Russia and Ukraine

[Iamtired123]

Can someone please explain whats going on to me like I'm a 5 year old? I feel so fucking stupid.

President Putin has ordered his troops to invade next door neighbour Ukraine. Death and disaster loom.

Other countries don't want this and are trying to think of ways to stop the invasion.

Putin has his greedy eyes on other previous Soviet Bloc countries and could extend his invasion.

Europe buys gas/oil from Russia and don't know what to do about that now as nobody wants to be dependant on a rogue state for anything.

Could President Putin go full crazy dictator and nuke the West? Who knows?

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

President Putin has ordered his troops to invade next door neighbour Ukraine. Death and disaster loom.

Other countries don't want this and are trying to think of ways to stop the invasion.

Putin has his greedy eyes on other previous Soviet Bloc countries and could extend his invasion.

Europe buys gas/oil from Russia and don't know what to do about that now as nobody wants to be dependant on a rogue state for anything.

Could President Putin go full crazy dictator and nuke the West? Who knows?

Thank you but WHY is he doing this?

‘Twas ever thus. Sadly.

Hitler’s invasion of Poland will provide useful background reading.

I studied Russian at uni and picked up a course on Soviet politics along the way.
What Russia has done to the Ukraine in the past is bad and now continuing to hurt it? I haven’t looked at the justification for invading as I don’t f tend to get preoccupied anymore, maybe I should - to find out why.
Oil most probably. Or other resources. Ukraine was known as the “bread basket” of the SU as it is so rich in natural resources .

It is so scary.

Pride, rather than fear.

To gain something for Russia, to clawback some of the old USSR, before he dies. To leave a legacy, so he is remembered.

To complicate things further, London has been used as a laundromat for dodgy Russian money for some time. The government have actively encouraged this. Hypocrisy on an epic scale.

(Oh and the government did not find evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit campaign, and the subsequent elections - because they did not look for it.)

Ukraine has huge quantities of valuable natural resources - coal, metals, possibly oil (not sure on that one). Russia wants to take those resources for itself.

Ukraine also borders several former Soviet bloc countries, but also directly bordering most of Eastern Europe. Once Russia has Ukraine (or any other former Soviet state) it’s easier for it to get to Europe (over land).

Russia has a ridiculous weapons capability, including nukes and supersonic weapons. And has infiltrated governments across the west, mostly through financial means.

Putin is a megalomaniac who has been waiting in the wings, but I think the withdrawal from Afghanistan has made this easier for him.

It is very bad news indeed.

Putin is doing it because he has decided that there's a fair chance he can get away with it at this point in time. Due to division and indecision in Europe, plus our reliance on Russian gas. There's a decent chance he will be able to grab some or all of the Ukraine and then keep hold of it. Or end up with the Ukraine as a vassal state who will comply with whatever Russia wants.

Putin is doing this to appear strong and in control to his own population in Russia.

Putin does not want Ukraine to join NATO. He wants Ukraine to be Russian, under Russian command, and not European or Western in any way.

Another angle is that Russia sends it gas through a pipeline with runs through Ukraine. Ukraine does owe the Russian O&G company Gazprom (Russian government has 50% shares in it) billions in unpaid debts and has been known to siphon off (unpaid) gas for itself from time to time. Every January there is a row between Ukraine and Russia over this pipeline &contracts.

Suspect one of Putins reasons is to gain control of this pipeline if Russia- Germany Nord Stream pipeline is a no go for it (primarily Russian owned but opposed by US and Ukraine).