All you have is lies. Putin said They had historical connections to the lands and population. And Ukraine was executing a political genocide on a Russian population, Putin stepped in to stop it. You and your nazi freinds are the ones responsible for the death and destruction.
Yes they have a historical connection, the territory contains a high percentage of ethnic Russians, and there is some evidence that Ukraine was neglecting or ignoring the concerns of this population. It’s gotten worse since the war with things such as outlawing the language (which is very similar so it’s bizarre) and sanctions against various churches and clergy.
But, Russia had signed a treaty ceding these lands. And this is not the first time he invaded and took Ukrainian territory in violation of the treaty. In 2014 nobody in the west cared much about the invasion. Maybe because at the time Ukraine has Russian sympathetic government. Maybe because Obama was distracted. Maybe because Hillary had her own agenda. But the parallels to WW2 are interesting since Putin is relying on the Munich Agreement in part, and also the same grievance claims Germany used for upending the Treaty of Versailles.
The parallels to 2014 also ring, as much as 1938-1939. Putin calculated that Biden was weak and had no stomach for a fight, much like when Obama flip flopped on Syria, projecting weakness; and again how Chamberlain negotiated a deal for Czech lands. But chamberlain made one deal not two. Obama made one deal, but not two. I also see, which to my dismay is nearly completely overlooked by pundits - there is a direct line between Biden/ukrainian corruption, the blackmail of the prosecutors, impeachment of Trump over the phone call… and then the invasion. I suggest Putin calculated that the corruption might work to his advantage politically in the west - but the western media has buried all that.
Despite constant claims by Putin and his supporters, Donbas has a majority ethnic Ukrainian population, not Russian — approximately 60/40. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia (the so-called land bridge to Crimea) are overwhelmingly Ukrainian — 82% and 71% respectively. Additionally, this story of a genocide against Russians in Donbas is a complete fabrication. As for claims of historical connection, Poland also had historical connections. But today none of this matters. Ukraine is an independent country and Russia needs to respect this fact. If you are looking for lies, look at Putin.
“And Ukraine was executing a political genocide on a Russian population, Putin stepped in to stop it.”
Oh, BS. A civil war (which Russia fomented) in eastern Ukraine that took the lives of some 14,000 people TOTAL, on BOTH sides, in eight years; among whom the vast majority (some 10,000 people) were actual combatants; can hardly be called genocide.
But, do you want to talk about mass murder? Then let’s talk about the pro-Russia separatists who shot down a civilian airliner (MH-17) killing all on board (some 300 persons), using a ground-to-air missile battery provided by Russia, and whose crew was trained in its use by Russia.
And, do you know whose playbook Putin was following when he invaded Ukraine? Yup; Hitler’s. Think: Czechoslovakia (1938); Poland (1939).
It’s telling that you stand up for Putin, who is an apologist for Nazi Germany.