Donbass

Many people have wondered whether the leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk wish their young countries to remain independent republics when the war is over or whether they see their long term future in the Russian Federation.
Today, the answer came from Donetsk People’s Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko.
Speaking at a press conference during a meeting with Russian politicians, Zakharchenko said,

“We have only one goal, returning to the homeland”.

Donald Trump has had a busy day on Twitter slamming the mainstream media, mocking Russiagate and attempting to promote peace abroad.
The opening salvo started with this.

An historic meeting has taken place in Donetsk, wherein leaders of the Donetsk People’s Republic and representatives of the Russian State Duma and Federation Council have meet to discuss further steps to help integrate the Donbass republics with the institutions of the Russian Federation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has meet privately with Donald Trump in Washington DC. After the meeting, Lavrov gave a public press conference at the Russian Embassy in Washington.
The meeting seemed to take a positive tone. No re-set buttons or other gimmicks were on the table, just serious talk on major international issues like Syria, North Korea, Afghanistan and the Kiev/Donbass conflict.
Lavrov praised the attitude of the Trump administration which he contrasted sharply with that of the Obama White House. Lavrov described the changes in the following way,

 
Yesterday, I marched in my local Immortal Regiment, an event where millions throughout the world hold photos of loved ones, comrades and heroes of the Great Patriotic War.
This year, because of the fight against fascism currently transpiring in Donbass, Donetsk People’s Republic leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko said that people can additionally carry images of the fallen heroes of the Donabss people’s war for liberation against fascist aggression from the post-coup Ukrainian regime which was installed in February of 2014.

Two roadside bombs have been detonated in the Donetsk People’s Republic on a road beside a Great Patriotic War memorial that is to be a location of activities for tomorrow’s Victory Day celebrations in Donetsk.
The bombs appear to be part of a targeted assassination attempt on Donetsk People’s Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko. Zakharchenko’s motorcade was to drive down the road where the blasts occurred. Luckily the bombs detonated prematurely and no one was hurt.

On the eve of Victory Day which is banned in Ukraine but will be celebrated widely in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, the Kiev regime’s neo-Nazi volunteer militia, The Azov Battalion has been ordered to ‘cleanse’ the civilian populations of Maryinka, and Krasnogorovka, two cities controlled by the forces loyal to the fascist junta.
Many people in these cities which are not far from Donetsk, look to the Donetsk People’s Republic for protection and are loyal to the political institutions of Donetsk.

Russia’s long history of being invaded and occupied by hostile powers has given modern Russians a sense of purpose in respect of peace that many other nations lack. Russia’s history has been one of struggle against military, political and religious oppression. The tale is ultimately one of resilience against tremendous odds.
READ MORE: Here’s why Russia doesn’t want to fight the United States in Syria

Ukraine’s notorious volunteer Azov Battalion has been guilty of some of the most heinous war crimes against the people of Donbass.  Details of just some of the disgusting acts perpetrated by the Azov Battalion can be found in a lengthy OSCE report from April of last year.
READ MORE: 5 facts that prove Lavrov is correct when he says Ukraine is ‘dancing to pipe of neo-Nazis’

The Korean Peninsula is often thought of as a volatile region, a dangerous region, an unpredictable ‘weaponised’ region. In particular, the United States has accused North Korea of being a threat to regional peace and stability.
Objectively, there is some truth to all of this, but the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Korean states is far less unstable than the Syria/Iraq border which is currently controlled by ISIS.