a few people I know argue that much of this invasion is more the consequence of other nations’ failures. Primarily, they focus on Ukraine’s failure to respect the Minsk agreements, and NATO’s expansion eastwards despite their implications/direct statements (not sure which one, I’m hearing different things) that they wouldn’t. Any thoughts on the likelihood of Putin still invading Ukraine had those not happened?
My understanding is that many of these talking points are unfairly slanted in Russia’s favor, and that the situation seems manufactured by the Russian government in order to justify an invasion. [For example, the breakaway republics to the east are in regions where opinion polls are not in favor of secession from the Ukraine, but fighting has been ongoing for years in part because of Russian support of the separatist groups.]
My sense of the situation is that, given Russia thinks it could win a war, what treaty could have been offered that would seem superior to them? [Especially given that part of the benefit of fighting the war is the practice for future wars.]
Is the United State’s condemnation of this invasion hypocritical to many of their actions? I’ve heard the United States actions in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Somalia brought up as points to support this.
The American Government says lots of hypocritical things about regime change and interfering with elections and so on; I think this is bad and wish they wouldn’t do it.
The American Government says lots of hypocritical things about regime change and interfering with elections and so on; I think this is bad and wish they wouldn’t do it.
Imagine if reaction to this war was like reaction to Iraq. That is scary even for me—as ethnically Russian I feel measure of personal responsibility for this. I did not want Russia to become the second US. But at the same time the difference is striking.
UPD: I am talking about reaction in West, here in Kyrgyzstan reactions are about the same—yeah,”wish they wouldn’t do it” (careful, low confidence, it is hard to judge general public opinion by few datapoints)
My understanding is that many of these talking points are unfairly slanted in Russia’s favor, and that the situation seems manufactured by the Russian government in order to justify an invasion. [For example, the breakaway republics to the east are in regions where opinion polls are not in favor of secession from the Ukraine, but fighting has been ongoing for years in part because of Russian support of the separatist groups.]
My sense of the situation is that, given Russia thinks it could win a war, what treaty could have been offered that would seem superior to them? [Especially given that part of the benefit of fighting the war is the practice for future wars.]
The American Government says lots of hypocritical things about regime change and interfering with elections and so on; I think this is bad and wish they wouldn’t do it.
Imagine if reaction to this war was like reaction to Iraq. That is scary even for me—as ethnically Russian I feel measure of personal responsibility for this. I did not want Russia to become the second US. But at the same time the difference is striking.
UPD: I am talking about reaction in West, here in Kyrgyzstan reactions are about the same—yeah,”wish they wouldn’t do it” (careful, low confidence, it is hard to judge general public opinion by few datapoints)