Could you count how many times in history yielding to bold advances of power hungry ruler served as effective deterrent to war?
They neutralised Georgia after Georgia attacked and killed several of their soldiers.
They seized (bloodlessly I might add) Crimea after the new western-imposed government threatened to end the perpetual lease of the Sevastopol naval base. I might also add that 'Maidan' was the 2nd western-sponsored 'revolution' in Ukraine in a decade.
Now Russia is defending a long-time ally in the middle east from western-backed terrorists.
Then there's also NATO advancing all around Russia, the various 'defensive' missile systems being installed by US-allied countries who happen to encircle Russia, etc...
> Could you count how many times in history yielding to bold advances of power hungry ruler served as effective deterrent to war?
The only one making bold advances is the US, and yes, Russia isn't yielding, and the US is making it a problem. But you're right, it is a deterrent to war - if a weak ruler like Yeltsin were still in power Russia would probably be in another dozen pieces right now, with wars raging in half of them...
wow, what universe do you live in where conquering a whole nation is justified by a few lifes lost or stopping a commercial agreement? disgusting
A twice elected democratic government of Ukraine was overthrown in a violent coup, orchestrated from abroad, that used neonazis to do the dirty work.
When this happened, the people of [what was then called] the "Autonomous Republic of Crimea" voted in favor of leaving what was left of Ukraine and rejoining the Russian Federation - which they were originally part of for longer than the US has existed.
Ukraine as a country has only existed for 20 some years. Before that is was a loose territory of different regions. The East was mostly ethnic Russians, the West was mostly other groups. And Crimea was always Russian.
The majority of the force used in Crimea composed of Russian solders that stood outside the gates of Ukrainian military bases, blocking them from leaving, to carry out orders to stop the referendum... Which turned out to be over 95% in favor of rejoining Russia.
> would you recognize the right of any of the Russian regions to vote for their independence?
Has the Russia government been overthrown? When it is, lets talk then, because the answer will depend on the circumstances of the event.
USSR/Russian overthrows/subversions so many it's not even funny. From which year do you want to count? 1917 1920 1964 1991 1993 1996 2012
Perfect example of russian propaganda.
> leaving what was left of Ukraine and rejoining the Russian Federation - which they were originally part of for longer than the US has existed.
Crimea was part of Russian Federation _for longer than the US has existed_???
Dude, stop smoking whatever you're on.
And which whole nation was conquered?
We already have a deterrent for war with Russia. Russia knows this, I think the US is forgetting it.
Should other countries have a plan in case of USA collapse? At least our codes got upgraded from a string of 0s... But I imagine there are some foreign officials worried. Russia has started calling America "not-agreement-capable" after recent events in Syria and a UNSC meeting.
But it cannot be allowed to dictate the bilateral terms between other countries. If Ukraine or Poland wants to be in NATO, it's not up to Russia to say "no". Especially given the histories of those countries, and Russia's role therein.
And that's basically what that "OMG NATO is surrounding Russia" thing boils down to.
It is if they have the power to stop it. The whole "moral justification" part is for plebes like us. If powers feel threatened by the movements of other powers in neighboring countries, they will act[1]. How they spin it to the public is secondary.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis#Quarantin...
The Kremlin had operational control of all nukes pre and post the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
There was no negotiations required to get them back except for a procedural "note of record". They would have been taken by force if necessary.
Russia is little more than a petro state whose economic fortunes are almost completely related to the price of oil.
Putin should be focusing on broadening the Russian economic base but is instead engaging in stupid military endeavors that are only kidding Russia friends. The EU would love to trade with Russia but his European tinkering had made it impossible for them to do so. The US is obviously not a fan. Give it a few years and he'll probably piss off China too (or they'll find the US and European relationships more useful) and the Ryssians will have little more to do than reminisce about the time they annexed Crimea.