Of course its mostly about NATO. Look at a map and note Ukraine’s strategic position and how far eastward it protrudes. Parts of Ukraine are only about 350 miles from Moscow. A relatively short flight for a missile, not to mention a very convenient “base” for NATO.
NATO already has expanded to 30 countries, a fact of some concern to Russia and arguably a violation of previous non-expansionary agreements. Imagine China doing something similar to us and increasing our perception of vulnerability. What would our tolerance level be for that kind of perceived threat? We’re already getting very nervous about China.
Not defending Putin, just noting obvious geopolitical and historical realities that shape and influence strategic perspectives.
We have opposite views on the situation but even then, consider that Putin did put his nuclear forces on high alert about a month ago. That’s nothing to scoff at. Anything that increases the chances of error or miscalculation between nuclear armed powers is deeply concerning. (We’ve already had a couple of close calls in the past.) Again, we probably differ on this but Ukraine just isn’t worth risking that kind of catastrophic event IMO. Once the nukes start flying there’s no telling what horrors it might unleash.
Yeah, look at the map. Very little of Russia is bordered by NATO. Hardly none of it in fact. Russia is the biggest country in the world and yet it can’t handle all these little countries? Nonsense. Lithuania, who cut off Russian gas today, doesn’t even have any fighter aircraft.
Look at Russian history. Russia was behaving like it has in Ukraine long before NATO was on the scene.
You’re looking at this from an American perspective. You’ve got realize Russians have a different mentality here. They have a very paternalistic and colonist attitude toward their neighbors. Again, that has zero to do with NATO.
Interestingly, domestic Putinist propaganda rarely mentions NATO. It’s all “we’re fighting nazis in Ukraine.” The NATO stuff is pushed for a western audience that in general has little knowledge of Russian history. It’s an ugly history of robbery, rape and murder of its smaller neighbors. Unsurprisingly, they are resisting Putin’s attacks.
the ultimate ambition of nato is to be an alliance that stretches all the way vladivostok. Putin suggested that russia join the nato alliance back in the 90’s. but clinton declined. why? my guess would be that it was a republican who won the cold war. democrats want blood too. especially as they need someone to pay for their crimes.