Quote Originally Posted by Gilrandir View Post
Once again: Putin DECIDED on his Crimea operation on the night BETWEEN 22 and 23 (and proclaimed it on the 23) when Yanukovych was still the president.
Are you talking about what you think happened in reality or what Putin said in the documentary? If you're talking about the former, you may be right, but if you're talking about the latter, that's not true.
But whatever the date might be, another confession of his is more important. Putin admitted that Russian regular troops were instrumental in the annexation, while before he at first gainsaid it, then he said his notorious phrase about Russian soldiers "behind the backs of the locals" (which you interpreted as metaphor) and a year later he spilt out the truth. So much for his gainsaying the presence of Russian troops in Donbas now.
Putin admitted that Russian troops already stationed in Crimea were used to maintain peace and security.

I never said those troops weren't Russian regulars, just that we couldn't know if they were and that "we've got their backs" doesn't necessarily mean literally boots on the ground.

I was actually always of the thought that those troops are either current or former Russian professionals, or, at the very least, locals backed by Moscow. I was also of the opinion that any of that wouldn't have been possible if the vast majority of the population wasn't in favour of it.

Even recent polls conducted by western agencies show over 80% of Crimeans support joining Russia.