Ukraine did not join NATO though, and the West decided not to let it in. So what's your victim blaming excuse going to be now?
I'd like to give Macron the benefit of the doubt. When a major crisis happens, the president of that moment can't just do nothing and sit back.I don't think this is controversial. Putin is sending in boys to fight and die for him. Kids who should be at school or university enjoying their lives.
And yes, Ukraine is using propaganda. Because I support them I don't mind it so much. Especially if it demoralises Russian troops into giving up and shortening the conflict. It is important to treat it cautiously like you said though.
Macron's standing has gone up in the polls since the war started. And the first round of the French Presidential elections is in five or so weeks. There could be a very cynical reason behind these moves.
It's only because he's facing a bunch of nobodies or politically inept candidates. If he was facing a popular former high-ranked cabinet member from either the Sarkozy or the Hollande administrations, Macron would be in serious trouble right now.Macron's standing has gone up in the polls since the war started. And the first round of the French Presidential elections is in five or so weeks. There could be a very cynical reason behind these moves.
Macron's standing has gone up in the polls since the war started. And the first round of the French Presidential elections is in five or so weeks. There could be a very cynical reason behind these moves.
Before I say this, and inevitably get flamed - I want to first make it clear that I think Putin is a cnut, his pretext for war is bullshit and I hope he fails in every possible way. feck him and feck the invasion. I'm on Ukraine's side.
But I don't like narratives and how some people are unable to be objective. I saw a post on reddit about how somebody feels sorry for some of the Russian kids on the front lines and won't celebrate their deaths, some of them are just young lads in their teens who have been told by everybody around them that they're doing the right thing. The replies were predictable: "You're a traitor" "feck the invaders I hope they all die" "You're a nazi sympathiser". Sorry but feeling sorry for these kids doesn't mean I don't feel sorry for the people in Ukraine being killed and displaced.
Also, while practically everything that comes out of Russian news agencies is highly slanted propaganda, not everything that comes out of 'our side' is going to be completely truthful either. People post old images and videos of war on social media, showing awful destruction, and implying it's from 2022. If you dare point out that it's fake/old, you'll be flamed for being a Putin bot. This isn't right either. Pointing out fakes does not take away from the fact that Ukrainians really are suffering, but we don't need to make shit up - if anything being deceitful about these matters is insulting to the Ukrainians who are actually suffering.
That is LITERALLY what you said.If you mean me, then that's not what I said at all.
Don't twist words to fit your agenda.
Surely if the war spreads to UK/US, it would be fair, from a security perspective, to put all Russian nationals within that country into a camp. Do you really want a load of nationals from a country you're at war with wandering around freely?
What really gets lost in all this 'buffer state' cynicism, is these were newly independent, democratic countries asking to join a defensive alliance of other democratic countries. We should want to encourage and protect fellow democratic states where we can, we should want to see peaceful democratic systems of government spread and take root, it's in our interests to do so, and it shows we actually believe in our system. I get that sometimes you might want to be pragmatic, and the West was in the case of Ukraine, but ultimately the reason Putin invaded was because he refused to accept Ukraine's right to determine its own future as a Western facing nation, and the reason they are fighting so valiantly, is because it's a cause they still think is worth it.But why would Russia be pissed off about countries wanting to join a defensive alliance if they are a peaceful nation and have no plans to invade those countries...
...oh wait.
Astute assessment, I would agree with that.Given the sizable task of maintaing control of such a large place and so many people they are either going to have to win the hearts and minds or rule through fear and I think there really is only option left for them sadly
These humanitarian routes are as much about letting anti russians leave the east so that more of the remaining population are open to living under russian occupation
There's no such thing as normalization with Putin. He is an authoritarian dictator with nukes who has to go on the attack to prevent democracy reaching Russia, resulting in the toppling of his regime and his own execution. He must therefore always go on the attack of neighboring states to destabilize or invade them to prevent Russia going democratic. The only way to reach a normal equilibrium is for Putin to be removed through the pressure of sanctions,
3. Ukraine is refusing to open humanitarian corridors offered by Russia.
There was a link to a Ukraine-language website about this, which itself linked to a Ukrainian ministry statement about fighting and calling "green corridors" a Russian plot, so it seemed credible.
But then, today, apparently both sides have negotiated exactly this. So not exactly a talking point that will last long.
Are you seriously saying we can dictate that he be removed?
Even if internally the consensus there is they want Putin removed, do you think Russia will accept our dictates?
If you mean me, then that's not what I said at all.
Don't twist words to fit your agenda.
Surely if the war spreads to UK/US, it would be fair, from a security perspective, to put all Russian nationals within that country into a camp. Do you really want a load of nationals from a country you're at war with wandering around freely?
Now you're being stupid.
Why should a country not round up people from an enemy country?
Why?
You want enemies running around free to do what they want, or are ordered, to do?
I'm not talking concentration camps here, just internment. Happened in UK during WWII, why not if there's another war?
What really gets lost in all this 'buffer state' cynicism, is these were newly independent, democratic countries asking to join a defensive alliance of other democratic countries. We should want to encourage and protect fellow democratic states where we can, we should want to see peaceful democratic systems of government spread and take root, it's in our interests to do so, and it shows we actually believe in our system. I get that sometimes you might want to be pragmatic, and the West was in the case of Ukraine, but ultimately the reason Putin invaded was because he refused to accept Ukraine's right to determine its own future as a Western facing nation, and the reason they are fighting so valiantly, is because it's a cause they still think is worth it.
I already did this slow coachHmmmm…let’s see what you’ve previously posted…
I already did this slow coach![]()
It's cool how you, and people like you, keep taking away agency from the Ukrainian people. It's not like they're massively in favor of joining NATO and the EU, and massively opposed to the idea of being a Russian puppet state or anything.The US and the West should never have enticed Ukraine about joining NATO.
It was directly threatening to Russia.
Non military benefits should not have been conditional on Ukraine joining NATO.
No one can justify Putin invading Ukraine.
But lets not pretend the West did not have a huge role in what is happening now.
They and Russia are the premier suppliers of the world’s wheat. Agricultural powerhouses.A bit off topic but I had no idea Ukraine was such a fertile land. I knew that the ancient Greeks colonized a part of it some 3000 years ago and it was something of agriculture powerhouse back them but i didn't realize it still was.
Me too - that’s why I only quoted 1![]()
I do 90% of my posting from my phone and quoting multiple posts takes an age!
Or as requested by Zelensky he is the intermediary between Zelensky and Putin?
They and Russia are the premier suppliers of the world’s wheat. Agricultural powerhouses.
So it is just a coincidence that he is running in the French President elections.
Now you can also write what it meansAm I wrong in thinking that they also are a leading country when it comes to silviculture?
PS: I just wanted to write silviculture.
Now you can also write what it means
A coincidence that the french president is running in the french presidental elections which are organized every 5 years around the same period?
This is likely why the Ukrainians are doing so well on the ground, I reckon.
What really gets lost in all this 'buffer state' cynicism, is these were newly independent, democratic countries asking to join a defensive alliance of other democratic countries. We should want to encourage and protect fellow democratic states where we can, we should want to see peaceful democratic systems of government spread and take root, it's in our interests to do so, and it shows we actually believe in our system. I get that sometimes you might want to be pragmatic, and the West was in the case of Ukraine, but ultimately the reason Putin invaded was because he refused to accept Ukraine's right to determine its own future as a Western facing nation, and the reason they are fighting so valiantly, is because it's a cause they still think is worth it.
This is likely why the Ukrainians are doing so well on the ground, I reckon.