Hello!
First up, I just want to say that you’re right. Russia has committed crimes. So, let’s at least understand why that happened, so we don’t go around like hypocrites pointing out MAGA for believing Russian propaganda, while you and I believe western propaganda.
In 1991, after the illegal and undemocratic dissolution of the USSR through neo-liberal shock therapy against the overwhelming majority of the population, fifteen states which had not previously existed as fully independent countries in the modern, internationally recognized sense, were born. Of which, Ukraine.
Unsurprisingly, when you go from a planned economy to a market economy and the state start rapidly selling assets, the result is inflation, corruption, and instability.
Additionally, Ukraine’s geopolitical location keeps it interesting for western imperial interests. It’s the second largest country in Europe bordering both NATO, Russia, and the further Eastern Block, and is a transit country for 2/3 of Europe’s natural gas from Russia. Therefore, it of course plays a big role in the regions’ stability. Just interfering in the transit of Russian natural gas is enough to make Russia suffer catastrophic economic hardships.
Taking all those reasons and access to the black sea into account, that’s how the west convinced Ukraine to trade in its USSR nuclear arsenal for “security assurances” in 1994.
Trying to balance a relationship with both Russia and the West, all the while the country faces massive inflation killing living standards and eroding public trust in the government leading to constant leadership changes.
Since the beginning, NATO has been looking to get its hands dirty in Ukraine, making non-meaningful peace deals to “strengthen relationships”. However, a 2008 poll shows that 55% of Ukrainians straight-up opposed joining NATO and only 20% were in favor. Not very democratic.
In a Russia-Ukraine-USA agreement, Ukraine was compensated with millions by the USA and low-enriched uranium fuel rods by Russia in exchange for it completely dismantling its share of the Soviet nuclear powers. While this was crucial aid, it did not come without a price. The US has claimed as a matter of foreign policy that “For a stable and secure Ukraine is essential for a stable and secure Europe” through the establishment of the “Vice Presidency of the European and Euro-Atlantic Integration in Ukraine”, which has made Ukraine’s pro-western stance clear since. This was even reinforced by constitutional amendments in 2019, embedding NATO and EU membership as "strategic goals to actively pursue’'.
In 2004 widespread protests marked “The Orange Revolution”. As accusations of election fraud was made, widespread protest resulted in new elections. That is true, but from the beginning, the organization of the protest is suspiciously too organized for a civilian protest. Until this moment, the US promoted over 65 million dollars to “promote democracy in Ukraine” mainly through organizations like “Freedom House” and “National Endownment”, which had, big surprise, agitated many by organizing concerts and setting up posters all over Ukraine targeting the youth.
In the next “Europia Revolution”. Ukrainians protested against the association agreement of rejecting closer ties with the EU to balance ties with Russia. The narrative was that riot police were deployed and even shot protesters. What is left out of this conversation is the involvement of far-right groups like Свобода, who had large backing, resources, and organization. They were responsible for widely occupying government building especially in western Ukraine. The EU and the US staged participation in the protests, actively supported the far-right reactionaries, and a later leaked phone-call reveals US efforts to influence the formation of a post Euoropia government. Poland also played a big role through funding and pressuring the EU to integrate Ukraine into “European norms”.
Image the inverse. Imagine Russia actively funding and supporting anti-government uprisings in lets say Mexico in interest of weakening the US. Imagine a leaked phone call with Putin practically choosing the next leaders of Mexico with some even being Russian themselves.
It’s important to mention that Russia wasn’t just standing by all this time. Russia conducted covert and overt operations in the presidency and later in Crimea and Romas.
Since the 1990s Russia has seen western intervention in Ukraine as a direct threat to its sovereignty and was its reasoning for invading Crimea.
This constant push and pull between the west and Russia caused a collapsing country being influenced by foreign entities. Even with all that, in 2014, Ukraine took a massive 17 billion dollar loan from the IMF, resulting in the implementation of neo-liberal policies further ruining an already broken country. This also further strengthened the already present and powerful Ukrainian oligarchs by shifting the taxes onto the proletariat.
Back in 2008, CIA director William, when serving as the US ambassador to Russia stated “Ukrainian entry to NATO is the brightest of all red-lines for the Russian elite (not just Putin)… [it is] a direct challenge to Russian interests…”. Another show of this is the Russian progress made. Ukraine is heavily dependent on western weapons and supplies and can not survive on its own. Yet, peace deals are ignored for the continuation of Western imperial interests at the expense of everyone. Don’t take my word for it though. Defense secretary Lloyd Austin explicitly stated “The US goal in Ukraine was to see Russia weakened due to the war”.
