Meanwhile in Ukraine... Revolution.

[Bit_Happy]

Tymoshenko at present is without any functions in the Ukraine government so why do You imply it's her decision? As for Putin popularity falling in Russian I don't think thats going to happen. When Crimea was taken by Russia many Russian citizens where against that.

1. Oleksandr Turchynov is widely considered as the proxy of Yulia Tymoshenko.

2. Putin's popularity received a boost during the Crimean invasion and currently stands at around 65% (verified by Western media sources). Much higher than Obama and Merkel.

3. I have followed sites like Vkontakte and Russian language discussion forums. More than 95% of the Russians were supportive of Putin's move to annex Russia. As far as I know, the current mood of the Russian public is even more hawkish than that of Putin.

Putin's move to annex Russia
Perhaps Sarah Palin wants to annex Russia?  
I know it's a typo...



<On topic>
Sorry to hear the Russian public is so hawkish. That is really bad news.

[1714656932]

1714656932

[1714656932]

1714656932

[1714656932]

1714656932

[Don007]

I think it's great to read all the news from all possible sides over here, go on .

Obviously, Putin had it enough and is seeking his way out. Taking Crimea might easily prove to be Russian Pyrrhic victory.

Too early to say that. If he does something like that, his popularity back home in Russia will take a severe beating. < . . >

I'm not sure about that. Some people might think he and Russia is weak by doing that, but others may think he and Russia is strong by doing that..  I think it really depends on the people.

[Rassah]

Yet another proof that the anti-Russian propaganda is not working:

Russia Today becomes the first news channel to get a billion hits on YouTube!

Sadly, this says absolutely nothing about the quality or the truth of the news they report. I mean look at this:



And Fox News has been blatant about their propaganda and lies.

[247crypto]

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http://voicekharkov.ru/ - Гoлoc Xapькoвa
http://voicekherson.ru/ - Гoлoc Xepcoнa
http://voiceodessa.ru/ - Гoлoc Oдeccы
http://voicelugansk.ru/ - Гoлoc Лyгaнcкa
http://voicenikolaev.ru/ - Гoлoc Hикoлaeвa

[Rassah]

Just for some perspective, let's compare the Maidan Protests to the Pro-Russian separatist protests.

	Maidan	Pro-Russian Protests
Goals	To free the country from a dictator-like corrupt government, and to integrate with the much more democratic countries of Europe, while maintaining government independence.	Full or partial occupation of their own country by a foreign, dictatorial, corrupt regime, and be swallowed up by an antidemocratic country with a total loss of their region's independence
Methods	During the course of the first months, strict non-violence, despite the use of force, even to the point of torture and killings, by the ruling force. Only after the ruling party broke promises on multiple occasions, and continued to use violent force against the protesters, did the protesters became violent themselves. Still, their main weapons were sticks and molotov cocktails. Firearms were almost entirely absent. Treatment of captured prisoners, though strict, was still mostly fair.	Use of violence from the very beginning, including capture of administrative buildings, law enforcement offices, military facilities, seizure of military weaponry (including machine guns and grenade launchers), and distribution of weapons to supporters. Murder, torture, violent beatings of unarmed protesters, capture of hostages, use of women and children as human shields, and abuse of captured prisoners.
The role of foreign allied countries	Verbal support - much later economic sanctions. Everything is done in the open.	Strategic and violent. Military occupation and annexation of Crimea using the already available and moved-in foreign troops, capture of buildings and objectives by foreign special forces, sending spies and saboteurs deeper into the country, and concentration of troops on the borders. All this done while hypocritically denying supplies to the rebels and army intelligence services of the country they claim to support.
National Ideology	Unity of the Ukrainian nation, including all ethnic groups and regions of Ukraine; absence of hatred and ethnic discrimination.	Splitting the nation and the state, hatred of all things Ukrainian, European, and American. Russian fascism and anti-Semitism.
The Language Issue	Official government language is Ukrainian, but no one objects to speaking in Russian. Russian language was frequently heard on Maidan. There is not a single case of abuse or violence against someone, just because they are speaking Russian.	Hatred and contempt for the Ukrainian language, lack of recognition of it as a "real language," unwillingness to hear or learn any language other than Russian.
Organization	Self-organization from below; official policies more hurt than help; proven that massive cases of payoffs by special interests were not happening.	Protests inspired by a foreign state; bystanders playing the role of pawns, extras, or human shields, governed by coordinators and fighters sent from abroad. There are numerous cases of people being paid off to act (although there are plenty of actors working for ideological reasons)
Support of the population (based on surveys)	More than half of the whole country.	12% in the whole country. Maximum support of 33% in Donetsk oblast, and 41% in Crimea (when questioned before the current occupation).
Intellectual, cultural, and creative level	In general, high. On Maidan there was its own library, art exhibitions, lecture readings, comedy skits, musicians, poets, etc. Hig creativity, with many ingenious slogans and posters, and ingenuity in combat conditions (catapults and fire barricades).	In general, low. Zero creativity, no own ideas, barricade tactics copied from Maidan. Many participants apparently with a criminal past.
Atmosphere	In general positive and polite, often even in relation to opponents.	Generally vicious and aggressive, with constant cursing, threats, and physical aggression.
Behavior in captured buildings	Maintaining order, attempt to minimize possible damage.	Vandalism and looting; piles of garbage.
Alcohol	Prohibited.	Actively used. Also cases of drug use.
Propaganda	Mostly truthful, except for the inevitable in a revolutionary situation, with regards to unverified rumors.	Almost entirely false, with the lies generated with all the might of a foreign state propaganda machine.
Attitude towards Soviet regime	Negative.	Positive.

