We're trying everything to avoid WWIII, acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine says

[SouthBayDem]

Source: NPR

RZESZOW, POLAND — As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, NATO forces are building in border countries in an effort to contain the conflict and prevent a wider war, according to the latest assessment from the acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

"We're trying everything we can to make sure it doesn't lead to World War III," Kristina Kvien told NPR on Monday. "But ultimately ... that depends on the actions of President Putin."

"We have sent extra troops to Poland and other NATO allies that border Ukraine to make sure that they have the security they need. ... If Russia takes one step, one inch into NATO territory, NATO will be prepared to respond."

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion just under two weeks ago, but Russian forces have made less headway than many military analysts expected. They have been slowed by logistical issues and a galvanized Ukrainian military and civilian fighters who have so far held the line in the capital, Kyiv.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/07/1084902080/ukraine-russia-united-states-world-war-3-poland

[Evolve Dammit]

1. We cannot be Neville Chamberlains and need to hold evil accountable. Support Ukraine.

[Justice matters.]

8. Apples and oranges...

Hitler didn't have thousands of nukes & crazy enough to threaten using them.

[Happy Hoosier]

14. Understand what you are accepting.

You are accepting that just be threatening to use nukes, Putin can get what he wants.

Perhaps you think that is reasonable in this case. That is, feeding Ukraine to Putin is an acceptable outcome to you.

[Justice matters.]

17. No. Not acceptable. The Ukrainians can defend themselves.

And so far, that's what they do.

Based on your logic, you must think President Obama "fed" Crimea to the Russians then?

Georgia was also "fed" to Russia?

What do you want? Coffins back here by the thousands again?

Haven't we learned anything from Irak and Afghanistan yet?

It's THEIR country. Let them defend it and they might kick the barbarians out. Yes, they can.

We have to pay for it already, after two years of a pandemic that killed a million.

Now IF Russia set one foot on NATO territory, THEN we'll have no choice but to respect our signature (Article 5).

Not before, IMHO. No need to risk making it worse right now.

[Strelnikov_]

12. Further, tired of Chamberlain being dragged through the mud

He took the action he did because 1) Britain was not ready for war (they only had two army divisions at the time), and 2) the British and French populace wanted nothing to do with another war.

It was to buy time to rearm, which they did, to a point.

[Lonestarblue]

2. Putin illegally invaded Ukraine, and he is committing war crimes every day targeting civilians.

No one wants WWWIII, but if Putin refuses to remove troops from Ukraine there may be no choice. Given Putin’s relentless actions against Ukraine, putting down their weapons be dangerous because Putin is likely to retaliate for the Ukrainians embarrassing his army in front the world by executing every man still standing and possibly the women and children too. Putin doesn’t care what the world thinks, and he appears not to care what his own citizens think of him.

The question that Western leaders should be considering now is whether it is better to be provoked into war with Putin now while his military seems in disarray or allow him to occupy Ukraine and then regroup by making his military stronger and watch as he attacks the next countries he demands become part of his new Soviet Union. The Baltic countries are already nervous about that. It would seem better to take on Putin now. He will obviously not back down, but he doesn’t have the strongest position at the moment and moat of the world wants him stopped. Delaying the fight could make it far worse in a couple of years.

[onetexan]

9. K&R

[Polybius]

11. It boils down to what would be worse

A million Ukrainians dead taken over by Russia, or 3 billion dead worldwide and 100 trillion in damages. I'll go with the latter.

[Happy Hoosier]

15. You assume the latter is a reasonable fear.

In what scenario does Russia have ANYTHING to gain from that?

[Polybius]

18. No gain at all

But he's nuts. He might nuke Ukraine, thinking we won't risk a nuke war. Then we nuke Mosco, and he goes all out because he has nothing left.

[Javaman]

3. The first NATO boot to touch ground in Ukraine...

Putin launches.

Just a feeling

If NATO enters, he knows he’s shit out of luck

[maxsolomon]

5. Hard to gauge his/Russian levels of Paranoia.

he has consistently, for 20 years, accused the West of being the aggressor. after that much time, there's prob an element of truth there; he believes it. After all, he's acting on that belief.

There is probably a better understanding inside this WH over whether Putin believes that, or it's more gaslighting. Or both.

[localroger]

4. Avoiding WW3 may be the higher priority but...

...I can kind of see how the Ukrainians might not see it that way, particularly considering how WW2 turned out after the efforts to appease Hitler.

[nvme]

6. NUKES?!

[localroger]

7. It's annihilation for them either way

Not saying I agree with that assessment but I can understand how someone up against a wall and feeling neglected might say "fuck you" before making sure the fire burns everyone, not just them.

[Happy Hoosier]

16. If that is the case, what prevents Putin from invading the Baltic states?

Three possibilities here:

Putin would risk invading the Baltics because he believes NATO will not respond.

Putin will NOT invade the Baltics because he wants to avoid a confrontation with NATO.

Putin would invade the Baltics because he does not fear a confrontation with NATO.



To me, the focus on fear of nuclear confrontation is overblown. Putin WANTS us focused on our own fear. So long as we do that, Putin will play on it and achieve his objectives.

[twodogsbarking]

10. "I don't know what weapons might be used in World War III. But there isn't any doubt what weapons

will be used in World War IV.”

“And what are those?” a guest asked.

“Stone spears,” said Einstein.

[Jetheels]

13. Putin intentionally destroyed a satellite November 15 creating thousands of low orbit debris.

Possibly a test to see what is required to achieve the Kessler effect,
which would destroy all communications for everyone around the planet.
I think he’d go this route before going nuclear.