Quote:
The radical nationalists of western Ukraine, for whom the rejection of Russia and its culture is an article of faith, intend to force the rest of the country to fit their narrow vision.


Radical nationalists may also intend to cure cancer too, but have near zero ability to do ether.

Quote:
Ukrainian conflict is not the conflict between the “pro-Russian separatists” and “pro-Ukrainians,” but rather between two Ukrainian groups who do not share each other’s vision of an independent Ukraine.


This is false in many ways. Russian-speaking East Ukrainians are not a uniform "pro-Russian" group, many have no interest in joining less liberal Russia as a distant province.

Otherwise, yes, this is just like US "conflict" between liberals and conservatives. Two camps with slightly different ideologies that fight at the polls.

Armed violence, on other hand, was 100% Russian import. Prior to Crimea Ukraine managed to have ZERO violence of this kind (aside from occasional fist fight in their congress) with the political sides largely unchanged. Ukraine also went through similar Orange Revolution without it degrading into armed violence.

The last time anything like this happened was post WW2 when Russia re-established control over its territory, plus a great deal of victor's spoils, and Ukraine's short-lived independence was violently repressed. Big chunk of present day Ukraine was not under control of USSR before WW2.

Quote:
For better or for worse, Putin has put an end to oligarch rule in Russia.


AHAHAHAHA! Good one. No, wait, this guy is serious.

Overall - Vladimir Golstein is nothing but Kremlin apologist.



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