Posted on 07/26/2018 11:39:45 AM PDT by GonzoII
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States will never recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and will continue to insist that Ukraine’s territorial integrity be restored.
In a statement released Wednesday by the State Department, Pompeo said the U.S. will hold to its long-standing principle of refusing to recognize Kremlin claims of sovereignty over territory seized by force, in violation of international law.
He called for Russia to respect principles and “end its occupation of Crimea.”
The statement was released shortly before Pompeo was to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he is expected to face tough questioning about President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
(Excerpt) Read more at westernjournal.com ...
1. Crimea was part of Russia until the mid 50’s when the soviet union ‘gave’ it to Ukraine.
2. The population there is Russian speaking and majority ethnically Russian.
3. When the soviet union dissolved Crimea voted to return to Russia. It was overruled by the Ukrainian govt. for various, fairly self-serving reasons.
4. Another referendum was held in 2014 in which they voted again to leave the Ukraine and join Russia - the election of a corrupt, liberal, globalist govt in Kiev prompted the vote.
Sorry but I don’t see this as Russian aggression. At all. Even though it is a key piece of geography.
Are the people of Crimea not allowed self determination?
Crimea is very much misunderstood in the West. It has been Russian since Catherine the Great annexed it in 1783. Prior to that, it had belonged to the Ottoman Empire.
In 1954, Kruschev transferred Crimea within the USSR to Ukraine, to win support from Ukrainian bosses for his ascension to supreme leader after Stalin’s death.
Here is an analogy: Long Island is part of New York since 1783 or so. Then in 1954 it is transferred from NY to CT in return for critical CT electoral votes. A half century later, NY state takes Long Island back.
The Russian RE-annexation of Crimea is not a cause for the USA to meddle in.
And it’s not much different with Eastern Ukraine. The borders between Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Belorussia etc have shifted over and over during the past century. There are no natural boundaries (mountain ranges or rivers) so the borders are mostly based on who has joined what rising or falling empire.
Ethnic/linguistic populations often find themselves on the “wrong” side of newly-drawn borders, and a few generations later, they want to rejoin their ethnic/linguistic brothers on the other side. Again, this has happened over and over and over again across the plains of Eastern Europe.
Imagine Russia now demanding that we give the Southwest back to Mexico, or demanding the return of the “swindled” territory of Alaska. We’d laugh in their faces.
Only the Perpetual War Party wants to go to war with Russia over Crimea or Eastern Ukraine.
I agree. See #3.
wasn’t Crimea part of the Russian empire for about 300 years, then part of the Soviet Union for 80 years. Crimea isn’t worth a single American life, so enough of the Red Lines.
I view the US policy stance here as both provocative and hypocritical.
President Trump doesn’t use absolutes like “red line” and “never.” There’s always a deal that can be made.
“Only the Perpetual War Party “
Notice much of the Cold War was prompted by and continued to be pushed by the democraps. There didn’t even need to be a Cold War, but Truman was an idiot who found war to be a party platform.
Imagine Russia now demanding that we give the Southwest back to Mexico, or demanding the return of the “swindled” territory of Alaska. We’d laugh in their faces.
Imagine the hundreds of thousands of Mexicans living in Los Angeles ejecting the gringos and demanding the city be returned to Mexico. Following your “logic” that would indeed be legit.
Any reason in particular you air brush history like a good Bolshevik? I expect better from you.
Good Point.
How do I relieve myself from 'Rat fascism?
I don’t think there was much of a choice with Stalin & Mao unless your preference is a “Hot (shooting!) War”!
In other news, Russia is claiming that Seward’s Folly (the
Alaska purchase) is void for fraud and they are setting up a naval base in Anchorage.
So by not recognizing it, can the US not use this as a bargaining chip in negotiations where the stakes are material and worthwhile?
I’m thinking about Jupiter missiles in Turkey now. Back then, the USSR put us in a position where we couldn’t give them up and save face.
In this case, if the history is right and the people in Ukraine don’t care, then it matters to the Sovs, er, Russians, but not to us.
I agree with others. Crimea is Russian. Putin will never give it up, nor will anyone who comes after him. We can use it as a bargaining chip, but don’t overplay it because from Russia’s point of view it is a non-negotiable.
Now, in the current climate, Trump’s hands are tied, he can’t recognize Crimea as Russian without being further accused of being a Russian spy, even though it would only be recognizing reality. He can’t do it openly, we will have to move to that position in the wake of something that changes the political climate with Russia and for Trump himself.
But while for political and negotiating reasons we may pretend to believe Crimea is Ukrainian, its important to never actually believe your own hype.
This is a foolish position for the US, and Trump, to take.
Foolish.
Wrong. You’re the one with the weak logic.
The Russians in Crimea are not recent, illegal, invaders. They have been there for centuries.
2014 – The Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovich fell under a popular revolt in Kiev. The Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and for its annexation to the Russian Federation. On March 16th over 93% of the population voted to rejoin Russia.
It’s all a moot issue now. Crimea is part of Russia forever. The time to stop the theft was when Putin was stealing Crimea at gun point but of course the kenyan did nothing. Now the issue is all hot air bloviating. The Euros can’t wait to drop sanctions and they already would be history had Hillary won.
“Any reason in particular you air brush history like a good Bolshevik? “
Hey! Lookie there!
The disgraced Neoconservatives have graduated from the timeworn “Putinista” charge to “Bolshevik”!
I suspect it’s their CFR “scholars” that are feeding them new words.
But, alas, they’re as funny as they ever were.
Wrong. You’re the one with the weak logic.
The Russians in Crimea are not recent, illegal, invaders. They have been there for centuries.
So then why the need to air brush hitory? Everyone of you Putinists in this thread leave out Stalin’s massive deportations in Crimea that changed the demographics forever. Why is that?
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