If ignorance were a virtue, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would be saints. Their responses to Fox News star Tucker Carlson’s policy questionnaire demonstrate that they don’t understand the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War and have nothing to offer for its resolution. Indeed, their suggestions would result in the very thing they claim they want to avoid: a potentially disastrous American war with Russia.
Trump attributes the war to “our incompetently handled pullout from Afghanistan, and a very poor choice of words by Biden in explaining U.S. requests and intentions.” Really? So, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale genocidal war because of a couple of mistakes made by President Biden? Not even Biden’s realist critics, who blame everything on NATO enlargement, would find Trump’s point compelling.
Trump’s solution to the war is even more bizarre: the war “must end, NOW! Start by telling Europe that they must pay at least equal to what the U.S. is paying to help Ukraine.” How badgering the Europeans has any relationship to ending the war “NOW” is unclear. What if they drag their feet? What if they pay up? Just how will that end the war?
Trump’s second step is equally absurd: “Next, tell Ukraine that there will be little more money coming from us, UNLESS RUSSIA CONTINUES TO PROSECUTE THE WAR.” Poor Trump. He doesn’t understand that, since Russia is committed to continuing the war, his statement amounts to a “blank check” for Ukraine.
So, how are all these wonderful goals to be attained? “The President must meet with each side, then both sides together, and quickly work out a deal. This can be easily done if conducted by the right President. Both sides are weary and ready to make a deal.” Would that convincing a Russian dictator to end a genocidal war that he must win to survive were that easy!
DeSantis’ comments are more coherent but equally wrongheaded. Most alarmingly ignorant is his claim that this war, which has brought death to hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians and destroyed large swaths of southeastern Ukraine, is nothing more than a “territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia.” Is DeSantis serious? Does he really believe that the issue is a sliver of land? And if it is, why destroy the very land and the very people Putin claims as his?
Like Trump, who has no eye for self-contradiction, DeSantis doesn’t realize that, if his description of the Russo-Ukrainian War as a territorial dispute is correct, then Adolf Hitler’s absorption of Austria and Czechoslovakia and invasion of Poland and the Soviet Union also amount to picayune territorial disputes into which the United States should have refrained from becoming “further entangled.” Ditto for the Pacific theater: after all, why go to war over a dispute over some harbor in Hawaii? Why start a civil war over a dispute over a fort off the coast of South Carolina? Or, for that matter, over British colonies?
So, what should the United States not do about the war? Once again, DeSantis doesn’t realize the depth of his ignorance and the degree of his self-contradiction: “The U.S. should not provide assistance that could require the deployment of American troops or enable Ukraine to engage in offensive operations beyond its borders. F-16s and long-range missiles should therefore be off the table.”
For starters, no one envisions the deployment of American troops in Ukraine or Russia. And no Ukrainian policymaker wants to attack Russia. A responsible and well-informed American president would know that. But, notice that, since these eventualities will not happen, DeSantis is effectively providing Ukraine with a blank check as long as it refrains from doing what it has no intention of doing.
DeSantis gets it wrong again when he argues that pursuing “regime change” in Russia “would neither stop the death and destruction of the war, nor produce a pro-American, Madisonian constitutionalist in the Kremlin.” But just which Western leader seriously wants regime change? If anything, U.S. and European policymakers are absolutely fearful of such an outcome. Moreover, if and when Putin’s downfall comes—an eventuality that growing numbers of sane Russian analysts consider highly likely—it will be due to domestic Russian politics and growing elite criticism of Putin’s unwinnable and self-destructive war.
DeSantis is right to suggest that a Madisonian constitutionalist is unlikely to replace Putin, but he’s dead wrong in saying that “History indicates that Putin’s successor, in this hypothetical, would likely be even more ruthless.” Quite the contrary, both Russian and world history persuasively suggests that tyrants are usually followed by power struggles that produce better winners. After all, who followed Joseph Stalin? Nikita Khrushchev, who introduced the thaw. And who followed Leonid Brezhnev? Mikhail Gorbachev, who introduced glasnost and perestroika.
The moral of the story is simple. Ignorance is no way to pursue a foreign policy. Like Trump and DeSantis, Russia’s Führer is no genius. Putin proved that he doesn’t understand Ukraine by invading it. Trump and DeSantis proved they don’t understand Russia and Ukraine by proposing silly and self-contradictory solutions. Were either of the two to become president and confront Putin, the likelihood of continued disastrous mistakes by both sides would rise exponentially.
And war with Russia would become a far more distinct possibility than today.
Dr. Alexander Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia, and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires, and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, including Pidsumky imperii (2009); Puti imperii (2004); Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires (2001); Revolutions, Nations, Empires: Conceptual Limits and Theoretical Possibilities (1999); Dilemmas of Independence: Ukraine after Totalitarianism (1993); and The Turn to the Right: The Ideological Origins and Development of Ukrainian Nationalism, 1919–1929 (1980); the editor of 15 volumes, including The Encyclopedia of Nationalism (2000) and The Holodomor Reader (2012); and a contributor of dozens of articles to academic and policy journals, newspaper op-ed pages, and magazines. He also has a weekly blog, “Ukraine’s Orange Blues.”
Walker
March 14, 2023 at 7:20 pm
Ding Ding Ding! It’s nice to see an analyst here who is completely right. Great job and great article!
