Indeed which is why they don’t want Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.

If Russia attacks the Baltic countries or Poland which I think is likely, then yes NATO would be involved. Like I said, Putin has lost his mind and no talking to him will stop him.

 

I don't think he will invade any NATO countries as that would be far too risky for him. What about the central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan etc. could he invade those or are the regimes there allied with him?

I don't think he will invade any NATO countries as that would be far too risky for him. What about the central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan etc. could he invade those or are the regimes there allied with him?

 

Allied and basically puppet states or too poor to be worth bothering about. It’s not like he’s out for bloodlust, Ukraine was a pretty specific target. If there’s another one I’d imagine it would be Georgia but let’s hope the sanctions make even that unviable pretty quickly eh?

I just hope many of the Russian soldiers hearts aren't into fighting the Ukrainian people and it doesn't turn out to be as simple as Putin wants it to be. I can only compare it to the UK fighting Australia which wouldn't make any sense and would be like killing your own family.

I don't think he will invade any NATO countries as that would be far too risky for him. What about the central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan etc. could he invade those or are the regimes there allied with him?

 

Recently there was an uprising in Kazakhstan known as Bloody January, Russia got involved there and quickly helped in squashing that. I don't think Russian troops are still stationed there now.

 

I can't see the central Asian countries going against Putin, although Russia is curious about their alliance with China. The world needs to keep an eye on Taiwan too, I wouldn't be surprised if Putin and Xi Jinping had some disturbing conversations at the Olympics opening ceremony.

I just hope many of the Russian soldiers hearts aren't into fighting the Ukrainian people and it doesn't turn out to be as simple as Putin wants it to be. I can only compare it to the UK fighting Australia which wouldn't make any sense and would be like killing your own family.

From what I know the vast majority of soldiers involved in this are contractors without much education so they can be easily gaslit, swayed by money and having their own little source of power. We had witnessed the heartlessness of some of them previously during the Navalny-related demonstrations so if they are willing to turn against their own people then it will be so much easier to turn them against Ukrainians. Plus they frankly have no choice but to comply or get jailed/kicked out. Russians have to all stand up against this and I don't see it happening at all for now - the level of fear or ignorance is insanely high.

Edited February 25, 20223 yr by Bdelita

I suspect Putin may well take Kyiv, force the government (probably one he installs) to sign a pro-Russian treaty and possibly partition the country into East and West before scaling back the Russian presence. He can probably hold the East comfortably due to there being a large number of ethnic Russians but the Western half would provide too much unrest. He can claim to be protecting Russian peoples, provide a buffer state between Russia and NATO countries and give himself the desired corridor to the Black Sea.

 

Not so much WWIII as Cold War 2

Edited February 25, 20223 yr by Severin

Seeing destruction in Kyiv and Kharkiv is heartbreaking. :(

 

Seems like Russia's turning to Asian trading partners to shore up its economy, which might unfortunately give them enough to stay in the war.

I’m glad Ukraine are attacking back but i fear the more they fight back the more unhinged Putin is going to come as yesterday can be seen as a failure for Russia.

 

Russia will not attack any Nato countries either, Russia know what they are doing, Germany, Italy etc aren’t imposing sanctions because Russia control the majority of their energy

Tanks are purposefully running over and squashing cars with passengers in the middle of the day, residential buildings are being bombed, more than 100 people have died. Russia is blocking the internet inside the country and violently detains people at demonstrations against war (ironic, I know, given on 9th May they will celebrate victory against fascism and the end of WWII). The heat was turned up way too high for it to be a cold war but we'll see how these coming days turn out. My prediction is it will get much much worse.

Some Ukrainian navy soldiers were also reportedly being given a chance to switch sides and promised... you guessed it... money (:

 

In the end they all died.

Edited February 25, 20223 yr by Bdelita

Some Ukrainian navy soldiers were also reportedly being given a chance to switch sides and promised... you guessed it... money (:

 

In the end they all died.

 

That reminded me of some incredible bravery shown by the now sadly deceased Ukrainian guards of Snake Island, a tiny island that marks the extent of Ukraine's territorial waters in the Western Black Sea.

 

@1497002842447818752

 

This is not going to be easy for Russia to hold. Occupying countries is a tremendous endeavour even when the occupier has the most powerful military on the planet and they're trying for a rural backwater. And the occupation of Ukraine will be way more difficult than the occupation of Afghanistan.

 

Stories like the above will be used as inspiration for the Ukrainian defence. Which is to say it'll get dirty, but I don't think Ukraine's going to fold and I don't think they should either.

I can't see it being as difficult as Afghanistan, particularly considering that Ukraine was part ot thr USSR. Afghanistan is known as thw graveyard of empires, and everything about it, fron topology and geopgrahy, to culture and weaponry, defies invading nations.

I can't see it being as difficult as Afghanistan, particularly considering that Ukraine was part ot thr USSR. Afghanistan is known as thw graveyard of empires, and everything about it, fron topology and geopgrahy, to culture and weaponry, defies invading nations.

I can't see it being as difficult as Afghanistan, particularly considering that Ukraine was part ot thr USSR. Afghanistan is known as thw graveyard of empires, and everything about it, fron topology and geopgrahy, to culture and weaponry, defies invading nations.

Not to completely go all armchair general, but with Ukraine you're going to have a lot of urban warfare and the power differential between Russia and Ukraine is much closer than between America and Afghanistan.

 

It pains me to think about these beautiful cities being destroyed but Russia needs to somehow be ground down.

This is much more akin to the Warsaw Pact's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 than it is to Afghanistan. True, Ukraine is putting up stronger resistance but it has already lost air superiority and is both outgunned and outranged against the Russian forces. Especially once Antonov Airport falls. Then Putiin can supply and reinforce at will. Ukraine's 'best' hope of winning this is to turn Kiev into Stalingrad and I don't see that happening

Edited February 25, 20223 yr by Severin

Russia is right next door, able to mobilise its entire army and strength against it, and able to attack and impose control from thrww sides. Afghanistan is on the other side of the world from the Us, and required vulnerable NATO convoys.

Russia is right next door, able to mobilise its entire army and strength against it, and able to attack and impose control from thrww sides. Afghanistan is on the other side of the world from the Us, and required vulnerable NATO convoys.

I assumed you were referring to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

 

But we're both saying Russia will find this easier

I was replying to Iz!