russia is a country with the most number of nuclear weapons in the world, being extremely sensitive about any border disputes, fueled by an unfortunate self-perpetuating symbiosis of a large portion of the population being nationalistic being catered to by an equally nationalistic autocrat…
no sensible country would touch such an explosive combination country with a long pole, let alone try to invade, which would virtually guarantee mutual destruction with nuclear weapons…
First, let’s establish some context here. What Russia is rightly concerned about is the fact that NATO has been relentlessly expanding to the east. They’ve now given NATO an ultimatum that it has to roll back and comply with the original security guarantees that were given after USSR dissolved. The threat to Russia is real and should not be understated. NATO being able to put nukes in Ukraine would mean that they could reach Moscow in five minutes. This is a red line for Russia. All the NATO members have already stated that there is no prospects of Ukraine joining NATO or EU in the foreseeable future. This precludes any reason for Russia to act.
Russia has also never once said that it plans to invade Ukraine. The troops you’re talking about are stationed in their barracks. Likewise, France, Germany, and even Ukraine are saying that there is no Russian invasion happening.
So far, the only countries insisting that there is some imminent invasion are US and UK. And the country that’s been most damaged by these claims is Ukraine since all the investors are now pulling out leading to the economy crashing. This is the primary reason Ukrainian government has now broken with the US narrative.
Russia is achieving its goals without any need to invade Ukraine. Europe has absolutely no interest in having a full out war in Ukraine, and it’s also heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil meaning that EU has little appetite to try and sanction Russia. On the other hand, US appears to be pushing for conflict as a distraction from the disastrous domestic policy and because accepting Russian demands would be seen as weakness. This is already driving a serious wedge within NATO. Russia will continue to apply pressure by doing military exercises within its borders, and negotiating with western powers. France, Italy, and Germany are already having direct talks with Russia and this is the most likely path towards resolving the issue.
Russia invading Ukraine would be counter to their goals as it would actually help unite NATO against them. There is no conceivable benefit to Russia from fighting a war in Ukraine. It’s also worth noting that Russian media hasn’t talked about any war, and typically countries prepare their public for a war when they’re planning on having one.
The only scenario Russia has stated that it would engage militarily in Ukraine would be if Ukraine invaded Donbas. Ukraine has been ignoring its Minsk agreement commitments failing to grant autonomy to Donetsk and Kuhansk, and has been engaging in committing war crimes in these regions by attacking water supply and civilian targets.
NATO being able to put nukes in Ukraine would mean that they could reach Moscow in five minutes. This is a red line for Russia.
Serious question: why should Ukraine be a red line when NATO could already put nuclear weapons in Latvia, which is about the same distance from Moscow?
Donbas is an autonomous region that separated from Ukraine. Funny how westerners only believe in people’s right for self determination when it suits them.
You mean like how you paint the Maidan Revolution as a NATO conspiracy? Those people taught the world how to protest. And less than a year later both protester and police where shoulder to shoulder in foxholes, getting shelled by Russian artillery. Self determination when it suits you, eh?
The fact that the coup was funded and orchestrated by US is a well documented fact. Donbas wants independence and Ukraine even signed the Minsk agreement to grant them independence. Stop trying to rewrite history you sad little troll.
Well documented by who? Compare the weak Russian funded anti-NATO “protests” with the raging tire-burning city-wide revolution that was the Maidan. I saw thousands of people wearing helmets the Nazis dropped when they fled Ukraine. Is US pysops that much more capable than their Russian counterparts? Or perhaps, labeling genuine popular movements as NATO conspiracies is the standard Russian party line.
I am curious though, if Russia says they aren’t going to invade Ukraine, then why are they doing this massive military build up? Like what is the point? If the US/NATO refuse to cooperate with Russian demands… then what? Nothing?
It is a very serious situation, and there is a real risk of a conflict breaking out. I just don’t see how it would be in Russia’s or Europe’s interest for things to go that way. On the other hand, US directly benefits from a war in Ukraine. This is a fantastic article providing some useful background on why US is escalating tensions.
Just finally read that linked article, and from where I stand, and the author of the article stands, Russia really has no right to make these demands. Nothing was officially agreed upon (signed by both parties). People give political promises all the time, but nothing is real until signed. What are your thoughts on that?