Tyler Aldridge
March 14, 2023 at 7:23 pm
LOL, Trump and Desantis (I am not a fan of Desantis) defending him makes me sick but they both have nailed it on the head Russia has zero intention of spreading out over Europe like the democrats want you to believe. First off lets not forget that Ukraine and it’s leader are the most corrupt country in the world. That aside It has NOTHING to do with America. America has its own problems heck if we invested 10% of what we have given to Ukraine into OUR border we could save Thousands of Americans lives from Fetanayl. As well as all the Cartel activity! Trump was quite correct Russia WOULD NOT have invaded if he was president period and the day Trump takes over if Russia has not won yet he will stop the war and It that little Twit leader of Ukraine has an issue giving up territory he can pay for his own war! Again Russia IS NOT a threat to Europe Ukraine IS NOT a UN country other UN countries are not donating because they know it is not their problem. Come on America we have given Ukraine more money than all of Europe COMBINED this is in THERE backdoor don’t you think they would be doing more if they thought that Russia was a threat? It is disgusting that Biden has written blank checks for these people it has nothing to do with America or America’s interests don’t kid yourselves either Biden would not give a dang about Ukraine either if they were not paying him you will see in a few days when Comer gets those bank records and they time that to Biden 100%. Bidens policy’s have caused Millions of Americans to lose money in their IRA accounts and Biden wants us to subsidies Ukraine Pensions do you not realize how insane that is. Again FOLLOW the MONEY you will see why Biden does what he does because he is compromised by SEVERAL country’s we know this for a FACT and now they can PROVE it for a fact! Maybe we can get rid of Biden in the next few months and Get Trump back in the Whitehouse to clean up this mess sad thing is it will take Trump literally a few months to get America back in the right direction!
Commentar
March 14, 2023 at 7:25 pm
It is biden, austin and blinken and them other woke reps from deep state who have zero clue on ukraine.
Biden and co think that ukraine is just a stroll in the park.
A walk in Central Park in nyc. But level-headed people know it ain’t never a stroll there as many very dastardly events have occurred inside it.
What did trump say about reckless expansion of NATO a fabulously favorite work of deep state.
In an interview with carlson in july 2018, trump said a tiny spark could ignite ww3.
He said to carlson extemporising or using montenegro as an example.
“They’re very strong people. They may get really aggressive and, congratulations, you’re in World War Three.”
Biden ? Just a two-bit clown by comparison.
Cheburator
March 14, 2023 at 7:59 pm
You lie and don’t blush.
The United States brought neo-Nazis to power, who for 8 years carried out terror of the civilian population in the Dobass, why did you not notice the death of 15,000 civilians at the hands of Ukrainian neo-Nazis.
Аlthough judging by your last name, you are a descendant of naist accomplices from Ukraine who moved after the Second World War in USA. So you apparently have your own reasons to justify the Ukrainian Nazis.
Steven
March 14, 2023 at 8:44 pm
Presidents don’t develope forign policy, their administrations do.
Aboli
March 14, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Stop funding war.
mawendt
March 14, 2023 at 11:08 pm
1) Putin’s war wasn’t full scale – the dude sent 190,000 soldiers of which about 30,000 were combat arms and the rest service and service support. The Russian Army at the time was 340,000. Against a Ukrainian Army of about 200,000 ground forces, and an unfriendly Ukrainian adult population of about 21 million. Putin was stupid, believing his lousy intelligence that the Ukrainians hated their government and would happily join Russia. A 190,000 Russian troops was never sizeable enough to conquer Ukraine.That number, nor the Russian forces presently involved, is ‘full scale’ in any sense. This claim is hyperbolic and false. Russia probably needs a 750,000 ground forces to maaaaaybe win, but right now probably needs 1.5 million based on how incompetent the Russian military is and how committed the Ukraine population ahs become.
2) Putin’s war wasn’t full genocidal – although there have been killed and displaced civilians, there is no Russian policy or implemented action that establishes the wholesale murder or displacement of Ukrainian civilians. Even forcible relocation is not ‘genocide’ – which is a deliberate killing of a large number of people from a targeted group. Although war crimes absolutely have been committed, it is apparent that there is no Russian policy in place promoting anything like a genocide. This claim is hyperbolic and false.
3) Europe is under the greatest threat, yet once again they are doing the least happy with the US spending it’s treasure. If they ‘pay up’ and start putting in some real support to Ukraine, it would off sett the US expenditure. You might think that if the wolf was at your door you wouldn’t relay on a cousin several thousand miles away to deal with it. So Trump had a very insightful comments based on Europe’s distinct lack of support. How would that end the war? If Europe immediately provided the means for Ukraine to win against Russia… the it would break Russia and Ukraine would win. Dribbling out little bits is prolonging the conflict. So the good Doctor’s criticism here is simply foolish and emotional.
4) Unfortunately, ending this conflict right now involves Russia going home, and returning behind international borders promised in 1991 Minsk and guaranteed by Russia, EU, and the United states. Trumps simplistic idea on resolving the conflict specifically might not be effective, however, the framework of sitting down together and doing a deal is exactly what statecraft is. The Doctor’s emotional and petty response deals with the complicated issue no better than Trumps comment.
5) It rather was a territorial dispute involving Crimea, Donbass and Luhansk, and expanded when the International Community failed to condemn and punish Russia for it’s actions. So the origins are exactly as DeSantis claimed. The Doc has to know this, so his commentary is deceptive.
