Re:Russian forces invade Ukraine after Putin orders attack
by layer8 on Thursday February 24, 2022 @12:04PM
(#30457214)
The only way it would have been avoidable is for the EU and NATO to withdraw their support (economic, political, military) from Ukraine, in order to enable the Kremlin to bring about a Russia-friendly regime by non-military means. Putin’s goal was always to turn Ukraine back into at least a vassal state of Russia. Given the western-oriented developments in Ukraine since 2014, the opportunity window was slowly closing, time was running out.
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Re:Russian forces invade Ukraine after Putin orders attack
by zx85wes on Thursday February 24, 2022 @12:34PM
(#30457655)
Official neutrality and a trade deal with both the EU and Russia?
Re:Russian forces invade Ukraine after Putin orders attack
by layer8 on Thursday February 24, 2022 @12:55PM
(#30457910)
You couldn’t prevent the Ukrainian people to predominantly prefer a western orientation, and to vote for a government with western values. The only conceivable way to really satisfy Putin would have been for the Ukraine to be controlled by Russia-aligned propaganda and media, probably with rigged elections, similar to Belarus.
Of course, Putin may have hoped that the Ukrainian public would "see the light" and realize that they are really Russian people (as Putin seems to think they ought to) and align themselves accordingly, but that would have been a pipe dream.