[AvocadoPanic]

See

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08MOSCOW265_a.html

2008 Classified Cable describing potential future

Experts tell us that Russia is particularly worried that the strong divisions in Ukraine over NATO membership, with much of the ethnic-Russian community against membership, could lead to a major split, involving violence or at worst, civil war. In that eventuality, Russia would have to decide whether to intervene; a decision Russia does not want to have to face.

[tim333]

Your source says the Americans were aware the Russians would be upset by Ukraine joining NATO. Partly as a result I guess Ukraine did not join NATO and was not invited to.

The Girkin article basically says he started the war in eastern Ukraine as an imperialist who thought eastern Ukraine should be part of Russia. I see no mention western warmongers in that. If you can fault the west it seems to me that they caused the war more by forcing Ukraine to give up its nukes in return for promises to defend it from Russian invasion and then not bothering to do so.

[aguaviva]

So what did the West promise to Ukraine and when, in this regard?

[LunaSea]

> Russia would have to decide whether to intervene;

Why would they have the right to intervene? Ukraine is an independent country.

> a decision Russia does not want to have to face.

I'm sure that Russia conquered Crimea against their hearts wish lol.

[dvfjsdhgfv]

Ah OK, that settles it - Putin is innocent.

[tharmas]

Ok, we won't confuse you with the facts, as your mind is already made up.

You've a victim of Western propaganda. Can't you see that?

[tharmas]

Bye the way, so you don't get offended, I used to think just like you. In 2014 I was all anti Putin viz-a-viz Ukraine, Crimea etc. That was because I consumed a lot of Western main stream news media. It's all propaganda.