We are witnessing a version of what we have witnessed all our lives. Governments doing what they decide is best and barely involving the people. They justify this is many ways but ultimately they not the people have the weapons and the laws to dominate, supported by largely supine newsmedia.
In the West the Ukraine – Russian conflict is largely presented as Russia Bad, Ukraine Good, with Putin labelled as evil. Calm presentation of the key facts is not easy to find. This is the Kremlin version: https://www.rt.com/russia/550493-ukraine-donbass-military-operation-prehistory/ and this from Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/9/what-is-the-minsk-agreement-and-why-is-it-relevant-now citing the Minsk agreement as the best way forward.
Swirling around the disputes there are many different opinions on the basic causes, ranging from it being an American plot to derail the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to NATO expansion and then Russian Imperialism. Who knows what the truth is?
This may seem naïve – once again – but since it is ordinary citizens who must bear the brunt of the elite decision-making, it makes practical and moral sense simply to ask them/us what we want. Despite the inevitable propaganda, distortions and possible rigging of results, this is more likely to reflect the democratic will of the people than any alternative. And there is a recent precedent in Crimea: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-crimea-exit-idUSBREA2F0R720140316
As a precursor to their invasion – which seems an undeniable fact – Russia recognised the independence of two breakaway rebel regions of eastern Ukraine as Donetsk and Luhansk Republics.
Would it not make sense to ask the people of these regions if they want to be part of Russia or Ukraine?
It is proposed that referenda should be held in Donetsk and Luhansk to ask the people who live there what they want