Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Matthew Young35 said:Quite the opposite. Crimea was handed over to Ukraine by Khrushchev about fifty years ago. The Russians didn't move in there; they were always there. Well, maybe not "always," but there certainly wasn't a Ukrainian presence to speak of.

I'm not even talking about Crimea—I mean Eastern Ukraine.

Jeffrey Edwards76 said:I'm not even talking about Crimea—I mean Eastern Ukraine.

Honestly, if you look at the history books—and I really think this is the key part here—it seems like they've been tied together for at least the last hundred years or so!

Crimea holds some interest for Russia, but they couldn't care less about Eastern Ukraine. It’s merely a byproduct. In a sense, they can't truly secure Crimea unless they seize everything else.
How exactly does one claim Crimea without also taking over those other regions where Russians have always been the majority?

Amanda Evans2 said:Aside from the fact that these points don't really have anything to do with one another...

no shit, Sherlock

Ukraine’s got its own set of perks that the Russians just can't seem to quit,

just like how those guys over in Mexico couldn't stay away from us either.

it's as simple as that ☕

Anything's possible—like building a land bridge straight to Alaska. 🤷

Patrick Martin said:no shit, Sherlock

Ukraine’s got its own set of perks that the Russians just can't seem to quit,

just like how those guys over in Mexico couldn't stay away from us either.

it's as simple as that ☕

Ukraine holds territories that were handed over by a criminal communist regime. Now, Russia wants them back.

Simple as that.

Jesse Sullivan5 said:Honestly, if you look at the history books—and I really think this is the key part here—it seems like they've been tied together for at least the last hundred years or so!

yawn ☕

I find it quite sufficient just to see who0s standing on the side of the insurgents. People like Strelkov and his ilk, having fought in these territories, we certainly know whose side they were on ☕
...

War dogs. You find them in every single conflict. They couldn't care less about the cause or which side they're fighting for; for them, it’s all just a roll of the dice.

Matthew Young35 said:War dogs. You find them in every single conflict. They couldn't care less about the cause or which side they're fighting for; for them, it’s all just a roll of the dice.

Right, because those Russian war dogs that have been terrorizing these regions exclusively for one specific side in every single war... they clearly don't give a damn at all.😂

Hopefully the Ukrainians can sweep them all away before they retreat back home... though I suspect a mass exodus is imminent...

Jeffrey Edwards76 said:Do those Russian-speaking regions have any territorial continuity?

Crimea is essentially Russian territory, populated by an overwhelming majority of Russians. It’s interesting because its significance isn't really about the people living there. The real issue is that Crimea acts as the ultimate lightning rod for the entire Russian population. In my view, Crimea will remain Russian, and Putin will likely just write off everything else.

And I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to just separate Crimea alone.🤷

It would be impossible to convince half the population of Ukraine—who happen to be Russian—to stay within Ukraine if only Crimea were to break away.
In a sense, that would feel like a betrayal of his own people by Putin.

Look, these are just cold, hard facts. The right-wing factions in Kyiv should have realized that the moment they banned the Russian language—which half the country speaks—immediately after their violent seizure of power. It was amateurish. That is what happens when you are driven purely by hatred.

Then again, Putin isn't much better.

In this entire mess, the biggest victims will be the naive citizens. There will be too much blood, too many deaths, too many amputations, and far too many mothers left without children. Too many children growing up without parents.
That is the price paid when grown men decide to play at war.

Robin Fox2 said:Right, because those Russian war dogs that have been terrorizing these regions exclusively for one specific side in every single war... they clearly don't give a damn at all.😂

Hopefully the Ukrainians can sweep them all away before they retreat back home... though I suspect a mass exodus is imminent...

You know, there is something inherently tragic about reading this stuff.
I mean, the way people seem to crave seeing others—people living thousands of miles away—get killed, driven out, or whatever else. It's strange.

Personally, my first wish is for everyone to just calm down. I’m not naive; I know things are going to escalate, and there will be blood on both sides. I just don't wish for it.

Matthew Young35 said:You know, there is something inherently tragic about reading this stuff.
I mean, the way people seem to crave seeing others—people living thousands of miles away—get killed, driven out, or whatever else. It's strange.

Personally, my first wish is for everyone to just calm down. I’m not naive; I know things are going to escalate, and there will be blood on both sides. I just don't wish for it.

Only those who actually deserve it. Unfortunately, types like them will likely just retreat back to Russia, so they won't get the justice they earned...

Let them head back to Mexico; I’m sure they’ll receive a truly grand welcome there...😍

Robin Fox2 said:Only those who actually deserve it. Unfortunately, types like them will likely just retreat back to Russia, so they won't get the justice they earned...

Let them head back to Mexico; I’m sure they’ll receive a truly grand welcome there...😍

At the very least, those who truly merit it will get exactly what's coming to them.
The ones receiving the most gifts will be the naive and the helpless. On both sides.

What are you guys even yapping about?

If anyone actually has a right to be making noise and demanding their rights, it’s the Crimean Tatars—they’re the indigenous people there.
The vast majority of Russians were just moved in through some massive planned settlement after World War II, and during that whole post-war era, they basically steamrolled everyone else out of existence.

Besides, Crimea has huge autonomy within Ukraine, so what the hell is their problem?

Patrick Martin said:What are you guys even yapping about?

If anyone actually has a right to be making noise and demanding their rights, it’s the Crimean Tatars—they’re the indigenous people there.
The vast majority of Russians were just moved in through some massive planned settlement after World War II, and during that whole post-war era, they basically steamrolled everyone else out of existence.

Besides, Crimea has huge autonomy within Ukraine, so what the hell is their problem?

This argument carries barely more weight than claiming the ancient Illyrians have a right to modern-day America.

Morgan Williams is right.

The only hope for the Ukrainians is if Zelenskyy acts like Reagan and completely shuts down the Russians.☕

Though, I guess I doubt much can actually be done regarding Crimea.

Noah Ross7 said:Morgan Williams is right.

The only hope for the Ukrainians is if Zelenskyy acts like Reagan and completely shuts down the Russians.☕

Though, I guess I doubt much can actually be done regarding Crimea.

Are you suggesting he actually strikes a deal with Putin?...

Matthew Young35 said:Are you suggesting he actually strikes a deal with Putin?...

Nah. After that whole plane disaster, it’s pretty obvious the Russians are going to fold in Eastern Ukraine.
There’s nothing left to negotiate regarding Crimea.

Matthew Young35 said:This argument carries barely more weight than claiming the ancient Illyrians have a right to modern-day America.

Hold up, so you're telling me the Russians just happen to be the majority because of some massive government-mandated relocation program after WWII?

Is that really enough ammo to justify a total breakup based on a referendum?

And what about everyone else who's been living there since forever, people who have always coexisted in these multicultural communities?

They should've had their heads screwed on straight when the USSR fell apart and they were busy carving out new borders. Too little, too late now.