2014 Ukrainian Maidan Revolt: News, Views, Photos & Videos

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SampanViking

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Well 48 hours ago, the message from Kiev was "you have 48 hours to leave the occupied buildings and end your protests or face the full force of the state".

48 hours later and the message is rather changed, with what looks very much like Yatsenyuk agreeing to most of Putins core demands for a new federal structure.

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It would appear that the recent combination of Domestic and International Pressure has forced the climbdown. At home, RT has made credible claims that a large percentage of Police and Military Units assembled in Eastern cites to storm occupied state buildings, refused the order.

Abroad, it seems clear that concerns over Gas supplies have exhausted the patience of many European leaders, who have simply told the Ukrainians to accept the Russia terms as they will be the best they can get. Further of course any violence could have precipitated a Russian military response and; once again, European leaders simply do not want to be put in the position, where they will be expected to do something in retaliation, but look weak irrespective of whether they actually do anything or not.
Nor of course, less than a month from European Parliamentary elections, do European leaders want to be put in a position where they have to start putting their hands into the pockets for Ukraine's benefit as; with the vast majority of Europe citizens not supporting the coup, it would be electoral suicide.

Weak leaders with questionable legitimacy can be increasingly unpredictable as they grow increasingly desperate, so no one should accept the deal as done, until it is signed, sealed and delivered. The Pro Federalist protesters in the East would do well to stay put until it is. It is the case after-all, that this Kiev regime do not have the best track record for honouring negotiated agreements.
 
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Mr T

Senior Member
So "unidentified" gunmen seize state buildings in eastern Ukraine. What does that remind me of? I don't know, it's buried somewhere in my memory... Happened earlier this year... Oh yes, the events leading up to the annexation of Crimea.

I suppose this is all a coincidence.
 

Equation

Lieutenant General
The IMF funding should be focusing on other developing countries as well. Minister Zhu Guangyao makes a good point here.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China said on Saturday it backed IMF financial support for Ukraine, but expressed concern about the global lender's funding capacity given the failure of the U.S. Congress to ratify a program of reforms for the institution.

Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao told a small group of Western journalists on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank spring meetings in Washington it was a "worry" that more than 85 percent of IMF lending was currently focused on Europe.

Zhu highlighted the importance of reacting quickly to any problems that arise in regions outside Europe, adding: "That is why IMF financial capacity has become so important."

Zhu said China was worried about the potential impact of the Ukraine crisis, especially on Europe, which was already facing risk from deflation.

"This is a geopolitical issue too. We hope that event of geopolitical risk won't cause a big shock for the global economy, particularly for ... Europe's economy."

"That's why we support any action necessary to calm down the tension and to stabilize the economy, including Ukraine's economy," Zhu said.

Russia and the European Union have exchanged recriminations since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in March and financial aid to Ukraine became a hot topic at a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 leading nations.

In addition to supporting the IMF program for Ukraine, which Zhu said was subject to finalization by the IMF board, China was keeping in close bilateral contact with Kiev, with which it had many areas of cooperation in agriculture and industry.

"We will continually expand our cooperation," Zhu said.

Zhu gave no details of how much China would contribute to the program for Ukraine, but said "voting support for the program means financial support because China is a key member of the IMF."

The IMF has pledged to cover Ukraine's financing needs of $27 billion over the next two years and the head of the IMF's European department, Reza Moghadam, said on Friday that the Fund was able to lend to Ukraine because the country's debt was sustainable.

Moghadam said the exact size of the IMF program would depend on how much other international lenders like the EU would contribute to the government in Kiev.

NEED TO STRENGTHEN IMF

Zhu said the crisis showed the need to strengthen the financial capacity of the IMF and that China hoped the U.S. Congress could move quickly to break an impasse on the issue.

IMF members agreed reforms in 2010 that would double the Fund's resources and give more say to emerging markets, but the

U.S. Congress has failed to ratify the changes.

Some U.S. Republicans have complained the changes would cost too much at a time Washington is running big budget deficits. The reforms also ran afoul of a growing isolationist trend among the party's influential Tea Party wing.

Zhu said there was "deep disappointment and frustration" expressed at the impasse by all participants in Friday's G20 meeting, which set a year-end deadline for U.S. ratification.

