Pretty much now an argument between pro-Putin communists (Which sounds like a fucking oxymoron to me) and anti-Putin communists (which I thought was the fucking norm).
Pretty much now an argument between pro-Putin communists (Which sounds like a fucking oxymoron to me) and anti-Putin communists (which I thought was the fucking norm).
I used to hate Putin with a burning passion, then some comrades explained that Russia only exists today in the form it does because of Putin and his leadership. Russia would be nothing more than an American colony today, it may have balkanized further than it had after the fall of the USSR. But, Putin gave the new Russian Federation an identity to uphold and turned the state around.
Now I don’t hate Putin. I don’t like him ideologically, but, the man’s worth praise. Especially from anti-imperialists. He turned his crippled nation into a real threat towards the west, stabilized its economy, and improved the quality of life of its citizens. And now with news that he’s reforming the government then stepping down (I haven’t been following this closely, so idk if it’s still happening or how much progress has been made on it), I’m left nervous for the future of the Russian Federation post-Putin.
I don’t think the Putin government has much of a right to call itself anti-imperialist after Crimea.
Russia’s actions towards Ukraine have a lot to do with Ukraine’s government going Fascist and partnering with the western powers. Crimea is a historically important port for Eastern Europe, and it’s a historically vital port for Russia. Ukraine could use NATO’s military strength to enact a soft-sanction on Russia via limiting Russia’s use of the port. The annexation of Crimea was a strategic war to ensure Russia doesn’t get bullied into regression. Like the Afghan War, it’s not very fortunate and there’s a lot to be critical of. But, also like the Afghan War, there were valid strategic justifications for the war and those justifications never get spoken about in non-CSTO spheres of influence.
I’m not fully in support of the annexation of Crimea, but it’s dishonest to oppose it fully when discontinued use of the port could mean economic and logistical troubles for the Russian Federation and its trading partners.