[pinky]

Just for some perspective, let's compare the Maidan Protests to the Pro-Russian separatist protests.

	Maidan	Pro-Russian Protests
Goals	To free the country from a dictator-like corrupt government, and to integrate with the much more democratic countries of Europe, while maintaining government independence.	Full or partial occupation of their own country by a foreign, dictatorial, corrupt regime, and be swallowed up by an antidemocratic country with a total loss of their region's independence
Methods	During the course of the first months, strict non-violence, despite the use of force, even to the point of torture and killings, by the ruling force. Only after the ruling party broke promises on multiple occasions, and continued to use violent force against the protesters, did the protesters became violent themselves. Still, their main weapons were sticks and molotov cocktails. Firearms were almost entirely absent. Treatment of captured prisoners, though strict, was still mostly fair.	Use of violence from the very beginning, including capture of administrative buildings, law enforcement offices, military facilities, seizure of military weaponry (including machine guns and grenade launchers), and distribution of weapons to supporters. Murder, torture, violent beatings of unarmed protesters, capture of hostages, use of women and children as human shields, and abuse of captured prisoners.
The role of foreign allied countries	Verbal support - much later economic sanctions. Everything is done in the open.	Strategic and violent. Military occupation and annexation of Crimea using the already available and moved-in foreign troops, capture of buildings and objectives by foreign special forces, sending spies and saboteurs deeper into the country, and concentration of troops on the borders. All this done while hypocritically denying supplies to the rebels and army intelligence services of the country they claim to support.
National Ideology	Unity of the Ukrainian nation, including all ethnic groups and regions of Ukraine; absence of hatred and ethnic discrimination.	Splitting the nation and the state, hatred of all things Ukrainian, European, and American. Russian fascism and anti-Semitism.
The Language Issue	Official government language is Ukrainian, but no one objects to speaking in Russian. Russian language was frequently heard on Maidan. There is not a single case of abuse or violence against someone, just because they are speaking Russian.	Hatred and contempt for the Ukrainian language, lack of recognition of it as a "real language," unwillingness to hear or learn any language other than Russian.
Organization	Self-organization from below; official policies more hurt than help; proven that massive cases of payoffs by special interests were not happening.	Protests inspired by a foreign state; bystanders playing the role of pawns, extras, or human shields, governed by coordinators and fighters sent from abroad. There are numerous cases of people being paid off to act (although there are plenty of actors working for ideological reasons)
Support of the population (based on surveys)	More than half of the whole country.	12% in the wole countr. Maximum support of 33% in Donetsk oblast, and 41% in Crimea (when questioned before the current occupation).
Intellectual, cultural, and creative level	In general, high. On Maidan there was its own library, art exhibitions, lecture readings, comedy skits, musicians, poets, etc. Hig creativity, with many ingenious slogans and posters, and ingenuity in combat conditions (catapults and fire barricades).	In general, low. Zero creativity, no own ideas, barricade tactics copied from Maidan. Many participants apparently with a criminal past.
Atmosphere	In general positive and polite, often even in relation to opponents.	Generally vicious and aggressive, with constant cursing, threats, and physical aggression.
Behavior in captured buildings	Maintaining order, attempt to minimize possible damage.	Vandalism and looting; piles of garbage.
Alcohol	Prohibited.	Actively used. Also cases of drug use.
Propaganda	Mostly truthful, except for the inevitable in a revolutionary situation, with regards to unverified rumors.	Almost entirely false, with the lies generated with all the might of a foreign state propaganda machine.
Attitude towards Soviet regime	Negative.	Positive.

