Ukraine and Russia: Answering common questions and issues

[WhatsGoingOn2022]

Hi, I am starting this thread due to the amount of misinformation and speculation I have seen on the boards around what is happening with Russia's war on Ukraine.

While I am by no means a leading specialist, I have a master's degree focusing on the defence and economics aspect of international relations, I work today in politics and have a lot of links in the area. Anything I can't answer I can at least point you to the people who can-- I naturally follow this incredibly closely.

I thought it might be helpful if myself and others with specific knowledge in this area could help to answer any questions you have, on anything from the war, to sanctions, to Russia's actions, to the fallout.

@ShipwreckSunset

Related to sanctions, not impressed to see that some major household brand names are continuing to trade in Russia, no doubt more concerned about their company performance than sending a signal to Russia. Some of these would be very visible to the Russian people eg Coke so even more disappointing.

Yes totally agreed. Danone and Coca Cola (who own brands including Costa) are the big ones. Interesting to note that Coke has a particular long-running history of working with Nazis, unfortunately they've always been a scum company with fewer values than the standard capitalist. I've sworn off Costa and Coke, it's helpful sometimes to have this kick up the bum of seeing just how horrendous they actually are. They've been getting away with terrible acts in the third world for years, it's time they were held to account.

(image of the Russian Z, which commentators both internally and internationally are calling the new swastika)

More about the Z symbol and Russian reactions here: www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/world/1576487/Russia-Z-symbol-meaning-evg/amp

Delusional about their own 'empire', again. They can stick their modern swastikas where the sun doesn't shine.

In this war, Z stands only for Zelensky and his wife. Слава Україні 🇺🇦

On the subject of the Russian public and support for Putin's war on Ukraine: polling show 60% of Russians support the attack.

Polling: euromaidanpress.com/2022/03/06/nearly-60-of-russians-support-putins-war-against-ukraine/?swcfpc=1

And Russians who refuse to accept the fact of what is happening even when told by their own children in Ukraine:
twitter.com/VALERIEinNYT/status/1500549198701383684

Hence why many commentators are saying this is akin to Nazi Germany, and why well-meaning claims from people in the west saying the Russian public are not responsible for this war are naive at best.

@workisnotawolf apologies just saw something online about the situation in Russia with regards to the internet, if you take a look at EuroMaidan News:

twitter.com/YourAnonNews/status/1500576864439607304

#Russia began active preparations for disconnection from the global Internet

All servers and domains must be transferred to the #Russian zone no later than March 11.

Detailed data on the network infrastructure of the sites is being collected. | EMPR via
@nexta_tv

#Ukraine

Just sharing another resource on what Russians think about the invasion that has been doing the rounds:

ilyalozovsky.substack.com/p/what-russian-officials-think-of-the?showWelcome=true&s=w

@Aristalese I just wanted to say your post about the UKs attitude towards countries such as Ukrainian, Romania, etc was very moving. I’m guilty of using the expression ‘Eastern European’, it’s now banished from my language.

The sad thing is most people I know would do what they could to support women and children in need given half the chance.

I’m with you about shoving the Z symbol where the sun doesn’t shine.

After seeing @Tigersonvaseline comment "Why would any legitimate peaceful democracy ever fear NATO?" I thought I would try and help with a decades long misunderstanding by both sides.

Russia / Soviet Union has in the last 100 years been attacked by Germany twice, Japan twice and the UK once. It has a very long land border with many countries and is paranoid about being either invaded or at least attempted land grabs. This is particularly so since the German invasion of 1941 which killed millions and devastated western Russia.

As a result Russia / Soviet Union sought to have compliant countries in its sphere of influence along its borders- the so called Eastern bloc communist countries, to provide a buffer in any future attack, because it genuinely feared a future NATO attack.

Now to the West an aggressive invasion of Russia/ Soviet Union by NATO seems incredulous after all we know what happened when Hitler and Napoleon tried this. So the West has and continues to fail to understand Russian paranoia about security of its borders and being attacked.

