Shurqeh t1_j60ghpq wrote
Reply to comment by Responsible_Walk8697 in Norway will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The goverment is planning a larger contribution that will span several years. by Noxzen
you're suggestion is tantamount to the west being happy to spend Ukrainian lives to make sure Russia is down for good. Which is exactly what Russia's propaganda wants us to believe.
Responsible_Walk8697 t1_j60m1ui wrote
I get your meaning, but I don't think Ukraine's agenda is different from the US / NATO / rest of the West.
- If you hear the Ukrainians (meaning their Gov), they are nowhere near ready to sit to negotiate with Putin. For them it's taking their territory back (including Crimea) or nothing. Analysts (for what they might know) think that could take years.
- Russia made a mess in Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea (Ukraine) and now Ukraine again. Everyone was hesitant to intervene, but now that they did, it's unclear a quick hack would do.
- There is the precedent of intervening in Iraq, not finishing the job, and the US establishment pushing for a second round. Not sure they will leave the table until Russia has been knocked from old superpower to regional power.
- The US has Russia in mind, but also China. The US has been talking about the "shift to Asia" for 20 years. Multiple latent conflicts (Philippine, Vietnam, Taiwan) could kick off in the future. Crippling Russia has both the benefit of removing one problem off the table, weakening a China partner, and sending a clear message to China.
I cannot see the conflict being brushed under the carpet and forgotten. All participants (except Russia, one would assume) appear to be happy to go on for years if it gives them what they want (a strong Ukraine, a weak Russia?).
Of course they might all decide to have peace talks next week and settle. Who knows. Just not what it looks like...
decomposition_ t1_j60ok06 wrote
I just wanted to point out that Russia started out as a regional power going into this war, Russia never has been a superpower unless you are referring to the Soviet Union.
Responsible_Walk8697 t1_j60skhl wrote
Yes, you are right. There was however a perception that the Russian army was the closest adversary you could have to the US, and NATO still had Russian containment as a role. After this conflict, I doubt that will be tolerated. Whatever peace follows, Russia would have been knocked down enough that it's not a threat / able to project power again. That's what I was meant to say.
Gr33nBubble t1_j61bpwh wrote
Yes. Showing China that there will be a collective response from the free world if they invaded Taiwan, is very important.
Okbuddyliberals t1_j61tjnb wrote
Why would that be bad in the first place?
I mean, bearing in mind that the Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom against a fascist imperialist invader and are doing this freely and eagerly rather than being pushed into it by the west - with that in mind - why would it be bad?
If the Ukrainians want to fight to the last Ukrainian against the Russian menace, what's so bad about the west arming them and benefiting from it?
Seems like it would only be bad if the west was coercing and forcing Ukraine to do this
torlesse t1_j61w3o1 wrote
Happy? Definitely not.
But what are the options exactly? Let Russians over run Ukraine and take over?
Putin started the war and if Russia gets crippled as a result, its all on him.
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