My thoughts on that are that NATO lied to the leaders of USSR and created a false impression of its intentions. Then once USSR fell, NATO took the opportunity of the ensuing chaos to ruthlessly expand itself and create chaos across the region. Russia is now in a position to make its own demands now, and that’s what they’re doing. The end result will either be new security treaties being signed that ensure peace in Europe or we’ll see a war happen.
I think the former is likely to happen over war. There will be some sort of law that restricts NATO membership or the like. Russia is considered to be in a partnership for peace with NATO, and that’s likely where the dialogue is surrounding. I think the number of NATO members who would rather negotiate peace outweigh the larger more influential members advocating for provocation (US and UK). I really want to see peace in the region.
That’s my expectation as well. I think everyone understands that war would be devastating for both Russia and Europe. Another likely possibility is that NATO just falls apart, and new protocols are developed between Europe and Russia. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the goals of US and Europe are no longer aligned the way they were in the past, and I don’t think Europe is interested in being used as a pawn in US geopolitical games.
Exactly, I think countries need to abandon antagonistic mentality that developed during the cold war and start learning to work together despite their differences. We have big problems like climate change looming in front of us, and we have to stop bickering over ideology in order to start tackling them effectively.
What Russia is rightly concerned about is the fact that NATO has been relentlessly expanding to the east.
At the same time, Russia is itself responsible for those countries joining. NATO is not an expansionist body. It is a treaty organization where smaller countries that feel threatened by Russian interference have sought refuge. Russia’s recent imperialism in Georgia and Ukraine and a longer history of imperialist tendencies has pushed countries to join to avoid being under Russia’s thumb.
How exactly is Russia responsible for those countries joining? Meanwhile, NATO is absolutely an expansionist body as very clearly demonstrated by its non stop expansion for the past 30 years. Russia was perfectly fine with Georgia an Ukraine doing their thing until NATO started running coups in those countries. You managed to reverse the cause and effect here.
one moment pls, gotta repharase the comment
Russia is clearly the aggressor here.
russia is a country with the most number of nuclear weapons in the world, being extremely sensitive about any border disputes, fueled by an unfortunate self-perpetuating symbiosis of a large portion of the population being nationalistic being catered to by an equally nationalistic autocrat…
no sensible country would touch such an explosive combination country with a long pole, let alone try to invade, which would virtually guarantee mutual destruction with nuclear weapons…
First, let’s establish some context here. What Russia is rightly concerned about is the fact that NATO has been relentlessly expanding to the east. They’ve now given NATO an ultimatum that it has to roll back and comply with the original security guarantees that were given after USSR dissolved. The threat to Russia is real and should not be understated. NATO being able to put nukes in Ukraine would mean that they could reach Moscow in five minutes. This is a red line for Russia. All the NATO members have already stated that there is no prospects of Ukraine joining NATO or EU in the foreseeable future. This precludes any reason for Russia to act.
Russia has also never once said that it plans to invade Ukraine. The troops you’re talking about are stationed in their barracks. Likewise, France, Germany, and even Ukraine are saying that there is no Russian invasion happening.
So far, the only countries insisting that there is some imminent invasion are US and UK. And the country that’s been most damaged by these claims is Ukraine since all the investors are now pulling out leading to the economy crashing. This is the primary reason Ukrainian government has now broken with the US narrative.
Russia is achieving its goals without any need to invade Ukraine. Europe has absolutely no interest in having a full out war in Ukraine, and it’s also heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil meaning that EU has little appetite to try and sanction Russia. On the other hand, US appears to be pushing for conflict as a distraction from the disastrous domestic policy and because accepting Russian demands would be seen as weakness. This is already driving a serious wedge within NATO. Russia will continue to apply pressure by doing military exercises within its borders, and negotiating with western powers. France, Italy, and Germany are already having direct talks with Russia and this is the most likely path towards resolving the issue.
Russia invading Ukraine would be counter to their goals as it would actually help unite NATO against them. There is no conceivable benefit to Russia from fighting a war in Ukraine. It’s also worth noting that Russian media hasn’t talked about any war, and typically countries prepare their public for a war when they’re planning on having one.
The only scenario Russia has stated that it would engage militarily in Ukraine would be if Ukraine invaded Donbas. Ukraine has been ignoring its Minsk agreement commitments failing to grant autonomy to Donetsk and Kuhansk, and has been engaging in committing war crimes in these regions by attacking water supply and civilian targets.
