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Translation: Russia has been absolutely crippled by sanctions so the threat has passed, meaning we don't have to do anything.

jnsaff2 5y ago
I read your comment as sarcastic and in this sense you don't warrant the downvotes. But I don't disagree that politicians are quite weak in taking these bold steps.
- Steltek 5y ago
  Correct, with a side dish of cynical disgust. At least Sweden's potential membership is less complicated than Turkey or Ukraine. People got real nervous with Erdogan and while Ukraine may be a democratic country, it's also not a wealthy, liberal country. Internal EU and NATO relations are going to look very different after this.
  - tsimionescu 5y ago
    > At least Sweden's potential membership is less complicated than Turkey or Ukraine. You do realize that Turkey has been a member state of NATO for 70 years now, yes?
    - Steltek 5y ago
      Of course but if you read closely, I mentioned Erdogan, who purged secular military leadership, started buying Russian SAMs, and bombed US-backed Kurdish fighters. It makes for super awkward dinners back at the NATO clubhouse. And while I'm 110% rooting for Ukraine to kick Russia out, EU membership for other Eastern European countries has not been an easy road. Now toss in non-military third rail value systems like LGBTQ rights and abortion. I think "less complicated" is a fair description.
      - dmytrish 5y ago
        Please don't conflate Poland and Ukraine. Poland is in the EU and is starkly against abortion and LGBT rights due to the current government being quite nationalistic and Catholic. Ukraine is more secular. It is not a completely safe haven for LGBT, but it's not ideologically against it, just the usual grass-root homophobia that is being educated away; abortion and women rights has never been a stumbling block for Ukrainians.
        type0 5y ago
        My experience as well, Ukrainians tend to be more libertarian but Poles much more often conservative, culturally it's completely different.

jnsaff2 5y ago

I read your comment as sarcastic and in this sense you don't warrant the downvotes. But I don't disagree that politicians are quite weak in taking these bold steps.

Steltek 5y ago
Correct, with a side dish of cynical disgust. At least Sweden's potential membership is less complicated than Turkey or Ukraine. People got real nervous with Erdogan and while Ukraine may be a democratic country, it's also not a wealthy, liberal country. Internal EU and NATO relations are going to look very different after this.
- tsimionescu 5y ago
  > At least Sweden's potential membership is less complicated than Turkey or Ukraine. You do realize that Turkey has been a member state of NATO for 70 years now, yes?
  - Steltek 5y ago
    Of course but if you read closely, I mentioned Erdogan, who purged secular military leadership, started buying Russian SAMs, and bombed US-backed Kurdish fighters. It makes for super awkward dinners back at the NATO clubhouse. And while I'm 110% rooting for Ukraine to kick Russia out, EU membership for other Eastern European countries has not been an easy road. Now toss in non-military third rail value systems like LGBTQ rights and abortion. I think "less complicated" is a fair description.
    - dmytrish 5y ago
      Please don't conflate Poland and Ukraine. Poland is in the EU and is starkly against abortion and LGBT rights due to the current government being quite nationalistic and Catholic. Ukraine is more secular. It is not a completely safe haven for LGBT, but it's not ideologically against it, just the usual grass-root homophobia that is being educated away; abortion and women rights has never been a stumbling block for Ukrainians.
      - type0 5y ago
        My experience as well, Ukrainians tend to be more libertarian but Poles much more often conservative, culturally it's completely different.