6) DeSantis position on not providing assistance that escalates our involvement is a statesmanlike approach. The more armor, ammunition, high tech, avionics, command and control, intelligence, training, and whatnot we incrementally provides blurs US participation more and more to…. sending in a few Special Ops… having ‘American-Ukrainian’ dual citizen fighter pilots and drone operators and artillery… then what? US Peacekeepers? No-fly zones enforced by US combat aircraft? It’s happening that way right now. The slow slide to official participation.
7) DeSantis is probably right a ‘regime change’ wouldn’t stop the war. It may aggravate it though a new leader who might absolutely pull out all the stops to reduce Ukraine to rubble. History does indeed lend it self to that – Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot come to mind, Mao, French Revolution. Chaotic vacuums are filled by the most violent. Oddly, probably out of fear of western retaliation, Putin hasn’t committed to Total War…. yet. More likely Russia will have an internal enema washing away resistance and allow the Ukraine war to go on autopilot for a year until all the blood is squeegeed off the floor of the Kremlin. There are unfortunately a lot of people in authority and power who believe they can still win in Ukraine. Putin having a heart attack tomorrow won’t change that.
I don’t have as many books published as Dr. Motyl, but I could since self-publishing is quite easy. You simply pay the publisher to print, in this case cleaned up notes from teaching class. The Doc is an academic that is very familiar with Russia… from 20 years ago and more. Creds being what they are…
So what and why did I comment? There are three ways this ends: Russia loses and returns to pre-war borders, Ukraine gives up and learns to speak Russian, or a deal is made. Ukraine is winning, supported heavily by a protected supply source (The West) and won’t accept anything but the promises made at Minsk, so Ukraine won’t give up and won’t do a deal. That leaves only ‘Russia Loses’ as the West dumps money and weapons into Ukraine.
Significantly, the West doesn’t seem to want a quick, abrupt victory over Russia. Seems to be they want a slow grind crippling Russian military, economy, and political stability as well as destroying international influence. So expect another couple years of bleed before anyone is serious about ‘peace’. Probably the only way to force peace would be to completely isolate Russia and have it collapse in a year, or stop supporting Ukraine and have Russia collapse in five years. (Heh. Because if the Russians ever *did* conquer Ukraine, the Ukrainians would be assassinating Russian leaders in Moscow without any limiters. Kinda hard to filter out someone who looks, acts, talks and thinks like you.)
Point of fact, I am favorable for bleeding Russia to a collapse. They’ve caused grief to the world for over 100 years. If you can’t manage your toys, take them away. In this case ‘toys’ being Russia’s military and influence. I am strongly in favor of Europe roughly doubling their commitment. The US has quite a few domestic issues and sending money out to Ukraine isn’t helping.
Last, this article is emotional hyperbole from a passionate political partisan. And worse, it’s content is ‘meh’. Full of unsupported biased opinion about someone else’s opinion. 1945 should know better.
Jim
March 14, 2023 at 11:57 pm
One of the few, if only time, I agree with the good professor!
Why?
Because neither Trump or DeSantis come to grips with the history leading up to the invasion… most Americans aren’t ready to know the truth about their government… its actions that provoked the war: not wanting to negotiate in good faith… hoping to over extend and unbalance Russia as the Rand Corp laid out in a policy paper (2019) well before the war started.
Joe Biden called to remove Putin from power in a speech during his visit to Poland last spring… his handlers quickly walked it back, later he publicly took it back… a gaffe… a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth… and he wasn’t supposed to… he spilled the beans, so to speak… that’s Joe Biden.
Politicians running for President aren’t likely to call out the entire foreign policy establishment for its actions… especially when so many rank-n-file Republicans generally do support U. S. policy… until it’s proven to be a failure, like Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria… most Americans don’t know Syria was a failure… but the truth is they didn’t get the regime change they wanted… via proxy jihadists… sound familiar?
From what I’ve seen & read, most elected Republican office holders simply aren’t ready to call out the real failure of the Ukraine Project… won’t call out the Ukraine leadership for what it is… neo-Nazi… vicious and willing to kill to get what it wants… we should have never gone this direction in the first place.
Trump didn’t do a darn thing to change the trajectory of the Ukraine situation when he was President… and he could have… if he knew what was really going on… and he actually wanted to change the trajectory, there is no indication he had a clue, and even if he did, there’s no evidence he wanted to change the trajectory to stop the march to war.
As President, Trump could have stopped the train of actions leading up to the war (but he didn’t).
DeSantis likely has a shallow understanding of the dynamics of the Ukraine situation… he has other things to do… like governing Florida.
Although, it would certainly be smart to learn as much as possible.
The foreign policy blob has a habit of not meeting their own metrics for success… they rarely do, see Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
The answer is to tell the Ukrainians privately to negotiate in good faith… and deal with and accept “the military reality on the ground” @ the start of negotiations.
If the Ukrainian leadership refuses… tell them privately, the aid will be reduced or cut off.
If they’re still intransigent then go public.
Even then, after going public, encourage the Ukrainian leadership to negotiate in good faith, as above.
The Ukraine People are going to have to accept Kiev & Washington screwed up big time… and they will have to accept the lose of territory, how much, depends on what happens on the battlefield during the interim before negotiations begin.
So, the easy answer is promote good faith negotiations to end the conflict… a tall order because Kiev & Washington have never negotiated in good faith with Russia.
Not once.
(But there’s always a first time.)
There’s certainly more to it than simply a local border dispute. Sorry Gov. DeSantis.
