The situation in Ukraine. My take.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. You want a serious answer? Putin will not like it

they had a referendum in Chekoslosvakia. It required a supermajority to accept the separation of the two countries. It was supervised by the UN, they had a new voting roll done under the UN. They had options such as separate (which won over 60% of the vote iirc), options to stay as one nation, and a Federal Republic

There were zero troops in the streets.

All were encouraged to vote.

And the UN promised protections for minorities. I am willing to bet, given the conditions on the grounds that we know that this vote will not succeed under what qualifies as a fair election.

Oh and that election was, since it involved Chekoslovakia, all the country, not just the Check republic, or the Slovak nation. That is the Internationally recognized standard that needs to be met here. And that is NOT what if favored by Moscow, which has made a few statements that if you know the history of the area, are pretty much a declaration of war under present conditions. The reason the Ukrainian military has been very restrained is becuase they can do math. In a direct face off, they won't last more than a few hours. Now they could go guerrilla... and they could give the Russian Army a headache or two, but I do not think any wants to do that... at least not yet.