http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-e...ne-336600.html

Will Ritter: A two-state solution for Ukraine?
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Feb. 10, 2014, 5:18 p.m. | Op-ed — by Will Ritter



There’s a saying that has been making the rounds since the start of Ukraine’s political crisis in late November: “A bad peace is better than a good war.”

The phrase, spoken by President Viktor Yanukovych following the initial protester-police violence on Dec. 1, has subsequently been used on occasion by both sides in relation to the long-simmering conflict over the future direction of Ukraine that has escalated sharply over the past 11 weeks.

Ukraine’s internal division between those who want the country to go west to Europe and those who hope to restore a historical union with Russia has reached a breaking point that could lead to a Syrian-like scenario of tens of thousands of deaths, the destruction of one of Europe’s finest capital cities, and a massive outflow of refugees into the EU. With so much riding on a peaceful resolution to the standoff, it is unhelpful to try to paper over this fundamental difference in world-view with broad-brush platitudes such as “We are all Ukrainians” or “The EuroMaidan is not about an East-West choice, it’s about changing the system.”

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Kinda like shocking Korea or Vietnam, driving the "opposition" into one half of the country (the North, curiously), then commandeering the lower half of the country as an economic free trade zone... the way you take over half a country (2-state solution).

LOL. Do you know anything about the Ukraine? Have you spent any time there?

The country is split as it is and there are cultural, ethnic, historical reasons for that split. Korea and Vietnam are NOT good examples.

The country is split as it is but the government has the (short term) solutions in its hands. It's pretty clear that Yanukovych has lost the support of the people so what the protesters demand isn't out of the question and at least worth negotiating (new parliamental and presidential elections, reducing the power of the president). If he has the support, lets measure it. The longer it goes, more it look likes someone clinging to the power which might escalate into full-blown civil war.

The opposition isn't as united IIRC just to pro-western parties.

Nobody can know that.

I've read an interview today from Olena Bondarenko (some imortant woman from Yanukovych's "Party of Regions") where she says that they have no problem with new elections, but she thinks that opposition isn't interested in it right now.


Also let's see this conflict in context. Both president and parliament are democratically elected. The next presidential elections are 2015. Is it really too much to ask to just wait another year and then let the people decide? What is the point of all this bloodshed?

Yes it is. when selling out your country to russia and the oligarchs.

Clearly Yanukovych should step down, regardless of support or not.
Killing your own people is not ok, you are supposed to protect the people!

Well there are some Ukrainians out there who seem to think so. They're in Kiev.

There hasn't been a single true negotiating effort from the president. Why aren't they offering it then? "They don't want it anyway" sounds pretty lame.

Well it seems that people are deciding now. Waiting another year sounds pretty awful if you feel like country is going down the drain.

The point of this bloodshed is somewhat irrelevant now since it has escalated into this position slowly. It's not like people started suddenly shooting around. Also it seems unlikely that either side is just going to give up.

Yes, agreed, Yanukovych's party and the Communists are still popular in South and East.

ANY election will always yield a result where the Pro-Russian parties will get somewhere between 45-55% of the vote and the Pro-EU integration parties will get somewhere between 45-55% of the vote.

Those two factions in Ukrainian politics are pretty opposed in their view on how things should move forward, and there is not a lot of room for compromise, which is why it is best for everyone, that the country split in two.

Yes, obviously the truth is somewhere in between what we're hearing from the Western media and what you're hearing from the Russian media.

Then why did he end the negotiations on Tuesday, like Imaginary F(r)iend says (new parliamentary and presidential elections, reducing the power of the president).?

Over the past three months there have been few who have gone out into the streets and demonstrated for the regime of Viktor Yanukovych

There are now reports spilling out that Renat Akhmetov has fled to London and that Vladimir Rybak (Speaker of Parliament) and members of Yanukovych's family have fled the country.

So

Protesters build barricades of tires at Kievs airport Borispol. The purpose is to prevent MPs and their families to leave the country.

Yes, they are two separate parties. I didn't imply that that Yanukovych or Putin are communists.

