Interesting theories. Can you explain for the uninitiated why you think NATO has 'created this miss'. To my untrained eye Putin is a megalomaniac but I remain open minded. Just trying to understand this whole situation.
Sure and Putin probably is a megalomaniac.
Russia have had a military base in Crimea for centuries, it’s where they have their Black Sea fleet, and is of massive strategic import should the need come for them to defend themselves.
Since the break up of the USSR Russia have leased the naval base from Ukraine.
When it looked like the Ukrainian people wanted to join the EU and more pertinently NATO it would have meant Russia losing the naval base and having a US naval base there in it’s place.
There was also the likelihood of a US military base and missile system going into Ukraine.
These are the facts as I see them.
When Russia lost its puppet president in Ukraine in the 2014 coup, the writing was on the wall that they would join NATO as they were provisionally accepted in 2008.
Almost instantaneously they annexed Crimea, there was no way that the Russians were going to give up their strategic naval base and have a US naval base replace it, the thought of that to the Russia admirals would have been incomprehensible.
Again, straight after the pro Russian president was ousted in a violent coup in Ukraine, fighting broke out in the East of the country, where it is mainly Russian speaking and not Ukrainian speaking, where it is mainly pro Russian and not pro European. This suited Putin as it meant Ukraine couldn’t join NATO, the Ukrainian army went into the east and the Russian army went into the west, a ceasefire was agreed and there was an agreement signed.
The Russian rebels held Ukrainian land in the east, and it had by an largely died down by 2021.
Russia approached NATO, and said to NATO that they want Crimea recognised as Russian and also guarantees that Ukraine will not become a US military base by being in NATO.
NATO refused. Why? Russia moved their troops to the Ukraine border, they were clearly saying in further negotiations if you do not give us guarantees, we will invade. NATO said no, why? Why would a defensive alliance, both allow and cause the invasion of Ukraine? I’m not talking about Ukraine joining the EU here, Russia were perfectly happy for them to join the EU this is about losing Sevastopol to the US and NATO and not having a US military base in Ukraine. Why do the US need military bases and missiles next to Russia?
Honestly I’m sick of NATO and the US they are jeopardising our security not enhancing it. Seriously what next? Asking Taiwan to join?
