Posted on 12/22/2021 2:30:57 AM PST by tlozo
Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the West for increasing tensions in Eastern Europe and suggested a “military-technical” response if his request for security guarantees is not met — while a media mouthpiece for the Kremlin warned that Russia will hold a gun to “America’s head” if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO.
In a speech Tuesday to Russian defense ministry officials, Putin said Moscow needs “long-term, legally binding guarantees” from the West that the US and NATO will not deploy missile systems in Ukraine, rather than “verbal assurances.”
Russia has massed as many as 175,000 troops as well as heavy military equipment on its western border with Ukraine, a move that many fear is a prelude to an invasion as early as next month.
Putin said NATO has continued to expand its footprint in Europe since the end of the Cold War despite assurances from the West that Moscow’s fears of encroachment are groundless...
Dmitry Kiselev, a Putin confidant and the head of state-controlled media outlet Rossiya Segodnya, took a more militant approach in an interview with the BBC.
He said if the West fails to deliver the security guarantees, Russia will “deploy missiles.”
“But this is your choice. We don’t want this,” Kiselev said in the interview published on Monday.
“If Ukraine ever joins NATO or if NATO develops military infrastructure there, we will hold a gun to America’s head. We have the military capability,” he said...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Nukes are useless.
You fire, we fire, let’s blow the whole world up.
Pooty’s nuke feign is childish.
“Russian” participation in Moldovan and Georgian situations is misrepresented by propaganda. In reality, both countries experienced civil wars upon the Soviet collapse. Normally, the Soviet forces stationed in the constituent countries made the national armies, but it didn’t work this way in the above two cases for the understood reasons. Armies later pledged allegiance to Moscow and were neutral at best. That’s why the stronger sides in the civil wars claim the “Russians” sided with the weaker sides. In the case of Georgia, Russian involvement in Georgia was backed by the UN and OSCE mandates. It allowed preventing genocide in both cases.
In Chechnya, it was a purely internal conflict. It was wrong on many levels but I have no idea how is it relevant here.
Once again, Cuba and Venezuela don’t mind having Russian missiles in their countries. Do you support their sovereign right or not?
I am afraid that Putin will conduct a raid into Ukraine. He will destroy their bridges, factories, power stations and railway hubs.
My understanding is that Russia is not strong enough to occupy Ukraine, but they are able to do this march of destruction.
Then he will withdraw and declare that “Russia beat America”. He will say, that evil Americans were planning to ride across these bridges using these railways and so on to attack Mother Russia.
I hope I am wrong and that Ukraine is able to make Russians bleed so much for this kind of raid that it will be enough to discourage Putin.
“You fire, we fire, let’s blow the whole world up.”
In all conceivable scenarios a shooting war between US and Russia goes nuclear.
All of them.
So if the Russian army invades Ukraine the US will do jack sh!t.
The talks of the imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine are gaslighting. Russia’s economic and security interests in Europe are pretty transparent. They don’t include control over Ukraine. Would you mind explaining the build of 30000 Polish troops on the Belarusian border?
Russia cannot afford to arm Cuba nor Venezuela.
Have at it, let’s see what happens.
Meanwhile, we will wait Russia out and in time, take Ukraine into NATO, since they have made it clear they wish to join NATO.
“So if the Russian army invades Ukraine the US will do jack sh!t.”
Oh, Russia in compelled to invade Ukraine. Good luck with that. If they don’t, it’s only a matter of time before they join NATO.
Ukraine failed to secure the coal suply to run its powerplants and refused to buy Russian natural gas for this winter.
The regime is weeks before collapse, where it is going to get removed by the civil unrest or coup.
The only condition for the Russian involvement is the attempt by the Kiev regime to attack Dobnbas to placate all of the above.
Russia is too weak. They are bluffing.
You need to get your crap straight. If Russia is weak, why all the hassle with NATO?
Peace through Strength...that’s an American concept, which is why you don’t understand it.
Russia is weak, why don’t they threaten the Baltics or Poland?
They go after the weakest...Ukraine. But, we don’t need Ukraine...we will take them into Ukraine in time.
Sounds more like war through bullcrap.
You present this as conventional wisdom.
When did it begin? Just in the face of this enemy or do you claim every lesson of history has told us that the policy of accommodation and appeasement is the best choice?
Oh come on, you are the one gaslighting.
Russia is a border bully, threatening all their neighbors. That is why they all want to be in NATO.
Which one of Russia’s neighbors have invaded Russia since WW2?
And how many of Russia’s neighbors have been invaded by Russia?
See post #23.
We are to blame for the increasing tension. We have armed and emboldened Ukraine to be thorn in Russia’s side. What do we expect the reaction to be when we’ve created a military buildup on the Russian border?
You're the fool. WE and Ukraine ARE the aggressors. We're creating an absolutely unnecessary confrontation with Russia while ignoring the real threat -- China. You're the fool for buying into what we're doing it.
It IS conventional wisdom.
And has been the basis of US foreign policy for 60 years.
Ronald Reagan never once fired on a Soviet flagged asset.
Large or small.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.