Who do you support in the Ukraine conflicts?

Though it looks like the conflict has died down a bit, it is absolutely unresolved. Thoughts?

I believe that as long as the Russians don't puppet the nation's, it would be reasonable for them to end up independent due to the fact that they have much different culture from the west Ukrainians, being much more Russian than the west.

I don't support either even though I am Russian, I think Russia should stay away from Ukraine.

What about Russia's security though? NATO has been expanding rapidly recently so of course Russia would seek to maintain some kind of buffer zone. This conflict wasn't unprecedented.

Honestly... i'm on russia's side here. They have merely adopted the tactics the US has shown to be working. Putin is a smart guy, he sees how the US has built its empire (through the marshallplan in europe and others) and how they create satelite states (middle east, south america). The UN and the world have accepted these tactics as optional, so yeah... Russia has a right to do whatever they want to do. That's the precedent that's been created.

Russia. Because Yay for Imperialism!

Should it be in the interest of the people living in these regions for them to have a referendum on what they would like to do?
Self-determination is, in my opinion, the best possible outcome for those living in these disputed regions and if they want to be with Russia, so be it. Same thing if they want to remain with Ukraine.

That won't completely solve it. If the referendum is done and Ukraine split or kept together, you will still need NATO to stay out of it's affairs.

Russia only want's that space because it has a lot of coal.
That's the only reason

They should follow the lead of Crimea and have an open and fair referendum on what they want to do.

Neither. I live pretty far away from Russia but I know people who live alongside its borders and are afraid of an occasional invasion. Just let the good folk live their lives.

The US already has a deal with Ukraine that if they gave up their nukes then the US would defend them. Joining NATO is a formality.

Nobody is forcing Ukraine to join NATO. A poll finds that 63.9% of Ukrainians support NATO membership in territories controlled by the government.  

Every NATO expansion has been supported by the population. Russia does not have a right to decide what organizations Ukraine can join.  That decision should be self-determined.

Being realistic, this wouldn't happen unless Russia got something in return like annexing territory controlled by rebels.

DavidlVofGeorgia wrote:The US already has a deal with Ukraine that if they gave up their nukes then the US would defend them. Joining NATO is a formality.

Nobody is forcing Ukraine to join NATO. A poll finds that 63.9% of Ukrainians support NATO membership in territories controlled by the government.  

Every NATO expansion has been supported by the population. Russia does not have a right to decide what organizations Ukraine can join.  That decision should be self-determined.

Being realistic, this wouldn't happen unless Russia got something in return like annexing territory controlled by rebels.

The United States and NATO agreed that NATO would never border Russia; this promise has been directly broken, and Ukraine joining would be a further violation of this agreement.

I am a filthy American, who should naturally oppose Russia, but in this case, I feel that if the people there are Russian, then yes, it belongs to Russia OR they become independent states.

Crimea can stay with Russia, but Donetsk and Luhansk should go back to Ukraine.

Voytek wrote:What about Russia's security though? NATO has been expanding rapidly recently so of course Russia would seek to maintain some kind of buffer zone. This conflict wasn't unprecedented.

I think that there should be an agreement where Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus are guaranteed to never join NATO. That would keep a buffer zone and help ease tensions.

EmperorTigerstar wrote:

Voytek wrote:What about Russia's security though? NATO has been expanding rapidly recently so of course Russia would seek to maintain some kind of buffer zone. This conflict wasn't unprecedented.

I think that there should be an agreement where Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus are guaranteed to never join NATO. That would keep a buffer zone and help ease tensions.

That is basically transnistria, Luhansk, Donetsk, South Ossetia, and Abkhanzia are for. Agreements between NATO and Russia have a bad history of failing on both sides and the best way for Russia to ensure that is with separatist regions.

I support Russia's intervention and the annexation of the far Eastern regions of Ukraine only following a monitored and legitimate referendum by those regions.

Cold War Communist wrote:I support Russia's intervention and the annexation of the far Eastern regions of Ukraine only following a monitored and legitimate referendum by those regions.

I feel like this is the best way to do it. If the people of the region are ethnic Russians and support their home country, then they will vote in turn. If they support Ukraine, then so be it. Self-determination is important, as long as the referendum is legitimate.

I believe that it is rightful Russian lands. Same culture, the people want to actually join Russia. They have been fighting for years now to either join Russia or have large ties with them. Of course if I am wrong and everyone there hates the Russians and they hold a vote then they should be free states.

Back to Ukrain because we (the Germans) aren't allowed to get territory which is ethnically German too;)