President for Life Vlad Putin‘s <<< (and his Handler’s) invasion of Ukraine has a much simpler explanation than anyone would believe. Watching political analysts on TV talk at length about all the “reasons” is cumbersome. Is it that the US didn’t do enough to deter him (as if that makes invasions acceptable)? Is it that big scary NATO might get Ukraine as a member? Is it that Vlad’s 5’5″ stature gives him a Napoleonic psyche?
None of these things are true. Here’s why.
In 2020 the Belarusian President for Life Alexander Lukashenko <<< was almost evicted from the country he has been “president” of since 1994. Protests erupted when he won re election. The referendum was declared “not free or fair” by the United States. Lukashenko asked the Russians for asylum. The Russians permanently stationed 30,000 troops in Belarus, keeping him in power.
Lukashenko’s forces has been accused of crimes against humanity and political repression through extrajudicial executions and torture including anal rape. Lukanshenko is completely reliant upon Putin for his continued dictatorship. Saddam Hussein << held a Belarusian passport and may have been hoping to escape there before he was captured.
It should be no surprise that in February of 2014 when then Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych <<was voted out of office by the Ukraine parliament that Putin flexed his military. Within a month Russian forces invaded the Crimea and Donbass. It takes decades for giants to plant and groom one of their boys. Then decades more to manipulate him into power.
Giants get very very frustrated when they lose one of these guys and control over any other nation (see this post).
However, his (Yanukovych’s) years in power saw what analysts described as democratic backsliding, which included the jailing of (former president) Yulia Tymoshenko, a decline in press freedom and an increase in cronyism and corruption. In November 2013, Yanukovych made a sudden decision, amidst economic pressure from Russia, to withdraw from signing an association agreement with the EU and instead accept a Russian trade deal and loan bailout. This sparked mass protests against him that ultimately led to his ousting as President. The civil unrest peaked in February 2014, when almost 100 protesters were killed by police. Yanukovych then signed an agreement with the opposition, but secretly fled the capital later that day – Wikipedia
Putin and his Handlers want their guys running the Baltic States. Bonus points for clicking the blue script.
In the meantime, the alt right, anti-patriot, House MAGAs loyal to Trump and his owner (through circumstance) figured out a way to stymie legislation to continue to aid Ukraine. Matt Gaetz somehow became the power of the House, being able to appoint new speakers at will. He got McCarthy ousted on October 3, 2023 (CBSNews). A big distraction on Oct 7 made people forget all about Ukraine. His lackey Johnson had effectively tabled a vote on aid for Ukraine. Fortunately a deal was reached and aid to Ukraine was resumed after about 6 months.
I guess these guys didn’t study their history. The best way to encourage further Russian aggression is to appease Putin and his gods. Then again, maybe they did study their history. Why should Ukraine give concessions to the invading Russians? Why should NATO and the US stop supporting Ukraine. Putin is kicking his own butt, let him.
Related:
- Death of Alexei Navalny
- “The Russian Incursion No One is Talking About” Yasmeen Serhan – The Atlantic
- Timing is Everything
- China is giving Russia Significant Support to expand weapons manufacturing CNN
- As Foreign Leaders urge US Ukraine Support, Republicans look to Trump Reuters