Lol, and why would you want to keep them under your control? I am being serious!

You don't like them, you think they are impolite, drunkers, idiots, robbers, violent, lower class, uneducated, lack of cognitive functions. Pretty much you would only like to see them as far away as possible. You don't feel any cultural connection with them, for you they are like monkeys in the jungle. I am not suprised they want away from Ukraine ASAP.

[LatinF]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Ukraine_relations#Kievan_Rus.27

After the Mongol invasion of Rus the histories of the Russian and Ukrainian people's started to diverge.[9] The former, having successfully united all the remnants of the Rus' northern provinces, swelled into a powerful Russian state. The latter came under the domination of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, followed by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

And yes Russian and Ukranian are both slavic people. People who serve in Right Sector are mostly Polish Austrian descent. Also they rob population and beat random people up. How come army is idling? Perhaps cause they like fellow Slavs? Ukrainian army might take example from Egypt and help people

He looks Slavic to you? Or like Khazar? USA Israel warmonger. Well hopefully soon Ukrainians restore peace and manage to pacify such people.

http://seansrussiablog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Yarosh.jpg

[bryant.coleman]

Sadly, this says absolutely nothing about the quality or the truth of the news they report. I mean look at this:

Once again, outside the US and the EU, Russia Today is one of the most trusted news channels. At least in my native place (South Asia) it is. Much more unbiased when compared to all the other pro-US channels such as BBC and CNN.

[Nemo1024]

<On topic>
Sorry to hear the Russian public is so hawkish. That is really bad news.

Hawkishness is probably not entirely correct word. It's unlike the American political hawkishness of "let's start a war in a random country, so we can justify military budget spendings".

Hawkishness in Russian population centres around the feeling of injustice that happened in 1917 when the country was destroyed and torn apart. Many see that territories that were given away by self-proclaimed rulers then (Lenin = Turchinov, eh ), need to be returned. I doubt anyone thinks of reunification of Finland, but the Novorussia region, with its population composition and mindset which hasn't change since the beginning of 1900s is a fair candidate.

[Nemo1024]

Just for some perspective, let's compare the Maidan Protests to the Pro-Russian separatist protests.

Support of the population (based on surveys)

More than half of the whole country.

12% in the wole countr. Maximum support of 33% in Donetsk oblast, and 41% in Crimea (when questioned before the current occupation).

Case A: Western Ukraine; Case B: Eastern Ukraine.

Oh, and you numbers are a bit off.
http://modsite.by/allresult/#.U0mEKPl_vG9

[bryant.coleman]

Germany welcomes Putin's 'constructive tone'

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Germany-welcomes-Putin-s-constructive-tone-5461949.php?cmpid=twitter

Germany's foreign minister says Russian President Vladimir Putin's newly "constructive tone" could provide new momentum for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Thursday "we are now at perhaps a decisive point" following Putin's meeting Wednesday with Swiss President Didier Burkhalter, whose country chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

[247crypto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm-bjDyO0qA

[bryant.coleman]

Ukraine crisis starts to hit European firms 

http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/07/news/economy/ukraine-europe-companies/index.html

From banks to brewers, the slump in Russia's economy is taking its toll on sales and profits at businesses in the rest of Europe. Weak factory orders in Germany could point to worse to come.

The International Monetary Fund says Russia has already been dragged into a recession as investors flee the emerging market for fear of being caught up in the escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The United States and Europe accuse Moscow of stoking separatist tension in Ukraine, following its annexation of Crimea. They've frozen the assets of dozens of Russian officials, and the U.S. has gone further by targeting 18 Russian companies.

[Nemo1024]

A deputy of Ukrainian Rada want to pass a law prohibiting deputies of Russian Duma visiting Ukraine:
http://ria.ru/world/20140508/1006995886.html

Absurdity rules. The number of Russian deputies who visited or would wish to visit Ukraine is far below that of the US/EU/NATO officials.
Yanukovich tried to ban entry to them, but it was already too late.

