Russia To Formally Annex Four Occupied Ukrainian Regions Friday - Morning Joe - MSNBC

[TexasTowelie]

Russia will formally annex four regions of Ukraine partially controlled by its military, the Kremlin announced Thursday, in a major political escalation of the war against its neighbor. Ret. Adm. James Stavridis joins Morning Joe to discuss.

[dchill]

1. How do "illegitimately" and "formally" co-exist? Sounds like a job...

...for Major Media Saturation!

[PortTack]

5. Good question ...thought the same thing

[Irish_Dem]

2. The US Admiral says Putin is the one bombing the pipelines.

Trying to make Europe back down in their support of Ukraine.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. I believe Putin is ready to negotiate an end to the advance.

I think he wants to see how much of Ukraine he can keep while declaring victory and going home. Or more accurately, pull back to the territory he believes is now part of the Motherland again.

He knows he's reached his limit of aggression, and has to negotiate for peace. That's why he was saber rattling nuke weapons, they were a bargaining chip to keep his "annex".

I'm not a military expert, but I have played a lot of the game Risk in my life, and that's what I would do. I do not want to buy a new game map with Ukraine in green instead of Euro blue. LOL

[Evolve Dammit]

4. Evil. Pure evil.

[dchill]

6. Aided by the media. They're just gonna go with "annex"...

...like it's just an administrative procedure now.

[Evolve Dammit]

7. Was thinking the same thing, giving it unbelievably some veneer? of legitimacy?

[dchill]

8. Yeah, seems like. I guess they just love them some Putin.

[Initech]

9. Ill gotten gains. Fuck you Putin.