Russian Occupation Of The Crimea

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26607466

I have just listened to Hague being interviewed by Humphrys on the Today program. We have threatened Russia but Putin has taken no notice and gone ahead with the referendum anyway. Hague keeps saying that a military reaction is out of the question, and I agree. But what can we do in the West, if Putin keeps on ignoring us ? What should we do if Putin decides that lots of other former USSR nations should be annexed by Russia as well ?

[douglas9401]

Praise his manly chest, fawn over his ridiculous photos and bide our time. He'll get his eventually, it's what Russians do to each other.

[Gromit]

We should stop trying to entice them into the EU. Russia feels threaten when what she considers close allies move toward the EU. Ukraine was always known as Russia's breadbasket. That is, Ukraine grew a lot of food which fed the Russians. Losing that food security to the EU was not a good prospect for Russia, so it bribed lots of Ukraine leaders to look after Russia's interests. That worked well until the population, well those that weren't Russian, revolted against the corruption.

The EU should tread very carefully when wooing former soviet nations. The children may have flown the nest, but the mother state is still watches.

[mikey4444]

Gromit...very true, although I think its the Russian bear that we should be wary of, rather than Mummy.

[Old_Geezer]

If one rules out military action then surely one is just left with sanctions ?

I agree that annexing a territory using a referendum not sanctioned by the government of that area, can not be legal, but given that, and even given the encouragement to vote and vote in favour, it still looks like the majority there are not happy and may be difficult to convince to remain regardless.

Is this a battle one might be wise not to get too embroiled in ?

[anotheoldgit]

Surely a referendum is better than an all out civil war, if the majority of the people of Crimea or even parts of the Ukraine wish to be part of Russia so be it, the people have spoken, they did not have a gun held to their heads when they went out to vote.

Imagine if Russia got involved with the Scottish referendum?

[mikey4444]

The democratically elected leader of the Ukraine was deposed of a few weeks ago, thus giving Russia its chance and excuse to go into the Crimea and do the same there. That is the trouble with revolutions...they are rarely democratic !

Not sure what sanctions we can use when all Putin has to do is to turn the gas off. Dodgy few months ahead, methinks.

[youngmafbog]

It is not a winnable battle, we should steer clear especially sincee it does seem genuine that many in Crimea at least want to be Russian and who are we to stop them (that would be very undemocratic)

Obama want to be careful on some of the things he says, ok he is in his last term but some of his statements could come back to bite him in the ass.

With you left wing tendencies though I would have thought you were all up for the Russian bear taking control of as much as possible?

[jomifl]

Youngmaf, there has not been anything left wing about Russia for many decades.

[mikey4444]

ymb...your last sentence is just silly.

[Peter Pedant]

After the fracture of the USSR, when the union was not able to maintain its hold on the satellites, it was inevitable that there would be an attempt to claw back 'losses'

In my childhood we were surrounded by survivors of the second world war who definitely did NOT wish to return to ( a gulag in ) Mother Rossia

so I have been watching this lot voting to rejoin their stalinist successors with - well - awe.

[Old_Geezer]

A matter of opinion who gets 'hurt' fastest or most deeply when sanctions and retaliation sanctions are applied.

Has all the makings of a flash point though. Will need to hope a diplomatic solution is achievable.

[ichkeria]

Nothing particularly "left wing" about a country with a top tax rate of 13%.

Russia is really as close as it gets to a fascist state these days. It's ruled by gangsters who see the revolution in Ukraine as a threat to their ill-gotten gains, nothing more nothing less. Diplomacy will not work with these people and it is difficult to see what will, other than the sort of economic warfare which I'm afraid the west has no stomach for. Ironically it's the traditional powers of W Europe: German, Britain and France, who are looking particularly behind the pace when it comes to reacting to this. Mind you, we don't know what is said behind the scenes. Hague will know full well the true nature of the Russian beast, but has to stick to diplomatic language.

[ichkeria]

"so I have been watching this lot voting to rejoin their stalinist successors with - well - awe. "

I entirely understand why ordinary Russian people in Crimea are so keen to "rejoin Mother Russia". What is damnable is the way it has been done.