What country is next? Russia invades Ukraine: I tried to look up why Russia wants to have war with Ukraine. All I see are vague, lengthy dialogs. Isn't Ukraine a peaceful country?.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

I tried to look up why Russia wants to have war with Ukraine. All I see are vague, lengthy dialogs.
Isn't Ukraine a peaceful country?.

shangyrhee Loc: Nashville TN to Sacramento CA

If a nation is peaceful & unprepared for self dense. Shang

therwol Loc: USA

kenArchi wrote:

I tried to look up why Russia wants to have war with Ukraine. All I see are vague, lengthy dialogs.
Isn't Ukraine a peaceful country?.

I don't think that Russia expected a real war. Putin apparently objected to Ukraine drifting to the west, trying to become a member of NATO and the European Union. That would put both at Russia's southern doorstep. The resistance that Ukraine has put up in this conflict has been stronger than Russia expected, and now it appears that the conflict will be prolonged and bloody, not to mention tragic.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

That doesn't sense. Isn't Ukraine an indepent country? Not a state of Russia?

therwol Loc: USA

kenArchi wrote:

That doesn't sense. Isn't Ukraine an indepent country? Not a state of Russia?

Yes. It is an independent, democratic country that is trying to join the west in every sense. There are certainly ethnic Russians living in the country. I'm going to guess that most of them would rather be where they are.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

kenArchi wrote:

That doesn't sense. Isn't Ukraine an indepent country? Not a state of Russia?

Yes, now.
I think Putin doesn't like that.
Resources in Ukraine? "Back door" neighbor?

srt101fan

kenArchi wrote:

That doesn't sense. Isn't Ukraine an indepent country? Not a state of Russia?

Ukraine was part of the Russian empire at one time and a republic of the USSR in more recent times. Putin would like to restore at least parts of the Russian empire and, as someone already said, he feels threatened by Ukraine's political drift to the West.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Now to find a good sight about the history of Ukraine would help me to understand the overall issues.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Well I started reading the various histories of Ukraine.
My impression for now is a hosgepod of various people's of segregations of bordering by surrounding countries of influence.
It appears to me it is not a country of it's people not bound together as a whole state.

Or may I say it's random.

therwol Loc: USA

kenArchi wrote:

Well I started reading the various histories of Ukraine.
My impression for now is a hosgepod of various people's of segregations of bordering by surrounding countries of influence.
It appears to me it is not a country of it's people not bound together as a whole state.

Or may I say it's random.

We are a county of people from all over the world. We have defined borders. So do they. We have a collective being, even with our internal differences. So do they. We have an elected government. So do they. They fit any definition of a country. Their past history is intertwined with that of Russia. There is no denying that. In the past 20 years, they have forged their own destiny, only to see it threatened now.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

And the real question seems to me that since everyone is afraid to militarily confront a nuclear armed aggressor for fear of an escalating conflict ending in a nuclear exchange, can we deter any aggression from a nuclear power by unified economic sanctions, or can they do as they please? The answer has real consequences for our world, because if Putin gets away with this, what’s next (and what about Taiwan)?

Mutual assured destruction deterrence only work if rational leaders are in control…

srt101fan

TriX wrote:

And the real question seems to me that since every... (show quote)

NATO Article 5 ("an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members") should be a strong deterrent to Russia's "expansion" into Europe. (I read that the Finns and Swedes are getting more and more interested in joining NATO!)

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Yup, they all look to us to help get rid of the bad guys. Unfortunately Korea and Vietnam Nam.

I don't understand why Putin is worried they will join the west.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

srt101fan wrote:

NATO Article 5 ("an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members") should be a strong deterrent to Russia's "expansion" into Europe. (I read that the Finns and Swedes are getting more and more interested in joining NATO!)

I was wondering about the next previous member(s) of the USSR and what message China takes away from this “adventure” by Russia.

What would concern me is a superior military force (such as North Korea) attacking the south and the only viable defense are tactical nukes… and then what?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Estonia and Latvia are NATO members and have common borders with Russia.
Norway is a NATO member and has a small common border way north, near Murmansk.

Finland has a long common border with Russia and a history of animus between the two.

Poland, Slovakia ,Hungary, and Romania are NATO members that have a common border with Ukraine. If Russia takes Ukraine, it will have a common border with these NATO member countries.

Moldova has a common border with Ukraine but is not a NATO member. I suspect that Russia has its eyes on them next.

There was a news article a few days ago to the effect that Russian troop carrier ships are steaming from the Far East toward the mediterranean. Turkey has closed the Dardanelles to Russian warships. We will see what happens if those reports are true and Russia presents a confrontation.