Moscow launches full-scale invasion of Ukraine | Hacker News Reader

Moscow launches full-scale invasion of Ukraine

aljazeera.com

22 pointsGodel_unicode10 comments

If there was no Nord Stream Putin wouldn't be able to invade without Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine shutting down the gas trade with western Europe. Which is a big part of Russian budget.

Germany knew about this from the start, heads of these states warned about exactly this scenario since 90s, yet Germany pursued cost-cutting over stabilisation of the region. And called these states "russophobic".

Even after 2008 invasion of Georgria. And after 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

German chancellor Schroeder was then found out to be corrupted by Russian gas company Gasprom, and later moved on to work in board of Gasprom.

Germans still pursued Nord Stream 2 and almost finished it recently.

Obviously the one at fault is Putin and Russia, but Germany was instrumental in making it possible. It must be taken into account if EU has any chances of working. You cannot be this egoistic and/or naive for decades without consequences.

Is there any way for EU members to demand one member to explain itself and correct their behavior?

>If there was no Nord Stream Putin wouldn't be able to invade without Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine shutting down the gas trade with western Europe. Which is a big part of Russian budget.

This is an easily testable theory. It would take 2-3 small boats and some explosives, <$100K budget, to cripple Nord Stream 1.

Just another Cuba in the making.

Cuba decided in the 60s to accept Soviet nuclear missiles. The US found out and threatened a WW3. There was a failed attempt to invade Cuba. Still the US keeps Guantanamo by force.

Sixty years on and Cuba is under total economic sanctions by the US.

Yeah because Ukraine voting to join EU (a trade agreement) and being INVADED is the same as Cuba accepting nuclear missiles.

In fact Ukraine gave up theirs nuclear missiles in 90s in exchange for security and territorial integrity guarantees from UK, USA and Russia. Now you can see how well that worked out for them :/

Shortly after, the nuclear missiles left Cuba. Sixty years later, Cuba is still under full sanctions, Guantanamo is still occupied.

Cuba was set up by the Soviets. The Ukraine has been set up as a way to marginalize and weaken Russia.

> The Ukraine has been set up as a way to marginalize and weaken Russia.

Ukraine (what's with "the"? are you Russian?) voted to join EU as they have every right to do. EU and NATO refused to accept them.

But yeah, spread the Putin bullshit.

> (what's with "the"? are you Russian?)

Not necessarily. Until quite recently, that's how it was called everywhere. Us oldsters don't always find changing the way we talk about things particularly easy.