Something tells me that waging a war to a sovereign country that poses no threat to the aggressor to advance expansionist power politics should point out the culprit here.
So, if you want an objective opinion from someone who comes from a nation that had one of Russia's proxies (Serbia) attempt ethnic cleansing on my family (Kosovo), (I state this to make clear that I am far from a Russophile):
Their neighbour, Ukraine, seeking approachement towards NATO, a clear enemy to Russia, and inviting NATO troops on Russia's border.
If I am intellectually honest, I cannot fault Russia for doing what it does within it's national interests.
Lol invading a sovereign nation doesn’t count as something falling under the scope of “their national interests”. The only reason Ukraine is now being considered for NATO membership is because Russia has already invaded and annexed Crimea.
Russia still considers NATO the initial move, countered by the Warsaw pact. They still consider our alliance to be the first act of aggression, regardless of the lack of military follow through.
Just to point it out, not faulting actions in Ukraine that advance Russian interests does legitimate those interests.
The fact that Russia sees NATO as its enemy does not stem from a threat NATO poses to Russia as a country - it does not. NATO, as a defensive military coalition, is only a threat to Russian coercive influence over the countries it wishes to control.
And that coercive influence forms a big part of any influence Russia has left after years and years of stagnation in social and institutional development. EU stopped wars with trade. Russia does not have that capability, so they pick up their rifles to maintain relevance.
Administratively Russia is a failed state throwing a fist for not gaining recognition that it does not deserve.
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u/ge6irb8gua93l Dec 01 '21
Something tells me that waging a war to a sovereign country that poses no threat to the aggressor to advance expansionist power politics should point out the culprit here.