Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Correct ... ugly compromise because of US last minute changes to the text .... Not me saying this but the former security general in interviews in Dutch media after the Russian invasion in Ukraine. He provided an interesting insight in behind the scenes diplomacy.

But it wasn't just bush coming out and randomly dropping Ukraine to NATO,it as discussed from 91/92 onwards .

Putin himself was at the 2008 nato summit and raised no public complaints and never mentioned red lines being crossed,,

But he later attacked and annexed part of Georgia and repeated the same stunt in Ukraine twice now

In the Russian view of the big/little nation power dynamic, larger nations simply exert their dominance on smaller ones. Of course Russian machismo would overlook the following point which is that this dynamic is much more sustainable when the smaller nations are actively allying themselves with the larger nations, being drawn by the economic opportunity and military protection. It's not strictly one way. There's soft power involved in the equation as well -something Russia is ignoring. I'm not surprised that Russia is trying to flex it's muscle about the situation, but it must be coming as a nasty surprise to Putin that the muscles aren't up to much. Two week tops to get to Kyiv... (sad trombone).

Will this book be in the fiction or non fiction section of my local library?

Back in the real world, Russia ARE exerting their influence over Ukraine. And the west has thus far failed to put an end to it. (despite all their bluster and bravado)

There will be plenty of historians who will likely debate how successful their strategies are/were against Russia. But so far, it would have to be regarded as a failure. Some would probably consider it a failure of western foreign policy, that this war ever even started in the first place. (but that will of course be a hotly debated topic)

Their efforts, so far, to bring this war to a speedy conclusion - have failed to meet that objective! So as we stand right now, Russia have succeeded in preventing Ukraine from becoming a western controlled nation. (as they would see it)

If western strategies against Russia produce a stalemate, then that's how things will remain indefinitely. Russia don't really have to win decisively, in order to get what they want. They only really have to avoid a decisive defeat.

Ohhhhh dear ,

How much shite can one individual post

This was a Nato decision, publicised months in advance, putin knew it was being discussed at the summit,

There was no jack in the box surprise

According to his statements during the interview you are incorrect

As you quoted yourself... It was an ugly compromise

Live reporting from the area compared to your Xi Jinping is under house arrest

Putin getting "sorted" at this stage would solve problems for practically everyone, on all sides.

Very few would lament his demise.

Technology has made science fiction comic stuff an absolute reality.

Why can't a few Musks or Gates' finance a pan-national operation that involves a drone delivery to Putin ??

We know that a toxin spray on any handle would suffice.

Long range sniping would be good too - drone mounted if possible ??

In short, how is he still alive ??

Hilarious, live reporting he says and then says the guy reporting is insane. Thats the first thing housetree has said here that is true, the "reporter" he linked is visibly unhinged.

1 glance at the link is enough to see in the eyes that he's a "madlad" that would make you turn about and walk out of a pub on a Friday evening.

They are probably thinking of help with nuclear weapons, maybe Russia will give them some or scientific help.

It's a well worn theory at this point, but it's seriously lacking in intelligent reasoning.

Russia is bordered by many nations, including Kazakhstan for example, who have been enjoying the recent economic spoils that have come from exploiting their natural resources. If your theory is true, then why has Putin and Russia made no attempts to prevent their economic progression out of fear that it might reflect badly towards their own nation? Kazakhstan would be even easier to subjugate than Ukraine.

Your theory (although it's definitely not yours alone) sounds like more badly thought out propaganda, rather than anything with concrete rationale behind it.

But I suppose if the baying hoard laps it up, that'll be enough to qualify it as a legitimate theory! ;)

Look at the whole not 1 inch east speeches Russian have been ranting about for the last 30 odd years,

We were promised Nato wouldn't move one inch east, something Putin regularly spews in speeches,

But ask putin who promised him that ,who promised Russia that, and where...

Nobody is the answer with the fall of the Berlin wall and former Soviet states gaining independence,

It was raised at some meeting by one Russian negotiator ,I believe in America could have been Germany.

And never officially discussed again by any leader nor president...

But yet they were 'promised "

@storker

If anything, the invasion can only have solidified Ukrainian intentions to join those blocs 1000%. Nice job, Russia. About as sensible as a man trying to beat his estranged wife back into loving him again.