Someone is playing Chess, the other is playing Checkers.
I do not claim to be an expert on Ukrainian/Russian relations; however, I did take a course on Russian history in college and as a history buff, I have done some research into the evolution of the existence of Ukraine as an “independent” state. In short, the history of the Ukraine is very complicated and complex.
The region now encompassing Ukraine and surrounding areas,being ruled be a number of principalities, became known as Kievan Rus in the 11th century and was the largest state in Europe. The name Ukraine first appeared on maps in the 16th century. The individual principalities were ruled by grand dukes. At one point during this period, the region was ruled by a Hungarian nobleman, but eventually the region came under the control of the Mogol Empire in the 14th century. The Mogol invaders were eventually fought off by Lithuania and Poland resulting in the north/northwest region coming under control of Lithuania and the south/southwest region coming under control of Poland, with the jointly ruled regions subsequently combining to form a Commonwealth. Then in the mid 16 hundreds along came the Cossacks to fight off the rule of the Commonwealth and petitioned Russia to help overthrow the Commonwealth resulting in a treaty in 1667 splitting control between the Commonwealth and Russia. Under the Russian protectorate, the Cossacks retained some autonomy; however, During subsequent decades, Tsarist rule over central Ukraine gradually replaced 'protection'. Sporadic Cossack uprisings were now aimed at the Russian authorities, but eventually petered out by the late 18th century and most of Ukraine fell under Russian rule under the reign of Catherine the Great.
The Ukrainian War of Independence (1917 - 1919) produced the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic which agreed to join the Soviet Union. After World War II some amendments to the Constitution of the Ukranian SSR were accepted, which allowed it to act as a separate subject of International law in some cases and to a certain extent, remaining a part of the Soviet Union at the same time. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine became an independent state, formalised with a referendum of December 1991. Over 90% of Ukrainians voted for independence with majorities in every region also voting for independence.
I'll go out on a limb here... unless members here are either Ukrainian or Russian - or have an equivalent wealth of cultural/language knowledge of the region - opinions and ideas (for or against Russia) here are bound to be a repetition of what you've already read in the media.
Only thing I will say: I'm against all wars. And if it was said that all diplomacy attempts were "exhausted", then I say all parties involved either didn't try hard enough or never intended to resolve the matter through peaceful means in the first place (and that usually means BOTH sides failed).
What do you guys think? I guess Peg here doesn't like me much... trying to school me on logic n' all. The living reference on diplomacy.No only a child would think both sides have to fail in a diplomacy . it is obvious BOTH SIDES have to be interested for diplomacy to work .That is if either side is not in good faith it will fail .
I agree that Putin seems to be in a better position to dictate terms.Did any of you think diplomacy would work? If you did I want to know what drug you're taking and I bet it's not legal.
How can you put pressure on Putin when you're importing about 600,000 barrels of oil a day from the guy at a 100 bucks a barrel? We gave him the money to invade Ukraine. Well done Joe.
I agree that Putin seems to be in a better position to dictate terms.
Not sure that diplomacy was impossible to achieve though. Looking at Zelensky's profile, I just wonder how on Earth he managed to get elected. The man has virtually zero qualifications for the job. I am not defending Putin here. I am simply suggesting that a more competent person for the presidency of Ukraine may have taken a better stab at diplomacy. But of course, no guarantee that would have avoided war either..
At least Joe isn’t congratulating Putin for doing a great job in acquiring vast lands at minimum expense
Are you that daft? Don't you know sarcasm when you read it?
Trump - “He’s taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions,” he said, “taking over a country — really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people — and just walking right in.”
The sarcasm = $2 dollars worth of sanctions.
Gotta stop reading the NY Slimes! Those people are not journalists, they're morons.
Tired of advice that sounds smart and goes nowhere?
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