movielover said:
You and sycasy avoid what Putin has repeatedly demanded for at least 11 years:
1. A neutral Ukraine.
2. Given this didn't happen, and we helped plan / fund a civil war, Putin appears to be acquiring ethnically and culturally Russian areas. We'll see if he moves on Odessa.
Coincidentally or not, these areas are also the most valuable areas of Ukraine.
3. A peace deal will likely include #1. Without #1, why sign a deal?
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Mearsheimer and McGregor both argue that Putin doesn't want to rule hostile areas. He doesn't need the headache, land, or resources.
The Putin Haters seem oblivious to the fact that there are hardliners who make Putin look like a peacenik. I hope we don't witness their rule.
P.S. If China has soldiers in Ukraine, do we assume that Russia has or will buy weapons and ammunition from China? It appears to be another perfect match for Russia and resource-starved China.
movielover, in your knee-jerk attempt to disagree with me, you seem to be missing the fact that this is one issue where we have a fair amount of common ground. Doesn't happen too often!
Not up to me, but I would be happy to agree to never-Ukraine-in-NATO in order to get this settled.
One disagreement: If Putin "doesn't want to rule hostile areas", what does he think he was going to get if he took all of Ukraine by force (which he tried / is still trying to do)?