I don't support the Russian invasion,
Do you understand why Russia invaded ? it's security related. Does a country have the right to act to defend its security interests when threatened or not. Of course they do. If the US can enter Iraq on such a basis then i see no problem with Russia or anyone else for that matter doing the same.
The core issue is the common security of Europe. All must be secure or none will be. But the way the west has been going about it is as a zero sum game. They want to be more secure than Russia. Does not work that way. Russia has been voicing these concerns for over a decade to no avail. In fact this has been outstanding ever since 1991.
They were ignored and the perception grows that NATO and Europe do not give a damn. Well, Russia's security is for Russia to decide and not anyone else.
I see many parallels with our country over the years and this conflict
- China & India never had any historical issues. Because there was a buffer in between called Tibet. When that buffer went away the Chinese were at our border and within a decade we were at war and continue to have issues into the present and could see a conflict in the future. The only way to prevent it is to restore Tibet as a buffer. Well Russia is making Ukraine a buffer. One that is neutral and will not pose a threat to Russia in the future. In this way Russia is preventing WW3. A good thing.
- Ukraine has become like a Pakistan for Russia. Russia is currently doing what India was not allowed to do. Finish the job. Sort out the problem. Notice there is nothing the west can do to stop Russia completing its objective. Unlike in India's case where we were always forced to come to some compromise and procrastinate. '71 was an exception but otherwise our options were limited. Zelensky begging in various parliaments is like Imran going around the world with a begging bowl.
- banning the Russian language in Ukraine to the point where if a vendor does not greet you in Ukranian will attract a fine (!) Well, Sri Lanka in the early 70s amde Sinhala the official language and deprecated Tamil. What happened ? Within a decade LTTE sprang up, we trained them and eventually had to go into Sri Lanka to neutralise them. North wanted to impose Hindi in the south in the 60s and there was a big pushback that continues to this day. When you impose or ban language you are trying to erase a culture.
- When Russia says it is liberating the Donbas and recognises the two republics there as independent its because these two have been getting shelled by Ukraine forces for many years. Over 14,000 killed in 8 years. What ethnicity were the victims. Who killed them. This war did not begin a month ago. It's been going on for eight years. No western journalist has covered that period of Donbas just like they never covered what went on in Kashmir. The Russian foreign ministry explains
here
I found an independent crowd funded American who is reporting from there.
Patrick Lancaster
There are Americans who want good relations with Russia. Nobody listens to them and if you say anything slightly in Russia's support then you get attacked. They are self censoring in the west about what is happening. They are in effect parroting Ukranian PR. Just like they used to do for Pak PR. So much for freedom of expression and tolerance of the west. There are also Ukranians who want peace with Russia but as we've found out they've been ousted, sanctioned or otherwise silenced. So the present course is the only outcome left. Ukraine's policy on important matters not being made in Kiev but Washington since 2014.
This was an entirely unnecessary war where Ukraine (willingly) was used, abused and left to its own devices by the west. The west says sweet things but who replaces the lost loved ones who had to die for no reason. What does Ukranian nationalism mean ? where is the pride. Why this mad love affair for the west. NATO will not fight for you, EU is not offering fast track. What does west offer for Ukraine. Broken country and dead people. Only good Ukranians for west are dead Ukranians like only good Kashmiris for Pak are dead Kashmiris. The separatists want others to sacrifice their kids while their kids study abroad. The west encourages Ukraine to fight while they eat popcorn and watch the show. WTH!!
but this kind of economic and internet warfare can also be used on us tomorrow if there is a political or geopolitical divergence.
Absolutely.
We keep showcasing all kinds of weapons during republic day, they have their place, but India has a gaping hole in security.
We export our assets, brain power, and import liability, technology and weapons. Even after 200 years of slavery Indians have not learnt our lessons.
How well could China defend against such sanctions ? not very well either. They import fuel, food and are dependent on exports. This means China can be controlled if required.
I don't put much stock in western sanctions because Putin has not played his cards here yet and when he does he can make life unbearable in the west. To the point constituents start to question what Ukraine means for them and why they need to continue along this path. In other words they will be withdrawn at some point.
Part of Russia's foreign reserves has been frozen. The idea going around is it will be used as reparations to rebuild Ukraine. Well, think back to Iran in the 70s. US pulled this same stunt on Iran after the revolution. So Iran held US embassy officials for 444 days. And then released them. Why ? Americans caved and the funds were released when Regan entered office. Now if Iran in the 70s could do that, imagine what Russia can do in 2022.
Another data point. In 2018 Russian oligarch
Deripaska got sanctioned by the US. The next day aluminium prices went up 40%, a can of soda coasts 15 cents more and 10,000 jobs in the US were at risk. Couple of months later the US has to quietly withdraw those sanctions. This is just one Oligarch.
The people who have it the hardest are the Euros. They have to get off Russian fuel. 40% gas and oil comes from Russia. Imagine if India was in such a situation ? what could we do. Europe is going to be in an economic slump for the rest of this decade as they have to get gas from others and spend 10s of billions. in infrastructure.
The alternative is instead of US fighting Russia to the last Ukranian it becomes to the last European.
Since the operation began, Euros have given Russia $19B for fuel so they are in effect
funding this war for Putin (!)