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So long as Russia has territory it doesn't control inside what it views to be its natural geological boundaries, there will always be Russian aggression. Russi

So long as Russia has territory it doesn't control inside what it views to be its natural geological boundaries, there will always be Russian aggression. Russia very much wants to "never get involved in a land war in Asia." To that end, it wants a solid mountain boundary from the Carpathians to the Tien Shan, and the Gobi desert from there to the Pacific. Until then, you can expect continued encroachments on Ukraine, the Caucuses, and steppe Central Asia, and continued buildup of its military capabilities. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5497331ae4b0148a6141bd47/t/58b90e18a5790aeaef8f8c91/1488522788730/ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5497331ae4b0148a6141b...

rocqua 9y ago
How does Ukraine ensure there will not be a war in asia? Ukraine is firmly the border between Russia and Europe. Due to the black sea, Ukraine means nothing for the border between Asia and Russia. Similarly the Russian border already runs through the Caucuses. That border is already secured by that mountain range. Meanwhile, to get decent natural borders around Kazakhstan you need to either see that expanse as a natural border, or take over the entirety of Khazakstan. Further east than that, and Russia's borders again seem to follow natural obstacles.
- woodandsteel 9y ago
  Part of the problem is that Russia's total territory is way too large for its population and economic strength to adequately defend militarily. That didn't matter so much during the two centuries when China was flat on its back, but now it is back to its normal superpower status.
woodandsteel 9y ago
>So long as Russia has territory it doesn't control inside what it views to be its natural geological boundaries, there will always be Russian aggression. Quite true. The problem is that in order to gain the territory, it takes aggressive actions that provoke the very hostility it fears. Russia's basic problem is it thinks we are still in the pre-nuclear era where great powers regularly invaded each other, and the pre-industrial era where that was the main road to economic wealth.
- torstenvl 9y ago
  Right. But as long as it can manipulate its way toward that expansion (by, say, laying claim to the ethnic Russian populations in eastern Ukraine and playing tough to the West to inhibit any retaliation) it won't have to get involved in all-out war. Agree 100%. Russia's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness: reliance on outdated forms of dominance. What we ought to be doing is working closely with China to develop energy technologies. Not only would it strengthen our interdependence on China (reducing the possibility of war with them), but our ability to cripple Russia economically would be substantially increased if we could build a couple thorium salt nuclear reactors in Eastern Europe and cut off Russia's income from oil exports.
  - mdekkers 9y ago
    our ability to cripple Russia economically What would be the point of that? And, come to think of it, what do you think the likely outcome of such a situation would be? Good for you, you laid evil Putin low. And what about all the actual people living in Russia? Collateral damage? Warfare, economic or otherwise, is only the answer for people who lack the ability to think creatively.
    - torstenvl 9y ago
      LOL

rocqua 9y ago

How does Ukraine ensure there will not be a war in asia? Ukraine is firmly the border between Russia and Europe. Due to the black sea, Ukraine means nothing for the border between Asia and Russia. Similarly the Russian border already runs through the Caucuses. That border is already secured by that mountain range. Meanwhile, to get decent natural borders around Kazakhstan you need to either see that expanse as a natural border, or take over the entirety of Khazakstan. Further east than that, and Russia's borders again seem to follow natural obstacles.

woodandsteel 9y ago
Part of the problem is that Russia's total territory is way too large for its population and economic strength to adequately defend militarily. That didn't matter so much during the two centuries when China was flat on its back, but now it is back to its normal superpower status.

woodandsteel 9y ago

>So long as Russia has territory it doesn't control inside what it views to be its natural geological boundaries, there will always be Russian aggression. Quite true. The problem is that in order to gain the territory, it takes aggressive actions that provoke the very hostility it fears. Russia's basic problem is it thinks we are still in the pre-nuclear era where great powers regularly invaded each other, and the pre-industrial era where that was the main road to economic wealth.

torstenvl 9y ago
Right. But as long as it can manipulate its way toward that expansion (by, say, laying claim to the ethnic Russian populations in eastern Ukraine and playing tough to the West to inhibit any retaliation) it won't have to get involved in all-out war. Agree 100%. Russia's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness: reliance on outdated forms of dominance. What we ought to be doing is working closely with China to develop energy technologies. Not only would it strengthen our interdependence on China (reducing the possibility of war with them), but our ability to cripple Russia economically would be substantially increased if we could build a couple thorium salt nuclear reactors in Eastern Europe and cut off Russia's income from oil exports.
- mdekkers 9y ago
  our ability to cripple Russia economically What would be the point of that? And, come to think of it, what do you think the likely outcome of such a situation would be? Good for you, you laid evil Putin low. And what about all the actual people living in Russia? Collateral damage? Warfare, economic or otherwise, is only the answer for people who lack the ability to think creatively.
  - torstenvl 9y ago
    LOL