Quote (SwamiVivekananda @ Jan 24 2024 07:29pm)
So Ukraine is basically already a part of NATO because it's being given arms from members of NATO(correct me if I'm wrong) and it's only a matter of time before Russia basically takes Ukraine by force because countries like the US shouldn't be involved there and it's Russia teaching the world a lesson that they are a top super power and just as willing to sacrifice lives for their cause.
I'm not sure how the average Russian views Putin as to how most Americans view Biden but it just seems like Russia is projecting it's power to gain resources the same way the United States did it in the Middle East.
So the Ukrainian people themselves are cannon fodder because they would otherwise have no internal conflict with Russia?
A more precise way of saying it is that Ukraine aspires to be in Nato, Russia is strongly opposed to this and for a variety of reasons, including Ukraine's aspirations to join Nato, Russia invaded. over the last couple of decades Ukraine moved to a Pro-European, Pro-Western footing, and is regarded, loosely, as a Western ally, but not a Nato member. if it was a Nato member, when Russia invaded we would be in WW3 territory, i.e. the West would have responded militarily with all its conventional forces against Russia, which may have then escalated further. (or rather, if Ukraine was in Nato, and Russia accepted this, there would have been no invasion).
Russia does not currently have the ability to "take Ukraine" by force. it would need an army of 5-10million men, which it has not conscripted. Which is my rationale for my assumption that Russia is happy enough with the land it has currently claimed (eastern ukraine and crimea) From what we can tell in the west, Putin's position and approval rating has gone up, noting it was mainly ethnic russians that ukraine had been bombing in the period 2014-2021. Crimea is also 75% ethnic russian.
Finally, from one perspective you can say that Russia is projecting its power, but it would be more accurate to state that the US saw Russia as weak when Russia was weak, the US then toppled the Ukrainian Government and installed a Pro-Western Government (that would sell its resources to the West). Eastern Ukraine did not recognize the new government of Ukraine, Russia supported Eastern Ukraine and is strongly opposed to Ukraine being a part of Nato.
As Nato is insisting on the matra, ukraine will be in Nato, and as Russia is insisting it wont, we have a deadlock, which is likely only to be resolved on the battlefield, which ultimately is likely to result in the war escalating even further then it currently is. i.e. I can well envisage Russia removing the Ukrainian government in the search of ukrainians that will negotiate a peace (2025 at the earliest, but more likely either 2026 or 2027).
There are very strongly opposing views around the world as to the reason why Russia invaded and what its goals are.
This post was edited by ferdia on Jan 24 2024 01:52pm