But is Trump or DeSantis willing to make the case the U. S. provoked the war?
I don’t think so.
In an Age of Lying… truth is the coin of the realm.
Try it… and the American People will be better off.
403NotFound
March 15, 2023 at 12:30 am
Biden has no clue about what he ate for breakfast just yesterday never mind Ukraine.
That’s the reason why he keeps hurling money over there, even though banks are busily collapsing in the US.
Biden has no clue what’s happening today or what’s about to maybe happen tonight.
Biden thinks everything is fine and dandy even though massive floods are washing away cars and homes in California right now and there is an ongoing messy toxic situation in ohio.
Biden thinks tomorrow he will win in 2024. He has no clue he’s 80-years-old and just too old to be the chief executive.
TG
March 15, 2023 at 12:54 am
Oh yeah, Iraq was evil. Libya was evil. Afghanistan was evil (even thought most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis and Pakistanis). So we had to trash them Because Freedom.
So I am not impressed.
Trump is a jerk who at least did not declare war on the working class, did not open the border to third-world invasion, and doesn’t hate working-class white people. DeSantis I’m not sure – maybe he’s a Republican Obama telling us what we ant to hear and if elected he’ll stab us in the back – but at least as far as words go, not bad.
Putin is not my friend, but he’s not my enemy. My enemies are the billionaire oligarchs that want to crush me and people like me back to the11th century – Soros, Zuckerberg, Gates, Bezos, etc.
Arash
March 15, 2023 at 2:24 am
No doubt that those two are ignorants but the truth is that the US started this war (in 2014) and the US can end it.
And end in the only way it can be ended, Like the Afghanistan war!
Declare another defeat and leave!
Webej
March 15, 2023 at 2:26 am
Obviously, Ukraine would be forced to stop the shelling the minute the USA stopped providing them with the wherewithal, and they would finally be forced to sit down and talk. Of course, they could have accepted the ceasefire offered by Putin on Feb 23, but instead chose to shell the peace-keepers that had been sent to protect Donetsk that day.
It is comical that you keep calling a genocidal war when one of the reasons Putin gave for the SMO was to bring the genocidal actors who have committed torture, human rights abusive, and war crimes to justice. If Nato had not armed Ukraine, obviously Russia could not demilitarize it. All so-called deterrence is actually a threat to the other side, a threat that has been articulated as a redline for decades by Russia. It’s not like it was not known in advance. Nor is the canard that Putin always wanted Ukraine true: He could have easily accepted the motion by the LDNR to join Russia in 2014, or early February 2022, but he said no.
Why were there already plans circulating in the public domain about the ‘redevelopment’ of Sebastopol in 2013? This article is being disingenuous and dishonest.
It has since become public that the parties were close to some kind of agreement in March (Minks), and again in April (Istanbul), but that it was the West that told Ukraine not to (Boris Johnson, after the Bucha provocation). In Russia there are now voices to indict Merkel, Hollande, and Poroshenko for war crimes, their deceit in fomenting this war, behavior contrary to international law (undermining UN resolution 2022). None of this would have happened without the interventions of the US State Dept with their 2014 putsch and helping the Banderistas into power, destabilizing Ukraine, and, in the end, bringing about its demise.
Kirk
March 15, 2023 at 5:49 am
The replies to this article have so many tropes and GOP/Putin talking points, its almost exhausting. First off, no number of imaginary “Neo Nazis” or “corruption” in government justifies Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Second, we all know Trump was right that Russia wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine if he was President. He would have helped Putin take it apart!
Fentanyl and immigration issues have nothing to do with Ukraine and are just useful distractions intended to create a justification for not supporting NATO.
Lastly, support for Ukraine does not necessarily mean full blown war between the US and Russia. We have lived through 70 years of proxy wars as proof of that.
Putin is just going to have to eat crow and suffer trying to swallow this porcupine.
John
March 15, 2023 at 6:10 am
So these are the electoral choices. Maga against Woke City. Moderates may have to sit 2024 out.
To Trumps credit, without his initiative and cancellation of INF we would not have a hypersonic missile program, Space force also was his doing. Biden on the other still blocking US naval nuclear cruise missile despite Russian and Chinese and NK nuclear breakout and his administration is still sending Russia regular updates on our nuclear forces despite their New Start noncompliance. We are doomed
Simon Beerstecher
March 15, 2023 at 6:59 am
What can you expect from two very poorly educated men?Poor America has to deal with these two ignorant politicians whom to not understand the value of power projection as a deterant to all out war.If America returns to its shellit will loose all influence in the world,from Europe to the South of its own continent and all the Asian nations.It will ultimately and ironically be the “country behind the iron wall.”