Respectfully, @1dayatatime, if you look further back in history, to the times of Joseph Stalin, the partitions of Poland in the 18th century, to the aspirations of tsar Russia for centuries, then you will see NATO has nothing to do with it.

In 1945 all Russia cared about was grabbing as much land and natural resources as possible not because they were scared of the West or in a longer perspective, NATO, but because this is what they've always done.

So please make no mistake, this isn't about NATO or its expansion now either. Russians aren't scared of being attacked at all, never have been. It's part of the Russian propaganda.

And to be perfectly clear, what you've referred to as "communist countries" is incorrect. First language English speakers often get it wrong. Russia was a communist country but a number of countries under Soviet occupation post-1945 were socialist, not communist.

@WhatsGoingOn2022

You continue to throw around the Russian neo Nazi motivation or influence behind Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. Putting 2 and 2 together to come up with 5 in order to support your narrative.

When the lack of evidence behind this or hypocrisy of Ukrainian neo Nazis such as the Azov Regiment is pointed out by myself at 23.03 and another post at 00.07 you then back track with a fair enough or sorry it's not something I know a lot about.

However you then repeat the same angle or opinion further up thread.

Sadly I am seeing this as a common theme in this thread where you state a view or opinion, are then corrected or countered, then back track only to restate the same angle or opinion much later on.

I get that you have a strong angle here against the Russian attack but you undermine your credibility with this approach.

This is so interesting - OP why have the Ukrainians not tried to destroy the stuck convoy outside Kyiv !

@WellThatsMeScrewed Thank you - this means a lot, especially after years of reading vile comments online under equally vile articles in British press. Thank you.

If you want to offer help, you can sign up to be a host via Refugees At Home.

To no surprise, there is no clear scheme as at today that would allow this centrally via the UK Government, unless I am mistaken in which case please could someone correct me and post where to do this.

Thank you so much for answering my questions. There was an equally helpful poster on another thread who has since gone.

I will definitely write to my MP tomorrow. It is such an embarrassment that we are not doing more to take in Ukrainian refugees! Locally, there has been a huge drive to send money and essentials to Ukraine so the will to help from the normal population, at least where I live, is definitely there. Our politicians need to stop justifying Brexit ad infinitum in such an inhumane manner.

Regarding Putin/Russia, should Zelensky (with the backing of foreign supporters) issue an ultimatum if talks are not going anywhere? E.g. Russia to leave by X date, or Y sanctions/no trade/exclusions from all sporting events will continue for X period. At some point, rather than talk, they surely need to be made a concrete offer and if Putin refuses, then the sanctions and pariah state they have brought on themselves. Of course the content would be important.

If Russia loses, would they have to contribute towards the rebuild of the Ukraine?

The Z symbol is almost demonic and definitely reminiscent of the Swastika. Very dark that ordinary Russians are buying into this. Could it be linked to the Znamenny Chant of Eastern Orthodox tradition?

@1dayatatime what is your narrative? Surely we all have a narrative? A bias? What is yours? That Russia was defending itself? That it felt threatened by NATO?

@Aristalese i can’t be a host for various reasons but I looked at their website and it just happens that I do have a key key skill set that they are looking for. I’ve sent an application.

@Aristalese

Respectfully to Putin and Russians it really is all about NATO and its expansion - it for this very reason that Putin demanded a commitment from NATO and Ukraine that it would not join NATO.

Russians continue to be scared of being attacked and always have been- I mean wouldn't you after the historical track record of Germany, Japan and the UK in the last 100 years.

This is not Russian propaganda, it's just historical facts.

That said I fully understand how to Governments and people in the West that it seems incredulous that NATO would want to attack Russia but there in lies the misunderstanding that fuelled the Cold War for 50 years.

