Even as Some Russian Troops Pull Back From Ukraine Border, Rogue Separatists Fight On; At Least 16Dead at Donetsk

BALTIMORE, Maryland May 22, 2014 - This might be the strangest news yet coming out of the Ukraine and Syrian crisis. CNN says Russian troops are starting to pack up along the Ukraine Border, as ordered and promised by Russian Strong Man Vladimir Putin on numerous occassions. Businessweek says its sources report that Russian troops deployed on the Ukraine border will, for the most part, be back at their original bases by June 1. Meanwhile, Separatist Guerillas fighting Ukraine Regular Troops have killed up to 14 of them near Donetsk and Slovyansk in the last 36 hours, while suffering up to three deaths themselves, numerous sources say. The Separatists are stepping up their violent attacks in an effort to scuttle the Ukraine Government elections, set for Sunday. Russia has threatened to march into Ukraine if the Government uses heavy-handed tactics against the Separatists. But with Russia pulling back despite Government operations against the Guerilla Forces who have occupied strongholds in several Eastern Ukraine Cities, it is hard to imagine Ukraine letting up on these anti-government forces. Despite the faux-referendum of last week, two prominent American polling companies have both showed that citizens of Eastern Ukraine do not want to break with their government and become part of Russia, and without wide-spread support, the Separatist Movement cannot survive.

Meanwhile, the Christian Science Monitor, in a front page story, says that the United States may actually turn to Iran to broker peace in Syria and other places. The United States and Russia are at loggerheads over Syria, where Russia backs the Assad government and the USA backs the rebels in their protracted and bloody civil war. The Monitor says that if the talks concerning Iran's nuclear program make progress, the United States might actually turn to Iran for help, both in Syria and in other hotspots around the globe. The disputes between the United States and Russia have rendered the United Nations a useless forum for advancing peace, the Monitor reports. Instead, the USA might have to "go it alone" in many world conflicts, and turn to unusual 'partners' to broker peace in other places. See the Monitor Article at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2014/0522/How-the-Ukraine-crisis-made-Iran-a-better-US-partner-on-Syria

The BBC says that the Separatist attacks are the deadliest of the current conflict. But in Donetsk, the hotbed of the Separatist Movement, Ukrainian Citizens rallied against the Separatists just days before the election the Separatists want to scuttle. See the BBC stories at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26270866