Nato Backs Off In Crimea

[GoodSarmatian]

It almost fascinates me how Russians still think, that NATO is their sworn enemy

Is NATO Russia's friend ? Why does a former anti-USSR alliance still exist when the USSR is history ?

 

[silver 2039]

Yes and why does NATO and American influence continue to encroach on Russia's sphere of influence? Ukraine in NATO? Thats like parking American tanks on Russia's bloody front lawn.
If I were Russian I'd find it unacceptable. Russia is taking measures to see that its territorial integrity and power are protected against continued NATO and American encrocahment.

 

[Zarn]

Yes and why does NATO and American influence continue to encroach on Russia's sphere of influence? Ukraine in NATO? Thats like parking American tanks on Russia's bloody front lawn.
If I were Russian I'd find it unacceptable. Russia is taking measures to see that its territorial integrity and power are protected against continued NATO and American encrocahment.

Russia has no business in this. It is between Ukraine and the US (and possibly NATO). Those Russian 'Ukrainians' should take a hike.

 

[luiz]

Yes and why does NATO and American influence continue to encroach on Russia's sphere of influence? Ukraine in NATO? Thats like parking American tanks on Russia's bloody front lawn.
If I were Russian I'd find it unacceptable. Russia is taking measures to see that its territorial integrity and power are protected against continued NATO and American encrocahment.

Russia can't "accept" or "not accept" what Ukraine does. The Ukraine is a sovereign nation free to enter any alliance it wishes.

The russians are too paranoid indeed. If they think the americans want to invade they're on crack (or rather, the government feeds this foreign-threat hysteria in order to increase it's authority).

 

[silver 2039]

Russia can't "accept" or "not accept" what Ukraine does. The Ukraine is a sovereign nation free to enter any alliance it wishes.

The russians are too paranoid indeed. If they think the americans want to invade they're on crack (or rather, the government feeds this foreign-threat hysteria in order to increase it's authority).

Ukraine can enter whatever alliance it wishes, but it will suffer consequences if it does. Russia like all nations can exer influence on others, and in Russia's case it has a great deal of influence. Sovergin or not this is a fact.

Paranoid perhaps, but it is doubtless that America and NATO is steadily encroaching Russia's sphere of influence, with the aim of completly constricting Russia.

 

[luiz]

Ukraine can enter whatever alliance it wishes, but it will suffer consequences if it does. Russia like all nations can exer influence on others, and in Russia's case it has a great deal of influence. Sovergin or not this is a fact.

Paranoid perhaps, but it is doubtless that America and NATO is steadily encroaching Russia's sphere of influence, with the aim of completly constricting Russia.

The Soviet Union is dead, Russia is no longer a superpower. They can either accept the new world order in which they're just another player or they can continue to try to determine the faith of Eastern Europe, fail to do so, and look ridiculous in the proccess.

Russia may have a very brilliant future, it has tons of potential. But they must abandon soviet mentality first.

 

[amadeus]

Totally agreed. Russia has an unlimited potential to do good for their citizens, but their "leadership" is holding them back.

 

[tomsnowman123]

I can' believe what I am reading.

Well, I meant it.

Paranoid perhaps, but it is doubtless that America and NATO is steadily encroaching Russia's sphere of influence, with the aim of completly constricting Russia.

Let's just disband NATO, then we would have never had this issue. It's that simple. America wants to exert some influence, but it does appear Russia is a little paranoid. Again, get rid of NATO, problem solved.

 

[Winner]

Is NATO Russia's friend ? Why does a former anti-USSR alliance still exist when the USSR is history ?

Because it is not an anti-USSR anymore?

The Western nations decided, that even when the Cold was has ended, they still need a defensive organisation for continued cooperation. It would be a terrible waste to throw away everything what has been achieved. NATO is now much more than a military alliance, it is a security framework of the Western world.

Russians should finally get in their heads that NATO isn't there to attack them. There is no need to be worried because of NATO's expansion into the former communist block.

 

[Winner]

The Soviet Union is dead, Russia is no longer a superpower. They can either accept the new world order in which they're just another player or they can continue to try to determine the faith of Eastern Europe, fail to do so, and look ridiculous in the proccess.

Russia may have a very brilliant future, it has tons of potential. But they must abandon soviet mentality first.

Amen to that, but that won't happen very soon, as it looks like now.

Kissinger in one of his books explains that mentality. It is a lot older than communism, it originates back in 17th century. The Russian history is in fact a history of continuous expansion. And unfortunately, it is sort a spiral: they think they need more territory in order to secure Russia's security. But the more territory they have, the longer are the borders and the more threats they meet there. Their answer? Further expansion.

Russians are paranoid when it comes to global politics. They live in fear, that there are only potential enemies outside their border and they can team up against them. That's why they oppose the EU and NATO expansion. That's why they are trying to rebuild their sphere of influence, in fact a buffer zone made from a satellite states.

It doesn't matter what government Russia has. They all do the same. Putin is worse than the old communist, because he is bright, analytic, cold-blooded strategist. Under him, Russia is sliding back to her traditional perception of international relations directed by the realpolitik.

 

[Winner]

Totally agreed. Russia has an unlimited potential to do good for their citizens, but their "leadership" is holding them back.

Russian state won't give up the control over the main companies, especially not the oil-related industry. Never.