@1dayatatime A strong pro-Russian sentiment there. Interesting because actually, the OP has supported her comments very well. You have people on here whose lives were directly affected by the wrongdoings of Soviet Russia and still are, partly due to this crisis, who agree with her take.

You are talking nonsense, I'll be straight here.

Azov has been addressed up the thread, perhaps you've missed it. And I'll repeat what I've already said, stop making out this is what Ukraine or its army is about or that this is the reason for Russia's invasion, this is entirely false.

Apologies regarding my ignorance, but when Russia ever actually attacked?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Russia

Because last I checked nobody has tried to invade Russia since WW2 when Hitler pretty much went for every country so why would Russia be so paranoid? More likely they are scared of Western values undermining their bandit autocracy.

[quote WellThatsMeScrewed]@1dayatatime what is your narrative? Surely we all have a narrative? A bias? What is yours? That Russia was defending itself? That it felt threatened by NATO?[/quote]
Fair question and I will try and give a clear answer.

My concern here is that given a choice between capitulation / humiliation or escalation the Putin will always choose escalation. Leaders that are seen as weak do not last very long in Russia.

The situation we find ourselves in here is very reminiscent of the jingoism and rush to war in 1914 leading up to the horrors of WW1 and little understanding or care about the millions of lives that would be lost. Posts that paint Putin and Russia as neo Nazis, rapists, etc merely whip up this jingoistic fervour in much the same way as fake stories about Germans bayoneting Belgium babies encouraged Britain to join WW1.

Wars are very easy to start but very difficult to end (Iraq, Afghanistan x 2, Vietnam). Wars are also unpredictable and have a habit of spreading out.

The conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided with some woolly words about Ukraine not joining NATO for the immediate future etc which would have saved face for Putin.

But right now what is needed is a cool head and politics of de escalation not escalation or posts seeking to whip up anti Russian fervour. To summarise as tragic as the situation is in Ukraine I do not wish to see the world end up as a pile of radioactive rubble as a consequence.

@workisnotawolf

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Russia

Because last I checked nobody has tried to invade Russia since WW2 when Hitler pretty much went for every country so why would Russia be so paranoid? More likely they are scared of Western values undermining their bandit autocracy.

My post stated last during the 100 years, if you check the wiki page you posted then you will see the attacks I referred to.

[quote Aristalese]@1dayatatime A strong pro-Russian sentiment there. Interesting because actually, the OP has supported her comments very well. You have people on here whose lives were directly affected by the wrongdoings of Soviet Russia and still are, partly due to this crisis, who agree with her take.

You are talking nonsense, I'll be straight here.

Azov has been addressed up the thread, perhaps you've missed it. And I'll repeat what I've already said, stop making out this is what Ukraine or its army is about or that this is the reason for Russia's invasion, this is entirely false.[/quote]
Nah not a strong pro Russian sentiment, more a case of avoiding the conflict escalating and widening so that we all get fried in a nuclear conflict.

But interesting to see that you immediately see any criticism or counter view as being pro Russian. There are other considerations here beyond Russia and Ukraine.

And I will repeat what I've always said stop making out that the Russian attack is somehow been motivated or encouraged by neo Nazis, it's not.

And I will repeat what I've always said stop making out that the Russian attack is somehow been motivated or encouraged by neo Nazis, it's not

I never said that? You are mistaken.

What you said is pro-Russian. In other words, you'd like to see de-escalation, how exactly? Because the way to achieve this is to sacrifice Ukraine and possibly more countries. This is pro-Russian, albeit you dress it up nicely as a willingness to avoid a nuclear conflict. A nuclear conflict isn't in Russia's interest either, it's in nobody's interest, this just shows again that your level of understanding of this conflict is limited.

The conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided with some woolly words about Ukraine not joining NATO for the immediate future etc which would have saved face for Putin.

Again, very poor understanding. Wooly words may have done the trick for a short period of time, until Russia would've found another 'reason' to do what they've set out to do for the best part of the last 20 years.