[Boudica]

We have a pretty wide audience on SL, though many of us are more Western centric. However, I'd like to know your thoughts on the situation unfolding with Russia, the Ukraine and NATO.

For anyone unfamiliar, there is a nice summary here.

[Shionari]

Seems like a pretty serious conflict of interest. Each is doing what they need to do in order to survive. I can see a moral argument being made against Russia's position, but I personally can't judge them. I'd probably do the same were I in their situation.

What do YOU think about this?

[Boudica]

Seems like a pretty serious conflict of interest. Each is doing what they need to do in order to survive. I can see a moral argument being made against Russia's position, but I personally can't judge them. I'd probably do the same were I in their situation.

What do YOU think about this?

To be truthful, I feel like I need more information. Why is Russia so scared of NATO? It's NATOs own policies to not do everything Russia accuses them of. However, I have only ever lived in countries with NATO membership, so I'm exposed to biased information. What I've googled so far hasn't really answered the question for me.

Is this a Russia/NATO propaganda fight? What is the true reason for this conflict?

[Shionari]

Seems like a pretty serious conflict of interest. Each is doing what they need to do in order to survive. I can see a moral argument being made against Russia's position, but I personally can't judge them. I'd probably do the same were I in their situation.

What do YOU think about this?

To be truthful, I feel like I need more information. Why is Russia so scared of NATO? It's NATOs own policies to not do everything Russia accuses them of. However, I have only ever lived in countries with NATO membership, so I'm exposed to biased information. What I've googled so far hasn't really answered the question for me.

Is this a Russia/NATO propaganda fight? What is the true reason for this conflict?

I completely understand - and agree with - where you're coming from. There's probably a lot more going on under the hood than we realize, so asking questions is wiser than jumping to conclusions here.

I'm personally not too familiar with politics. I do know that ever since the cold war, there's been a constant adversity between Russia and the West. Both sides don't agree too much with each other, and no side knows when the other might turn hostile, so each makes sure they are well prepared for the worst-case scenario. Policies and ethics are important, but at the end of the day, survival is what matters most. And if these two (policies/ethics & survival) should conflict, any side would choose the latter over the former, I think. Thus, you can never put too much trust in what others say (when it comes to situations like this, at least). It's with all of this in mind that I say I understand both the West and Russia's positions. It's also why I try not to judge here. I don't know what other options are available, whether to Russia or the West.

Then again, this is just my own personal and not-so-informed opinion. I still have a lot to learn here, so at the end of the day, I can't be too sure of everything I said, and there's a lot more I need to know before I can have a definitive opinion.

[alfiesolomons]

Seems like a pretty serious conflict of interest. Each is doing what they need to do in order to survive. I can see a moral argument being made against Russia's position, but I personally can't judge them. I'd probably do the same were I in their situation.

What do YOU think about this?

To be truthful, I feel like I need more information. Why is Russia so scared of NATO? It's NATOs own policies to not do everything Russia accuses them of. However, I have only ever lived in countries with NATO membership, so I'm exposed to biased information. What I've googled so far hasn't really answered the question for me.

Is this a Russia/NATO propaganda fight? What is the true reason for this conflict?

Russia is not too afraid of NATO but at this point NATO is mostly serving American interests and if Ukraine or as its more correct to call it "borderlands" decides to join NATO the American government will in no time situate "NATO" defence bases in its lands, in most NATO countries there are bases like that and in most of them the only people residing in those bases are Americans, so i can see why the Russians would like to keep them away, but that is just my opinion

[Drako]

We aren't doing enough to get Russia to back down. We need to send them a very clear message. If you want Ukraine, you will have to lose everything in the process. What we're doing right now is just pitiful. Things like "We might sanction Putin personally if there's a war" aren't going to cut it.

And you wanna hear my theory? If there's war in Europe, there will be war in Asia. If everybody is distracted in Europe, China will have enough leverage to take Taiwan.

[Boudica]

We aren't doing enough to get Russia to back down. We need to send them a very clear message. If you want Ukraine, you will have to lose everything in the process. What we're doing right now is just pitiful. Things like "We might sanction Putin personally if there's a war" aren't going to cut it.

And you wanna hear my theory? If there's war in Europe, there will be war in Asia. If everybody is distracted in Europe, China will have enough leverage to take Taiwan.

Interesting theory. However, what kind of "very clear message" hasn't already been sent, that won't result in a war?

[Drako]

We aren't doing enough to get Russia to back down. We need to send them a very clear message. If you want Ukraine, you will have to lose everything in the process. What we're doing right now is just pitiful. Things like "We might sanction Putin personally if there's a war" aren't going to cut it.

And you wanna hear my theory? If there's war in Europe, there will be war in Asia. If everybody is distracted in Europe, China will have enough leverage to take Taiwan.

Interesting theory. However, what kind of "very clear message" hasn't already been sent, that won't result in a war?

We tell their armies to back off. They are the aggressors, not us.

[Boudica]

We aren't doing enough to get Russia to back down. We need to send them a very clear message. If you want Ukraine, you will have to lose everything in the process. What we're doing right now is just pitiful. Things like "We might sanction Putin personally if there's a war" aren't going to cut it.

And you wanna hear my theory? If there's war in Europe, there will be war in Asia. If everybody is distracted in Europe, China will have enough leverage to take Taiwan.

Interesting theory. However, what kind of "very clear message" hasn't already been sent, that won't result in a war?

We tell their armies to back off. They are the aggressors, not us.

From their perspective, we're the aggressors. But I get you.

I suspect telling them to back off will only result in them telling us the same. I'm not saying I have any clue what the ideal solution is, but flexing usually only results in escalation.

[billyferg]

My thoughts are the US needs to probably stay out. Ukraine isn't a NATO country, we don't really need to go in, so we may as well not.