Czech President believes Ukraininan Civil War policy has two faces.

[another_liberal]

Czech President, Milos Zeman, has told a national newspaper he sees Ukrainian policy toward ending fighting in that country's breakaway eastern regions as having, "Two faces." One face is that of Ukrainian President Poroshenko, who Zeman thinks is open to negotiations with Separatists, the other face is that of Prime Minister, Arseny Yatsenyuk, who Zeman believes intends to conclude the Civil War through military force alone.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk (RIA Novosti)


‘Premier of war’: Czech president says Yatsenyuk not seeking peaceful solution for E. Ukraine.


Czech President Milos Zeman has slammed Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, calling him “a prime minister of war” because he is unwilling to peacefully solve the civil conflict in the country.

"From the statements by PM Yatsenyuk, I think that he is a ‘prime minister of war’, because he does not want a peaceful solution to the crisis [in Ukraine] recommended by the European Commission,” Zeman told Pravo, a Czech daily newspaper. Yatsenyuk wants to solve Ukrainian conflict “by the use of force," added the Czech leader.

According to Zeman, the current policy of Kiev authorities has two “faces.” The first is the “face” of the country’s president, Petro Poroshenko, who “may be a man of peace.” The second “face” is that of PM Yatsenyuk, who has an uncompromising position toward self-defense forces in Eastern Ukraine.

Zeman said he doesn’t’ believe that the February coup, during which then-President Viktor Yanukovich was deposed from power, was a democratic revolution at all. "Maidan was not a democratic revolution, and I believe that Ukraine is in a state of civil war,” Zeman said, responding to what he described as "poorly informed people" who compared Maidan with Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution in 1989.

(snip)

Read more at: http://rt.com/news/219595-ukraine-prime-minister-war/

[frazzled]

1. And this is why thousands of Czechs protested and pelted him with eggs

this past November, at an event memorializing the Velvet Revolution: he's a pro-Russian flunkie.

Thousands of people have protested against Czech President Milos Zeman on the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which ended communist rule.

Demonstrators carried football-style red cards as a warning to Mr Zeman, while others threw eggs. One accidentally hit the German president.

Many are angry with Mr Zeman, who they see as too sympathetic to Russia.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30086495

[SidDithers]

2. Lots of pro-Russian flunkies around...nt

Sid

[another_liberal]

3. It's sure to be the best revolution our money can buy!

Screw the fact we're paying to organize the overthrow of democratically elected leaders. Democracy is only important when the results of elections suit our greedy, power hungry needs.

[frazzled]

24. Nothing compared to the best estate and private zoo a tyrant can buy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10656023/In-pictures-Inside-the-palace-Yanukovych-didnt-want-Ukraine-to-see.html?frame=2834874

You need to read the detailed, top-of-the-fold story in today's NYT, based on a year-long extensive investigation:

Russia has attributed Mr. Yanukovych’s ouster to what it portrays as a violent, “neo-fascist” coup supported and even choreographed by the West and dressed up as a popular uprising. The Kremlin has cited this assertion, along with historical ties, as the main justification for its annexation of Crimea in March and its subsequent support for an armed revolt by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east.


Few outside the Russian propaganda bubble ever seriously entertained the Kremlin’s line. But almost a year after the fall of Mr. Yanukovych’s government, questions remain about how and why it collapsed so quickly and completely.

An investigation by The New York Times into the final hours of Mr. Yanukovych’s rule — based on interviews with prominent players, including former commanders of the Berkut riot police and other security units, telephone records and other documents — shows that the president was not so much overthrown as cast adrift by his own allies, and that Western officials were just as surprised by the meltdown as anyone else.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/world/europe/ukraine-leader-was-defeated-even-before-he-was-ousted.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

[hobbit709]

4. Another day, another Russia can do no wrong RT linked post.

[another_liberal]

6. What makes you think this OP is about Russia?

The article is about opinions expressed by the Czech Republic's President. He is clearly not a "Russian," infallible or otherwise.