Hello! First up, I just want to say that you’re right. Russia has committed crimes. So, let’s at least understand why that happened, so we don’t go around like hypocrites pointing out MAGA for believing Russian propaganda, while you and I believe western propaganda.
In 1991, after the illegal and undemocratic dissolution of the USSR through neo-liberal shock therapy against the overwhelming majority of the population, fifteen states which had not previously existed as fully independent countries in the modern, internationally recognized sense, were born. Of which, Ukraine.
Unsurprisingly, when you go from a planned economy to a market economy and the state start rapidly selling assets, the result is inflation, corruption, and instability.
Additionally, Ukraine’s geopolitical location keeps it interesting for western imperial interests. It’s the second largest country in Europe bordering both NATO, Russia, and the further Eastern Block, and is a transit country for 2/3 of Europe’s natural gas from Russia. Therefore, it of course plays a big role in the regions’ stability. Just interfering in the transit of Russian natural gas is enough to make Russia suffer catastrophic economic hardships.
Taking all those reasons and access to the black sea into account, that’s how the west convinced Ukraine to trade in its USSR nuclear arsenal for “security assurances” in 1994.
Trying to balance a relationship with both Russia and the West, all the while the country faces massive inflation killing living standards and eroding public trust in the government leading to constant leadership changes.
Since the beginning, NATO has been looking to get its hands dirty in Ukraine, making non-meaningful peace deals to “strengthen relationships”. However, a 2008 poll shows that 55% of Ukrainians straight-up opposed joining NATO and only 20% were in favor. Not very democratic.
In a Russia-Ukraine-USA agreement, Ukraine was compensated with millions by the USA and low-enriched uranium fuel rods by Russia in exchange for it completely dismantling its share of the Soviet nuclear powers. While this was crucial aid, it did not come without a price. The US has claimed as a matter of foreign policy that “For a stable and secure Ukraine is essential for a stable and secure Europe” through the establishment of the “Vice Presidency of the European and Euro-Atlantic Integration in Ukraine”, which has made Ukraine’s pro-western stance clear since. This was even reinforced by constitutional amendments in 2019, embedding NATO and EU membership as "strategic goals to actively pursue’'.
In 2004 widespread protests marked “The Orange Revolution”. As accusations of election fraud was made, widespread protest resulted in new elections. That is true, but from the beginning, the organization of the protest is suspiciously too organized for a civilian protest. Until this moment, the US promoted over 65 million dollars to “promote democracy in Ukraine” mainly through organizations like “Freedom House” and “National Endownment”, which had, big surprise, agitated many by organizing concerts and setting up posters all over Ukraine targeting the youth.
In the next “Europia Revolution”. Ukrainians protested against the association agreement of rejecting closer ties with the EU to balance ties with Russia. The narrative was that riot police were deployed and even shot protesters. What is left out of this conversation is the involvement of far-right groups like Свобода, who had large backing, resources, and organization. They were responsible for widely occupying government building especially in western Ukraine. The EU and the US staged participation in the protests, actively supported the far-right reactionaries, and a later leaked phone-call reveals US efforts to influence the formation of a post Euoropia government. Poland also played a big role through funding and pressuring the EU to integrate Ukraine into “European norms”.
Image the inverse. Imagine Russia actively funding and supporting anti-government uprisings in lets say Mexico in interest of weakening the US. Imagine a leaked phone call with Putin practically choosing the next leaders of Mexico with some even being Russian themselves.
It’s important to mention that Russia wasn’t just standing by all this time. Russia conducted covert and overt operations in the presidency and later in Crimea and Romas.
Since the 1990s Russia has seen western intervention in Ukraine as a direct threat to its sovereignty and was its reasoning for invading Crimea.
This constant push and pull between the west and Russia caused a collapsing country being influenced by foreign entities. Even with all that, in 2014, Ukraine took a massive 17 billion dollar loan from the IMF, resulting in the implementation of neo-liberal policies further ruining an already broken country. This also further strengthened the already present and powerful Ukrainian oligarchs by shifting the taxes onto the proletariat.
Back in 2008, CIA director William, when serving as the US ambassador to Russia stated “Ukrainian entry to NATO is the brightest of all red-lines for the Russian elite (not just Putin)… [it is] a direct challenge to Russian interests…”. Another show of this is the Russian progress made. Ukraine is heavily dependent on western weapons and supplies and can not survive on its own. Yet, peace deals are ignored for the continuation of Western imperial interests at the expense of everyone. Don’t take my word for it though. Defense secretary Lloyd Austin explicitly stated “The US goal in Ukraine was to see Russia weakened due to the war”.
FOUND ONE!