Do you think Russia and Ukraine will ever really go to war?

[smahala1991]

They have been talking about it for weeks

[European4Ever]

Yes, the United States would have gone to war over Cuba in the 1960s. Russia is willing to do whatever is needed to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and all the factors happening make it so there hasn't been a better time. Any sanctions powerful enough to truly hurt Russia Russia can't be intimidated because they won worse by outlasting enemies like Napoleon and Hitler. Any sanctions will hurt the European Union much more than Russia, especially in winter, and especially this winter with energy reserves already low and inflation. The US and EU pushed Belarus under President Lukashenko closer to reunification with Russia. If Putin backs down, he loses reputation and all other leaders will lose respect for him. Every other great power is watching, not just the US. That means the EU, the UK, Japan, India, and China. It also means regional powers like Turkey, Iran, and others. If the EU crashes, it will bring down the world. If the EU and US eventually need to repeal harsh sanctions then they will lose respect, and if their own people are harmed financially, it will end the careers of politicians and the loss of power for many political parties. Europeans riot for less, and if sanctions on Russia resulted in higher energy prices and higher inflation, it would be mass riots until people forced politicians to end sanctions. Putin realistically will go to war because it's both a national security issue, pride, it was Russian territory for at least several centuries and has a common historical origin, and there hasn't been a better time. Russia also has the wealth, technology, resources, military might, nuclear weapons, and a wealthy trade partner (China) that makes them able to make a move. Russia isn't a realistic threat to anyone unless provoked which is what the US and NATO has been doing since the West's regime change in Ukraine. China actively has much more power and wealth in the world but relies on imports for raw materials and food from mainly Russia. There's no containing China without Russia as an ally and the West's actions, mainly US and NATO, after the Cold War ended any chance of an alliance with Russia happening. Politicians in the West never think long-term because their jobs are always at risk and unpopular opinions if correct are risky. Now, Russia will almost certainly have a military action to solve their Ukraine problem.

[Gal67]

Exactly! Agree 100%

[ChrisMaster69]

There has been a war going on since the Crimea invasion.

There has been a UK Op on since 2015 to upskill the Ukrainian military

https://medium.com/voices-of-the-armed-forces/operation-orbital-explained-training-ukrainian-armed-forces-59405d32d604

Also this extends far beyond Ukraine, Baltic states etc and it has a long history about the Russians warm sea port access.

I doubt very much will happen, however there is a lot of Russian propaganda hitting social media.

It’s not just Ukraine that has governments nervous, the Russian navy is also holding major exercises etc all around Russia and its interests https://news.usni.org/2022/01/21/russian-navy-announces-more-major-fleet-exercises-as-drills-end-with-china-iran

Exercises are not cheap, also it’s a lot of naval forces to warm up at the same time.

While I personally don’t think anything will happen, there is a lot going on which means a lot could happen as Russian, Iranian and Chinese ships would be at sea.

[Aerissa_Jade]

I think it won't be a war, more like an overrun, and then Russia will have elections saying 99% of people in Ukraine wanted to join them anyways and it was a peaceful regime change.

[Fuentes]

The US and NATO are already putting troops down so if they did attack them it would be the start of WW3

[Aerissa_Jade]

@Fuentes I don't keep up on the news, I wasn't aware the US or NATO had troops in Ukraine yet. I figured they'd be all around in NATO allies and then watch the overrun of Ukraine while doing nothing. They did nothing in 2014 so figured more of that.

[Fuentes]

They haven't sent them yet but they are about too and we already dropped off loads of weapons to Ukraine but Nato troops have been moved on the European borders byt the US is talking about putting troops surrounding Russia so wither Putin back down or he makes this Russias biggest fight to prove he's the super power and to keep the west in check if he can lol

[AncientWisdom]

I agree.

[AncientWisdom]

Yes I do think so but they will do it softly as you said below. They will do it while this weak president is in office. This is why they are moving on troops now. Putin wants the territories they lost at the fall of comin I don't know in their country. He is being careful but China will more then likely back him up. It perilous times right now.

[Fuentes]

Also Biden did place 8,500 troops in eastern Europe on stand by

[AncientWisdom]

Ever heard of optics? It’s all a show he is the weakest president in American history. That title used to be Jimmy Carters

[LovingJo]

If putin has anything to do with it, yes. But it will be a huge mistake on his part!! 💯

[BCA6010]

Historically speaking, there are very few if any countries/regions that have seen more wars come and go than Ukraine. It has favorable resources and geography, and has been treated as a buffer state for centuries.

