[nekcihc]

UK has not seized Venezuelan gold - as soon as Venezuela will get recognized government, UK will restore Venezuelan rights to their gold.

How this even compares to Crimea? Russia has no intention to give Crimea back - no matter what government is in Ukraine. Russia was already very nervous about Sevastopol naval base under Yanukovich, when the rent agreement was running out and that is the only reason for seizing Crimea, as this allows it to maintain than naval base. It is also a theft, as so far Russia was paying rent for that base and now it doesn't have to.

[pydry]

Ask Venezuelans what should happen to the gold and majority would say give it back. Access was cut off precisely when they needed funds the most.

Crimea won't be given back, no. They ran a vote and asked the majority ~85% ethnic Russian Crimeans which country they'd like to belong to and, after maidan, the outcome was a forgone conclusion with or without the boycotts.

Ukraine and western powers tellingly opted to argue that the vote was wrong because it was in violation of Ukraine's constitution rather than it didnt reflect the will of those voting.

Even if Western powers didnt routinely flout international law when it suited them (e.g. supporting Israeli settlements on stolen land), it's a little bit awkward to declare a democratic vote illegal if you're trying to position yourself as the world's #1 fan of democracy.

Ironically if America could have held itself to higher ethical standards in the last two decades it would probably be in a better position to push Russia's new expansion back.