KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it’s intended to protect civilians. In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine.
Not really sure what’s there to be confused about. If Russia calculated that they would get popular support they might’ve decided that there would be little repercussions.
The west already said that NATO wouldn’t engage Russia militarily, and said exactly what sanctions would be placed on Russia. So, Russia knows exactly what the blow back would be. Since the west decided to start sanctions after Russia recognized Donbas republics, there wouldn’t be any tougher response going forward.
Furthermore, there could be a bigger calculation to drag the west into a new cold war that Russia believes it would have an advantage in right now. Western economies are in a dire state after the pandemic, and being dragged into an arms race with Russia and China will certainly not help things. Energy prices in Europe are skyrocketing already, and US will likely double down on more military spending. All of that will directly lead to decline in material conditions in the west. And that will further fuel civil unrest that’s already happening.
You also seem to be under a delusion that I’m supporting Putin here. I’m simply explaining to you what the rationale is. I don’t support the capitalist government in Russia in any way. I think that recognition of Donbas republics was justified given that Ukraine failed to implement Minsk agreements, but I don’t think Russia is in the right invading Ukraine.
That said, the west is largely responsible for this situation. There was every opportunity to work with Russia constructively after USSR collapsed and to treat Russia as an equal partner in a win-win relationship. Instead, the west chose to run a campaign of aggression and to keep expanding NATO military alliance. That’s how we got to where we are today.
Not really sure what’s there to be confused about. If Russia calculated that they would get popular support they might’ve decided that there would be little repercussions.
The west already said that NATO wouldn’t engage Russia militarily, and said exactly what sanctions would be placed on Russia. So, Russia knows exactly what the blow back would be. Since the west decided to start sanctions after Russia recognized Donbas republics, there wouldn’t be any tougher response going forward.
Furthermore, there could be a bigger calculation to drag the west into a new cold war that Russia believes it would have an advantage in right now. Western economies are in a dire state after the pandemic, and being dragged into an arms race with Russia and China will certainly not help things. Energy prices in Europe are skyrocketing already, and US will likely double down on more military spending. All of that will directly lead to decline in material conditions in the west. And that will further fuel civil unrest that’s already happening.
You also seem to be under a delusion that I’m supporting Putin here. I’m simply explaining to you what the rationale is. I don’t support the capitalist government in Russia in any way. I think that recognition of Donbas republics was justified given that Ukraine failed to implement Minsk agreements, but I don’t think Russia is in the right invading Ukraine.
That said, the west is largely responsible for this situation. There was every opportunity to work with Russia constructively after USSR collapsed and to treat Russia as an equal partner in a win-win relationship. Instead, the west chose to run a campaign of aggression and to keep expanding NATO military alliance. That’s how we got to where we are today.
Thanks for stating that clearly : let’s all oppose this horrible aggression of Russia against Ukraine.
I completely agree that Russia’s aggression must be opposed. There isn’t any justification for what Russia did.
Look at that, no talk like that nowadays, huh?