Originally Posted by
MaxQ
He, for obvious reasons, viewed Russia through Stalin's time. It was Stalin who changed the Revolution to "socialism in one country". WW2 just dropped Eastern and Central Europe in his lap.
Putin envisions a reinstated Tsarist Empire in Eurasia. He deeply resents NATO presence as it frustrates his vision for Russian expansion.
He would not, and did not, go to war with Ukraine because of this.
He invade Ukraine because it enrages him that Ukraine exists as a Nation seperate from Russia.
His view is that Ukraine is part of Russia, and he intends to make that a geopolitical reality.
Obviously the Ukrainians disagree.
^^^^^^^ All true.
But we won't let that stop one poster from STILL screaming the question..........
And, like you, we simply hope that Mad Vlad finally gives up and leaves Ukraine, much like the Russians did in Afghanistan.
Although, without getting into the weeds, thats was also helped by a change in leadership in Russia. Which is probably what's going to have to take place here.
These are rhetorical;
How many more tens/hundreds of billions from the west is it going to take?
And after damn near 4 years, how much territory has changed hands?
Sure, Russia advances at a snails pace, yet Ukraine isn't exactly driving them out at a crazy pace either.
ExCargo put the numbers up in another (locked thread), sure, they have the "manpower" to hold them off, but do they have it to drive them out and keep them at bay?
I'd also like to hear your thoughts on why "manpower" isn't the issue some of us think it is.