Back to the issue at hand, it doesn't seem to truly matter. According to Russia, Crimea, and Sevastopol, are part of Russia. They will be administered and treated as parts of Russia, so for all intents and purposes, yes, Crimea is part of Russia. De jure, it is and will probably remain in dispute indefinitely, but de facto, it is part of Russia.

incase you people didn't notice Russia can't be the big "fat" bureaucrat anymore they were booted from the G8 (which is now the G7) and they lost their vote on the UN security council the actions have finally happened, don't get me wrong idc for Russia that type of thing but stuff is actually happening

Uh no. They have NOT lost their vote on the UN Security Council. That would take a a resolution from the UN Security Council, which Russia itself could veto, and probably which China would veto, and MAYBE France or the UK would veto on principle. Anyway, yes, sanctions and other measures are happening, but the immediate effects will probably not force Russia to relinquish Crimea and Sevastopol. The long term punitive measures to be taken against Russia are just guesswork because, well, they're long term. For now though, it appears that unless something extremely drastic were to occur, Crimea and Sevastopol will remain under the jurisdiction of Russia.

UN general assembly voted:

100 states don't agree with the russian point of view.. Only 11 are willing to give Putin their support.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443#.UzSTP4UUGEI

More than half of all UN states voted "NO". Crimea isn't legal part of Russia and won't be ever one based on "rusocrazy". Pure democracy on international level. Territorial sovereignty is more important than self-determination as long it's just for ethnic reasons without any urgent need. Hopefully Putin does understand this. But probably he can't, because ~95% is more "Yes" than ~90% "No". Simple Puth^^ (Math)

Territorial sovereignty is more important than self-determination

is a sign of

Pure democracy on international level.

Allowing people to make a decision on something that doesn't directly effect them and determine the fate of a people who it does directly effect isn't democracy, it's intervention.

Let Big brother UN tell you what's best for you, because you're too stupid to decide for yourself!

Democracy at its best...

Right. I couldn't phrasing it better.



Exactly Big Vlad's hobby..

Putin does need no UN or other opinions, law of nations, not to mention opposition. He does his own stuff. When peoples start to negate everything around which doesn't fit with their belief, the discussion ends. Putin is willing to protect russian peoples abroad by taking agressivly ground into Russia instead of evacuation. When will it end?
Any line?
Pure appeasement politics of the international community (probably not enough, slow economic sanctions), peoples think do understand the behaviour of the "rusocracy" and defend it. Peace yes, but not on all costs.
Don't wear always lovely sweet pink glasses. One time this illusion could

fulminate..

Reports of massive stocking of russian troops in western Russia. Numbers from 30'000 till 100'000 additional soldiers.

@Titron, Is English a second language? No offense intended, it just seems that way.

I understand what you mean though. Putin will do whatever it takes for Russia. I doubt there is a line he won't cross.

Although, I agree with Taisho too. The UN is wrong in thinking it has the last word.

The UN is wrong in thinking it has the last word.

This thinks probably Hauptmann, but not UN^^ It was a strong statement from UN without any binding effect, but strong acceptation. Is there a reason why this should be ignored? I don't know one.. The reasons why Crimea is no legal part of Russia are summing up, regardless of the "crime vote" under undemocratic conditions. Democracy doesn't mean just voting. Who has the last word? Unfortunaly it looks like only Putin.

Edited 3/28/2014 20:18:34

We are in 2014 the un made up of meny countrys, it is not 1900s or 1800s anymore. we cNt let a country threaten a smaller country; criema is taken no dought, but if ukraine gets invaded thats A big threat to europe and usa allys. whats next uhh if east,, south ukraine gets invaded do you think that fere no thats fear of russia

The only country that could go toe to toe with russia is the usa

The only country that would go toe to toe with Russia is the US. China's interests are in Asia and Africa while Russia's are more focused on former Soviet States.

regardless of the "crime vote" under undemocratic conditions.

Woah, hold on there. Russia let in plenty of organizations to oversee the referendum, let's not just go around saying that it was undemocratic just because we don't agree with it.

The US backed the referendum by Montenegro not too long ago, but doesn't back this one, why? Well, Montenegro opted to become its own little nation, whereas Crimea has opted to join and empower a much larger nation, one that is a threat economically and military to the US. This explains the contradiction pretty easily in my opinion.

Btw, Putin violates human rights, right? Guess who else does? The Obama Administration...for example, Guantanamo, the NSA (which he knew nothing about apparently), etc. I don't know why we think America is so democratic, even the legal system is rotted to the core.

Russia has the raw resources and industry to survive on its own. It may need food imported from abroad, but Russian companies have control over enough land abroad to compensate if necessary.

Let's rehash the democratic invasion of Iraq. The democratic intervention of Syria (eventhough 55-65% of the population still supported the Asad regime), the democratic construction of a missile defense system in Poland. As if the US isn't making its own moves to "contain" Russia and "expand" its own influence. If anything Russia is reacting to American Imperialism.