"During the period before the end of the year, we are certainly continuing very full cooperation with the IMF and we hope this difficult time - particularly Ukraine - the IMF plays quick and strong action," Zhu said. "We support that."

Some G20 officials have suggested moving ahead on IMF reforms without the United States, although U.S. approval would be necessary for any major decision to go forward because of Washington's controlling share of IMF votes.

Zhu did not respond when asked what China thought should be done if the issue was not resolved by the year end.

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Air Force Brat

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So "unidentified" gunmen seize state buildings in eastern Ukraine. What does that remind me of? I don't know, it's buried somewhere in my memory... Happened earlier this year... Oh yes, the events leading up to the annexation of Crimea.

I suppose this is all a coincidence.

Of course it is, and poor Mr. POOTIN, he can't be troubled all the time to save these POOR RUSSIAN refugees by invading all these places and establishing a "COALITION", just so they can have a safe and free place to live in PEACE, that's all they want, PEACE, of and security, oh and some-one providing their healthcare, and don't forget, they are at least entitled to a POOTIN PHONE, yes-sir, hot-line to the man of "CARBON FIBRE", and maybe if its not too much trouble, a small government check would be nice, oh!, and I almost forgot, they need a place to live,,,,, yeah that's right, all those rich people have land, Mr. Pootin should take that away from them...... yes-sir, Mr Pootin is way nicer than that guy that lives in the White House...............yes-sirree-Bob!
 

SampanViking

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So what is going on?

One thing is for sure is that the Anti Maidan/Pro Federalist Revolt is spreading rapidly out of the Regional Capitals and into the smaller cities and towns.

Another thing that is pretty clear also, is that these are not Russian Regulars; marked or otherwise, making the running and they look far more like your typical militia. Interesting to note that some do appear to be wearing Ukrainian regular fatigues or Police Uniforms.

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At first glance it may seem a strange development after the optimistic noises of yesterday regarding concessions, but, does rather support the notion of trust in the new Kiev regime being a commodity in short supply.
One aspect behind current moves is; I suspect, based on the notion that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than it is permission. Namely that it is easier to take possession of territory and ensure the settlement allows for the new reality on the ground, rather than hope for it to be offered.
The other aspect is that the new regime drew its own Red Line and made an ultimatum which it failed to enforce. This may indeed have left the Pro Federalists with the sense that the regime is either unable, unwilling or both to enforce its authority against the counter rebellion, so they have nothing to lose by spreading out and acting.

If this is the case, it may explain why Kiev is claiming gunfights and that their forces have fought off attempted seizures in some small towns, in an attempt to convince people that they are resisting. Personally, if there had been real fighting, I think the Russians would be shouting about it even louder to demonstrate Maidan perfidy and anti Russian intentions.

Ultimately though it seems to be about taking the strongest possible position on the ground in advance of next weeks scheduled international negotiations. Russia is insisting that representatives of the Pro Federalist factions are included as well as the Kiev regime. These actions then have an aspect of pressuring agreement to these demands, as delay in agreement will lead to delay in the talks and the strengthening of the Pro Federalist revolt and the increase of the territory it physically holds.
 

Rutim

Banned Idiot
One thing is for sure is that the Anti Maidan/Pro Federalist Revolt is spreading rapidly out of the Regional Capitals and into the smaller cities and towns.
Where? In regions near the Russian border? Some 40k Russian soldiers placed near that area surely makes 'peace' coming to those regions which forgot about 'separatism' for some 25 years... until now.

Beware all of you English-speaking population of US! - UK can come any time to protect you.
 

Mr T

Senior Member
I suppose the only difference between this and Crimea is that there aren't already large Russian military units in eastern Ukraine. Crossing the border would be an act of war, however it was dressed up. These protesters can't win independence by themselves. So will Putin use their protests as a pretext to invade, or will he just use it as diplomatic leverage?

Beware all of you English-speaking population of US! - UK can come any time to protect you.

Maybe China should demand Siberia has a referendum about leaving Russian rule, India should insist Tibet has a referendum about leaving Chinese rule and Pakistan should insist the Indian Punjab has a referendum about leaving Indian rule.
 
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