5 ms·

Ukraine is caught in the middle of the competition between Russia and the USA. For the US, it isn't about democracy, it is about bringing NATO to Russia's bord

Ukraine is caught in the middle of the competition between Russia and the USA. For the US, it isn't about democracy, it is about bringing NATO to Russia's borders. Russia is terrified of NATO (the 2008 war in Georgia was basically the preview of Ukraine).

aluhut 12y ago
But they are already at Russia's borders. Since 1999!
- throwaway344 12y ago
  The US isn't at Russia's borders — Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and all the rest are. Their freely elected democratic goverments decided that aliging with the US was a good idea.
  - aluhut 12y ago
    Well, NATO and the US on themselves are at the border at least with Poland. I guess discussions with the rest would be quick with any kind of "movement" there.
adventured 12y ago
More than being terrified of NATO (it's not), Russia wants to retain a very high degree of control over its former satellites if it can. Including specifically Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine. Russia influences those countries practically as proxies as though they still belong to the old empire. Russia fears losing that control, it doesn't fear the NATO military alliance. I think it's a lot more afraid of trade ties with Western Europe and culturally changes that drive political changes.
- aluhut 12y ago
  Yes, I guess this is it and we probably crossed the line now. I'm curious how this will end if everybody wants to save their faces.