Ukraine

[Agema]

It’s a lot of dosh, I get that. It’s not boots, though.

Honestly, I think if Russia is to be stopped, boots are needed. It surely is clear that Putin is going to drag this out until someone runs out of human beings to fight heedless to the cost to his own nation, and unfortunately, Russia isn't losing men fast enough that it's going to run out first.

Not only that, but Russia clearly isn't shy about deploying troops from other nations, even if those nations are the world's most despised pariahs.

 

[Silvanus]

Except that they negotiated a non-aggression pact that specifically disallowed Germany from taking certain regions.

Regions which it took itself. In exchange for other regions which it permitted and assisted Nazi seizure of.

The Soviet Union didn't agree to join the Axis but they did offer a million Soviet troops to take on Germany alongside the UK and France. That offer was on the table and the UK and France did not respond to it.

Ah, so the Soviets presented that plan to... some diplomats that weren't empowered to decide geopolitical strategy. Then 1 week later they signed the treaty with the Nazis and went hard in that direction instead.

"Together with the Germans we would have been unstoppable".

 

[Agema]

Regions which it took itself.

We might also note that many regions the USSR took over it promptly deported or murdered a substantial number of people. For instance, over a hundred thousand were deported from the Baltic States in 1940, many of whom were never heard of again. (Even more after the USSR reasserted control 1944-1945). It's assumed they were shipped to gulags and died there, largely unrecorded. Although maybe plenty were just slaughtered and buried, because the USSR also did that sort of thing. In terms of Ukraine, of course, it also famously managed to starve millions to death. Doesn't make the regime popular.

It is thus perhaps no surprise that many areas dominated by the USSR viewed the Nazis as potential liberators. As abhorrent as the Nazis were, for some nations they appeared the lesser evil and only realistic route out from Soviet oppression.

Russia ruthlessly manipulates this in the modern day to assert its moral and territorial ambitions by linking resistance to Russia as Naziism. We can and should see through by recognising just how appalling the Soviets could be. We don't need to condone Naziism to understand why opponents to Soviet rule would ally with them to escape the Soviets.

 

[Hades]

Seems Russia has now all but admitted the war really is just about wanting to conquer eastern Europe again. Just like during the first days of the invasion they say there won't be peace unless NATO withdraws their forces from the Baltic. Now why would Russia want the baltic countries to be left completely defenseless....

Russia won't end Ukraine war until NATO "pulls out" of Baltics: Moscow

NATO bolstered its presence in the region in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

www.newsweek.com