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A comment on U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. Parent comment

Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by zopa on Saturday February 04, 2023 @09:29PM (#34661060)
> While that's true, i think crimea and the associated warm water port (sevastopol) is of strategic value.

Russia already had naval basing rights is Sevastopol, before the invasion of Crimea. I don’t think the strategic explanations hold up.

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Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by ilammy on Saturday February 04, 2023 @09:44PM (#34661184)
They had it on a lease from Ukraine until 2017. Renegotiation of the lease barely passed Ukraine's parliament back in 2010.
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Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by riku_iki on Saturday February 04, 2023 @10:36PM (#34661559)
they prolonged it for another 30 years I think thanks to pro-Russian president.
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Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by ilammy on Saturday February 04, 2023 @11:50PM (#34662000)
Yes, and then 2014 happened and Russia withdrew from the agreement entirely, since they didn’t really need it anymore.
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Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by chii on Saturday February 04, 2023 @10:38PM (#34661572)
russia wants permanent, irrevocable access, not just rights granted by an uncontrollable gov't.

The writing was on the wall at the time - ukraine was leaning towards the west.

Not saying this was the only reason for the invasion, but it is a factor.

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