Those Russians have done it again. Amidst the best-laid plans of Kiev to bring the rebellious regions of the Donbas back into the Ukrainian fold, the Russians have instead recognized the independence of the two republics – Donetsk and Lugansk. They now fall under the umbrella of Russian protection. The Western media, especially the American and British media, are heaping scorn on the decision, as well as many Europeans, with all the usual talk about international law, abandonment of the Minsk II accords, Russia ready to invade Ukraine and sanctimony about sanctions, with Biden already having signed an executive order slapping sanctions on the miscreant republics. But as always, the story is not cut and dried when it comes to international affairs and there is always more than one side of any story – especially when it comes to the US and Russia. We will have a look at the two new republics here and the how and why of what has brought us to this state of affairs. Continue reading “The Donbas republics”
The Donbas republics
