Why is President for Life Vladimir Putin <<< obsessed with the Ukraine? Maybe he just likes the place. They don’t seem to like him. The exception being some separatists that have loyalty or fealty to the Kremlin. Remember when a Putin backed motorcycle gang called the Night Wolves went around intimidating Ukrainians? (Rolling Stone)
US and European intelligence officials have been monitoring a months long military buildup of Russian Federation military units near the border with the Ukraine (Politico). The situation has been reported to President Biden with some Republican leaders advising sending troops to the Baltic nation. Biden pledged “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s territorial integrity (GlobalSecurity.org).
It remains to be seen how Putin will respond to Biden’s statement. Putin has been “appeased” in his expansionist adventurism in the past. The annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008 during the Russo-Georgian War was denounced by the West but no major penalties or diplomatic efforts were launched in the aftermath. It is true the Afghan and Iraq conflicts were dominating the news.
In 2014 in the city of Odessa, Ukraine, 46 people were killed when pro and anti Russian activists clashed. The pro Russian activists may have been trying to get Putin to intervene (or being paid to give the excuse) as he had in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Polls after showed virtually no support for Russian intervention.
In March 2014, prior to the unrest in Odessa, the Russian Federation annexed the Crimea. The excuse for the invasion was to “protect Russians living in the region.” There is a Russian Federation naval base in the region the Ukrainian government allowed the Russians to keep. They had no intentions of confiscating the base and evicting the Russian troops and sailors. The move is part of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started in 2014 and has resulted in approximately 13,000 deaths.
Related
- “Is Ukraine Ready for the Next Russian Invasion?” National Interest
- “Blinken Warns Putin not to Attack Ukraine…” Washington Examiner
- Mass Shooting in Russia and Allah Blog
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