In my opinion, they won't ever enter a full-blown war with each other, and Ukraine would surrender another chunk of itself or make some kind of concession before facing devastation. It's also not in Russia's best interests for a major conflict especially when they're simultaneously being drawn into military operations in Kazakhstan at the request of an actual Ally. Russia's logistics and economic capabilities simply can't support a prolonged conflict on one front let alone two, and they aren't willing to bankrupt themselves in the trillions for nothing like the US is. Judging by how Joe Biden has basically given them the green light to do something small scale, and Angela Merkel is trying to block other European countries from even sending equipment much less getting involved directly, it's pretty safe to say Ukraine appears to be getting thrown under the bus.

[Gal67]

Not really, no. If they did, what would be the primary objective? The grabbing of slivers of land in the East? The occupation and annexation of half of it? Going all the way to Kiev and swallowing up the whole country?
It's strange how the media in the West never talks about that. What would be the goals, the purpose of it all? If it's the absorption of Ukraine by Russia, what then? With a mere 100,000 troops, what would Putin hope to accomplish? In order to fully occupy the place he'd need at least 300,000. It's a big country, with a large population (41.2 million people).
The truth is that I believe that if a war did break out, Russia would lose (i. e. they wouldn't achieve their objectives in a timely manner). The number of deaths on both sides would be high, and with the British and Americans now sending both special forces and weapons to Ukraine, it would probably suck in the rest of Europe. At that moment, on the other side of the globe (yes Flat-Earthers, the Earth is a globe) the Chinese would launch their attack upon Taiwan.

[MuddyMole]

They already are at war, and have been since 2014 - so far it has claimed about 13,000 lives.
You're not going to see a big pitched battle, and you're not going to see foreign countries like the US sending in troops to defend Ukraine - expect a continuation and possible escalation of the proxy war instead.
Russia will support pro-Russia Ukrainian fighters by providing weapons and equipment, and limited direct intervention by sending so-called "little green men" - soldiers who wear unmarked uniforms, so Russia can deny any involvement, as well as private military contractors (ie. mercenaries - it's not just the US that uses them).
The West (the US and UK in particular) will provide weapons, training and intelligence to the pro-Ukraine forces, but will not directly intervene.

[NathanDavis]

I do not think so, no...

Russia cannot afford a "war" of this magnitude, their oligarchs won't be happy to pay for the consequences or this "war" nor the Russian people... Putin would lose too much and gain nothing considerable, he's way smarter than that

a different question would be... could there be a repeat of Crimea on the Donetsk or Luhansk region? maybe that could be possible since Ukraine has neglected some regions for too long, and the pro-Russian population is well spread all over the country

and this is a much greater and complex conflict than Russia just invading and going to war because Putin says so... lol

[LZPanzer]

I'm nearly certain that war will happen. Putin has everything to gain and nothing to lose

Putin gains more access to shipping sea lanes and oil field in Ukraine.

Bonus : if Putin invades and the US does not intervene he makes Biden look weak to us allies and us population. Not to mention he gets the above for basically free.

If the US does intervene he knows we are going to be stuck in another quagmire (Ukraine has a bunch of Russian supporters) additionally the US population has little appetite for war and after the covid pandemic broke our economy we really can't afford to attempt to rebuild Ukraine.

Second bonus: politically Putin benefits much more if Trump would regain the whites house so trowing egg at trumps rivals is a win in his book.

[Gal67]

Why would Russia need any oil that Ukraine may have? Russia has THE largest oil reserves on the entire planet.
Nothing to lose? Um... well, he'd risk losing a major war. Do you think Ukraine is defenceless? Do you believe it doesn't have its own armed forces?
"... he makes Biden look weak..." - This has got NOTHING to do with Biden, or the United States! Geez, you people are just SO conceited that you really do believe that EVERYTHING is about YOU!

[LZPanzer]

1
Since when do the rich and powerful say no to more money and more power.
2
Russia has a much stronger army and a navy capable of blockading Ukraine. Add in the local forces and Ukraine will fall as fast as Afghanistan did.
3
Gee why would the nation with the ~3rd largest military, with a historical adversirial position to the US. Want to disrupt the country (US) that keeps sactioning, and trying ruin their (Russia) economy. It's called a proxy war and Russia and the US have been doing conducting them since the end of WWII.

