Well, that's that. Merkel proposes a "fact-finding commission".

[Recursion]

Kiev is on its own.

(Sorry, no link, that was just on BBC India radio.)

[malaise]

1. Well at least she isn't a warmonger

Like some RW lunatics in the US.

[bluestateguy]

2. Isn't that what the Trade Federation and Malastare proposed in The Phantom Menace?

In response to the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo.

[sadoldgirl]

3. Merkel does what she has to do

for Germany, since her country is heavily dependent on ukrainian oil and gas. And that comes from the eastern Ukraine, which the russians will not give up.

[Democracyinkind]

4. As if she weren't perfectly aware of what has been going on.

Her friends are heavily invested in the uprising against and overthrow of Janukowitsch. Germany has been the exile seat of the pro-western Ukrainian movement ever since the Juschtschenko government fell apart.

[Recursion]

8. On the other hand, we will get our pound of flesh from this, probably in the form of Assad

It's actually kind of a win-win for everyone outside of western Ukrainians and the Syrian Alawites: Germany doesn't have to pay for Ukraine's EU membership (which was the obvious endgame there); Putin gets to get rid of the albatross that Assad has become; NATO keeps control of access to the Mediterranean.

[Democracyinkind]

10. Very pertinent observation.

Especially the EU part: Having internal ethnic/border disputes officially bars the path to entrance into the EU.

Interesting times that we live in.

[Recursion]

11. I keep meaning to Snopes whether that's actually an ancient Chinese curse or not (nt)

[Pretzel_Warrior]

19. It's real

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Cooler heads prevail.

See what happens when they don't. WWI is an example.

[Rex]

6. Can't wait to hear what facts are found!

This is getting interesting.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Which means...what?

"Merkel to Putin: Russia breached international law
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has accepted a proposal by the German chancellor, Angel Merkel, to set up a “fact-finding mission” that would pave the way for some form of political dialogue in the crisis.

That’s according to a spokesperson for the German government, who has been giving Germany’s account of a conversation earlier between the two leaders.

The mission would possibly to be led by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Merkel is also said to have accused Putin of an “unacceptable Russian intervention” and of breaching international law."

[okaawhatever]

13. Merkel is boxed in. Germany is deeply dependent on Russian gas and oil. Former Chancellor Schroeder

agreed to participate in an underwater pipeline that by-passed Ukraine two weeks before leaving office. Immediately after leaving office he took a job with the pipeline for $1 million per year. Former Chancellor Schroeder called Putin a "flawless Democrat". There's no telling who in the German powers that be are pulling the strings here.

[TwilightGardener]

14. If she can get Putin to pull back his troops until a political settlement

can be reached, without NATO having to be involved and without bloodshed, that'd be a good thing. Poland is supposedly mobilizing its forces, so things are heating up.

[Igel]

15. Won't happen.

It's kicked to a committee that will take months to assemble and meet and figure out its goal. Until then, Merkel has gagged herself, much to Putin's pleasure.

Along the way, under Russian occupation, there'll be a referendum. Those against joining Russia will find it's hard to do much politicking. Those in favor of joining Russia will find it's very easy. The government and the soldiers on the corners will be united.

Not only will opposing the outcome be risky at the time, but any opponent will be on record and have to deal with being on the losing, unpopular, "wrong" side of history when the Crimea is an "independent vassal state" or reunited with the motherland. That will include Ukrainians, already viewed as fascists; Tatars, who are still stinging after their mass deportation during WWII; and any Russians that will be seen as race traitors. Since the primary issue is race, we're talking some serious hatred if you dare be too public in being opposed. A small opposition will be allowed to preserve the illusion that it's free and fair.

The referendum will quickly be followed by all the pro-forma stuff needed to legitimize Russia's actions. If Merkel and Putin time it right, after reading the agenda at the first meeting of the fact finding commission the first item of business will be to vote to disband.

[TwilightGardener]

16. Are you talking Crimea or the whole country? Because even without Russian

troops, I think it's a done deal that it goes to Russia (or stays a little separate thingy). The poor Tatars will have to go.

[okaawhatever]

17. Pro Russian annexation is not as supported as one might think. Don't be fooled by the massive hype

machine (including here on DU). If that were the case, they could have held a vote at any time. Especially during the recent protests. There's a reason the government in the Crimea has changed hands as well. They've done in the Crimea what they're accusing Ukrainians of doing in Kiev. You CANNOT underestimate the amount of propaganda out there on this. C'mon three of Russia's most famous athletes including Olympians went there the day they took over parliament to tell the citizens how much Russia loved them, etc. I've also read that the new government leader there is a thug/mafia type. Let's see who owns all the resorts and businesses in a year.....

There were only 58% ethnic Russians in the Crimea. That doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room for an annexation vote. Not to mention the support for Moscow is largely in the older population. I don't know the population make-up of the Crimea but a Russian vote was never a sure thing.

[TwilightGardener]

18. I think it will get bargained away regardless.

[L0oniX]

9. Anyone want to settle for a fact fixing commission?

[FarCenter]

12. Merkel attacks Putin in telephone conversation

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) Minister Vladimir Putin accused "of having violated unacceptable Russian intervention in the Crimea against the law of nations" with the. This was announced by the deputy government spokesman Georg champion on Sunday evening in Berlin after a phone call with Merkel Putin.

The Russian President had accepted the proposal of the Chancellor, immediately called a "fact finding mission" and a contact group, possibly under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), set up to start a political dialogue.

The Chancellor recalled, according to its spokesman to the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, in which Russia had committed to respect the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine and its existing borders. Even against the Treaty on the Black Sea Fleet from 1997 Putin had failed. Merkel called for the President of Russia once again to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Putin defends himself

Putin has the potential Russian military intervention in Ukraine defended and explained that the events on the peninsula of Crimea and Ukraine were a danger to the life of Russian citizens and Russian-speaking population in his telephone conversation with Merkel. This was announced by the Kremlin on Sunday evening.

In Merkel's concern Putin replied that the threat of force is not dispelled. The Russia of steps taken to date are appropriate, quoted the Kremlin Putin. Be it further stabilize the situation in a peaceful way destination.

During the call, Putin reportedly accepted a proposal of the Chancellor, a "fact finding mission" and a contact group, possibly under the auspices of the OSCE to set up. This should take place "immediately", "to begin a political dialogue".

http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article125355002/Merkel-attackiert-Putin-bei-Telefongespraech.html
Google translated (sort of).