This is a very delicate situation that can't be resolved by just sending troops and fighting. Neither the US nor Europe wants to have another world war. Definitely not now nuclear weapons are much more powerful.
Ukraine had all of the information as well. They were told they wouldn't be defended by NATO, and they were told that they would be attacked by Russia if they didn't renounce their NATO aspirations.
It was all a big game of chicken to see if Russia was bluffing
The parallels with ww2 are far too easy to draw - the annexation, the failed appeasement attempt, the invasion.
The German invasion of Poland tends to be counted as the "start" of ww2, but the militarisation of the Rhineland, annexation of Austria, and invasion of Czechoslovakia all came first on that front. The global reach was due to European colonies abroad (especially in Africa).
The Japanese invasion of China also predated the start of war in Europe, but the Pacific war doesn't count as starting until the attacks on Hawaii, Philipeenes, Malaya/Singapore, Hong Kong etc in 1941.
Perhaps the next move is Sweden+Finland joining Nato (because clearly not being part of Nato is risky). Either way, perhaps then Russia invades the Baltics (or maybe "Belarus" does for deniability?), triggering wars all along the border. Throw in China using the opportunity to attack Taiwan while America is busy elsewhere, North Korea rolling into South Korea, and various local civil wars (probably instigated by China) in South America to distract the US further, then throw a wildcard like Syria taking a pop at Israel, and it rapidly escalates into a World War.
Historians (if any survive) may lump Crimea, Ukraine, and even places like Georgia, as the "pre-war" battles, it's arguable when local wars get enough to be deemed to be a "World War".
ROTMetro|4 years ago
s1artibartfast|4 years ago
It was all a big game of chicken to see if Russia was bluffing
unknown|4 years ago
[deleted]
AnimalMuppet|4 years ago
We're at least at the buildup to it.
tyre|4 years ago
The Vietnam War involved at least double the number of involved countries and wasn’t considered a world war.
iso1631|4 years ago
The German invasion of Poland tends to be counted as the "start" of ww2, but the militarisation of the Rhineland, annexation of Austria, and invasion of Czechoslovakia all came first on that front. The global reach was due to European colonies abroad (especially in Africa).
The Japanese invasion of China also predated the start of war in Europe, but the Pacific war doesn't count as starting until the attacks on Hawaii, Philipeenes, Malaya/Singapore, Hong Kong etc in 1941.
Perhaps the next move is Sweden+Finland joining Nato (because clearly not being part of Nato is risky). Either way, perhaps then Russia invades the Baltics (or maybe "Belarus" does for deniability?), triggering wars all along the border. Throw in China using the opportunity to attack Taiwan while America is busy elsewhere, North Korea rolling into South Korea, and various local civil wars (probably instigated by China) in South America to distract the US further, then throw a wildcard like Syria taking a pop at Israel, and it rapidly escalates into a World War.
Historians (if any survive) may lump Crimea, Ukraine, and even places like Georgia, as the "pre-war" battles, it's arguable when local wars get enough to be deemed to be a "World War".
GoodJokes|4 years ago
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