East Ukraine separatists seek union with Russia

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

A Ukrainian separatist leader is calling on Russia to "absorb" the eastern region of Donetsk after Sunday's referendum on self-rule.

Self-declared Donetsk People's Republic leader Denis Pushilin urged Moscow to listen to the "will of the people".

In neighbouring Luhansk, where a vote was also held, rebels declared independence.

Ukraine, the EU and US have declared the referendums illegal but Russia says the results should be "implemented".

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27369980

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Ukraine separatists appeal to Moscow for absorption into Russia

(Reuters) - The Ukrainian separatist region of Donetsk appealed to Moscow on Monday to consider its absorption into the Russian Federation to "restore historic justice".

The statement, the day after a referendum on self-rule that rebels said had mustered some 80 percent support, was certain to infuriate Kiev and anger Western states who believe the rebellion has been engineered by the Kremlin.

The Ukrainian Prime Minister's office said it had no immediate reaction to the statement by Denis Pushilin, a leading member of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic", at a news conference in largely Russian-speaking Donetsk.

He said Belarus also belonged in a broader union of states that once formed the core of the Soviet Union.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-ukraine-crisis-union-idUSBREA4B0HW20140512

[The Magistrate]

1. Odd, Sir: Moments Ago I Was Assured Russia Does Not Want To Annex The Donest....

Right here on DU, by someone who is not fooled by western media, or something....

[dipsydoodle]

3. There is a material difference between the Donetsk region asking to join Russia

and Russia annexing that region. It does not follow that Russia would necessarily want to do so.


Ukraine crisis: Donetsk region asks to join Russia.

The "People's Republic of Donetsk" declared itself an independent country on Monday yesterday and, within two hours of doing so, had asked to join Russia. The separatist leader Denis Pushilin told journalists that the self-proclaimed republic would ask Moscow to consider absorbing the region, which borders Russia.

But it remains extremely doubtful whether Moscow will carry out a Crimea-style annexation of the region, which held a controversial referendum on independence on Sunday, together with neighbouring Luhansk.

>

The results were roundly condemned in the west, but Russia said it respected the results. However, instead of previous statements saying it would protect people in the regions with troops if need be, the Kremlin called for dialogue between the government in Kiev and the south-east regions of the country.

"In Moscow, we respect the will of the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and are counting on practical implementation of the outcome of the referendum in a civilised manner, without any repeat of violence and through dialogue," the Kremlin said.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/ukraine-crisis-donetsk-region-asks-join-russia

[Adrahil]

4. C'mon Dipsy... how gullible are you?

You don't really think those results are legit to you? I can't believe anyone would buy such a Soviet-style "referendum."

[davidpdx]

5. You are wasting your breath

Russia supported the vote even though they asked for it to be delayed at the last minute. Whether the results were true or not, the outcome indicated the region voted for independence from Ukraine. Russia supports the results and wants it implemented.

Russia can't have it both ways. Either they supported the vote and they are going to try to annex the areas that "voted" for independence or they aren't (in which case one has to wonder what happens next).

The question is, if the election that is suppose to happen on May 25th still happens, can and will those who "voted" for independence be able to vote for the president of a country they claim not to be a part of.

That is some serious double talk.

[bemildred]

6. Here, try this:

Everything one needs to know about mediocre political elites allegedly representing the "values" of Western civilization has been laid bare by their reaction to the referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk.

The referendums may have been a last-minute affair; organized in a rush; in the middle of a de facto civil war; and on top of it at gunpoint - supplied by the Kiev NATO neo-liberal neo-fascist junta, which even managed to kill some voters in Mariupol. An imperfect process? Yes. But absolutely perfect in terms of graphically depicting a mass movement in favor of self-rule and political independence from Kiev.

This was direct democracy in action; no wonder the US State Department hated it with a vengeance. [1]

Turnout was huge. The landslide victory for independence was out of the question. Same for transparency; a public vote, in glass ballot boxes, with monitoring provided by Western journalists - mostly from major German media but also from the Kyodo News Agency or the Washington Post.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/CEN-01-130514.html

Now leave Dipsy alone, he is being quite restrained as it is.

[The Magistrate]

7. I Thought I Detected The Pug-Marks Of Mr. Escobar, Sir....

[bemildred]

8. He does get quite florid at times. But that's the internet for you.

Everybody wants attention, and noise is the coin of the realm.

Nevertheless, Dipsy does yeoman work here posting news, and deserves a little respect.

[The Magistrate]

9. It Is True, Sir: The Gentleman Mostly Does Provide Straight Enough Citations

And does not go over the top in his comment on them.

[Adrahil]

10. What a load of horseshit.

Yeah, another poster who thinks Putin is just a stand up guy looking to defend democracy.

[Igel]

2. Odder yet is that

two days ago these self-same people said that they would no longer hold a referendum to ask if people wanted to be annexed to Russia.

Instead, the media were told that the referendum language was what it was, and that people knew what they were voting for.

Now we know. Presumably all of them do, too--many, when interviewed, said they wanted to send a message that they wanted to be taken seriously and listened to; or have greater autonomy. Some wanted annexation. Little did they know that annexation was what all of them wanted in their heart of hearts, if they'd just gotten past their false-consciousness.

Meanwhile, the "self-defence forces" have said that Slov'yansk is being "stormed" from several directions. I wonder what the govnokommanduyushchii Strelkov is thinking. ("Golovnokommanduyushchii" is 'commander in chief' or "chief-commander"; govnokommanduyushchii is what a writer, Voinovich, had the wise-fool Private Chonkin call Stalin, "shit-commander". Voinovich was not beloved of the CPSU.)