[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Z

As for Russia's interference in Ukraine - it's nowhere near as unpredictable as people make it out to be. Russia was provoked. Many people might not recognise it, but it's no different than if Russia formed a defence organisation to protect itself and its allies from the threat of the United States and invited Canada to be a member, just to pull Canada out of the USA's sphere of influence. I mean just take a moment to actually consider what the EU was doing; it was trying to incorporate Ukraine into its organisation, a country that is hugely in debt, fully corrupt and barely able to function and millions of citizens who would doubtless seek to move west for a better life, at a time when many Europeans are turning their backs on Schengen, immigration and there's a lot of hatred towards Slavs, Roma and foreigners in general. What could the EU possibly have gained from a formal relationship with Ukraine? Nothing much, other than making sure Russia doesn't have control over it.

Russia's involvement in Ukraine is little more than political posturing, sending a message that it will not be bullied by sanctions and trade agreements and pencil pushers trying to isolate it. Russia knows if it acts decisively with precise force, it will go unchallenged. Georgia 2008 showed as much. Russia chose Ukraine next because of its military connections to Sevastopol and the Crimean peninsula, its lack of membership in European organisations and its heavy dependence on Russian help. It could have just as easily been Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, any of the Central Asian -stan republics...

I wish I had a practical use for my degree, this is what I studied and I love talking about it

if America wanted to invade and own Russia, it would already be done, and Russia would have no power to stop it.

The idea that America has plans to conquer and own Russia is ****ing RETARDED.

Russia is pathetic failed state that happens to have some natural resources. Russia is trying to bully all of Europe politically just because they have a large supply of natural gas. The US is helping Europe stand up to the Russian bullying.

America doesn't need Russian gas, Europeans do. And Putin was trying to bully Europe with that leverage, America is just trying to even the playing field for the other European countries that need that gas. Russia has no right to be a bully just because they have a specific natural resource.