I would point out that Putin’s goal wasn’t to make Russia more prosperous, and that what Putin considers good isn’t the same as what an average Russian would consider good. Like Putin’s other military adventures, the Crimean annexation and heavy military support of Donbas separatists in 2014 probably had a goal like “make the Russian empire great again” (meaning “as big as possible”) and from Putin’s perspective the operations were a success. Especially as (if my impression is correct) the sanctions were fairly light and Russia could largely work around them.
Partly he was right, since Russia was bigger. But partly his view was a symptom of continuing epistemic errors. For example, given the way the 2022 invasion started, it looks like he didn’t notice the crucial fact that his actions caused Ukrainians to turn strongly against Russia after his actions in 2014.
In any case this discussion exemplifies why I want a site entirely centered on evidence. Baturinsky claims that when the Ukrainian parliament voted to remove Yanukovych from office 328 votes to 0 (about 73% of the parliament’s 450 members) this was “the democratically elected government” being “deposed”. Of course he doesn’t mention this vote or the events leading up to it. Who “deposed the democratically elected government”? The U.S.? The tankies say it was the U.S. So who are these people, then? Puppets of the U.S.?
I shouldn’t have to say this on LessWrong, but without evidence it’s all just meaningless he-said-she-said. I don’t see truthseeking in this thread, just arguing.
I would point out that Putin’s goal wasn’t to make Russia more prosperous, and that what Putin considers good isn’t the same as what an average Russian would consider good. Like Putin’s other military adventures, the Crimean annexation and heavy military support of Donbas separatists in 2014 probably had a goal like “make the Russian empire great again” (meaning “as big as possible”) and from Putin’s perspective the operations were a success. Especially as (if my impression is correct) the sanctions were fairly light and Russia could largely work around them.
Partly he was right, since Russia was bigger. But partly his view was a symptom of continuing epistemic errors. For example, given the way the 2022 invasion started, it looks like he didn’t notice the crucial fact that his actions caused Ukrainians to turn strongly against Russia after his actions in 2014.
In any case this discussion exemplifies why I want a site entirely centered on evidence. Baturinsky claims that when the Ukrainian parliament voted to remove Yanukovych from office 328 votes to 0 (about 73% of the parliament’s 450 members) this was “the democratically elected government” being “deposed”. Of course he doesn’t mention this vote or the events leading up to it. Who “deposed the democratically elected government”? The U.S.? The tankies say it was the U.S. So who are these people, then? Puppets of the U.S.?
I shouldn’t have to say this on LessWrong, but without evidence it’s all just meaningless he-said-she-said. I don’t see truthseeking in this thread, just arguing.