When Putin demanded that the U.S. rule out Ukraine as a future member of the NATO alliance, the U.S. mischievously replied: NATO has an open-door policy.
In the 2008 Bucharest declaration, NATO had put Ukraine and Georgia, even farther east than Ukraine, on a path to NATO membership and coverage under Article 5 of the treaty.
Unable to get a satisfactory answer to his demand, Putin invaded and settled the issue. Neither Ukraine nor Georgia will become members of NATO. To prevent that, Russia will go to war, as Russia has done.
Putin did exactly what he had warned us he’d do.
Whatever the character of the Russian president, he’s established his credibility.
When Putin warns that he’ll do something, he does it.
Are you paying attention?
It’s good that Putin has allies like you who respect his authority.
I certainly don’t.
Glad we cleared that up.
It’s not that complicated. Russian chauvinists like Putin believe Ukraine, Georgia and the rest of Russia’s neighbors are really part of Russia. They’re more than happy to genocidally erase entire countries, again, if necessary to achieve their empire and fantasies. Nazism has returned to Europe and this time it comes from Russia.