So Vitali leading a revolution in Ukraine!

[techliam]

Great post. I think this could also be the start of another proxy war in that other countries start backing or are already backing the rebels.

Proxy war? I can't see that, could you explain?

Western military intervention is completely off the table. Sanctions are pretty much the only thing the West has here, and I think theyd only serve to put Russia in a better position to intervene. Ukraine has always been a centre for political struggle (for influence)- the country is practically split into two....European leaning or Slav/Russian leaning people in the Eastern parts.

You must accept that a 'revolution' here only caters for one side of the argument. There's no clear right or wrong, much unlike a situation where a tyrant is slaughtering his people and has to be removed. What would you say to those people who want close ties to their slavic brothers? It's not a niche group..

I hope the violence ceases on both sides, both guilty. I wish Vitali the best if he feels he's doing what is right for his country, ********ic or not..

[Scary]

I wonder where Lomachenko stands on this issue....

The people have spoken, and you've chosen tyranny?

[Bermuda]

Proxy war? I can't see that, could you explain?

Western military intervention is completely off the table. Sanctions are pretty much the only thing the West has here, and I think theyd only serve to put Russia in a better position to intervene. Ukraine has always been a centre for political struggle (for influence)- the country is practically split into two....European leaning or Slav/Russian leaning people in the Eastern parts.

You must accept that a 'revolution' here only caters for one side of the argument. There's no clear right or wrong, much unlike a situation where a tyrant is slaughtering his people and has to be removed. What would you say to those people who want close ties to their slavic brothers? It's not a niche group..

I hope the violence ceases on both sides, both guilty. I wish Vitali the best if he feels he's doing what is right for his country, ********ic or not..

doesn't need military intervention to be a proxy war. russia funds ukraine government with weapons and resources while the EU and US fund the rebels with resources and weapons...

this is going on in syria...russia funding assad regime while US and Saudi Arabia are funding the rebels and *********s

[techliam]

doesn't need military intervention to be a proxy war. russia funds ukraine government with weapons and resources while the EU and US fund the rebels with resources and weapons...

this is going on in syria...russia funding assad regime while US and Saudi Arabia are funding the rebels and *********s

Yes i'm aware of what a proxy war is, however I cannot see any military intervention, whether it be troops on the ground or arming the rebels given the current political and diplomatic implications, and the ongoing mess in Syria.

[Bermuda]

Yes i'm aware of what a proxy war is, however I cannot see any military intervention, whether it be troops on the ground or arming the rebels given the current political and diplomatic implications, and the ongoing mess in Syria.

i can't see troops on the ground either..but arming the rebels (or giving them whatever resoruces) isn't out of the question imo. things are already tense between US and russia with what's going on in syria.

[toshmurph]

Vitali' is leading the party opposed to Ukrainian-Russian pact, but don't say he's leading the rioters!

He's opposed to the fighting as much as anybody, as it's looking like a civil war could break out! But the guy does have balls continually staying out on the streets...

[Ryn0]

The situation in Ukraine is very much less black and white than a fight for freedom against a corrupt leadership. Nonetheless, I think that Vitali probably believes he's doing the best for his country and fellow Ukrainians, despite the long term effects on the country being less certain.

I'm half-greek and as many of my family and friends could attest, stronger ties with Europe (the original cause of the protests) aren't always the best thing for the people of a country, however appealingly they are presented.

Ukraine has become a sort of battlefield for powerful international econmic and political interests, who probably have little concern for the people of the country.

Whether these protests lead to long term improvements in the lot of the Ukrainian people only time will tell, but I suspect, as usual, that it will make little difference - the previous government was corrupt, this government is corrupt and I'm sure the next one will also be....only the faces at the top will change.

Greece' problems are much more deep seated than it's relationship with the EU. The culture of tax avoidance is evidence of that.

Between 2009-2011 almost $30 billion was lost to tax avoidance because of loopholes in the legal system despite Greece's reforms, and just over $2 billion was undeclared. This went a long way towards the building of Greece debt crisis.

[Robbie Barrett]

Vitali' is leading the party opposed to Ukrainian-Russian pact, but don't say he's leading the rioters!

He's opposed to the fighting as much as anybody, as it's looking like a civil war could break out! But the guy does have balls continually staying out on the streets...

He was telling people to fight and hold the camp. He encouraged it.

[Citizen Koba]

Yes i'm aware of what a proxy war is, however I cannot see any military intervention, whether it be troops on the ground or arming the rebels given the current political and diplomatic implications, and the ongoing mess in Syria.

In this case it's probably best described as political power struggle with outside forces supporting and funding both sides in order to further selfish economic interests. A proxy economic war is not a terrible way of describing it.

God forbid it becomes an actual civil war.

The protesters on the strets have a diverse array of concerns, aims and agendas, those supporting and funding them (and those supporting the government) are clearer in their goals IMO.

[Weltschmerz]

'The Guardian' has a live updated blog on this link. Washington and Moscow are now getting increasingly involved in the escalating situation.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2014/feb/20/ukraine-crisis-new-clashes-strain-truce-live-updates