And since you do bring it up: Who ever suggested, "Russia can do no wrong?" Certainly not I.

[GGJohn]

5. Another RT.com linked article.

Well, your nothing if not predictable.

[another_liberal]

7. Ever bother to read one of them?

You might just learn something. I do pick them just for you.

[GGJohn]

10. I read the first few, and gave the Kremlin mouthpiece all the respect it deserves.

[another_liberal]

13. Then why are you still replying when I post them . . .

Since you admit you aren't even bothering to read any?

[GGJohn]

15. Uhhhh, because I can.

This is an open discussion board.
Why do you most often use RT? A Kremlin mouthpiece? Why not use less biased sources? Is it because there are no other sources for your pro Russian stories other than RT and other pro Kremlin sources?

[Recursion]

8. "Ukrainian Civil War"

[another_liberal]

17. When a country is divided into one side firing artillery barrages at government troops . . .

And the government side is using their entire armed forces to level whole Separatist communities, killing thousands of Separatist fighters and civilians in the process, yes, that is what I call a "Civil War."

[randome]

9. What is your obsession with rt.com?

It doesn't matter how much you post from them, most of DU recognizes it for what it is -a state-run propaganda arm for Putin.

Expand your mind, man.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]

[another_liberal]

11. I'm not obsessed with any news service . . .

And I sincerely wish a few other people around here weren't either!

RT provides a point of view not controlled by our Western "Media Minders." To me, it is a truly valuable source for that exact reason.


BTW: I do not begin to agree that "most of DU" objects to seeing what Russian media has to say about important issues of the day. There are a few who have a Cold War mind-set toward Russia Today News (and all things Russian without exception, or so it seems). I personally feel that getting to the whole truth is more important than being liked by everyone posting on DU. That's who I am.

[randome]

12. "Controlled by western media minders" vs. "controlled by Russia."

Your disconnect is immense.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]

[another_liberal]

14. I'd call it an attempt to achieve balance . . .

If you know only one side's slant on the events of the day, you are only partially informed. Surely you can see how that might lead to some really tragic misconceptions and misunderstandings.

Don't let yourself become a tool of the Pentagon generals and our rich and powerful. Dare to learn the whole story.

[randome]

16. A Russian propaganda source is not "the whole story." I suspect you already know that.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[another_liberal]

19. No, that is not what I said . . .

Western and Russian news sources taken together can, perhaps, come close to offering one something like "The whole truth." Neither alone can come close to doing so.

I concentrate on trying to provide a glimpse of Russians' point of view, since Western sources are quite thoroughly covered on DU already, and few others here are willing to suffer the pointless, chauvinistic attacks one is oh so certain to have leveled against them for offering anything which fails to adhere to the standard, Western line.

[GGJohn]

18. This is funny,

RT provides a point of view not controlled by our Western "Media Minders." To me, it is a truly valuable source for that exact reason.

At least you got that right, it's not controlled by our Western "Media Minders", it's controlled by the Kremlin "Media Minders".

And that getting the whole truth thing from RT? Here's my take on that.

[another_liberal]

20. One is not likely to get "The whole truth" form any single source . . .

And I have never suggested that was the case.

Perhaps one should try reading more carefully, and with a more open mind.

[GGJohn]

21. And yet RT is your favorite go to source.

Seems the one that needs a more open mind isn't me.

[hobbit709]

22. Near as I can tell, it's his ONLY source.

At least as far as anything related to Ukraine goes.

[another_liberal]

23. You really should consider my comments before replying . . .

As I have explained numerous times: In my opinion, the Western take on important news stories is already quite well covered here on DU. Why should I just repeat the same CIA and State Department approved talking points which have already been the subjects of other OP writers?

As I have also said many times before: I prefer to offer the contrasting point of view held by people our government seems intent on taking us into hostilities against. A little understanding can go a long way toward preventing costly and unnecessary wars.

[bemildred]

25. Somehow, that picture makes me think of Michael Dukakis. nt

[another_liberal]

26. I've got to hand it to you . . .

There's no doubt about it.