Discussions on difficult subjects

[Wolkenkrabber]

James Holroyd on Insta:

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EDIT: Massive Attack on Insta. I'm guessing they've been asked to comment on Bob V.

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[Bosco]

Amerikakaka sure loves inviting widely perceived War Criminals lately. We even rolled out the literal red carpet this time!

[Explud]

loves inviting widely perceived War Criminals lately

I think you're looking for somebody else - Zelensky and his European friends have not visited this time.

[Bosco]

Zelensky is here in America (Washington D.C.) today, actually. And if you want to loop him into the category of present day War Criminals, then I refer to the expression "to each his own".

I and probably most of the world outside of Russia, view Zelensky as someone who's rightfully fighting for the continued independence of his country, which was settled long ago. What is the real reason Russia is invading Ukraine? Because Ukraine looks to join NATO, and the Russian government fears Western influence as a threat to their government? A lot of unnecessary death and resources, and it seems like a certain leader is a bit mad with power in keeping a stranglehold of his country and longing for days of old. Funny enough, and most of us here will be happy to admit, we here in the USA we have a similar issue!

How often has Putin left the country the last view years? I think a pretty damning thing to point out at this recent summit with Trump in Alaska which:  A. The closest state in America to Russia, and,  B. One that doesn't require Putin to fly over any country which their Government has him deemed as a War Criminal. Why not fly to [Washington] D.C. like Zelensky and every other foreign leader meeting with the US Government? What makes Putin so special?

Anyway, I know this is hard to not to take personal. I don't hate the Russian people, I disagree with the actions of your government, among others, and including my own, FREQUENTLY.

[Wolkenkrabber]

I think you're looking for somebody else - Zelensky

Zalensky/Ukraine needs to stop being invaded. It's definitely his fault that Ukraine was invaded, right @Explud ?
Why does Zalensky keep rejecting Russian peace? Oh it's because Russia hasn't offered it. Just invasion and land-grab.

and his European friends.

Oh those naughty Europeans! Someone from UK news was asking Muscovites for their opinions a couple of days ago. A woman talked about "Europe" as the enemy.
Russian state media has really done a number on you guys!
Watching Ukraine get invaded by tanks, watching civilians getting bombed and killed does tend to make (European) people sit up and say, "uh oh -not good".
Europe didn't invade Ukraine, Russia did.

Ukraine chose to leave USSR. Nobody forced them. Putin is trying to force them back into Russia. He's killing people. It's got to stop.

[shakermaker]

War criminals are in good company here in the USA, sad to say.

[Explud]

So that's it, a throw-in/provocation and then opposite opinion - and we have quarrel.

Zelensky is here in America (Washington D.C.) today, actually.

Yes, saw it later.

And if you want to loop him into the category of present day War Criminals, then I refer to the expression "to each his own".

Undoubtedly. Deaths of civilians, terrorist acts, constant drone attacks on peaceful targets, unwillingness to negotiate, and many more crimes committed by his subordinates, especially the SSU - is this all to be ignored and is this all okay?

I and probably most of the world outside of Russia

Who is this "most of the world"? United States, Europe and their allies? Is this the whole world? You flatter yourself, take a closer look at the globe.

Because Ukraine looks to join NATO, and the Russian government fears Western influence as a threat to their government?

Yes, that's one of the reasons. I would look at the United States, if BRICS had become a military alliance instead of an economic one, Canada and Mexico would have joined it, and Russian military bases would be located in these countries.

How often has Putin left the country the last view years?

I'll tell you a secret - he rarely travels within the country, and even in Moscow he doesn't often appear, only if there is a big reason or something grand opens. And so it had been for many years before the war.
Excessive reinsurance? Maybe. Age also can be a reason.

I think a pretty damning thing to point out at this recent summit with Trump in Alaska which:  A. The closest state in America to Russia, and,  B. One that doesn't require Putin to fly over any country which their Government has him deemed as a War Criminal.

