"The rebel-held regions which were backed by Russia have been in constant conflict for 8 years. There's nothing new here on this map. Putin's decision yesterday to make it officially Russian-protected instead of shadow-backed actually de-escalates tensions and finally ends the 8-year long conflict."
How so? Doesn't it just turn a pro-Russian insurgency into a pro-Ukrainian insurgency? In other words, the "insurgents" and the "legitimate local militias" just switch places.
"Now that Donetsk and Luhansk are officially Russian-backed, the Ukrainian army will no longer attempt to keep recapturing it (confirmed by President Zelensky today -- said we will not be fighting Russia head-on). Therefore no more Ukrainian body bags, which is great news, though not the ending we wanted."
As long as Putin stops at the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk.
And, by the way, it's good there are no Ukrainians in Donetsk and Luhansk.
It should be good news for everyone unless Russia makes a full-scale invasion (which seem very unlikely), no? By everyone I mean every average, civilian person. All of them should want peace, no matter if their passport says Ukraine or "X Republic of the Russian Federation".
How so? Doesn't it just turn a pro-Russian insurgency into a pro-Ukrainian insurgency? In other words, the "insurgents" and the "legitimate local militias" just switch places.
"Now that Donetsk and Luhansk are officially Russian-backed, the Ukrainian army will no longer attempt to keep recapturing it (confirmed by President Zelensky today -- said we will not be fighting Russia head-on). Therefore no more Ukrainian body bags, which is great news, though not the ending we wanted."
As long as Putin stops at the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk.
And, by the way, it's good there are no Ukrainians in Donetsk and Luhansk.