I can't understand this; surely if the majority want to be Russian (as they manifestly do, despite dodgy ballot) and Ukrainians don't really want them, why is annexation so wrong? And why did Khruschev (who I never liked) give it away in the first place?

With my very limited knowledge, I'll try to answer you.

Khruschev gave it away as a gesture, as Ukraine was then part of the USSR, so it made no real difference.

The best solution would for Ukraine to lease the Crimea to Russia for 99 years in exchange for guaranteed energy supply. Russia get the territory. Ukraine gets gas plus face saving. Simples!

I think Europe fears another Yugoslavia. Putin would be quite happy to sit back and watch the Russian population kick out all the Ukranians from Crimea. Then his sights may turn to Latvia and so on. William Hague saying that there will be 'Costs and consequences' is not going to make Putin cack himself with fear.

Foz wrote:
Putin would be quite happy to sit back and watch the Russian population kick out all the Ukranians from Crimea. Then his sights may turn to Latvia and so on. William Hague saying that there will be 'Costs and consequences' is not going to make Putin cack himself with fear.

Yet again, Obama has been made to look weak and ineffectual by this "crisis". I said months ago he was the weakest US President ever.

It started when he "set a red line" over Syria - then let the Russians walk all over it.

This simply emboldened the Russians and although the crisis is not yet catastrophic, further events will follow which very well may be.

We have enough historical knowledge of similar scenarios, so let's play Putin......bullies always feel the power when there is little resistance, they fail when they are fronted up ....but I don't advocate fronting him out.......Putin is not too clever a mind, the long game will see his plan fail as he fights internal elections and power struggles......we should be planning for when he no longer has power, and making that transition easier........the long game wins

I'm not a Putin fan (his attitude towards gays) but in this I can't understand how anyone can disagree that Crimeans want to be Russians so allow them.

The Black Sea navel base was always going to be Russia's Trojan horse

Far from convinced by your spelling Mr Reason. Have you been naval gazing?

Oops....and there is me telling the young 'uns my 'o' level English is worth more than a GCSE.....I'll wind me neck in

This story smacks of hypocrisy. 25,000 seamen based with one of the largest navy's. What is wrong with Russia protecting their own? Strategically this base is very important. Leave em alone world!

They did the right thing they held a referendum.

No-one including Obama/ Cameron can do anything about it despite the ridiculous claims they are weak etc. Impotent is more like it.

There was a coup in the Ukraine and the West seems to want to ignore the fact a democratically elected (overseen by western observers) government was booted out, no matter they may have been rogues they were lawfully elected.

Now a rag tag government by putsch is in power with Ukraine fascists dance in delight and no doubt the CIA's sticky fingers are all over the place.

Why on earth wouldn't Crimeans want to re-join Russia ?
Mad if they didn't and all the sabre rattling in the world is not going to deter Russia from guarding it's shores from NATO who has ringed it.

And as usual the West still drives Russia into the arms of China which, according to a China watcher today on radio is very very very militarily strong and can easily challenge the US.

Why?..because although they only spend a fifth of the billions the US spends on defense they get a lot more for their buck because the entire West has co-operated in making the 'arms race' the almighty godawful rip-off that has ever existed, while China produces Nuclear weapons for a tenth of the price of the USA.

So powerful is the Chinese military that it is made of 5 units operating independently ( to avoid each one removing the Politburo), each led by a General who has little contact with the other for obvious reasons yet with an overall commandant who could pull all 5 together to trounce the Yanks with their Russian allies ( and Putin learned from China during a 5 year stint in the KGB how to retain power- he is untouchable)

But what can you expect when you elect a former PR man into the highest office ?. Have Britons gone totally insane?. enough them have so it seems while China continues as it has done for centuries..step by step by step by step..

If you have grandchildren get them learning Mandarin now...they will prosper and thrive.

communique ends here...

The current 'Government' of Ukraine cannot be called legitimate - it was created and appointed by thugs, has not held democratic elections.
Crimea has held a referendum - same as the Scots will do - to decide their future, and have overwhelmingly voted to become an independent nation.
Russia has recognised Crimea and guaranteed it's independence.
Where is the problem? Does Ukraine want to exercise Imperial rule over Crimea? What on Earth has either the UK or US got to do with the whole situation?
Everyone needs to 'back off' and let the Crimeans decide on their own fate, and support their decision.

So pleased many of you seem to feel as I do. It's so obvious I thought I was going mad.

Gnomo wrote:
Everyone needs to 'back off' and let the Crimeans decide on their own fate, and support their decision.

Quite right, Gnomo ... however ......

The US has convinced itself that it rules the world.

The US President keeps issuing demands which no one takes any notice of ....

Will he back down, or act, to "save face" ?

Dangerous times ahead

A final desperate attempt to shore up America's fading influence as the World's leader. Obama just happens to be the President at the time the World rejects US dominance. and I personally think he is managing the situation quite well.
Whether China will be allowed to take on the role of 'most powerful nation' remains to be seen - they are rapidly becoming the most powerful nation, but will the World as it is now, really allow any Country to have as much influence as the USA or Great Britain before them? - I really hope not.

Gnomo wrote:
A final desperate attempt to shore up America's fading influence as the World's leader.

But all in vain .... no one is taking any notice.

When backed into a corner people are at their most dangerous ... I fear they will act to "show they have some authority left" and to show (themselves?) that they cannot be ignored.

As part of the original 'peace dividend', the UK drastically scaled back (air bases especially), and recent cuts are just taking things too far...........NATO resonsibilities are just about being met, but NATO has also started to loose the plot, the sort of flabbiness that occurs when you don't have a focussed mission or agenda.......(the Soviets)

So we now have a re-arming (rearmed Russia?) but very little plan to tackle them for fear of appearing to project them as a potential enemy..........which we thought was finished with the USSR.

Mr Reason wrote:
As part of the original 'peace dividend', the UK drastically scaled back (air bases especially), and recent cuts are just taking things too far...........NATO resonsibilities are just about being met, but NATO has also started to loose the plot, the sort of flabbiness that occurs when you don't have a focussed mission or agenda.......(the Soviets)

So we now have a re-arming (rearmed Russia?) but very little plan to tackle them for fear of appearing to project them as a potential enemy..........which we thought was finished with the USSR.

I still believe that NATO are behind Lockerbie bombing.

...can you stop this? Its getting silly