Crimea.
Russia has to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine within 10 days of the agreement, and never come back.
Because Russia (Putin) is/are getting their collective (fill in the blank) kicked.
While appeasement is generally not a good policy, I'm not sure why it became unacceptable in the last few months. Ukraine seemed hellbent to join NATO, knowing that it antagonized Russia. What else is going on there that hasn't been revealed?
Putin forgot to include forced repatriation of all Russian military equipment and soldiers. I bet a lot of them won’t want to go home, and a lot of that equipment is out of gas.
Are these non-negotiable demands or is Putin play Trump style art of the deal, demanding more than what he will actually accept? Ukraine should counter with NATO membership but with no non-Ukrainian NATO forces in Ukraine, and autonomy for Crimea and Donbas. If Ukraine should cede Crimea, it must be demilitarized.
And what does Ukraine get? Ukraine should say ok, but we get an American air base
Won't join the EU
This is what this entire struggle has been about
When Putin and Yanukyvich blocked the accession of Ukraine to the EU, which the majority of Ukrainians wanted, sparking the nationwide tumult and violence, Ukraine was no military threat to Moscow.
Putin pushed them to build up the military and turn to NATO when during the tumult he tried to grab the southeastern part of Ukraine as a Novorossiya (New Russia)
Before that, Ukraine as a poor country had a weak military
The EU is not a military bloc, it is a free trade zone (albeit with a huge smothering bureaucracy and relatively undemocratic structures) that has brought a lot of economic progress to Eastern Europe
If Poland joins the EU, that is the end of Putin's dream of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine as the Russo-Slavic center of a new empire controlled by Moscow. And if Ukrainians make economic progress like the Poles have, then in comparison with the lack of prosperity ordinary Russians have, Putin's historical legacy regarding what he did for Russia will be tarnished.
"Not joining the EU" is the thing Ukraine will most NOT accept, and unless Putin drops this demand I don't think there will be a settlement, Russia will have to continue to try to conquer Ukraine if Putin wants to achieve his dream of keeping Ukraine out of the EU
Then this would be my counter offer.
And while this is going to sound completely crazy, I'm actually agreeing with my bete noire Ron Paul about something: NATO should have ended with the Cold War.
Boss the planes the planes there coming
The Kremlin has announced its demands
Monte Hall not around
He already has de facto possession of Crimea, and no one was putting any serious pressure on him to relinquish it.
Really stupid and hugely destructive miscalculations by Putin.
Define separatist regions...the ones with all the valuable stuff?
I thought Putin wanted nothing less than ALL of Ukraine, and with his own installed Ukraine puppet?
Previously, the Russians had already taken the two break-away oblasts within 24 hours of the invasion. They also had annexed Crimia since 2014.
Now Putin only wants Ukraine to promise not to join NATO/EU.
This seems like a retreat for Russia from the orginal invasion goals.
Sounds like Pooty Poot needs a way out, before things get worse.
Counter offer: Putin must turn himself over to the Hague for trial, or the new regime may deliver just his head.
Prayers for the Ukrainians - for courage. And prayers for the Russians desiring an end to the strife - for wisdom. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Similar to the bigger, badder better-armed next-door neighbor who invades, wrecks and occupies most of your house while killing some of your family, then “offering a deal” that lets him keep the half he occupies.