Ukraine Always Get What You Want

Live Updates: Growing Civilian Toll Points to Stark Challenges for Ukraine

More than 40,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed or wounded in the war, and roughly three million are now living under Russian occupation, according to the Ukrainian government.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/07/russia-ukraine-war-putin-news-live-updates/

Russia-Ukraine war latest: Sievierodonetsk sees ‘fierce street fighting’; Zelenskiy says peace talks ‘at level zero’ – live

 

We should have grandfathered Ukraine into NATO the day before the invasion.

Discuss.

 

The only “western” state that might hop in is Hungary, but doing so would mean immediate expulsion from the EU and the loss of billions of euros worth of cash every year. India could side with the Russians, too. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, etc.

 

"We" = western alliance currently sending billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine.

 

And that Western Alliance currently sending billions of dollars to Ukraine includes the same countries that would have blocked membership.

Finland and Sweden are ideal NATO members and are in the process of joining and likely will be approved when all said and done. They haven't been rubber stamped. And don't forget, the West bares much of the blame for not having Ukraine a member of NATO, but Ukraine also formally withdrew from consideration. Both sides were weary before this started and that has contributed to everything.

 

Finland and Sweden were also non-aligned members for years before recently filing for approval. Both countries have also engaged in military exercises in the past.

 

A move made by Putin's stooge, was it not?

Or are we talking about Zelenskyy's more recent hemming and hawing, done in order to get Putin's boot off his throat?

 

Many lazy journalists have quoted cabdrivers as indicators of public opinion. When I visit a country I interview the tour guides (just for my edification, not publication). The tour guide I had in Serbia told me "We love Russians'. The religion of Serbia is Orthodox. Croatia is Catholic and was for much of the last millennium under Austrian control and was the border (more or less) against Ottoman invasion. So the Serbs have been stuck between the Ottomans and the Austrians and the only allies they have historically have had have been the Russians.

 

Yes. And?

 

My guide in Israel scoffed when I asked him about Iran
“They don’t want us. They want the Saudis.”

 

China is doing some supportive things on trade and economic policy, but they are not getting involved militarily and have done little to replace war supplies and materiel. They don't want to get sucked into the sort of economic punishment Russia is taking.

Turkey is in large part playing both sides, making money and playing both ends against the middle. Add in the NATO block of Finland and Sweden, which will be leveraged via extortion.