Turkey's Erdogan Says Russia Must Return Crimea to Ukraine

Erdoğan said in his video address that Turkey has always been opposed to Russia's annexation of Crimea. He decried the persecution of Crimea's ethnic Tatars since 2014.

Erdoğan added: "Our sincere wish is for the war to end with a fair and lasting peace based on Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence."

In October 2020, the Turkish leader said during a joint press briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that his country would never recognize the annexation of Crimea.

"We have and always will support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including over Crimea," he said. "Turkey sees Ukraine as a key country for ensuring stability, security, peace and prosperity in our region."

Still here, whining away like a three year old girl, canuck?

You PINKY PROMISED us you were leaving...

_________________________________________

To: Jim Robinson; Chris Robinson

#179, 191, etc.

This is a good example of why FR is dying

FR used to be fun, positive, something to look forward to Now it’s just rampant bullying and personal insults every day - and you do nothing about it

So good people quietly leave ... with their donations Look, it’s your site, if you want to turn Free Republic into “Free Russia”, just keep doing nothing

But then make sure you hit up the Russia cheerleaders for your donations (funny, we never see their names on the donor board)

Go ahead, flame me, I don’t care ... I’m on my way out of FR too, it’s not fun anymore

182 posted on 4/9/2024, 8:14:06 PM by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 181 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4229842/posts?page=182#182

Historically, Crimea was a semi-autonomous oblast even when attached, for administration, to Ukraine SSR. Ditto, the Donbas region. It was transferred from Russia SSR to Ukraine SSR by Stalin.

By Khrushchev. Khrushchev at the time was in a power struggle, and was Stalin’s man in Ukraine, so he did it as a gesture to try to win Ukrainians over. Of course, it really didn’t matter, since Moscow was always calling the shots, anyway.

Stalin or Khrushchev ... I notice you don’t distinguish Donbas from Crimea, and that you don’t give sources. So, let’s look it up.

This article says Stalin “gave” Donbas to Ukraine SSR.

https://www.world-today-news.com/why-stalin-gave-donbass-to-ukraine/

This article says Khrushchev “gave” Crimea to Ukraine SSR.

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/why-did-russia-give-away-crimea-sixty-years-ago

Thanks for the correction in the case of Crimea.

You are also correct, that Khrushchev had his reasons regarding Crimea (as Stalin had his reasons regarding Donbas), and that these “reasons” weren’t very consequential prior to the dissolution of the USSR.

Even following the dissolution of the USSR, Russia was tolerant of Ukraine being an independent country since Ukraine was run by Russophiles. It was only when the Ukrainians - at least the Ukrainian-speakers among them - became Europhiles, that Russia became concerned.

The claims of both Russia and Ukraine that they have clear claims over Donbas and Crimea are and always were bogus. But, why would either side be interested in a deal, when both think they can win through war? Our concern, as Americans, is primarily in bringing the fighting to a conclusion, and secondarily to respect the wishes of the people of the regions in dispute whether to be part of Russia or of Ukraine.

Offensive operations are hard for both sides in this war. The Ukes don't have to march there, they can starve and bomb them out.

The summer-fall-winter-spring counter-offensive breoke the Ukrainian army. The western imposed idea, with the western tactics, was an unmitigated disaster.

The Ukes don't have to march there, they can starve and bomb them out.

Many Ukes needlessly died proving that it was impossible for them to march there. It was an unnecessary waste imposed upon Ukraine.

The concept of Ukraine starving Crimea out boggles the mind. It was annexed by Russia over ten years ago.

The concept of Ukraine bombing Russia out of Crimea equally boggles the imagination. Ukraine has not been able to bomb them in the ten years Crimea has been annexed by Russia. It is Ukraine that is unable to keep the lights on.

Since the catastrophic misadventure in Kursk, the Ukrainian lines have been collapsing. The war is thankfully coming to an end. Crimea plus a lot more is not coming back. Russia won, Ukraine lost. More dead Ukrainians will not change that. Time to move on. Ukraine needs to cut bait and try to survive as a nation state. The Russian held territory used to be the industrial base for the now bankrupt Ukraine. Ukraine has even had to cut soldier's pay to make more defense purchases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWfiSkCZsRw

Sep 6, 2024
Amid Russian Victories, Ukraine Hit By Huge Disaster; 'Soldiers Salaries Sent To West For...'
Ukraine’s military may not fully pay frontline troops this month due to a budget shortfall. Lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa warned that without budget amendments, troops will receive significantly smaller paychecks. Delays in U.S. aid caused the gap, linked to congressional gridlock. Ukrainian authorities are using military salary funds for weapons, exacerbating the issue. Ukraine may need to boost domestic debt by an additional $5 billion to address the crisis.

- - - - -

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/ukraine-soldiers-wage-cuts-austerity-veterans/

Ukraine’s soldiers face drastic wage cuts as austerity bites
Salary cuts will have a negative impact on their morale, preparedness and medical treatment, say soldiers
Kateryna Farbar
18 March 2023, 4.38pm

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