If you didn't know, you can fly from our country to America via the North Pole, it's faster this way and you don't have to cross any countries at all, and it's almost always been this way if you don't need a transfer in Europe or Asia.
Why Alaska was chosen is - a mystery. Perhaps the symbolism from political strategists.

Anyway, I know this is hard to not to take personal.

It's not. It's just logic.

It's definitely his fault that Ukraine was invaded, right @Explud ?

Yes, it's mostly the fault of the Ukrainian rulers and those who staged the coup in 2014.

Why does Zalensky keep rejecting Russian peace? Oh it's because Russia hasn't offered it.

It is not true. It has long been proposed to end the conflict if the interests of our state are respected.

Oh those naughty Europeans!

Not ordinary people, but higher ranks.
If the EU had not uncovered its militaristic machine and had not stuffed Ukraine with war equipment and money, simultaneously destroying own economy, the war would have ended long ago.
Maybe it would be better to follow the path of trying to reconcile the two opponents. But no. Participation in a military alliance against the Russian Federation is still binding.

Russian state media has really done a number on you guys!

I don't follow them.

Ukraine chose to leave USSR. Nobody forced them. Putin is trying to force them back into Russia.

There are several other reasons here, so I'm going back to:

What is the real reason Russia is invading Ukraine?

The collapse of the Soviet Union is undoubtedly one of the reasons, because there were many Russians living in the Eastern territory of the Ukrainian SSR. I mean a lot. A LOT.
In general, the nationalities were very mixed up and very closely related to each other.
My father-in-law is Ukrainian, so my wife is half Ukrainian, just imagine. One of my close friends, who now lives in Moscow, is also a Ukrainian.
In 2014, a coup d'etat was taking place in Ukraine, and these Russian people living in these territories realized at that moment that they did not want to deal with these leaders, they wanted to separate and gain independence from them.
In response, this provisional government launched a civil war, with a fairly strong nationalist bias.
As you probably know, Crimea held a referendum and then joined the Russian Federation. The rest of the regions also held referendums, but no entry into the Russian Federation took place, perhaps in order not to ignite a violent war even then, no one was ready.
The shadow involvement of the Russian Federation in Ukrainian civil war was probably present, and it also created quite a few problems.

And 8 years later, a special military operation was announced because:

1. There was a conflict near the border of our country, this is a potential threat to our state, the conflict cannot be resolved without intervening in it.
2. Many more Russian people suffered and could have suffered in this conflict at that time. Russians, because they live there. Russians are not indifferent to Russia, imagine that.
3. Talks about the entry of the state on the border with us into a military alliance against our state added fuel to the fire. These are again the security issues of our state.

This is the protection of our interests. That's enough already.
We can monitor the situation from a more truthful point of view, because we have a connection with these regions, they speak Russian, but you don't.

[shakermaker]

If you didn't know, you can fly from our country to America via the North Pole, it's faster this way and you don't have to cross any countries at all

You would cross Canada to get to the USA via that route. Flying over Canada would be a risk - if his plane had to make an emergency landing, he may enter Canada, and if he entered Canada he would get arrested.

[Bosco]

I appreciate you painstakingly answering some questions @Explud and maybe providing some more insight for some of us.

All of our countries are dirty in this conflict, but I think you're underplaying Russia's actions here.

You would cross Canada to get to the USA via that route. Flying over Canada would be a risk - if his plane had to make an emergency landing, he may enter Canada, and if he entered Canada he would get arrested.

Actually, according to this route map (if accurate):



foreign airspace could be avoided. But the risk of not being close to allied emergency safe space for a 9+ hour flight, makes no sense especially, with the personnel aboard. For sure he flew close to Russia and most likely connected in Magadan or Vladivostok.

[shakermaker]

Actually, according to this route map (if accurate): foreign airspace could be avoided

ooh good detail. where did you find the map?

[Bosco]

ooh good detail. where did you find the map?

It was discussed on Reddit. I think that would be a commercial flight path from Moscow to Alaska, though.