Michael Kearins
March 15, 2023 at 8:41 am
This author is a lefty radical dem.. Biden and Ukraine are corrupt. Zelensky is corrupt and eliminating his opposition. His a dictator just like Putin. Corrupt politicians like Biden who were wheeling and dealing in Ukraine like he did in China are selling out this nations national security and leading us in to war. The author was not in the military and has no idea about the horrors of war having not lived through that experience. He’s a radical lefty. If Trump had not given Ukraine 1000 javelins they would have never stopped the initial Russian onslaught. Those missiles gave Ukraine time arm up. Obama gave them blankets but the author forgets these things. If Zelensky had not been going around trying to join NATO maybe this would not have gotten this bad. Maybe it would have who knows but at least he could have said he did not provoke the war. For some reasons the dem party and supporters like this one are all out on supporting this war but when it came to wipping out the terrorist sponsoring nation of Iraq they were not. Why? Because the dem party was profiting with corruption like Biden was. Their greed is dictating their beliefs. What we have here is a pro war professor bashing his opposition because this war is a good war for him because the dems want it.But they want it because there going to exploit Ukraine resources and there invested in Ukraine. Now they’re in danger of losing all those lucrative money deals related to Ukrainian economy. If Trump was president now and doing the same thing the author would be singing a different tune. War is terrible and we need to stop it. Russia has its security concerns and we need to stop expanding NATO to their borders and sign a treaty that reflects their issues and concerns. We have pushed Russia into the arms of China and united them as a future combined threat. Is Ukraine worth that price? Also the democrat author needs to realize that even Ukrainians want a resolution. It’s not him fighting he’s safe here at home. Their families are hoping that they can get a resolution and end this horror. A negotiated deal where UN troops move in and act as a buffer and a treaty that would stop NATO from expanding to the border of Russia is a good deal. What about Russia that lost 20 million plus to the Germans in WW 2 why can’t they be guaranteed that their people will be safe through such a treaty?
len
March 15, 2023 at 8:50 am
Sounds like Dr. Alexander Motyl is a close friend of John Bolton.
The faster we esclate to WWIII, the faster we blowup the planet,
and the faster we are free of all despots, dictators and tyrants.
Sounds like seriously flawed logic.
How about giving peace a chance?
Slava Moronica!
Brent
March 15, 2023 at 9:11 am
Please increase the scope of this; there are many more topics that the two people mentioned are in complete ignorance over.
Jim
March 15, 2023 at 9:59 am
Kirk, 14,000 eastern Ukrainians died from random shelling (terror bombing) by Ukrainian militia and formal military into the Donbas between 2015 and the start of the war.
(How would you feel if that was happening to your fellow ethnics on your border, right under your nose?)
That’s a fact… it’s documented.
Remember “Right 2 Protect” the convention the U. S. invoked to intervene in Libya… and even earlier (I don’t know if the term had been coined yet) invoked similar justifications in Kosovo and other areas of Yugoslavia in the 1990’s.
Also, Article 51 of the U. N. Charter allows a military response when an attack is “imminent” against a member state. Evidence exists Ukraine was poised to do a Blitzkrieg into the Donbas, Ukrainians of Russian persuasion were to have a choice: flee to “Mother Russia” or stand, fight and die. Ukraine wanted a slaughter to honor Stephan Bandera, collaborationist with Nazi Germany and take back the territory… and celebrate the massacre every year, thereafter.
Remember the idea of “self-determination”, these eastern Ukrainians declared independence after the 2014 coup which they objected to as unconstitutional. Russia finally accepted these two states into the Russian Federation after eight years (and the failed Minsk agreements, entered into in bad faith by Ukraine and the western powers) when they petitioned to become a part of Russia several days before the war started. So, the claim is, in essence, Russia was protecting itself from imminent attack.
Kirk, you need to open your eyes… deal in evidence, facts, and reason and the historical record.
You can’t create your own reality… it doesn’t work.
The United States of America will not survive partisan one-sided views of reality… recall George Washington’s farewell address where he cautioned against ‘factions’… it’s still true today.
Sofronie the Monk
March 15, 2023 at 10:36 am
@Tyler Aldridge: “Russia has zero intention of spreading out over Europe like the democrats want you to believe. (…) Again Russia IS NOT a threat to Europe”
Really? Not a threat? Did you somehow miss what they’re trying to do in Moldova these days? Or scenarios about taking Gotland from Sweden? Or the specific requests to roll back NATO to its Cold War borders? Or their wish to have a veto right to who gets to be a member of NATO? So basically Russia WANTS (to use your caps style) to dictate US foreign policy in Europe, the White House would first have to humbly request the Kremlin’s permission, but that’s totally fine? Perhaps the US President should also wait in line, cap in hand, with the leaders of the new “people’s republics”, at Putin’s door?
“Ukraine IS NOT a UN country” Again, really? Ukraine is a member of the United Nations. Just like it’s a real country, despite Putin’s bulls*t.
Sofronie the Monk
March 15, 2023 at 10:43 am
@Michael Kearins: “If Zelensky had not been going around trying to join NATO maybe this would not have gotten this bad.” Have you ever wondered why all countries in the former Soviet block rushed to join EU and NATO? Why, in around 10 years, all those that could did exactly that and the rest still hope to be able to do so? Why do all Eastern European countries hate Russia with a vengeance? Because we are all Nazis, right?
Jimmy, me boy, Moldova is preparing a blitzkrieg against “Mother Russia” as well, right? Those 3 Piranha APCs are a deadly threat to Russian existence, so Putin will have no choice again.
GhostTomahawk
March 15, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Degenerate academics like this are the reasons why we have proxy wars all over the globe for decades.
This guy is a shill for the military state which has marched us to ruin.
Let this man talk with a disclaimer before and after saying DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE FOLLOWING
Jim
March 15, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Hey, Monk, ever heard of “color revolutions?”
14,000 people died in the Donbas.
To ignore those dead is to reveal your callous disregard for human life… not a good look for a self proclaimed “monk.”
Addy
March 15, 2023 at 3:18 pm
“a very poor choice of words by Biden in explaining U.S. requests and intentions” is what convinced Russia that the US/NATO is looking to place military assets in Ukraine.
