Assuming they mean we've been at economic war with tariffs, etc.

That assumes we don't see tariffs as war while Russia, and presumably the poster, do consider it war. Otherwise both sides would acknowledge we're at (cold?) war.

Oh, you know. Shooting down a civilian airliner full of Dutch citizens. Poisoning people on British soil. Multiple times. Funding neo-NAZI or various far-right political parties. Blatant sabotage and espionage.

Just little things. Not warlike at all.

Those things are terrible, and Russia has suffered in response. Thankfully not every insidious act is met with escalation. Down that path is MADness.

We've been appeasing Russia since the 1990s, and the only thing we've gotten in return is constant Russian escalation (Georgia 2008, Ukraine 2014, Ukraine 2022, sabotage galore, ...)

What we do see is that when Ukraine or anyone else tramples their red lines (Finland, Sweden joining NATO) nothing happens.

If they dare hit us with something they do it regardless of what we're doing. Very hard to see how we get out of this short of the Putin regime falling.

People like you really do want to see the world burn...

At what point do you admit that you just don't understand Russia at all? Because if your understanding matched reality Russian people would have overthrown Putin two years ago, just like every Western newspaper and magazine said.

Basically what you are saying is: we keep escalating and they still haven't hit the big red button. Do you really think a decision to do that would come that easily? Why would it be done when unprovoked?

Lastly, this type of behavior - keep trying one's luck to see how far boundaries can be pushed - is what toddlers do. Maybe grow up?

Is the west the one escalating? Looks like the west is responding in very careful measured ways, possibly even under reacting sometimes.

Russia does seem to be the one agitating and pushing boundaries, especially when former Soviet states elect more independently minded governments.

In the West the one escalating? Yes. They defeated and humiliated their Cold War opponent, but wouldn't leave them alone.

The article in question seems to suggest otherwise. ;)

Ah, so if an article suggests that water is dry and grass is purple - I should trust the article.

> we keep escalating and they still haven't hit the big red button

You... have things completely backwards.

The comment I responded to basically said this verbatim. The russkies don't actually have any red lines, so just hit them. Now: Stalin didn't actually start a nuclear war (though he could have). These "civilized Europeans" who are pushing for escalation are therefore more evil than Stalin.