You call it Novorossiya, I call it Texas. Will Russia also make a cheesy movie with John Wayne singlehandedly beating the MexicanUkrainian Army (with his sidekick Tiny Tim) followed by some subliminal titles where it states it was actually the US CavalryRussian Armed Forces which kicked the MexicanUkrainian Army out? And that TexasNovorossiya remained independent forever more until it politely asked the USRussian government to please accept it into its fold?
The difference is that millions of Russians haven't moved into the region to farm the land displacing the Mexicans (Ukrainians). The Mexicans (Ukrainians) are still there and while they want help from Russia they don't want to become part of Russia either.
That is half of a story already.
While the other half is, that if you are to incorporate land claimed as your heritage, your obligations are to bring it up to the standard ASAP, or you will face the harsh consequences in a really short time.
Even a friendly population, would expect to live "like in Moscow", because ... hey, you are in charge now!
Not to mention hostile ones.
The Difference with South Ossetia is that there is a north Ossetia in Russia and the people in South Ossetia and Abkhazia don't seem to identify themselves as being Georgian.
These people in these Ukrainian regions consider themselves Ukrainian and are only getting Russian citizenship because they need help.
Russia isn't going to go in and take control and rule the place... they will likely push Kiev forces back and neutralise their ability to do damage to Russia or the new free areas using artillery or air force... and then they will likely hold a referendum that wont include joining the Russian federation... it will likely be independence...
They just want the freedom to speak Russian.
Ukraine is the poorest country in Europe already, passing by Moldova on it's way down the toilet.
There is a disaster in all spheres of infrastructure, bringing some parts of it to the edge of physical threat for a population.
To put it back on track, would require enormous assets applied, that Russia hardly can afford, and ... for what?!?
Totally agree, which is why Russia is not going to invade for fun or just because... they will only act if Kiev attacks, and their actions will focus on stopping the Kiev forces and pushing them back... a token peace keeping force will likely be sent to the region while the locals decide what they want to do... most likely it will end up with Russian troops there keeping the peace... and opening their borders to trade with Russia... which means they can work their way out of their current problems instead of asking or demanding handouts.
Russia is not going to pay to fix everything, but will assist them doing it for themselves.
People? Most of them who are worth bothering are already in Russia or EU. Why bother the remaining lazy nazis&stariks?
They are not, but equally they wont stand by while Kiev commits genocide on its own people... even if the EU and US are happy to.
Putin knows this full well and NATzO's dreams are not going to become reality.
Putin knows if Russia tries to take all of the Ukraine it suddenly becomes his problem, which is an enormous economic burden for any country... no wonder the US and EU are pretending everything is so wonderful there... nothing needing fixing there right?
Ryabkov, Putin, antonov, naryshkin, bortnikov, Lavrov, and everyone who matters has already made it clear, that this is a big problem that needs immediate resolution, or they will be resolved by military technical measures. Everything else is fluff.
Their objecting to it being there or happening is just something the west can laugh off, but I am sure they have in mind a lot of things they can do to really piss the US off that the US can really do nothing about either... sending lots of stuff across the Caspian Sea to Iran for instance and of course further assistance to China in areas China has gaps and weaknesses... Russia can help to make them stronger... send them the gas they were planning to send to the EU because the EU clearly does not want it...
Has that means full blown war, and Putin does not want war with the US and Europe,
The only way for Russia to keep NATO forces out would be to occupy it.
The conflict in Georgia in 2008... the US seemed to stop short of direct help for Georgian forces... US military forces seemed to take a step back and not really get fully involved... I would expect the same in the Ukraine if a shooting war started there with Kiev attacking rebels and Russia assisting them.
We are lucky that Putin seems to be the only rational leader in this game...
This is a lower-level request by Georgia which is now heavily influenced by Russia, and which Germany, for some reason, has now decided to honor," the General claims.
So Russia controls Georgia now? Really?
Sounds more like you are a bonafide war criminal and your past is coming back to haunt you because Georgia doesn't love Russia but wants criminals held to account for the crimes that led to them losing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Bombing Ukraine will only ensure one thing, NATO accepts Ukraine.
What difference would that even make... honestly?
Because now while it isn't part of HATO there can be no HATO forces based there.... it can get not support or training or weapons or equipment from HATO... really?
It is already defacto part of HATO already.... all the danger of being front line cannon fodder and economic distress at having to cut ties with its biggest customer and neighbour... but none of the security guarantees a HATO member would get.... yeah... they are fucking idiots.