And who can blame them?
If Mexico stated it was going to enter into a military alliance with the CCP, and the CCP stated “Don’t worry, we’re just going to move military assets into Mexico, just south of San Diego,” the US wouldn’t let that go unchallenged. The US would likely invade Mexico to prevent the move if it wasn’t voluntarily withdrawn.
Sofronie the Monk
March 15, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Hey, Jimmy, ever heard of the Communist takeovers in Eastern Europe? How many died in those? How many died in the Holodomor, Katyn and in the standard Russian and Soviet purges?
And, for your information, nobody died in our “color revolution”, but we did lose a few thousands in 1989, when we got rid of the Soviet imposed Communist regime.
Jim
March 15, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Monk, you’re morally bankrupt. That was 80 years ago, with a different government… different system… different people… I don’t excuse any of that, but I also know it’s history, as they say.
The 14,000 dead you ignore in your callousness has happened in the last eight years before the war.
And apparently you support the murderous regime who did it, right, now… because that’s what it is… a murderous neo-Nazi regime.
Which country are you talking about regarding “our revolution?”
For your information I NEVER supported the Soviets, a good Cold Warrior was I… as I was glad to see the Soviet Union collapse.
But you support a murderous regime, today… disgusting.
No real Christian monk would ever support such brutal, murderous conduct.
Sofronie the Monk
March 15, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Of course, Jimmy, whoever stands against Russia is a Nazi, right? We had that one drilled into our minds for almost 50 years. The glorious war against Fascism, desperately trying to skip over the uncomfortable parts like the Soviet invasions of Finland and Poland, grabbing chunks of our own country (Romania) etc. I know this kind of mental gymnastics all too well, with people whose families had run away from the Soviet invaded regions, who had relatives shot, beaten to death, raped, deported (the standard Russian MO) being educated about the Nazi war crimes and our Russian saviors. And now we have the same Russian propaganda trying to blame all the Soviet crimes from Bukovina and Bessarabia on Ukranians.
“That was 80 years ago, with a different government… ” – around the same time when that Bandera guy lived. Yet that doesn’t seem to stop you from bringing him against the Ukranians every 2 comments, now does it?
If I am morally bankrupt, you and your kind are the equivalent of Enron and FTX put together, with a sprinkle of NFTs on top.
Jim
March 15, 2023 at 10:20 pm
Monk, fine, your country is part of Nato.
Should Russia attack Romania, Article 5 would be invoked and the U. S. and the rest of Nato would go to war to defend your country… I have no problem with that… it’s a treaty obligation, which I respect and support.
Likely, it would be a General European War, with approximately, in my opinion, a 40% chance (possibly higher) of going nuclear… thus ending Civilization in Europe, as we know it.
I sure would like to avoid that type of ending.
Given the above, I sure hope Russia doesn’t attack Romania or any Nato country.
That’s my principle concern: avoid a General European War.
To my best knowledge, there is no evidence Russia has any designs on attacking Romania or any Nato country for that matter.
To my best knowledge (but you would know) the government of Romania has zero affiliation with current day neo-Nazism…
But the same is not true of Ukraine.
I suggest you distinctly keep in mind Romania is an entirely different animal from Ukraine and has a distinct and separate history from Ukraine.
Do not conflate the two… that is a serious mistake.
Sure, I can see why many if not most people in Romania don’t have good feelings about Russia given the history after World War II.
But having disdain for Russia is distinct & different from cheering on a regime in Kiev that wants to drag you (all of Nato) into their war.
Kiev would have no problem using & abusing Romania if they thought it would benefit them… and they could get away with it.
I had no problem with Romania joining Nato at the time, however, now, I know expanding Nato was mostly to get at Russia.
But a deal is a deal… welcome aboard.
Frankly, your posture is foolish.
You shouldn’t want your country in a war of destruction and you shouldn’t want to identify with the Kiev regime.
Actually, the U. S. guarantees your security… if it was needed… I seriously hope it never comes to that.
A check I hope you never have to cash.
Sir, your sweeping those 14,000 dead under the rug is wrong.
Your ignoring the history of the Kiev regime is wrong.
Please, you make a serious mistake to identify with the Kiev government… there is nothing to identify with.
No other government in Eastern Europe has the pedigree or history of the Kiev regime… full stop.
No other government in Eastern Europe celebrates as a hero a man who engaged in mass murder against Russians, Poles, and Jews (probably mistreated ethnic Romanians as well who happened to live in Ukraine… they don’t treat any minority well.)
No other government in Eastern Europe has a record of jailing or disappearing opponents of the regime like Ukraine does (since the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact).
No other country in Eastern Europe has a record of murdering 14,000 of their fellow countrymen (since the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact).
Ukraine stands alone in it’s brutality toward its own citizens… thus, they (the Donbas) broke away because they were mistreated by Kiev… many murdered… they wanted self-determination… what’s wrong with that? Isn’t that the reason Romanians wanted to get out from under the shadow of Russia?
If Ukraine had honored the Minsk agreements this war would have never happened.
Sadly, my country, encouraged this because they wanted to use Ukraine as a battering ram against Russia.
Although, it must be said that Ukraine was a very willing battering ram.
Please, do not identify with Ukraine… it’s completely unnecessary and sullies you with the immorality of the clique in Kiev.
