Probably you know that but here lies one small example of how simplified everybody talks about this whole conflict. There is a difference between Russians in Ukraine and russian speaking Ukrainians. The latter are not Russians only because they speak the russian language. And there is no mandatory connection between the political or geopolitical orientation of one person and his preferred language.
Yeah, should have written russian speakers..
Anyway Nicko, good to hear your opinion about crimea.. yet you pull another card which is called "
Geopolitics", which defenders of the RF agenda in Ukraine often pull. Somehow it seems like it excuses RF actions in Ukraine, but I don't buy it.
So.. what about Geopolitics? It doesn't make any geopolitical sense either.
Influence, when it comes to the west, means eastern european countries THROWING themselves at EU/NATO. It is EU and NATO that has to put on the brakes and demand they get in shape before they join.
Influence, in RF it means holding territory in the name of separatists, (transnitria, donbass, south ossetia & abkhazia). It means heavy meddling with internal affairs of said countries, heavy propaganda, bought politicians, war. Basically, you have single-handedly chased the whole eastern block to EU/NATO by having nothing to offer but cheap gas.
Geopolitically, RF is nothing. The only thing it has is a vast territory, gas and oil. You don't export anything of value except raw materials and the occasional weapon system. The focus should be to get good deals on said exports, and face the fact that there is still a huge job in fixing your country at home, before you can get competitive.
The Ukraine action has only punished RF and Russians worldwide. Europe is doing all it can to end dependency on Russian gas. Sanctions are in place that are being felt. The careful trust that existed in the post cold war period is gone. The word of RF is worth zero. Especially after all the insane lies coming from official sources and state media during UKR conflict.
For what gain??? Bleeding Ukraine of manpower and resources? Stopping NATO? If anything now NATO are increasing their budgets all over because of russian actions. Keeping crimeas naval base in the smallest ocean in the world? A destroyed and war torn piece of Ukraine? Don't you have enough land already?
IDK how this shit will end, but I don't believe in a bigger war. If anything it will hasten an internal crisis inside Russia that will lead to some kind of change. Anyway though, it won't go down as peacefully as USSR breakup. An optimist can hope for normalization of east west relation, but it will probably cost RF all its gains in Ukraine. Nothing changes, everyone looses.
Poll