Moscow: Kiev's reaction obstructs OSCE efforts to resolve Ukraine crisis
http://rt.com/news/157696-kiev-reaction-osce-russia/

Kiev's reaction has jeopardized the OSCE’s efforts to start an inclusive national dialogue in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed “deep concern” at Kiev’s official reaction to proposals on resolving the Ukrainian crisis reached by President Putin and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter during negotiations in Moscow on Wednesday.

"Reaction to the results of the Putin-Burkhalter meeting is a matter of deep concern as it effectively puts into question the prospects of the OSCE's efforts to launch an inclusive national dialogue,” Lavrov said in a phone call with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

2 southeast Ukrainian regions to hold referendum May 11 as planned
http://rt.com/news/157640-donetsk-ukraine-referendum-may/

“This is not our decision [of the politicians] , this is the decision of people of Donbas region,” said Andrey Purgin, one of the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, “People of Donbas [Region] got their chance to make a heroic deed and we can’t deprive them from this chance.”

The decision of holding a referendum as scheduled was approved on the council of People’s Republic of Donetsk unanimously.

“People don’t trust Kiev authorities,” Miroslav Rudenko, one of the Donbas self-defense leaders, told Interfax, “Also the reaction of [coup-appointed PM Arseny] Yatsenyuk to the proposal of Russian President [calling for an end to Kiev’s military operation] was inadequate.”

[bryant.coleman]

Ukraine: 17 Billion Reasons To Doubt It Is About Democracy

http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/ukraine-17-billion-reasons-doubt-democracy/

With this decision, the IMF and the western powers have given the green light to begin acquiring the country’s assets in a number of steps and through compliance to certain globalist banking rules that are pre-established by the world’s central bank. Initially, the IMF will disburse $3,190 million to Kiev, of which $2.000 billion will be added to the official budget in an attempt to “support and stabilize” the ailing Ukrainian economy.

[Wilikon]

Meanwhile in Ukraine... The US Vice President...



prominent businessman." In that same speech, Biden said "Democracy and free markets work best when they deliver what people most want."

Sure enough, Jaguars and Porsches are probably what some people "most want." Now thanks to U.S. taxpayer backing, some Ukrainians have them!



http://washingtonexaminer.com/overseas-private-investment-corporation-gave-a-20-million-loan-to-ukrainian-porsche-dealership-owned-by-biden-friend-and-donor/article/2548216

[pinky]

prominent businessman." In that same speech, Biden said "Democracy and free markets work best when they deliver what people most want."

Sure enough, Jaguars and Porsches are probably what some people "most want." Now thanks to U.S. taxpayer backing, some Ukrainians have them!

This bussines and money is probably just cover up for funding some CIA operations in Ukraine.

[PrintMule]

prominent businessman." In that same speech, Biden said "Democracy and free markets work best when they deliver what people most want."

Sure enough, Jaguars and Porsches are probably what some people "most want." Now thanks to U.S. taxpayer backing, some Ukrainians have them!

This bussines and money is probably just cover up for funding some CIA operations in Ukraine.

what's wrong with a suitcase full of cash? do not overthink it

[bryant.coleman]

Ukraine deploys 15,000 troops to Russian border, NATO beefs up forces in E. Europe – Moscow

http://rt.com/news/157736-ukraine-troops-russia-borders

Ukraine has deployed 15,000 troops on its border with Russia, while NATO continues beefing up its forces in Eastern Europe, Russian Defense Ministry stated as the military alliance and Pentagon accuse Moscow of keeping armed forces close to Ukraine.

[Nemo1024]

And following these news, unknown people attack the control post on Russian-Ukrainian border:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2014/05/140508_rn_ukraine_russia_border_attack.shtml

This might escalate into a war..?

Two buses arrived at the check point to arrange papers for exit from Ukraine, once on the territory of the check point, about 40 armed men jumped out of the buses and spread around the perimeter.

They demanded that the border guards put down their weapons and surrender within 30 seconds. 30 seconds later they started throwing bottles with flammable liquid. Border guards opened fire. In the ensuing flames, the attackers got back into the cars and drove back to Ukrainian territory.


In other news, Poroshenko proposes to rename Victory Day celebration into Memory Day celebration in accordance with UN and Western tradition.
http://www.interfax.ru/world/375474


Russia introduces return sanctions in reply to the ones introduced by US/Canada. The names on the sanctions list will not be announced. They will know about it once they apply for Russian visas. 
http://www.interfax.ru/russia/375496