Putin calls for a new state in eastern Ukraine. -Yahoo/AFP

Vladimir Putin. Yahoo/AFP

For the first time Vladimir Putin has openly called for statehood for the breakaway eastern part of Ukraine. --Yahoo/AFP. He called for talks to determine the fate of eastern Ukraine and spoke of protecting the rights of the people that lived in the region. This is a major change in policy for Putin, who previously only called for federalization and greater rights for the Russian speaking residents of the Ukraine. Putin also placed the blame on the war squarely on Ukraine for removing former president Viktor Yanukovych, Putin's man in Ukraine. Russia still officially denies any state sanctioned use of troops in Ukraine but admits that many Russian "volunteers" are there fighting while on "vacation".

My Comment:

Putin is right about one thing here. None of this would have happened if the people of Ukraine, with western backing, hadn't tossed out a democratically elected leader. Even after that happened the conflict could have been avoided at several steps. First the Ultra-Nationalists should have not passed discriminatory laws against Russian seeking citizens. That was wrong and it should have never happened. Second, if they had repealed those laws and accepted more autonomy from the eastern provinces they could have probably avoided war. Third, if they hadn't been so gung ho on a military solution then war would at least be less likely, and even if it wasn't it would be fully on the rebels and Russia.

As for Putin's demands, I think he will get what he wants. Putin has more then enough military power to get what he wants and there is no way the west will go to war with him over Ukraine. His initial plan went to hell when it was clear that both Donetsk and Luhansk were going to fall to Ukrainian forces. That won't happen now, so he has to push for the new state solution.

As for these Russian "volunteers" fighting on "vacation", well, if you believe that then i got a bridge to sell you. It's obvious to everyone that these are regular army fighters and the deception isn't going to fool anyone except maybe domestically in Russia. I understand why Putin has to try the deception but it isn't going to work.