My point is that of the five main political parties in Ukraine, two are more aligned towards Russia (1. Yanukovych's party and 2. Communists) and three are more aligned towards Europe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraini...election,_2012

I was not there, but it's true according to a reputable journalist, but I was not there.

236 of 238 MPs voted for the decision that implies that the government's use of weapons must cease, that the military must withdraw and put an end to all entry restrictions to Kiev.

Now they only have to sign it.

That was I meant. If you get half of the country riled up, you might to do some corrective moves, preferably before it gets to this point.

I love the fact that you have the perfect view of the situation. Can you tell me this unbiased news source? I apologize in advance my ignorance.

Source? Or is it because nobody is saying nothing. The pressure to the government is true. Also EU does not equal USA. Who are these weaponless? Riot police?

You really need to get your facts straight. Ukrainian parliament has 442 seats. You're making it sound like this was a unanimous decision of the parliament.

Secondly, acts of Parliament, under the Ukrainian constitution need to be signed by the President in order to take effect. So once Parliament signs it, it still won't have any legal effect.

Leaked phone conversation (somewhere in minute 25 or 26) reveals US is plotting a coup.
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/2...raine_violence

uhhhh from the transcript it looks like they're talking about the same leaked phone call from weeks ago that got people in a tizzy cause the US ambassador lady said "**** the EU", except now the hosts of this show are throwing the word "coup" in there for no apparent reason?

Yeah, if you watch the tape, it sounds like after the "**** the EU comment", the ambassador suggested that Klitschko could "midwife" a transition of some sorts and that they may not have the need to go back to Yanukovych. Pretty large exaggeration to say that means the U.S. is promoting a coup. It is suggestive that the U.S. is contemplating that there is going to be some sort of transitional government which is not really news.

In positive news, negotiations are still ongoing.

Ok, That wasn't my intention.

Премьер Польши заявил о готовности Януковича провести досрочные выборы


21 февраля 2014 года 00:18 | Фото: РИА Новости, Андрей Мосиенко

Виталий Кличко в то же время заявляет, что никакие договоренности по выходу из кризиса пока не достигнуты

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Москва. 20 февраля. INTERFAX.RU - Виктор Янукович заявил о готовности провести досрочные президентские и парламентские выборы, заявил премьер-министр Польши Дональд Туск, комментируя итоги переговоров глав МИД Польши, Германии и Франции с украинским президентом.


По словам Туска, которого цитирует польская Gazeta Wyborcza, Янукович также согласился на учреждение правительства народного единства и на смену конституции.


Польский премьер добавил, что выборы предложено провести в течение нынешнего года, переходное правительство сформировать в течение 10 дней, а новую конституцию принять до лета.


При этом Туск заметил, что европейским министрам на встрече "трудно было понять, действительно ли обязательства Виктора Януковича можно было воспринимать всерьез".


В свою очередь лидер украинской партии УДАР Виталий Кличко по итогам переговоров с главами МИД Германии, Франции и Польши заявил, что никакие договоренности по разрешению кризиса на Украине еще не достигнуты. "Когда у нас будет результат - мы о нем расскажем (...) пока никаких результатов", - сказал он.


По его словам, переговоры продолжаются, обсуждаются несколько предложений. "Принятие решения зависит от президента. И после этого мы сможем что-то сказать", - сказал он.


При этом лидер УДАРа отказался отвечать на вопрос журналистов, будет ли сегодня встреча у оппозиции с президентом Виктором Януковичем.


Польские СМИ отмечают, что европейские министры останутся в Киеве до пятницы, чтобы и далее вести переговоры с властями и оппозицией.


Также в пятницу Совет ЕС начнет работу над составлением санкционного списка украинцев, ответственных за насилие в стране и в отношении которых будут введены санкции. О том, что финансовые активы некоторых граждан Украины будут заморожены, а в отношении них введут визовые ограничения стало известно в четверг вечером.


Ранее в январе визовые санкции в отношении граждан Украины ввели США.


Беспорядки на Украине длятся уже третий месяц. Последние три дня в Киеве и других украинских городах наблюдается эскалация насилия. С начала обострения протестных акций в Киеве по официальным данным погибли 75 человек.

I never said that. I never even implied it.