EU - Ukraine Protests

[Boethius]

Yanukovych has learned the politician's trait of saying one thing and doing another.


I have seen video interviews of protesters who said they were being paid by the Party of Regions.  250 hryvnia to protest, which increases to 5,000 hryvnia if the protester is on Maidan. 


In every interview I have seen (about a hundred) of pro EU supporters, the supporters are definitely, from Western Ukraine.  Some claimed to have flown to Kyiv.  That is not chump change for an unemployed Ukrainian from L'viv. 


So, bottom line is, yes, there are paid protesters.  On both sides.

[Muzh]

Boe, my SIL and MIL were paid to go to Kyiv. Total payment? R/T bus fare from Kharkiv to Kyiv. And if there were any other money left they would take it.
 
Would they do it for free? Absolutely.

[TS]

I am from Dearborn MI originally - same city Bin Laden went to college (suburb of Detroit that was white then black and now muslim).  Spent first 20 years of life in Michigan and spent the next 20 years all over the World but back in USA now. 
I have seen protests in person all over the World.  I even took a vacation to Iraq back around 2004 to see in person what was going on.  When a country is upset they protest all over the place not just one city.
Regarding the Lenin statue - it has been destroyed several times before in Kiev.  There are also several of these statutes around Ukraine of various size of him.  I have seen them in person in Luganks, Donetsk, and Kharkiv.
Negotiations are about power and the President of Ukraine is doing a very good job of getting the best deal for Ukraine.  As long as there only protesting in Kiev, the power is with the President.  He has the World's attention and will get a premium on what he signs. 
Ukraine is really controlled by Kharkiv and Donetsk and until you see mass protests there the President has full control.
 
 
 
 

[mendeleyev]

I'm going to disagree. Yanukovich has done an about face after meeting with all the former presidents of Ukraine, and he needed to do that to stay in power.

Putin meanwhile is consumed with these events and the scale of the protests are what has driven Yanukovich back to the negotiations and Putin to agree to sit down and lower gas prices.

[Muzh]

I'm going to add that I'd be surprised if the people in Maidan are going to accept Yanukonvict's plea. I think the opposition crossed the point of no return.
 
Putin is correct in one respect that the protests in Ukraine have outside people helping them. They are the Russian opposition.

[pokerintherear]

I am from Dearborn MI originally - same city Bin Laden went to college (suburb of Detroit that was white then black and now muslim).  Spent first 20 years of life in Michigan and spent the next 20 years all over the World but back in USA now. 
I have seen protests in person all over the World.  I even took a vacation to Iraq back around 2004 to see in person what was going on.  When a country is upset they protest all over the place not just one city.
Regarding the Lenin statue - it has been destroyed several times before in Kiev.  There are also several of these statutes around Ukraine of various size of him.  I have seen them in person in Luganks, Donetsk, and Kharkiv.
Negotiations are about power and the President of Ukraine is doing a very good job of getting the best deal for Ukraine.  As long as there only protesting in Kiev, the power is with the President.  He has the World's attention and will get a premium on what he signs. 
Ukraine is really controlled by Kharkiv and Donetsk and until you see mass protests there the President has full control.

There you go. Just a little weekend gathering in center Kiev. Nothing to see here. Time to move on.

[mendeleyev]

I'm going to add that I'd be surprised if the people in Maidan are going to accept Yanukonvict's plea. I think the opposition crossed the point of no return.
 
Putin is correct in one respect that the protests in Ukraine have outside people helping them. They are the Russian opposition.

+1

[lordtiberius]

Yanukovych better be careful.



history has a way of repeating

[fathertime]

I was just reading that McCain is out there front and center in support for the rebellion in Ukraine...I think he should just shut the christ up...this is not something we should be involved with...I think the leaders here would not be happy if foreign leaders came to our country and helped foment anger...


bottom line...we got plenty here to be working on that isn't getting done...so he should just stay outta Ukraine and do the job he is being paid to do HERE...actually it would be better if he retired or lost  his seat.



Fathertime! 

[calmissile]

I was just reading that McCain is out there front and center in support for the rebellion in Ukraine...I think he should just shut the christ up...this is not something we should be involved with...I think the leaders here would not be happy if foreign leaders came to our country and helped foment anger...


bottom line...we got plenty here to be working on that isn't getting done...so he should just stay outta Ukraine and do the job he is being paid to do HERE...actually it would be better if he retired or lost  his seat.



Fathertime!

I have to agree with you.  However, I am surprised at the response of some UA gals I talked to last night.  Wife and I were at the Lucky Pub in Kiev and during  a smoke break 3 gals in their mid-late 20's brought up the revolution theme.  There was the usual chit-chat about wanting the president and parliament to resign, but then they were gleeful to tell me how happy they were that John McCain was there to support them.

I was wondering WTF?   How is McCain going to do anything significant to help the Ukraine people in this revolution?   My initial thought was that he is just another politician that sees an opportunity to put his face before the public.  Did anyone hear him indicating what he plans to do to help the protesters?

[lordtiberius]

The most compelling argument against Euromaidan:


Ukraine: Western Diplomats Will Likely Disappoint Kiev's Protesters | TIME.com
By Simon Shuster @shustry

http://world.time.com/2013/12/13/western-diplomats-are-going-to-dissapoint-ukraines-protesters/#ixzz2nbpYPC94


http://world.time.com/2013/12/13/western-diplomats-are-going-to-dissapoint-ukraines-protesters/

[Muzh]

I was wondering WTF?   How is McCain going to do anything significant to help the Ukraine people in this revolution?   My initial thought was that he is just another politician that sees an opportunity to put his face before the public.  Did anyone hear him indicating what he plans to do to help the protesters?

Well for starters he can sponsor a bill to freeze all Ukrainian oligarchs' assets in the US until there is some change. No need to pass. Heck, no need to get to the floor.
 
That alone will have Akhmetov & Co. send in the goons to have a friendly discussion with Yanukonvict.
 
BTW, a video courtesy of my nephew. He directed it and played a part.
 

[lordtiberius]

Well for starters he can sponsor a bill to freeze all Ukrainian oligarchs' assets in the US until there is some change. No need to pass. Heck, no need to get to the floor.
 
That alone will have Akhmetov & Co. send in the goons to have a friendly discussion with Yanukonvict.
 
BTW, a video courtesy of my nephew. He directed it and played a part.
 

I subscribed to your nephew's channel.  He has talent.

That said, the actions of our government do not fill me with confidence.  Harry Reid referred the Senate Resolution authored by Senator Murphy right to the Foreign Relations committee.  Victoria Nuland passed out bread.  (sigh)

These folks are risking their butts to join the west and our response is at best a flaccid indifference and ignorance.

[calmissile]

Well for starters he can sponsor a bill to freeze all Ukrainian oligarchs' assets in the US until there is some change. No need to pass. Heck, no need to get to the floor.
 
That alone will have Akhmetov & Co. send in the goons to have a friendly discussion with Yanukonvict.
 
BTW, a video courtesy of my nephew. He directed it and played a part.
 

Nice Video Muzh.  Unfortunately we got there too late to get any of the pieces of the statue to take home.    LOL

[mendeleyev]

BTW, a video courtesy of my nephew. He directed it and played a part.

Nice!

[lordtiberius]

Viktor Yanukovych blames his problems on a British soccer player

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531870/Ukraines-leader-blames-JOHN-TERRY-countrys-political-troubles.html