Quote (ferdia @ 8 May 2023 21:01)
and it is widely documented that Germany and France were opposed because they knew that Ukraine was Russia's red line. I.E. if everyone agreed for Ukraine to be in Nato back in 2008 then Russia would have invaded Ukraine on the spot, you dont get instant Nato Access, and no country in Europe would have been mental enough to guarantee Ukraine military protection during the transition into Nato phase because that would have resulted in WW3.
We are speaking about Russia, a country that on its national TV, that everybody watches there, says it needs to go up to Lisbon. So the question is not really "do we tell him to stop their invasion" but "
when do we tell him to stop his invastion". At Kyiv, Warsaw, Berlin or Paris?
Imo the more eastern the blockade, the calmer the western world will be.
Ukraine was given a Budapest memorandum by Russia in the 1990s, so they shouldnt really draw any red lines or make demands around Ukraine.
Quote (ferdia @ 8 May 2023 21:01)
Why are you bashing Germany and France ? they are two of the soundest actor's in all this. The UK was happy to give Finland such a guarantee last year because they knew that Russia didnt care about Finland in the first place. Notice how no one gave Ukraine such a guarantee ? Think about that for an hour or so.
It takes weeks/months for Germany to actually do something. And the war doesnt wait that long.
On the other hand USA decides and delivers instantly. While of course Germany helped Ukraine to some extent, the leading position has USA. A country that is far away.
Now we are waiting for Ukrainian counter-offensive. Then both sides will be out of offensive power, and that will create a window for negotiations. If negotiations go well, we can get a cease fire. And when there is no active conflict going, countries will be able to give NATO-like assurances to Ukraine. Will they give it? Dont know.