If Russia aims to annex eastern Ukraine, I think the conclusion of this thread is that there is nothing stopping them. So if Kievs goal is to avoid eastern Ukraine being annexed by Russia, their one and only chance is to gamble that Russia does not really want to annex eastern Ukraine. So they should try to avoid forcing Putins hand. Which means negotiations to accomodate Russia and the pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine.

Ordering in the army as the cabinet reportedly has done, risks massacres that forces or enables Putin to follow up his rethoric with troops. It is also a risky gamble, because if the army does not go, the cabinets claim to be ruling the country can be fatally wounded, encouraging other forces - local mobs, seperatist, contenders for central power - to take over local control.

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