BREAKING: PUTIN ANNOUNCES RUSSIA RECOGNIZES THE INDEPENDENCE OF LPR AND DPR -- (*Meaning Russia no longer recognizes LPR and DPR as Ukrainian territory, paving way for possible military assistance or peacekeeping; and/or protection of its 700k citizens living there. - *ASB) pic.twitter.com/B5zLCXLH5K— ASB News / MILITARY〽️ (@ASBMilitary) February 21, 2022
I was honestly shocked to find out Russia hadn't recognized LPR and DPR before now. The timing of this is really awkward and makes it look like he's doing exactly what he's doing, just begging to be called out on it. But this is probably the best case scenario-- Ukraine hasn't controlled those regions in nearly a decade, and if Russia stops right at the border of the separatist regions major war should be completely avoided, as long as the Ukrainian Nazi brigades don't try to Rambo the land back
You have to keep in mind that Putin isn't in charge of a Borg-like hivemind with him on top, he has to appease some internal Russian actors too. A lot of important actors in Russia probably felt like they should be getting something out of this whole mess.
NATO is holding back because the US aren't the only ones in charge, and after the shit show in Afghanistan most NATO partners don't trust the US.
If Putin continues down this path he will lose any sort of semblance of sanity from Germany and France when it comes to European NATO expansion.
NATO is shit and all, but Putin is not a master genius or a hero here. Putin will likely force NATO's European leadership into full-tilt brinkmanship along the entire Russian border.
NATO was already aggressing lol. They're very clearly attempting to place Russia in a position of either pulling back entirely or stepping in as the Minsk II agreement is ignored and Ukraine continues shelling.
"Holding back" only applies in the sense that they wanted to have propaganda efforts in place for how they weren't doing any of those things, walking a thin line bordering on the absurd. They will continue to do the exact same things.
Putin is doing this now to show that the diplomatic framework of the Minsk agreements isn't worth keeping after attempts at diplomacy using that framework have failed.
I was honestly shocked to find out Russia hadn't recognized LPR and DPR before now. The timing of this is really awkward and makes it look like he's doing exactly what he's doing, just begging to be called out on it. But this is probably the best case scenario-- Ukraine hasn't controlled those regions in nearly a decade, and if Russia stops right at the border of the separatist regions major war should be completely avoided, as long as the Ukrainian Nazi brigades don't try to Rambo the land back
You have to keep in mind that Putin isn't in charge of a Borg-like hivemind with him on top, he has to appease some internal Russian actors too. A lot of important actors in Russia probably felt like they should be getting something out of this whole mess.
Why do you think war would be avoided?
NATO will now pump Ukraine full of everything under the sun when it comes to weapons.
They were holding back before. This is not going to end except in an even hotter civil war.
What makes you think they were holding back? I assumed NATO was going to continue to pump Ukraine up regardless of what Russia did.
NATO is holding back because the US aren't the only ones in charge, and after the shit show in Afghanistan most NATO partners don't trust the US.
If Putin continues down this path he will lose any sort of semblance of sanity from Germany and France when it comes to European NATO expansion.
NATO is shit and all, but Putin is not a master genius or a hero here. Putin will likely force NATO's European leadership into full-tilt brinkmanship along the entire Russian border.
NATO was already aggressing lol. They're very clearly attempting to place Russia in a position of either pulling back entirely or stepping in as the Minsk II agreement is ignored and Ukraine continues shelling.
"Holding back" only applies in the sense that they wanted to have propaganda efforts in place for how they weren't doing any of those things, walking a thin line bordering on the absurd. They will continue to do the exact same things.
Putin is doing this now to show that the diplomatic framework of the Minsk agreements isn't worth keeping after attempts at diplomacy using that framework have failed.