Putin tries to make it out as if Europe's been trampling on Russia all along, but why would be make much of our energy supply reliant on Russian gas if we distrusted Russia and didn't want to trade peacefully with them? while Russia has always been a bit of a challenge, i can't say the public mood in Europe in 1989 was one of "let's trample on Russia" - more like "maybe this is a new start?"
Putin had other ideas though.
before Putin began his business in Ukraine, NATO had turned into more of an alliance for military operations in other parts of the world than something that was specifically targeted at Russia.
ironically, because he didn't buy that, he made it true again.
Putin had other ideas though.
before Putin began his business in Ukraine, NATO had turned into more of an alliance for military operations in other parts of the world than something that was specifically targeted at Russia.
ironically, because he didn't buy that, he made it true again.
from Norway's perspective - we share a border with Russia and have a long history of peaceful trade with Russia - our hand has actually been forced by what Putin has been doing. we were trying to strengthen bonds to Russia, collaborate in the Arctic regions. even during the Cold War, Norway's been relatively friendly to Russia, despite having American backing. it's usually a bad idea to be enemies with your neighbours. Norway can't accept what's going on in Ukraine right now. sure, there are historical arguments for having Ukraine as part of Russia, but Russia kind of hoisted its own petard there didn't they...
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@c708943ea349519dcf56b2a5c138fd9ed064ad65ddecae6394eabd87a62f1770 it's been the case for most of Europe and everything else for that matter. (And that's coming from a Pole, we hate the Soviets, and by extension Russia, nearly as much as the nazis, and by extension Germany.) For a decade or two it even looked like Russia can cooperate with the rest of the world, it's a shame that this whole shitshow happened.
