General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoes Ukraine not have weapons to strike inside Russia?
Are all their weapons defensive? If so what is Putin talking about? What had he to fear from Ukraine?
JohnSJ
(92,219 posts)Ocelot II
(115,735 posts)Ukraine was once part of the USSR/Russia, and Putin wants to restore his "empire."
melm00se
(4,993 posts)is to serve 2 purposes:
1. Reestablish the Russian Empire. Except for the last few decades, the Russians have had an empire. Under the Tsars and under the Soviets. Their empire collapsed with the break up of the USSR. They - want - it - back.....
2. Move closer for the Russians to have warm water port that does not require their ships to pass thru a constriction point.
Their next target will be Turkey. The Russians will undermine Turkey's NATO membership and thren strike.
Dial H For Hero
(2,971 posts)Happy Hoosier
(7,314 posts)Ukraine was never a threat to Russia.
This is an imperial land-grab, plain and simple.
The ONLY question is what the world will do about it.
Right now, the response is.... fairly mild, in my view. I hope that changes. This is a BIG test for Biden.
sarisataka
(18,663 posts)That could reach into Russia a few hundred miles. It wouldn't make much difference however.
As others have said, it was not about Ukraine's military threat to Russia. An independent Ukraine is a threat to Putin.
Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)missile attacks. Without control of its own air Ukraine's ability to defend even itself is limited.
Swede
(33,257 posts)Send a few of those to Moscow.
Dial H For Hero
(2,971 posts)DemocratSinceBirth
(99,710 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Voltaire2
(13,061 posts)And in retrospect it was idiotic to expand NATO beyond its original membership into the former Warsaw Pact nations. How did we think Russia was going to react? What was our plan when, inevitably, Russia reacted?
None of which justifies Russias invasion of Ukraine. I just dont see how this wasnt obviously going to happen, and how it was equally obvious that there was no good response.
Ohio Joe
(21,758 posts)In fact, such a tactic would have devastating consequences. Putin would reply with massive strikes that would kill very large amounts of civilians.
No... I suspect their best bet is to make it look like their military folded quickly, they merge into the civilian population and then fight unconventional warfare from there. At least... That is what I would do.
dalton99a
(81,516 posts)which Putin later declared null and void