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Showing Original Post only (View all)The edge of war: what, exactly, does Putin want in Ukraine? [View all]
(Guardian UK) Why is Russia threatening to invade Ukraine?
Russian spokespeople daily deny any intention to invade. So, too, did Russias president, Vladimir Putin, when he met the French leader, Emmanuel Macron, last week, and when he spoke to US president Joe Biden on the phone. There are two problems with this. First, given Putins Johnsonian relationship with truth, few western governments believe the denials. Second, Putin has not explained why, if his intentions are peaceful, more than half of Russias armed forces, including 130,000 troops, are massed on Ukraines borders. It could all be a bluff. But who would bet the house on that?
So what drives Putin?
There are numerous theories. Putin is said to want to rebuild a Russian sphere of influence in eastern Europe, principally embracing former Soviet republics such as now independent Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine. He has frequently bemoaned their loss after the Soviet Union collapsed. Putin may also hope to demonstrate to the west (and Russians) that the country is still a superpower, even though by most measures (nuclear weapon stockpiles and geography apart) it is a failing medium-sized power.
Why Ukraine?
Putin fears strategically important Ukraine, commanding Russias south-western flank, is assimilating into the west. He objects to its growing closeness to Nato. He also opposes Kyivs developing links with the EU. Worse still, from his point of view, Ukraine is a democracy, with free speech and free media, which freely elects its leaders. In practice, Russians enjoy no such freedoms if they followed Ukraines example, Putin would not last long. More broadly, Putin is a nostalgic revisionist who regards Ukraine as an integral part of historical Russia and its loss as a symbol of Russias cold war defeat.
Why now?
Putin may sense western weakness. Nato was humiliated last year in Afghanistan and Joe Biden, who campaigned to end wars, not engage in new ones, has refocused American foreign policy and military resources on China, not Europe. Its also suggested Putin needs a big victory to shore up his domestic support, vindicate his anti-western policies, excuse rampant regime corruption and kleptomania, and justify the hardships Russians endure as a result of western sanctions imposed after his first attack on Ukraine, in 2014. That was when he annexed Crimea and took de facto control of the eastern Donbas region. ...........(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/12/russia-ukraine-what-does-putin-want
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No. Putin is ruthless and murderous. tRump is too stupid to know or care when he does illegal stuff.
Bernardo de La Paz
Feb 2022
#4
No they don't. They get away with it. That's separate from their motivations. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Feb 2022
#6
I sometimes learn from your posts so I'm glad you give your opinion though I sometimes disagree
Bernardo de La Paz
Feb 2022
#8
Yes, more same than not, despite great diversity. I say no to ideas, factoids, conclusions
Bernardo de La Paz
Feb 2022
#11
I hadn't noticed any problem. Your good graces sustain you. But yes, we all age. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Feb 2022
#16