generalspeaking

Kyiv's Problem

"Kyiv has to come to terms with the idea that Donbass is not part of Ukraine."
"Whether they will recognize the result of our vote or not is Kyiv's problem."
Roman Lyagin, head of Donetsk election body

"The more Russia appears to be doubling down in Ukraine and using the separatist elections to keep the country divided and weak, then the more difficult alleviating the EU sanctions will be."
Joshua Shifrinson assistant professor, Texas A & M University

"In view of the elections, it is extremely important to take active steps roward promoting sustained dialogue between central Ukrainian authorities and the representatives of the Donbass."
Russian Foreign Ministry statement

"The pseudo-elections are a brutal violation of the Minsk Protocol of September 5. The Minsk Protocol provides for the holding of early local elections in the area of Donbass solely under the laws of Ukraine. We provided them with the given opportunity. The farce of November 2 jeopardizes the entire peace process, the beginning of which has been achieved at the cost of outstanding efforts."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

American and European sanctions penalizing Russia for its interference in the political affairs of its neighbour Ukraine, let alone directing and choreographing an insurrection leading to Moscow taking possession of the Crimean Peninsula have taken their toll. The economy already fragile, now sits on the brink of recession. Those all-important international investors have chosen to sit on their money piles, with capital flight seemingly unstoppable.

The European Union and the United States condemned unequivocally the sham and shamefully absurd 'elections' that took place in Donetsk and Luhansk in a transparently futile effort to give credibility to the assertions of democracy in action; the east of Ukraine rising as one voice to spurn Kyiv and embrace their sovereign rights to secede.

With Moscow's warm embrace of the elections; above all for their results, and promises they would be recognized and final, despite the ceasefire agreement signed between Ukraine, Russia and the rebels with promises that future elections should take place under Ukraine's supervision encompassing the entire east, Germany has responded slamming the outcome.

Because the elections were not respectful of the agreement and carried out in accordance with Ukrainian law they "can have no legal relevance" and will only serve to deepen the crisis, stated Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert. Russia's tolerant agreement on the election outcome with the 'election' of the only two candidates on the slate is clearly detrimental to the September truce signed in Minsk.

"I didn't vote in the elections. They mean nothing to me, they only mean more people with guns and more chaos. Since they've taken over, our Donbass has produced only idiots."

"I don't want to give you my last name because this is like the 1930s, like Stalin's purges, people are afraid to speak their mind."

Natasha, 28, Ukrainian nurse, Donetsk

Briefing reporters, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove spoke of Moscow's interference in Ukraine as a threat in the creation of what will become "a frozen conflict". He expressed his belief that up to 300 Russian troops remain within Ukraine, training and equipping rebels. Seven Russian battalions, moreover, remain on the Russian side of the border. Moscow, General Breedlove warned, is working to shift the border west, removing it from Ukrainian territory and into Russia's embracing possession.

Labels: Civil War, Conflict, Russia, Ukraine

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, November 05, 2014