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Are there any unbiased articles that discuss the implications of Ukraine agreeing to not join the EU/NATO? Something that just analyzes the economics and geopol

Are there any unbiased articles that discuss the implications of Ukraine agreeing to not join the EU/NATO? Something that just analyzes the economics and geopolitical consequences - not ideological or moral issues. Basically, why didn’t Ukraine do what Belarus did to save human lives?

ajuc 5y ago
Because Belarus is an authoritarian state where the same guy rules for 3rd decade, elections are faked and everybody know it, people who protest are beaten up, raped and/or killed. Just last year there have been massive protests, but they couldn't do anything because russian army (which constantly stations there) supports Lukashenko. Would you want that for your country? It's not a choice between neutrality and EU/NATO. The neutrality was tried. The moment Russia disliked the president Ukrainians chose - they poisoned him. And faked the elections. There was no NATO talks at the time and EU was a rarely considered possibility. This is what caused Ukrainians to think about aligning themselves with the west for real. Ultimately the options are remain in russian sphere of influence and become another Belarus or leave it and become like other EE states in EU/NATO. There has been over a million Ukrainian economic migrants in Poland before this invasion. They know how EU membership changes a country. Poland was less wealthy and developed than Ukraine and Belarus in 90s. Now after 30 years it's night and day in the other direction. So Ukrainians choose EU over Russia. Nobody forced them. And that choice involves defending themselves from a Russian invasion. Ukrainians knew this for years at this point. There has been an interview from a few years ago by Ukrainian PM Arsen Yaceniuk. He basically said what is happening right now will happen "2020-2022" and that it's still a "preferable choice to reversing course". What can happen is Ukraine trying the Finland route - agreeing to not join NATO so the war can end (and Putin can declare a "victory"), but joining EU and becoming an ally of NATO in all but name to discourage next invasions. That's their choice, depends on how well the war goes. But that's not neutrality - certainly not according to Russia.

ajuc 5y ago

Because Belarus is an authoritarian state where the same guy rules for 3rd decade, elections are faked and everybody know it, people who protest are beaten up, raped and/or killed. Just last year there have been massive protests, but they couldn't do anything because russian army (which constantly stations there) supports Lukashenko. Would you want that for your country? It's not a choice between neutrality and EU/NATO. The neutrality was tried. The moment Russia disliked the president Ukrainians chose - they poisoned him. And faked the elections. There was no NATO talks at the time and EU was a rarely considered possibility. This is what caused Ukrainians to think about aligning themselves with the west for real. Ultimately the options are remain in russian sphere of influence and become another Belarus or leave it and become like other EE states in EU/NATO. There has been over a million Ukrainian economic migrants in Poland before this invasion. They know how EU membership changes a country. Poland was less wealthy and developed than Ukraine and Belarus in 90s. Now after 30 years it's night and day in the other direction. So Ukrainians choose EU over Russia. Nobody forced them. And that choice involves defending themselves from a Russian invasion. Ukrainians knew this for years at this point. There has been an interview from a few years ago by Ukrainian PM Arsen Yaceniuk. He basically said what is happening right now will happen "2020-2022" and that it's still a "preferable choice to reversing course". What can happen is Ukraine trying the Finland route - agreeing to not join NATO so the war can end (and Putin can declare a "victory"), but joining EU and becoming an ally of NATO in all but name to discourage next invasions. That's their choice, depends on how well the war goes. But that's not neutrality - certainly not according to Russia.