flamming_python wrote:
It was actually the EU who told Yanukovich that quite openly. Maybe Russia had the same position but if it did it never voiced it aloud.
When Yanukovich decided to sign the agreement with Russia, Washington and the EU countries decided to overthrow him.
I have no idea how you came up with that conclusion buddy, but I live next door. Believe me, I do follow the situation there for a while&closely.
EU association agenda was pushed there years before the maidan, with all the "color" revolutions. The real meaning of it, is an internal fight between oligarchs clans from the East vs. the same clans from the West.
The mess started back in 2012 already, as Ukraine hosted the EURO2012 alongside Poland. Enormous assets were spent there, and the Ukrainians could get a feeling, that they are sort of the next step of EU expansion.
When followed by RU-UKR economic negotiations in 2013-2014, it created enormous social pressure, as people were already deluded that EU is awaiting them.
Sure it does! But as a labor, not partners.
And at the very end of this process, Janukowycz shifted the sides, signing an agreement with Russia - as EU didn't grant him much, and Putin himself told him that there is not a chance that they will associate with EU, having open custom borders with entire Russian market.
This fuelled mass unrest, immediately taken under the supervision of the opposite oligarchs, organized and financed by them.
And deliberately assisted by the EU member states, including Poland.
It used to be our FM Sikorski, who told Janukowycz "either you collaborate with the protesters, or will be hanged".
EU wanted a regime change in Ukraine, and establishing a pre-2010 status, with the Ukrainian government openly hostile to Russia, as it used to be before Janukowicz. Remember "Orange Revolution"? That was the turning point there.
This is where you seem not to get the right point.
There was NO common EU/US agenda. Both targeted different goals, with the use of different forces.
Janukowicz was put on the negotiation table, and actually, there was a signed agreement for a political solution there. An interim government, early elections, constitutional changes to be provided. It was already going!
And that was a moment when shit hit a fan because a political solution was not something in the American interest there.
Put it into a proper perspective.
It was a time, when Obama kicked the doors, and was yelling about "accepting US hegemony, or be punished!" to its FORMAL ALLIES.
It was a time, when a Russian cruiser, alongside with Chinese destroyer, peered in Syria, taking aboard remains of Syrian chemical weapons, making a fool of US administration busy drawing "red lines" to justify the invasion on Syria.
They wanted to punish Russia.
Humiliate it, put on its knees to send a clear signal about a "hegemony in being".
To everybody, both its allies&opponents.
So they rushed into a scene, with help of nazi element of Ukrainian politics.
Years after that, we already know that nazi scum had an established command center at the US embassy in Kiyev. The major players of nazi movement were regular visitors there.
US wanted a war. Massive unrests, with liters of blood flowing, pushing Russia for action.
They deluded themselves. Didn't expect the events that happened, the state of Ukrainian army in real, and the determination of Russia, that just took the Crimea.
There is one more thing to keep in mind : as Crimea referendum turnout was obvious, the same results for Donbas were not that clear. Much fewer voters participated, and much less support was presented. Russia acted extremely cautious due to that ...