I never made that claim. As to why Kiev/Kyiv decided to start a military operation on its own people back in 2014, I'd say the primary factor was the new government administration that was put into place after Ukrainian President Yanukovych fled from his life after the violent protests in Euromaidan. There's one documentary on the war in Donbass that was done by a German journalist team that I thought was quite good. Veterans Today has an article on it, as well as a link to the film itself here:
Ukrainian Agony, the Concealed War (full length video) | Veterans Today
Veterans Today is an American anti-Semitic and conspiracy theory website. It describes itself as a "military veterans and foreign affairs journal", but the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) had said "the anti-Israel bent on VT can slide pretty quickly into overt anti-Semitism."[1] Multiple sources describe it as a pro-Kremlin outlet.[2][3]
Veterans Today was founded in 2003 "in opposition to the invasion of Iraq." According to Politico, the site "soon began publishing wild conspiracy theories" and "has consistently published articles that push the Kremlin party line".[2] It has ties with the Iranian state-backed Press TV
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Today
When asked about his approach to his work and the censorship policy in the Donbass region, Mr. Möbius replied:
"Let's not kid ourselves. We are in a propaganda war – over there and here in Germany."
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland...a-eastern-ukraine-separatists-e-mails/seite-4
Mirko Möbius under the pseudoname Mark Bartalmai, is the 'journalist" that narrates the movie. As I'm sure you well know. Just posted that for others on the board.
I don't think so, though reading articles and watching documentaries from people who have lived there for a time is certainly important in my view.
Yet you have no idea what the truth is. You only believe Russian propaganda and not Western propaganda.
Sure. I'm personally glad that Russia decided to take the step to hold referendums in the 4 Ukrainian regions where they control some territory to see if they'd like to join Russia. People may contest the results, but the fact that Russia put a good amount of energy into holding referendums at all is a very positive sign in my view.
Sure , a positive sign for the Russian view. Ukraine is a sovereign state. Russia has no business holding referendums in Ukraine. Can you imagine the U.S. holding referendums in Canada or Mexico and
anybody viewing that as a positive sign?
Look at the historical electoral maps of Putin's wins. In 2012 and 2018 not one Russian state voted in favor of another opponent. Not one. Even Reagan never won with that kind of a landslide.
That reeks to high heaven. Add to that political opposition to Putin are poisoned on foreign soil. There's other obvious signs, too many to go into.
I certainly wouldn't be, though I'm not an American.
I strongly suspect you're a Russian nationalist, like Fabius Bile who outright admitted the goal of the war for Russia is to turn Ukraine into a field.
Or you are Fabius' sock.
Here's what I know
for a fact, propaganda from both sides aside:
Russia invaded Ukraine with the goal of installing a pro-Kremlin govt. Evidenced by their ill fated assault on Kiev.
Ukraine is putting up a strong and spirted resistance they wouldn't be able to do without Western aid. You can't convince me that many Ukrainian soldiers are nazis.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian fled their country during the first mobilization last , September was it? Even Americans didn't leave the country en masse like that when the Vietnam War draft began. That tells me there's a lot of opposition to your war.
Speaking of opposition to your war, its against the law to even protest it. Why is that? Is it because your "democratically" "elected" ruler can't handle the truth?
It's even been against the law to call it a war, which in fact Putin did accidentally.
Anecdotal but here it is.
There's a Ukrainian kid living with a family on my block a few houses away. Couldn't speak a word of English back in April yet hardly has a foreign accent now. Remarkable to me.
His father is back in Ukraine fighting the invaders. After he's finished high school in May he plans on joining the fight. He's hardly a nazi. He's said the mentality of Ukrainians is either to fight or die, or die fighting. There is no other choice.
I met a Russian citizen when in California playing golf. During the round she got a text from her brother who had just crossed the border into Finland. After that he went into a tirade about how much she hated Putin and wished him dead.
Your best friends in the world are the Iranian govt. (not the people) and North Korea. Kinda says a lot .
I'll add one more thing. Your war has created a hatred of Russian by Ukrainians for generations to come. Probably by most of the rest of the civilized world too.
No different than most of the rest of eastern Europe who
requested membership into NATO to protect themselves from Russian aggression. They were not forced into it. Looks like they were right to do so.
Even if you win it's a pyrrhic victory.