Kiev proposes more autonomy for its east, while it tries to get closer to the West

Petro Poroshenko (Αντώνης Σαμαράς Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας)

Ukraine is working on trying to make deals in the east and west:

September 16, 2014

Ukraine’s parliament has adopted legislation giving greater autonomy to the separatist regions in the east of the country, as well as amnesty for most of those involved in recent fighting with government forces.

The new laws, which were proposed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, are aimed at ending the five-month conflict that has splintered the country.

Ukrainian lawmakers also ratified an agreement to expand economic and political ties with the European Union.

The rejection of the same EU deal by Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych last November triggered protests that led to his ouster, Russia’s seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula and its support for the rebels in the east.

Poroshenko has signed the accord but agreed to delay implementation until the end of next year.

The decision is a concession to Russia, which threatened retaliatory trade moves that would have hurt the Ukrainian economy.

Legislation

Following are the main points of the legislation, as reported by the French news agency AFP:

Rebel-held Lugansk and Donetsk regions will be granted a “special status,” giving them broader autonomy for a temporary three-year period.

Local elections in certain districts of the two mainly Russian-speaking regions on December 7.

Russian language to be allowed in state institutions.

Regional councils can appoint local judges and prosecutors.

Local authorities in Donetsk and Lugansk can strengthen relations with counterparts across the border in Russia.

Aid to restore damaged infrastructure and to provide social and economic assistance to hard-hit areas.

Another bill on amnesty protects from criminal prosecution “participants of events in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions” – appearing to apply to both the insurgents and Ukrainian government troops. Rights groups have accused fighters on both sides of abuses that might be classified as war crimes. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-parliament-adopts-law-on-self-rule-for-eastern-region/2451232.html

What the plan appears to be is that Kiev hopes that by granting more autonomy to the east and voting to allow the Russian language, that this will take out more of the incentives for the people in its east to rebel. It also seems to hope to discourage Russia from pushing to hard to gain its eastern territories or foment revolt there. At the same time, it seems to be hoping that it will end up in the European Union, that the economic benefits of that would help the country, and that those in the east would benefit enough that the rebels will stop fighting for closer ties to Russia.

However, the problem is that Ukraine has a lot of economic problems, reducing ties to Russia will make them worse (at least for a time), and it could take years for real economic benefits come from the European Union. However, to get through this to some degree, the Europeans are providing financial aid, but there are limits to how much and how long the EU can do this. Especially since certain other regions in Europe need economic aid and/or aid functioning because of high debts.

Notice some criticism of the USA and its role from a source that seems to be pro-Russian:

September 16, 2014

During 15-26 September, the U.S. and 14 other NATO countries are holding war games in Ukraine, in order to assist the Ukrainian military to eliminate Ukraine’s cultural Russians. Ukraine is not yet a NATO country, but aims to become one; and NATO under President Obama has ended being any sort of alliance for democracy, and is now instead little more than an alliance against Russia — a Cold War alliance this time not against communism and the Soviet Union (which are long gone), but instead for American conquest, pure and simple, to dominate the entire world militarily — including especially domination over Russia. http://rinf.com/alt-news/editorials/u-s-nato-hold-joint-war-games-ukraine-give-ukraine-weapons-continue-ethnic-cleansing-campaign/

The USA wants Russia to have less power and influence. Ukraine is not part of NATO, yet NATO exercises began there yesterday. While I do not believe the USA is looking for Russian domination per se, it does want to try to get Russia and other places in the world to share its views on many matters.

Russia would ultimately like Ukraine (or at least parts of it) to be in its Eurasian Union. Russia seems to be calculating its next moves and the situation in Ukraine remains tense.

From a prophetic perspective, we appear to still be seeing some separation between some of the peoples that live within the borders of Ukraine. Further autonomy, combined with possible economic disillusionment may increase the likelihood of future separation of the Ukrainian east to closer align with Russia. According to Bible prophecy, those that appear to have descended from the ancient Medes will ultimately align with Russia–and some of them are in parts of Russia and parts of Ukraine (see Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future).

This does not mean that some or all of Ukraine will not be part of the European Union, at least for a time. Geographically, Ukraine is in the correct location to be part of the final European Beast power according to prophecy.

As I have mentioned before, the European Union has demonstrated a history and willingness to enlarge–and it is interested in Ukraine.

The Bible prophesied that a little horn would develop into what apparently is becoming a European entity. Actually what is now the EU began as a small organization involving three small countries located in the northern and western regions of Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, called the Benelux nations)–they then helped form the European Economic Community. Which expanded into the European Union.

Notice that, the Bible prophesied that a little horn would mainly expand South and East:

9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:9-12).

And while the above has had a type of past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-39).

The late Dr. Herman Hoeh while in the old Radio Church of God taught that the little horn of Daniel 8 would expand and become the power that would become the final European King of the North:

Turn in your Bible to verse 9: “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” …

The King of the North

The little horn in Daniel 8 is none other than the LAST KING of one of the four divisions of Alexander’s Empire. He is, in fact, the final “King of the North” described in Daniel 11. … A great European Church-State union will be in control of Palestine and the whole Western World. (Hoeh H. The 2300 Days. Plain Truth, August 1965)

A power in Europe is rising up, despite the fact it is prophesied to have problems (e.g. Daniel 2:41-43). The geographic reality is that the European Union has mainly expanded south and east of the Benelux nations. Now, approximately 500 million people are now under a new, single (though not completed united) government, called the European Union, headquartered in Brussels. Ukraine is east of much of the EU–thus its geography is consistent with being part of the EU.

Some in Ukraine want to be in Russia’s Eurasian Union (Crimea being one region Russia has acquired), while many more now seem to wish to be in the European Union. I believe that later, even Russia will cooperate with the rising European Beast power for a time. The whole world will worship the beast, and that would include those in Russia and Ukraine (cf. Revelation 13:4,8).

Yet, the time will come when Russia and its future allies (including some in territories considered part of Ukraine, like Crimea) will turn against it to destroy it (Daniel 11:44; Jeremiah 50:41-43).

While many hop for peace, and interim peace will likely come, major war is in the future for Russia as well as the European Union. Ukraine will be affected by that as well.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach?
Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming Beast power use technology to fulfill passages in Revelation 13? What will this mean for the USA, its Anglo-Saxon allies, as well as a coming Arabic-Turkish confederation? What will Russia, China, and others do about this? Who is developing ‘Beast’ military technology now? What might Galileo, ELI, and supercolliders have to do with this?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
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