Meh, someone is watching (and believing) way too much Western media, connect the dots for yourself and you'll see a much bigger picture. The US will lie to its citizens to protect its own interests. Understandable, I can't even necessarily get mad at the US government, though when they start stripping citizen's of their rights, then I get pissed.

Democracy doesn't mean just voting.

Err, what else does it entail in a referendum? Sharing your stance by saying yes or no in this situation isn't a trick, you just make a choice. None of the organizations present claimed there was manipulation of the votes and many of these organizations are quite reputable, so are they all lying?

Or maybe Crimea really wanted to join Russia. But that can't be! It would mean the US and EU are wrong! :O

The US and EU only support referendums that serve their interest. They won't support a broad range of self-determination because then it could turn against them in later years, especially with growing ethnic diversity in the EU and US.

That is true, but what im saying is if they invade east, south ukraine is that still ok?
And the united states is comming to a point of no return i know that.

Russia let in plenty of organizations to oversee the referendum

Sources?
I've done few work: visiting important russian english news site and searching things related to overseeing the whole affair in connection with a recognized neutral organization for security
http://rt.com/news/osce-ukraine-observer-mission-858/
(all i could find about osce observation, no news on the whole site about stopping osce from entering into crimea - censorship!)
http://rt.com/news/russian-tv-suspended-ukraine-242/
(no words about suspension of not prorussian medias on crimea in same time: "Media freedom under siege in Crimea, Ukraine, says OSCE representative" http://www.osce.org/fom/116240!!)
http://rt.com/news/ukraine-crimea-invites-osce-926/
(inviting, but in end osce couldn't observe it: "Crimea referendum illegal, no OSCE monitoring" http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/ukraine-crisis-referendum-osce-idINDEEA2A0DS20140311, again no news about this found in rt)

Ukrainian elections: Transparent, neutral observation possible http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/115947

What for (russian) organizations do you mean? I don't just watch "western" medias ("west" does simplify too much something complex and manifold for russian propaganda). Where did you get any informations?

Sharing your stance by saying yes or no in this situation isn't a trick, you just make a choice. None of the organizations present claimed there was manipulation of the votes and many of these organizations are quite reputable, so are they all lying?

Yes. Never heard names of these organizations, only the information there would have been some reputable ones - ? Manipulation has to be expected.

If anything Russia is reacting to American Imperialism.

React on "imperialism" with imperialism. Great. First let's understand what imperialism is - (simplyfied) control over foreign parts and in the end territorial gain. Didn't happened ever with Germany after loss in world war against western countries or in Iraq or ..

Meh, someone is watching (and believing) way too much Western media, connect the dots for yourself and you'll see a much bigger picture.

Done.

Edited 3/29/2014 09:18:34

Could find the observation organization: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EODE
Never heard of it.
Interesting details about observation - http://anton-shekhovtsov.blogspot.de/2014/03/pro-russian-extremists-observe.html

Something which matchs to actual situation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irredentism

Edited 3/29/2014 11:41:02

Either way... I am A US Marine fore most. If Russia ever did Invade Ukraine or anything like that and I was called to deploy I would Kill Any Russian making his advance period in the Name of freedom. If that makes me sound to Proud so be it. I stand for Justice and unity.

Edited 4/4/2014 06:36:42

Wuahhh!!!!!

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov looks on at the start of two days of closed-door nuclear talks at the United Nations offices in Geneva October 15, 2013.
Reuters
"Tantrums, weeping and hysteria won't help," says Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Instead, he suggests that Americans and anyone else unhappy about Crimea can perform a few sun salutations and "maybe watch some comedy sketch shows on TV"

There are several ways to cope with the anger one feels over the annexation of Crimea, according to a top Russian official.

“What can one advise our U.S. colleagues to do?” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov asked the Interfax news agency rhetorically.

“Spend more time in the open, practice yoga, stick to food-combining diets, maybe watch some comedy sketch shows on TV.”

The deputy foreign minister went on to criticize the U.S.’s official response to the annexation, which included slapping sanctions against several of President Vladimir Putin’s top aides, as childish and hysterical.

“Tantrums, weeping and hysteria won’t help,” he says.

Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea peninsula last month has made relations between Western powers and Moscow extremely tense.

Tens of thousands of Russian troops continue to mass along the Ukrainian border sparking fears of a possible invasion into the country’s east, which is home to a large population of ethnic Russians.

Is it just me, or is that usual west vs east political scenario in average diplomacy games and even call of duty/battlefield coming to life ? If so, I bet china will leave and india will take over most of china, while spain forever changes warlight history and conquers the world somehow. But that scenario could never really unfold, could it ?!!!??

Edited 4/9/2014 01:43:48

Give Crimea to Kiribati. Problem solved.