[Gal67]

1. He doesn't need the oil. Russia is swimming in the stuff. They have more than Saudi Arabia.
2. On paper, Russia has a larger army and air force. However, you're forgetting the fact that Russia is also the largest nation on Earth, and has other borders to defend. Putin can't deploy the entire Russian army against Ukraine. 100,000 troops would not be anywhere near enough to annex the entire country, if that is what his objective were to be.
3. For Russia, the U. S. is nothing more than a pesky fly (or a has-been celebrity). It buzzes around, trying to seem important, and makes a lot of noise, but Putin realises that Europe and China are far more important for Russia, if only because they are much closer geographically. Actually, in the near future the EU, China and India will be the superpowers, not the U. S., which is in steep decline.

[Citizenkirk]

Try telling the Russian Federation that Ukraine doesn't already belong to them it's like trying to tell the Chinese government that Taiwan and Tibet don't belong to them, you have a better chance winning an argument with a big rock, then you will getting through to them administrative knuckleheads.

[RolandCuthbert]

Its funny how folks in the Western society see things.

Dude, Ukraine and Russia have been at war for years. And I have loved ones on both sides of this conflict over there right now.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ez_zvVZEbvw

[oddwaffle]

They are already at war for years since 2014 and haven't ended since. Guns blazing throughout the night with militias forming a defensive lines. People get shot and die every year.

Most of the fights were carried by red necks with guns. Like those 2nd amendment peeps in the US. They were disavowed but still doing it anyways.

They slowed down a bit during the 2020s with deaths in double digits but they are picking up again with Russia shoring up the troops.

[alice55]

They wouldn't, there's more to lose than to gain in securing a war. It's nearly sure to end up as a new world war if they do declare war considering Europe will side with Ukraine (and maybe America too?). So there's really no point for either of both county to declare a war. Just some big tension. Kind of like a new cold war in a sense.

[GreenLanternI0I]

100% and I am not going to go into politics corruption or pick sides. All I'm going to do here, is I will state a logical question to you all. Imagine if Mexico or Canada decided to join Russian Federation, how do you think United States would react?

[smahala1991]

We would probably be scared

[GreenLanternI0I]

Yes and rightly so, that means Russia can place nuclear warheads right next to our border that would be able to reach our biggest cities in minutes. We would NEVER allow such an action to happen. So, why do people across the whole world especially here in Untied States think that Russia will?

[CreamySeed]

As an American I hope Slow Joe Brandon in the white house doesn’t forget to eat his chocolate puddin in the morning, get grouchy and drag us into war with an old nuclear adversary. Honestly fuck Ukraine it’s none of our business this is how world wars develop, entangled alliances. Rest assured a nuclear war will result if shit gets bad and it will kill millions maybe even billions. Humanity is only two generations from the last world war and we didn't learn shit.

[noohair]

War is a complete waste of resources but it make certain people very rich. I live in the US and I don't see any great strategic need to be involved in any way. This is a European thing. Europeans consider themselves to be better than Americans. Let them spill their blood, not ours.

[Slartybartfast]

Putin wa ts another price of Ukraine and to make it a puppet State. He tried to install a puppet leader. He's really good at manipulation of elections and advancing PROPAGANDA. Look what he did to the USA pushing trump and his LIES!

[Tylerstevenson1974]

Sadly it looks to be trending on that direction. Russia has stockpiled all the weapons and troops they will need. What’s worse is that Putin has put himself in a place where he can’t easily back down.

[JDAC2209199]

I hope not because then everyone else might join in and the world may end or countries might disappear and that'd be sad.

[Mister_Hangry]

I embrace it. Humanity needs a reset.

[BlackUrsidae]

I think Putin is trying to see how much he can get away with without actually committing to it. An invasive of Ukraine would have a high chance of starting WWII, there's no way he doesn't know that

[jshm2]

Dont be silly. Russia isn't a manic nation like the USA.

The problem isn't Ukraine or Russia. Its EU and US interests in the region.

[Anonymous]

Forever is a long time.

I don't think its going to happen any time soon, this is just sabre rattling.

[Dargil]

I really don't care. It is none of the USA's business. We have no duty to Ukraine.

[ImRetarded]

Well you should care because US is already sending troops there.

[Dargil]

@ImRetarded Not yet. The Tennessee National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment has troops on the ground helping that country run its Yavoriv Combat Training Center. That is not for combat. It is training.

[VikingWarLord]

It's nothing more than SABRE-RATTLING
to distract you from them destroying the economy and bringing in their GREAT RESET