One problem about a possible independence of Iraqi Kurdistan (from what I understand) is that Iraqi Kurdistan has a lot of oil, while Iraq is very poor, courtesy of U.S. invasion. There is also some concern about local minorities (Arab minorities, in particular).
Crimea has a lot of natural gas fields and some oil fields. Since the illegal annexation by Russia we have seen their authorities crack down on local minorities such as the Crimean Tatars, something that has spread
to recently occupied parts of Ukraine.
At this point you're just grasping at straws in order to justify why what's happening in Ukraine is different to other parts of the world.
I don't think that independence should be granted automatically after a referendum approving it (context does matter).
And yet that's exactly what you suggest with Crimea and the Donbass.
It should be more a last resort, people should first try to get along, to cooperate. There is always a danger that rich regions want to take their independence, while poor regions are left alone, facing even greater poverty.
The Donbass region
produced nearly 1/7th of the GDP of Ukraine and 25% of the country's exports. That region is rich in raw materials such as gases like Neon, and extremely high quality lithium. The industrialisation of that region and the wealth that's present there is quite literally what you're describing.
In addition, there has been some collaboration between Iraqi Kurds and the central government of Iraq to fight the Islamic State. The relations may therefore not be as bad as in Ukraine, when a civil war has been taking place since 2014.
After the referendum the Iraqi Government launched an offensive to take control of lands they abandoned to IS that was subsequently recaptured and held by the Kurds. The only way that this is better is than Ukraine is that the fighting between the two groups in Iraq broke out after the referendum, not before.
I don't see any benefit in restoring Ukrainian sovereignty on Crimea (though one can say that there is some geographical logic in this)
Also because it's legally Ukrainian.
...they speak a different language...
They speak different languages in many parts of Russia as well, does that mean those places can unilaterally declare independence?
...Ukraine has a history of trying to impose its own language...
And Russia has an even longer history of doing so. I know this part is actually about Crimea, but have you ever stopped to wonder why the separatist regions of the Donbass have populations that have a majority of ethnic Ukrainians who are Russophones?
...the referendum has shown strong support for joining Russia...
And the other referendums I mentioned showed strong support for leaving their respective countries. However you don't see those as valid.
Crimea is by no means essential for the Ukrainian economy...
And it isn't essential for the Russian economy either. Which means it's completely irrelevant as a point.
...they are now fighting a very violent war...
Which Russia started.
Ukraine has imposed a number of "sanctions"...
Because of what Russia did.
...cutting off for example the supply of fresh water through the North Crimean canal in 2014. How can you like a government which suddenly cuts off 85% of your fresh water, for political reasons, because it cannot stand that you leave?
How can you like a government that doesn't pay for the water they use? If you accept that Crimea should belong to Russia then why is it that you are expecting Ukraine to give Crimea their water for free?
And that's ignoring the fact that nearly all of the water that the canal brought to Crimea was used for economic purposes and not human consumption.
In addition, Crimea has a history of being part of Russia for a long time.
And that applies to quite a bit of Eastern Europe. Does that mean that all those places don't have the right to their own territorial integrity (or even existence) because it was once part of Russia?
In addition, the decision to join Russia could always be reversed later,
Could it? How?
...we don't know what will happen in a century. It is possible that, in a few years' time, Crimeans will get weary of the lack of democracy in Russia, and of the dubious actions of its "security services", and will want to become closer to Western Europe.
Because that will totally happen. Just like how Chechnya is currently an independent country in the world and absolutely not a Federal Subject of the Russian Federation.
opens in a new tab) Uncle Sam is turning up the flame on a gas stove, forcing Europeans to jump up and down while crying for sanctions against Russia.
