Posted on 01/08/2023 10:25:42 AM PST by kiryandil
When it comes to the war in Ukraine, about the only thing that’s certain right now is that the fighting and destruction will continue.
Vladimir Putin remains fully committed to bringing all of Ukraine back under Russian control or — failing that — destroying it as a viable country. He believes it is his historical destiny — his messianic mission — to reestablish the Russian Empire and, as Zbigniew Brzezinski observed years ago, there can be no Russian Empire without Ukraine.
Both of us have dealt with Putin on a number of occasions, and we are convinced he believes time is on his side: that he can wear down the Ukrainians and that U.S. and European unity and support for Ukraine will eventually erode and fracture. To be sure, the Russian economy and people will suffer as the war continues, but Russians have endured far worse.
For Putin, defeat is not an option. He cannot cede to Ukraine the four eastern provinces he has declared part of Russia. If he cannot be militarily successful this year, he must retain control of positions in eastern and southern Ukraine that provide future jumping-off points for renewed offensives to take the rest of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, control the Donbas region and then move west. Eight years separated Russia’s seizure of Crimea and its invasion nearly a year ago. Count on Putin to be patient to achieve his destiny.
Meanwhile, although Ukraine’s response to the invasion has been heroic and its military has performed brilliantly, the country’s economy is in a shambles, millions of its people have fled, its infrastructure is being destroyed, and much of its mineral wealth, industrial capacity and considerable agricultural land are under Russian control. Ukraine’s military capability and economy are now dependent almost entirely on lifelines from the West...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Russia cannot allow NATO as a next door neighbor. They’ll nuke it first.”
Then why hasn’t Russia nuked NATO already? There are currently FIVE NATO countries on the border of Russia proper, and soon to be six once Finland becomes a member). Those five have been on Russia’s borders for years.
“Those five have been on Russia’s borders for years.”
Disregarding the Kaliningrad satelite and those borders with Poland and Lithuania: 3- Norway, eastern Latvia and Estonia.
That’s not Western centered “Europe” or the US sphere.
A new memeber Finland has been a non-entity forever- but stil raises russian eyebrows asNATO expansion.
The threat is the highway into Russia through a US influenced Ukraine.
Why not just leave them the phook alone? Let the newly Muslim-overrun Europe deal with it.
ChiComs in the new Lula run Brazil is a much a bigger theat.
“Disregarding the Kaliningrad satelite and those borders with Poland and Lithuania: 3- Norway, eastern Latvia and Estonia.”
Kaliningrad is not a Russian satellite state, any more than Alaska or Hawaii are US satellites. A satellite state or dependent state is a country that is formally independent in the world, but under heavy political, economic, and military influence or control from another country. Kaliningrad is Russian, just as Alaska and Hawaii are American.
“That’s not Western centered ‘Europe’ or the US sphere.”
You do know, I assume, that some “eastern” European countries are farther west than some of the “western” European countries? And vice versa?
As for “spheres,” after WWII the Soviets occupied and for all intents and purposes imprisoned several European countries west of the Russian border. So, I guess by your logic former Soviet captive nations should necessarily be current Russian captive nations, or under the Russian “sphere.” I have news for you: Those countries lived under Russian influence, and they want no part of any return to it. Those countries should be free to determine under which “sphere” they wish to associate, or under none at all: It is up to them.
“The threat is the highway into Russia through a US influenced Ukraine.”
Or the threat by Russia into the rest of Europe. When was the last time a European country — hell, ANY country —invaded Russia? More than 80 years ago. When was the last time Russia invaded another European country? Eleven months ago. And before that? 2014. When was the last time Russia invaded a southern neighbor? 2008. So, which is more likely? Russia invading a European country or a European country invading Russia?
“Why not just leave them the phook alone? Let the newly Muslim-overrun Europe deal with it.”
Why not Russia just leave Ukraine alone?
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