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What about the "buffer" country? Don't they get a say in the matter?
When they *did* have a say in the matter, they were practically always acting against Russian interests, siding with the enemy. Therefore they become more or less "collateral damage" in the conflict between Russia and the West. And that's what the conflict is really all about.
Quote:
This is precisely the reason why more and more countries have been joining
NATO
That's understandable, but at the end it doesn't change much, because West can expand ( and do) only so much. It's not like it has unlimited resources.
Usually people who dutifully serve Russian government, then fall out of favor and start cozying up to the West ( as it was a case with Illarionov, who used to be Putin's economic advisor)- these people don't turn out to be "right."
Russia is quite sophisticated place in this respect - it doesn't forgive anyone serving "big money" and then, once burned, trying to serve a "higher purpose."
If Russia does not regained the Crimea, after 2-3 years there would be a NATO
base
Not sure if you assumed then Ukraine would have 'gone over' and 'lost' to the West. If so, my opinion would be that it would have probably been proposed but in the end would have been tabled for the obvious reason that it would have been an aggressive bit of politics against Russian interests. Why get Mr. Putin agitated?
From your remark, it just lends absiolute creedence to the idea that Russia needed to do something to stop the Ukrainian tracks to the West. It was act first then worry about the questions that will come later. It appears to have it worked. The move was 'calm' but it has upset the entire region irrevocably and has led to hardening positions consumed with violence.
Apparently Putin is not going to use military force to sort out Russia's nation security interests in Ukraine knowing full well that time is on his side. IMF forced austerity will produce discontentment among the masses and produce chaos on the streets in a few years time when the promised prosperity & good times never materializes and living conditions gets much worse for the average Ukrainian. I guess the Ukrainians might blame their future plight on Putin for not giving them free or cheap natural gas as if its Russia's duty to subsidize a foreign country. To add insult to injury most of the citizens in the western area of this foreign country do not want anything to do with concerning Russia but somehow expects Russia to sacrifice it natural resources for their benefit for nothing in return. Putin is now concentrating on the long term tasks of transforming the Russian economy and industry in that it becomes basically self reliant and less exposed to other nations hostile economic actions.
Apparently Putin is not going to use military force to sort out Russia's nation security interests in Ukraine knowing full well that time is on his side. IMF forced austerity will produce discontentment among the masses and produce chaos on the streets in a few years time when the promised prosperity & good times never materializes and living conditions gets much worse for the average Ukrainian. I guess the Ukrainians might blame their future plight on Putin for not giving them free or cheap natural gas as if its Russia's duty to subsidize a foreign country. To add insult to injury most of the citizens in the western area of this foreign country do not want anything to do with concerning Russia but somehow expects Russia to sacrifice it natural resources for their benefit for nothing in return. Putin is now concentrating on the long term tasks of transforming the Russian economy and industry in that it becomes basically self reliant and less exposed to other nations hostile economic actions.
Today Kiev-Warsaw highway has been blocked by protesting mothers and wives of Ukrainian soldiers from the Western provinces, after 16 of them ended up dead after being sent to Donbass region. It created a big traffic jam.
The 9 countries outside the bucket are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, France, Kazakhstan, China, Poland, and Russia (with little Crimea)?
The 9 countries outside the bucket are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, France, Kazakhstan, China, Poland, and Russia (with little Crimea)?
US, UK, Switzerland, France, Sweden, China, Poland, Russia, little Crimea.
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