NATO doesn’t invade countries. This is a threat to their geopolitical interests, not a direct threat.
You can whatabout your way and compare them to America acting on their interests, but that just makes them the same as America, not better.
Tell that to Yugoslavia, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq.
Serious question: why should Ukraine be a red line when NATO could already put nuclear weapons in Latvia, which is about the same distance from Moscow?
Huh. Donbas is a part of Ukraine. So Russia will invade Ukraine if it “invades” Ukraine? Nice reasoning.
Donbas is an autonomous region that separated from Ukraine. Funny how westerners only believe in people’s right for self determination when it suits them.
You mean like how you paint the Maidan Revolution as a NATO conspiracy? Those people taught the world how to protest. And less than a year later both protester and police where shoulder to shoulder in foxholes, getting shelled by Russian artillery. Self determination when it suits you, eh?
The fact that the coup was funded and orchestrated by US is a well documented fact. Donbas wants independence and Ukraine even signed the Minsk agreement to grant them independence. Stop trying to rewrite history you sad little troll.
Well documented by who? Compare the weak Russian funded anti-NATO “protests” with the raging tire-burning city-wide revolution that was the Maidan. I saw thousands of people wearing helmets the Nazis dropped when they fled Ukraine. Is US pysops that much more capable than their Russian counterparts? Or perhaps, labeling genuine popular movements as NATO conspiracies is the standard Russian party line.
😂😂😂
I am curious though, if Russia says they aren’t going to invade Ukraine, then why are they doing this massive military build up? Like what is the point? If the US/NATO refuse to cooperate with Russian demands… then what? Nothing?
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Could you cite this? A quick search shows that Russia has leveled that accusation, but Russia often lies (remember the “little green men”?)
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well, i hope you’re right in the sense that this entire thing is actually a negotiating tactic, however, i can’t help but still remain pretty worried
i guess we’ll just see what happens, bc we will probably have a relatively certain answer soon 🤷♀️
It is a very serious situation, and there is a real risk of a conflict breaking out. I just don’t see how it would be in Russia’s or Europe’s interest for things to go that way. On the other hand, US directly benefits from a war in Ukraine. This is a fantastic article providing some useful background on why US is escalating tensions.
Just finally read that linked article, and from where I stand, and the author of the article stands, Russia really has no right to make these demands. Nothing was officially agreed upon (signed by both parties). People give political promises all the time, but nothing is real until signed. What are your thoughts on that?
My thoughts on that are that NATO lied to the leaders of USSR and created a false impression of its intentions. Then once USSR fell, NATO took the opportunity of the ensuing chaos to ruthlessly expand itself and create chaos across the region. Russia is now in a position to make its own demands now, and that’s what they’re doing. The end result will either be new security treaties being signed that ensure peace in Europe or we’ll see a war happen.
I think the former is likely to happen over war. There will be some sort of law that restricts NATO membership or the like. Russia is considered to be in a partnership for peace with NATO, and that’s likely where the dialogue is surrounding. I think the number of NATO members who would rather negotiate peace outweigh the larger more influential members advocating for provocation (US and UK). I really want to see peace in the region.
That’s my expectation as well. I think everyone understands that war would be devastating for both Russia and Europe. Another likely possibility is that NATO just falls apart, and new protocols are developed between Europe and Russia. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the goals of US and Europe are no longer aligned the way they were in the past, and I don’t think Europe is interested in being used as a pawn in US geopolitical games.
Yeah I agree. NATO originally formed in 1949, which is a world and a half different from the current world we currently live in.
Exactly, I think countries need to abandon antagonistic mentality that developed during the cold war and start learning to work together despite their differences. We have big problems like climate change looming in front of us, and we have to stop bickering over ideology in order to start tackling them effectively.
At the same time, Russia is itself responsible for those countries joining. NATO is not an expansionist body. It is a treaty organization where smaller countries that feel threatened by Russian interference have sought refuge. Russia’s recent imperialism in Georgia and Ukraine and a longer history of imperialist tendencies has pushed countries to join to avoid being under Russia’s thumb.
How exactly is Russia responsible for those countries joining? Meanwhile, NATO is absolutely an expansionist body as very clearly demonstrated by its non stop expansion for the past 30 years. Russia was perfectly fine with Georgia an Ukraine doing their thing until NATO started running coups in those countries. You managed to reverse the cause and effect here.