Referenda were held in parts of Ukraine under Russian control. Do you take them seriously?
I don’t think that matters much. If the West wants serious referenda it could easily set the conditions for those referenda.
The politicians there may put their names to it, but Sinn Fein want union with the Republic, the DUP want continuing union with Britain, and the people vote accordingly.
The agreement is that both sides say that the union is determined by public opinion. Within that agreement, it’s possible to change public opinion about what’s preferred. Both Sinn Fein and DUP agree on the fact that you can do a binding referendum about the question of what union should exist.
This is the general way you prevent violence with democracy. You agree to not decide your conflict via violence but with democratic measures. That still means you have a conflict but on the democratic field instead of a violent one.
Putin being “happy” with cession to Russia of the territories that he is falling back on, beyond saving his domestic face.
I think you underrate the importance that domestic political support has for politicians. Putin could easily say “Hey, we didn’t get everything but we managed to protect the people from Donesk and Luhanzk and that is what matters.”
I don’t think that matters much. If the West wants serious referenda it could easily set the conditions for those referenda.
The agreement is that both sides say that the union is determined by public opinion. Within that agreement, it’s possible to change public opinion about what’s preferred. Both Sinn Fein and DUP agree on the fact that you can do a binding referendum about the question of what union should exist.
This is the general way you prevent violence with democracy. You agree to not decide your conflict via violence but with democratic measures. That still means you have a conflict but on the democratic field instead of a violent one.
I think you underrate the importance that domestic political support has for politicians. Putin could easily say “Hey, we didn’t get everything but we managed to protect the people from Donesk and Luhanzk and that is what matters.”
Well, yes. That is literally an agreement to disagree.