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Old 09-04-2024, 22:33   #2755
jfman
Architect of Ideas
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1 View Post
Don't delude yourself that a deal with Russia solves anything. It just encourages Russia to re-group, shake off the West's sanctions before undertaking another invasion of Ukraine and potentially additional countries.
Does a deal with Russia solve more or less than perpetual war with Russia? Bear in mind while we pay higher gas bills Ukranians are paying in blood. To borrow a phrase it’s a bit of Sunday afternoon luxury belief that other people should fight a proxy war for us.

Considering the time and effort to get not very much in two years, and a proven ability for the west to just enough support Ukraine that they don’t capitulate the rationale for the “next time” being proposed is significantly weaker.

It’d be possible - although I’d not hold my breath if I were Zelensky - for the US or other allies to use peacetime to upskill Ukranian military personnel in western equipment (like F-16s) to leave Ukraine better equipped for such a future conflict than simply putting ever decreasing quality of conscripts into the meat grinder.

If Russia have further aspirations loosening of sanctions is irrelevant - it’d be unlikely that Russia would realign it’s economy back to partial dependence on the west only for it to have to pivot away again.

Last edited by jfman; 09-04-2024 at 22:37.
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