Never allow another country to use Romania in their designs to damage or weaken another country. Never let Romania be used as somebody else’s battering ram (my country, the U. S., has a bad habit of using or abusing other countries if the Big Money people think it helps them make a buck… or control another country.
That’s how you get screwed over big time.
Good luck.
Whodunnit
March 16, 2023 at 6:09 am
‘That was 80 years ago with a different government ‘ Yeah. What’s the expression ? -Those who don’t learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them – You don’t hear modern day Germans dismissing the Nazis because ‘oh yeah, that was 80 years ago and a different government’.
Sofronie the Monk
March 16, 2023 at 4:10 pm
No, Jimmy, the “divide et impera” doesn’t work. No matter what Ukranians have done, it doesn’t even come close to what the Russians did. And I’m not talking since WW2, but all-time history since we started sharing a border with them. So yes, we identify with the Ukranians who fight for their freedom against Russia. We’re not that different from them, the only difference is that Romania is a member of NATO, and that’s the only thing protecting us from a “denazifying” operation. Russian attitude towards us joining NATO was exactly the same as it is now in Ukraine’s case, the same threats and moaning about Nazism and the “dangers” to our existence if we dared slip away from Moscow’s orbit. Thankfully, in the 2000s they couldn’t do anything to stop us, but sure as sh*t they’re doing their best now to pull us out.
“Ukraine stands alone in it’s brutality toward its own citizens… thus, they (the Donbas) broke away because they were mistreated by Kiev… many murdered… they wanted self-determination… what’s wrong with that? Isn’t that the reason Romanians wanted to get out from under the shadow of Russia?”
Yeah, the same narrative Russia’s pushing about Moldova (part of Romania that was stolen by the Russians and they want it back as well, preferably with yet another chunk of Romania).
So no, as long as Russia has its imperial ambitions, Putin is a danger for everyone so there can be no peace, no understanding with him. If that leads to another world war, so be it. The free world didn’t bow to Hitler, it won’t do it to this bald f*ck either.
Jim
March 17, 2023 at 1:26 am
Monk, you know where “divide & rule” came from?
The British Empire.
And, many empires before.
You’re sadly mistaken.
Here, it is called the “Atlanticists” also known as the “Pilgrim’s Society.” (This is not well known, but documents, news clippings, show that this is a long running show.) Think the Council on Foreign Relations.
The British Empire was excellent @ “divide & rule.”
Too bad… you don’t get it.
But I hope you study the history… and you will.
But remember what ultimately happened to the British
Empire.
It is no more.
Sofronie the Monk
March 17, 2023 at 5:38 pm
Last time I checked, quite a lot of the former British colonies were in good relations with the UK, some of them still have the same head of state. You don’t see the UK trying to invade Canada or Australia.
But I wonder, what ever happened to the grandiose Russian empire? I think it’s a far better question in this context.
from Russia with love
March 18, 2023 at 6:25 am
@Jim
I’ll add some pepper to your soup with Romanian 😉
Right now, Romania is sponsoring a pro-Romanian parliament in Moldova. Recently, this parliament passed a law that the state language in Moldova will be Romanian. Naturally, this and all the rest of the activities of this parliament cause serious protests from the local population. BUT! Sofronie the Monk, without blushing, tells you that Russia wants to capture Moldova!
this guy will call black white and maniacs will call humanists. 😉 do not believe? there he writes that Britain has good relations with the colonies. with Canada? with that Canada where the British have been engaged in the genocide of the indigenous population for many years and now the population is 90% descendants of the British and French? in the Falklands, where the indigenous population is completely destroyed and only the British live? in Africa, where in the 30s, due to the actions of the British colonial authorities, 10 million died from starvation. not like in Ukraine, according to indirect calculations, but directly, documented. Sofronie the Monk, is that what you call a “good relationship”? Tell me, can Russia establish the same “good relations” with Romania? 🙂
Jim, Romania is now in the same position as Poland. Poland really wants to occupy Western Ukraine, Romania really wants to occupy Moldova. at the same time, both Romania and Poland are very afraid because as soon as they get into the territory of another state, they will immediately get out of the protection of Article 5 of NATO. so they will support the Ukrainian regime by any means and under any conditions, and it doesn’t matter to them who they are, Nazis, cannibals, pedophiles. any moral deformities.
but there is a problem, Ukraine has no chance. Poland and Romania handed over their weapons to Ukraine and when everything is over they will be left in front of Russia with a bare bottom and without economic support from the EU, which is drowning in an economic and financial crisis. Let me remind you that Romania and Poland are subsidized debtor countries. 😉
Sofronie the Monk
March 20, 2023 at 7:01 pm
@from Russia with love:
You might want to check on your facts, darling.
First, we (Romania) did not hand over our weapons to Ukraine since we didn’t have much in the first place. We’re still using MiG-21s (when they don’t fall from the skies, that is…) and our main “battle” (LOL) tank is a somewhat improved T-55 offspring more fit for a pillow battle (and even then I’d give the pillows a chance). Sadly, we didn’t help Ukraine that much, wish we had as much as possible. Precisely to keep you naughty boys where you belong until you start behaving.
Second, check a bit what Poland already has and what they are buying these days. While Romania indeed wouldn’t stand much of a chance, I wonder how would the “vaunted” Red Army do against Poland, given that they’re already struggling against Ukraine. Unlike us, Poland has learned its lessons and they’re packing for bear (pun intended). And this time, there’s no Nazis to attack them so that the glorious Soviet Union can sneak from behind like they did in 1939. Kinda hard without them, isn’t it?
