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[shinobi602]

Action Putin at it again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLQJybH9L6o

It was a typical display by Russia's action-man President, Vladimir Putin, clambering into a mini submarine and plunging to the depths of the Black Sea.

The waves first washed over his glass bubble, then swallowed it, with underwater cameras capturing the slow slide down. Officially, the dive was designed to view an ancient shipwreck on the seabed. But it was also about demonstrating who is boss here now. Vladimir Putin is spending three days in Crimea with a whole delegation of senior Russian politicians and business figures in tow.

Kiev has condemned the visit as an attempt to whip up tensions, and underlined that Crimea's only possible future was back with Ukraine. So when Vladimir Putin docked for a moment in Sevastopol, I put that point to him.

"The future of Crimea was determined by the people who live on this land," the president replied on the quayside, stony-faced and unequivocal. "They voted to be united with Russia. That's it. Full stop." The results of a hastily-called vote on joining Russia did show overwhelming support in Crimea for annexation.

But the March 2014 referendum that Moscow hailed as the people's choice, was held with armed men on the streets and in clear violation of Ukraine's constitution.

As a result, the US and Europe imposed economic sanctions on Russia, and Crimea's annexation is formally recognised by next to no-one. Still, there is no doubt that the majority here are strongly sympathetic to Moscow. And, for Russians, "returning" the region from Ukraine, after its "loss" in Soviet times, was a very popular cause. So Moscow has begun pouring in funds to back up its political claim on the peninsula, and to show it cares.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33985325

 

[Linus]

That sub is awesome.

 

[komplanen]

Putin's gonna keep Putin' it up Ukrain's backdoor whether they like it or not.

 

[Veritigo_X]

This is the same thing they've been saying since the referendum.

 

[John Kowalski]

Putin sounded excited!

lol @ admitting that it was all fake

 

[speculawyer]

Let him have his money pit.

 

[forms]

Putin knows what voting is? Maybe Kim explained it to him.

 

[theusedversion]

I wonder if he would hold the same opinion if any of Russia's existing territories voted for independence.

 

[Veritigo_X]

I wonder if he would hold the same opinion if any of Russia's existing territories voted for independence.

Those territories would have 100% turnout and they would all vote to stay in Russia of course.

 

[SliceSabre]

The international community may not 'officially' recognize Crimea as part of Russia, but it really doesn't matter because everyone is going to operate like it is and no one actually thinks that Russia will ever give it up now.

 

[demolitio]

Those territories would have over 100% turnout and they would all vote to stay in Russia of course.

Fixed that for you.

I just hope we don't have to hear this same speech a year from now about another territory.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

I'm sure the Sudetenland voted to join Germany too.

 

[Dixon's Jet]

I'm sure the Sudetenland voted to join Germany too.

Didn't the Munich agreement render any Czech vote pointless?

 

[Syntsui]

What you punks going to do about that? huh

 

[Cizeta-Moroder]

Fixed that for you.

I just hope we don't have to hear this same speech a year from now about another territory.

I think Finland should hold a preemptive referendum.