Categories
statecraft

Crimean Republic – крымская республика

I have put together this map, which shows a possible negotiated settlement to the War in Eastern Europe. I understand that both sides have different expectations, so this might be an interesting point of departure for a compromise. The Russians annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2012, and there is a large group that would like to see that changed. The Russians will not want to leave Crimea or Eastern Ukraine after more than 3 years of long and bloody war.

The Crimean Republic would be a Russian protectorate (Русский протекторат) similar to Belarus, with economic ties to Ukraine (беспошлинная украинская торговля) and limited autonomy for itself. I said I would not blog anymore about my views on the war, yet this falls under the category of ideas for peace, not views on the war. I was deeply troubled that Putin did not want to attend the peace conference in Turkey. I hope his friend Xi Jinping will talk to him about the possibility of a diplomatic solution.

Tolstoy was an artillery officer in the Crimean War. His time at the siege of Sevastopol influenced his book War and Peace.

I was happy to hear that China and America negotiated a new trade deal. I still expect a market adjustment when Q2 reporting is filed, yet it should not be nearly as bad with this new agreement.

I have been working on my new animated series in earnest. Arrackeen Nights features gummy worms instead of the traditional worms from the Dune book.