It looks dumb now.
But if you are Putin 365 days ago, the notion was this was going to be a cakewalk, the US won't do shit, NATO isn't solidified, I have enough supporters and conscripts in the country to rebel within that would make the invasion easier, Ukraine's President is a pussy, he's a career comedian not a war decorated war general, the West is scared of me, they don't want to see me on a battlefield etc. etc. Putin didn't count on the US backing Ukraine and NATO uniting stronger since in 80 years in opposition to him. He didnt count on the reserve and willingness to fight from the Ukrainians. And he was right to assume that due to recent history (2014 Annexation of Crimea). But boy was he wrong. lol. He had all of us thinking Russia was a Peer-to-Peer foe and them jokers are in the battlefield using Korean War era vehicles and weapons getting their asses kicked left and right.
What you’re saying is 100% wrong. We backed Russia into a corner, and they had no choice but to fight.
This isn’t about Russia’s expansion, or Russia underestimating the US. We basically forced him into this.
We were the ones too foolish to see it coming.
When the Soviet Union split in the 1990s theUS and Soviets entered into an agreement saying that they would not expand the nations in NATO to include Nations east of Germany.
The Us broke the agreement in 1999, allowing Poland and Czech Republic’s in. They laughed in Russias face and said, do something about it. Russia did nothing.
Then US broke the agreement again in 2004, allowing Lithuania and Romania. Again laughed in Russias face. Russia did nothing.
In 2014, the US then supported a coup is Ukraine, Russias direct neighbor. After the coup, the US said that they would work to allow Ukraine into NATO.
Russia told the US that that while they allowed the other stuff, they can’t allow NATO right next door. If Ukraine were to join NATO, they could put a U.S. military base right next to Russias border.
Putin went on national TV and gave an ultimatum, stop trying to get into NATO or we’ll invade.
Ukraine said fuck you Putin, and he invaded.
From Russia’s standpoint, NATO in the Ukraine would mean the end of their country. Everyone thinking that Russia is just going to stop, or that Russia would never use nuclear weapons if they were losing is a fool.
It’s the equivalent of Russia putting a military base in Toronto. What would we do to stop that? Would we go to nuclear war over it. You damn right we would, and so will they.
The purpose of the Cold War is not to go too far and push the other side into a nuclear war. Fuck with them, yes. But you never corner a rat.
We cornered Russia, and now we’re in a mess. Most on social media have no idea about the above. It was common knowledge before 2022 and widely reported on by The NY Times, Washington Post, etc. But when Ukraine was invaded all this type of reporting stopped.
Im not here to take Russias side, I’m here to take the US side. When people were against the War in Iraq, it’s not because they were pro-Saddam Hussein. They knew that if we went down the path, it would be bad for the US
When Russia say they will use nukes if they lose this war, we should believe them.
People here are playing on social media with hashtags, and have no idea what the consequences of a nuclear war would be. Millions of us dead.
It is very telling that Russian propaganda channels have either completely ignored the visit or spun it as another "goodwill gesture".
