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Nobody sane thinks that normal citizens deserve sanctions; they're for the most part not responsible for the madness of one man; this is obvious when you think

Nobody sane thinks that normal citizens deserve sanctions; they're for the most part not responsible for the madness of one man; this is obvious when you think back about how half of the USA thought about Trump but was unable to do anything - an din Russia it's much worse. But the sanctions are meant to make people angry, go out and send a strong signal to their leaders they want a change. This is the most the West can do.

dondraper36 5y ago
Even though what you are saying about making people angry and stand up for themselves and democracy is true, it is fairly strange to pretend that leaders in the USA/EU are sincerely interested in the people of Ukraine. For some reason unknown, Ukrainians believe so which resulted in that atrocious situation where both the US and European countries are not willing to step in and protect Ukraine. Even Zelensky himself had high hopes for that, based on what he said a few days ago.
- ytpete 5y ago
  > both the US and European countries are not willing to step in and protect Ukraine Both US & EU are lending tremendous support in materials, training (over the past 8 years), and coordinated economic sanctions far beyond what anyone would have predicted. Sounds like Europe is also offering energy grid support soon. What those countries will not do is directly intervene using their own military forces – Ukrainians would have to be crazy to ever expect that. Two nuclear-armed powers in direct conflict on the battlefield = nuclear holocaust. You could say that's merely conventional wisdom based on wargames and other geopolitical assumptions, but... does anyone really want to test that theory??
- hdjjhhvvhga 5y ago
  It would be much better for Ukraine to lose war than have NATO involved, for reasons described clearly earlier by experts: modern warfare requires the destruction of enemy's military infrastructure on their territory and the conventional warheads on the radar are indistinguishable from nuclear ones. The moment NATO starts bombing military targets in Russia is the end of our civilization (yes, we have had Russian heroes in the past who already saved our planet, but we can only pray their replacements will be equally reasonable - and even that wouldn't probably work once they realize their country is actually under attack).
Svoka 5y ago
I do think they should pay reparations in full after this is over. It is not one man madness. This was coming from far away, he was elected, every poll suggests about half of Russian population is in support of the war.
- ytpete 5y ago
  It's not uncommon for the losing country in a war to receive support for rebuilding and stabilizing its economy afterward. But you wouldn't really call that reparations if it's the aggressor that started the conflict. If things suck for the ordinary citizens of that country, it's not the fault of the victims who defended themselves – it's the fault of the aggressor's leadership for starting a war of choice.

dondraper36 5y ago

Even though what you are saying about making people angry and stand up for themselves and democracy is true, it is fairly strange to pretend that leaders in the USA/EU are sincerely interested in the people of Ukraine. For some reason unknown, Ukrainians believe so which resulted in that atrocious situation where both the US and European countries are not willing to step in and protect Ukraine. Even Zelensky himself had high hopes for that, based on what he said a few days ago.

ytpete 5y ago
> both the US and European countries are not willing to step in and protect Ukraine Both US & EU are lending tremendous support in materials, training (over the past 8 years), and coordinated economic sanctions far beyond what anyone would have predicted. Sounds like Europe is also offering energy grid support soon. What those countries will not do is directly intervene using their own military forces – Ukrainians would have to be crazy to ever expect that. Two nuclear-armed powers in direct conflict on the battlefield = nuclear holocaust. You could say that's merely conventional wisdom based on wargames and other geopolitical assumptions, but... does anyone really want to test that theory??
hdjjhhvvhga 5y ago
It would be much better for Ukraine to lose war than have NATO involved, for reasons described clearly earlier by experts: modern warfare requires the destruction of enemy's military infrastructure on their territory and the conventional warheads on the radar are indistinguishable from nuclear ones. The moment NATO starts bombing military targets in Russia is the end of our civilization (yes, we have had Russian heroes in the past who already saved our planet, but we can only pray their replacements will be equally reasonable - and even that wouldn't probably work once they realize their country is actually under attack).

Svoka 5y ago

I do think they should pay reparations in full after this is over. It is not one man madness. This was coming from far away, he was elected, every poll suggests about half of Russian population is in support of the war.

ytpete 5y ago
It's not uncommon for the losing country in a war to receive support for rebuilding and stabilizing its economy afterward. But you wouldn't really call that reparations if it's the aggressor that started the conflict. If things suck for the ordinary citizens of that country, it's not the fault of the victims who defended themselves – it's the fault of the aggressor's leadership for starting a war of choice.