I don't see a very bright future for Russia. Their economic growth is based almost entirely on the oil/gas export. Corruption is high, the state interventionism as well. Independent media are almost non-existent, democracy, whatever meaning it has in Russia during the Yeltsin's rule, is now gone. Russia is facing even bigger population decline than Europe, losing approximately 700,000 people each year. It's population is shrinking, and the Far East is being flooded with Chinese migrants, who are in fact colonizing the Siberia. In few decades, the Russian Far East will be chinese, if not by political control, it will be chinese by the population structure.

If they want to continue according to their good old methods, they'll lose everything. Which scares me, because they still have enough nukes to bomb Europe and the US back into the Middle Ages.

 

[Commy]

Russia can't "accept" or "not accept" what Ukraine does. The Ukraine is a sovereign nation free to enter any alliance it wishes.

Russia can't, but Russians with Ukrainian citizenship can. More then 40% of Ukrainian citizens are Russians.

 

[silver 2039]

Indeed Yeltsin was a fool who should have been shot. Because of him millions of Russians live outside Russia. Eastern Ukraine, Belarus, parts of the Baltic States, should be part of Russia. Signficant portions are made up of Russians.

 

[luiz]

Russia can't, but Russians with Ukrainian citizenship can. More then 40% of Ukrainian citizens are Russians.

Yeah and they were defeated last elections.
The majority of ukranians apparently want closer relations with the EU and the West in general, what includes the US. What russians need to understand is that this doesn't mean becoming Russia's enemy.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Russian state won't give up the control over the main companies, especially not the oil-related industry. Never.

I don't see a very bright future for Russia. Their economic growth is based almost entirely on the oil/gas export. Corruption is high, the state interventionism as well. Independent media are almost non-existent, democracy, whatever meaning it has in Russia during the Yeltsin's rule, is now gone. Russia is facing even bigger population decline than Europe, losing approximately 700,000 people each year. It's population is shrinking, and the Far East is being flooded with Chinese migrants, who are in fact colonizing the Siberia. In few decades, the Russian Far East will be chinese, if not by political control, it will be chinese by the population structure.

If they want to continue according to their good old methods, they'll lose everything. Which scares me, because they still have enough nukes to bomb Europe and the US back into the Middle Ages.

it gets even worse, when they try to get money by selling those nukes to the highest bidder *Ahem NK and Iran ahem*

 

[Fox Mccloud]

I can't blame the Russians for being upset about some of their old territories joining NATO and the EU.

 

[Phyr_Negator]

Russians should wake up and start behaving reasonably.

winner, I 'm quite fascinated.
News:Russia raises gas prices for ukraine from 50$ to 250$!
winner: oh, that barbarik, abusive, bully russian! Trying to punish ukraine for independance!
News:Standart european gas price is 240-270, ukraine sold gas to neighboors for 260$ or so.
winner: that russians are sneaky conspirators, they should be ashamed!
News: Respective independant european company approved that gas was stolen by ukrainian side.
winner: Seee! That Russians faked results to blame poor proud ukraine! That damn imperialists!

Hail the doublethink! Hail double standarts!
As for chineese, if they dare to up their heads -they'll pay - china entirely dependant of Russian supplies of energy resources. And demographic crisis are slowing down - it reached peak duringyeltsin "democraty".
Really, your russophoby is entertaining))

Russia can't "accept" or "not accept" what Ukraine does. The Ukraine is a sovereign nation free to enter any alliance it wishes.

Why? They can approve or disapprove - US disapprove weapons selling
to venesuells(or else, forgot name). If in your neighbooring country islamists start preaching about total jihad YOU SHOULD take actions, unless you are nt caring about future.

By the way, Yushenko now plays standart polish/latvian/estonian scenario - win on anti-Russian polemics. And EU is happy with that -they approve any anti-Russian speeches, preferring to close their eyes when estonian and latvian goverments praising SS veterans marches who actually "fought" in Belorusia and other nearby countries against civilians, who rebelled agains germans. Too many "human rights protectors" shrieked about abuse agains poor terrorists, oh, forgot, it is forbidden to call caucasian islamic hostage takers as "terrorists" - they are "activists", "rebel(and sometimes freedom) fighters", but none of that "human righters" remembered that their new member - latvia forbid voting for half of population by ethnic pareameter.
Facing such conditions - it would be foolish for Russia to coincider EU and NATO a "friend". Really, I doubt americans would be happy if someone call guys who hijacked 11/9 planes activists and freedom firghers.
By the way - Russia NEVER sold a single nuke, that cames exclusevely from cheap hollywood films.

Yeah and they were defeated last elections.

In last elections yushenko win only cuz he allied with timoshenko, so pro-Russian candidate can't win, when they summarised their voted. That was last resort for them, and let me remind you that they STILL can't divide power.
He-he, it'll be fun to watch replies.

 

[warpus]

Indeed Yeltsin was a fool who should have been shot. Because of him millions of Russians live outside Russia. Eastern Ukraine, Belarus, parts of the Baltic States, should be part of Russia. Signficant portions are made up of Russians.

That's only because those regions of the world were actively Russianized by the czars/dictators.

 

[Commy]

That's only because those regions of the world were actively Russianized by the czars/dictators.

That's only because those regions of the world were center of Kiev Russia

 

[Commy]

Double post