Also, a short history lesson: Bessarabia (the current Republic of Moldova) was half of the medieval principality of Moldova (one of the two states that joined to form Romania) for centuries, until 1812, when it was annexed by Russia. Ancient Russian land, right? Unlike your “people’s” republics, we’re not bribing people into supporting Romania, nor do we threaten them with “total nuclear annihilation” if they don’t. Neither do we invade them.
By the way, when is that starting? If I remember correctly, a year ago, any country that would support Ukraine in any way, even morally, would get “total nuclear annihilation”. Still waiting for those mushrooms, or is Medvedev still working on them?
from Russia with love
March 21, 2023 at 7:51 pm
@Sofronie the Monk
data? I love facts 😉
Romania did not supply weapons to Ukraine? Did some other Romania deliver 5 packages of military aid to Ukraine? not yours? funny 🙂
let’s see what Poland has… Poland had about 800 tanks. helping Ukraine, Poland has already lost 400 tanks. received 11 American tanks in exchange and now they really want to transfer German tanks to Ukraine. let’s see what Poland dreams of? 500 HIMARS launchers. even the United States does not have so much, not to mention the ammunition, the stocks of which have been depleted so much that in the United States they say that it will take 3-5 years to restore them. but the Poles dream. Poles also dream of 1000 tanks from South Korea. do you know where south korea is? Have you heard anything about North Korea? What do you think, with such a neighborhood, South Korea will make 1000 tanks for some Poles, or are they more concerned about their own safety? to complete the list of Poland’s fantasies, you can also add a death star ordered from Darth Vader. 🙂 and yes, “not participating in the conflict” Poland has already lost a third of its 4 brigades and opened a special cemetery for the Polish military whose corpses were taken out of Ukraine and for a couple of farmers who died in an unequal battle with a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile. Are you sure that Romania needs the same as Poland?
story? love history! In 1699, 1718 and 1739 different parts of what is now Romania, such as Wallachian Oltenia in 1718, were divided between Austria and the Ottoman Empire. In 1775, Bukovina (the northern part of the Moldavian principality) was annexed to Austria, and in 1812 the lands between the Prut and the Dniester became part of the Russian Empire. note, no Romania still exists. when does Romania appear? after the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Have you heard anything about the Berlin Congress of 1878? or is it not customary for you now to remember that Romania appeared on the map thanks to Russia’s victory over Turkey? Under this treaty, Russia received southern Bessarabia, and Romania received northern Dobruja with Constanta. do not want to return to the Turks in a fit of struggle for historical justice? and since you are so fighting for historical justice, does it bother you that you support some Ukrainians who have captured Russian cities such as Kyiv and Odessa?
about “total nuclear annihilation” for more details. have you all been totally and nuclearly destroyed there, or were you scared there and in hysterics? 🙂 but yes, we must admit that if something serious starts, then Romania will definitely have a hard time. NATO bases on your territory and these bases will be destroyed. you really don’t understand that you drew a target on your chest? yes, from a military point of view, in itself, Romania does not pose a threat and is not of interest to Russia, but American missiles on the territory of Romania pose a threat and will be destroyed, and Romania along with them. when you joined NATO did not think about it? didn’t you think that Article 5 of NATO would bury you in the event of a conflict between NATO and Russia?
from Russia with love
March 22, 2023 at 12:03 pm
@Sofronie the Monk
you write that Romania does not attack or invade anyone? but here they report claims on Bukovina. apparently it’s different? :)))
t.me/dimsmirnov175/45605
Sofronie the Monk
March 22, 2023 at 7:10 pm
@from Russia with love:
That would be Diana Sosoaca, Russia’s main supporter in the Romanian Senate. She’s the one praising Putin and spewing the same Russian propaganda as you do, for which she is hated by the overwhelming majority of us. Funny how it is exactly the fans of Russia that want war, isn’t it?
Yes, Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia were once part of Romania until Russia stole them. Now Northern Bukovina is part of another country, Bessarabia is a separate one and we respect that, unlike dear “Mother Russia”. If Moldavia will at one point want to join Romania, we’ll welcome them. If they want to remain independent, it’s their choice and we’ll accept it. But if Russia wants to “denazify” them, sure as hell wish we could defend them. Sadly we can’t, so it’s up to Ukraine to stop the Russians.
from Russia with love
March 24, 2023 at 9:16 am
@Sofronie the Monk
“Funny how it is exactly the fans of Russia that want war, isn’t it?”
Blinken declares that there can be no talk of any peace talks. Borel says that the situation with Ukraine can only be resolved on the battlefield. you want to say that these are pro-Russian guys? this is really funny! :)))
“Yes, Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia were once part of Romania until Russia stole them.”
perhaps it is necessary to recall the situation in which Romania lost these regions? Romania, together with Nazi Germany, attacked the USSR. several Romanian divisions were defeated near Stalingrad. as a result, Romania deftly betrayed Hitler when it became obvious that Germany was losing the war, but following the results of the Second World War, Romania lost some territories. yes, cruel Stalin was not cruel enough and Romania remained on the world map as a country, despite the fact that there were all the prerequisites for disappearing.
PS
remove US missile bases from your territory and nothing will threaten you. it’s so simple! oh no, not easy. 🙂 Romania, on the other hand, is an “independent” country and cannot independently decide on the deployment or removal of US military bases from its territory. :)))