Putin wants a guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO? Really?

[Stinky The Clown]

Hey Vlad, what if they honor that just like you honored the agreement to leave them alone if they gave back your nukes. Which were THEIRS. Like that, Vlad?

The Ukrainian shore battery said it so eloquently a week or so ago:

GO FUCK YOURSELF

[Walleye]

1. Nobody is obligated to keep any deals made under the threat of violence

Nobody is obligated to keep any deals made with this lying madman

[NCjack]

2. If Putin would return Russia to a practicing democratic republic, his problem would

be solved. NATO would begin to fade away on its on. Like it almost did before TDFG tried to kill it.

[MerryHolidays]

9. "If Putin would return Russia to a practicing democratic republic"...was it ever? nt

[maxsolomon]

10. The election that put Putin in power was pretty much a democratic election.

Since then...

[AZProgressive]

11. Was it a clean election?

I remember this article.

Remembering the failed coup that brought down a superpower

(Snip)
Now we've witnessed a coup attempt in the United States where more people actually died (five) than during its Soviet counterpart (three). So it's a good time to revisit this half-forgotten week that shook the world and ended the "evil empire." Then as now, the battle was really between authoritarians and (small-d) democrats. Then as now, democracy was fragile. Then as now, democrats were outraged and emboldened by the attempt to silence their voices. Then as now, countering the regime's lies was key.
And then as now, the authoritarian threat wasn't as defeated as it seemed. Arguably, you can draw a direct line between the KGB-backed coup of 1991 and the election in 2000, under suspicious circumstances, of former KGB officer Vladimir Putin.

https://mashable.com/article/failed-coup-history

Suspicious circumstances links to this article.

Two Decades On, Smoldering Questions About The Russian President's Vault To Power

https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-russia-president-1999-chechnya-apartment-bombings/30097551.html

[MerryHolidays]

13. And this election was AFTER the Russian apartment bombings in 1999

Take your pick as to which side you believe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_apartment_bombings

[maxsolomon]

14. i didn't say clean

"Pretty much" was a hedge.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I am now thinking that Putin has used NATO as an excuse to take over Ukraine.

Putin will continue to change his demands since his real goal of taking over half of Eastern Europe is not going as planned.

Three facts that never change...

1. Putin lies
2. Putin can't be trusted
3. Putin changes his demands constantly

[Gore1FL]

4. Putin has shown the need for Ukrainian membership in NATO.

Also, he needs to get his ass out of Ukraine, including Crimea.

Losers don't get to call the shots.

[SheltieLover]

8. Absolutely!

[femmedem]

5. I wonder if this is why Zelensky spoke today about establishing a new international body

to provide mutual defense against aggression and provide humanitarian aid after catastrophies. He could technically stay out of NATO but still be part of an international order that would help small, democratic countries who are invaded or attacked by despots.

[Talitha]

16. THIS

[standingtall]

6. If I were Ukraine I wouldn't agree to give Russia anything

Unless there is a 3 party agreement between Ukraine,Russia and NATO. That Ukraine can join immediately. They make any agreement without that and Russia is just going to come back and invade Ukraine again.

[ymetca]

7. Big Oil

rules the world. Unless and until that Great Beast is wrestled under control... the world suffers.

White Jesus sure do love himself some black gold.

Maybe that unholy temple of alliance is showing some cracks now? I don't know.

They seem to want to take the whole world down with them.

[UTUSN]

12. K&R for, message to PUTEEN!

[moondust]

15. Pooty knows.

If Ukraine ever joins NATO his 30-year spiteful fantasy of rebuilding the Russian empire is over. Ukraine with its size and resources is the critical piece in that fantasy.

He might as well snort some Novichok over a cup of polonium tea.