Kiev already broke the Minsk Agreements that were meant to solve the issues of Ukrainian armament and oppression of ethnic Russians. There’s only so many times you can deliberately break international agreements before nobody takes you seriously. The Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics broke away a decade ago, and have been at war since.
As for Russia, what they gain is security. When diplomacy fails, they are taking the millitant route. I ask you, if this is for “vainglory,” why limit it to the Donbass region? Russia has proven capable of fighting an attrition war that Ukraine cannot, why not go for other areas in Europe? The narrative that Putin just wants to restart the Russian Empire, as though he wants to become the Tsar, is ridiculous. Not only is the Russian population benefiting massively from strengthened ties with China, it’s populace increasingly favors socialism over capitalism:
There’s no “meat grinder” here, Russia has been strengthened economically, and appears to be meeting its stated goals. There’s no backing to the “empire” narrative, of Russian conquest of Europe.
Ukraine maintained every part of the Minsk agreement reasonable to keep while Russia was in blatant violation of the agreement. Russia agreed to a withdraw of military forces from Ukraine (including the Dombass region) and refused to do so after signing the agreement. This constrained what Ukraine could reasonably do under the circumstances. To Russia, the agreements were a hiatus in a bigger fight.
The LPR and DPR are not recognized as legitimate entities under the Minsk Agreements. They were added without consent by Ukraine after Ukraine had already signed the agreement.
Russia, what they gain is security
Yes, now bombs fall on Russian cities, power plants go dark, and refineries are on fire.
if this is for “vainglory,” why limit it to the Donbass region
Russia has already expanded their territorial claims beyond the Dombass.
Russia has proven capable of fighting an attrition war that Ukraine cannot
Neither side is doing well. If Russia was capable, they’d be gaining more than a few meters every day.
Russian population benefiting massively from strengthened ties with China
Russian demographics are in the toilet and friendship with China isn’t going to help.
Russia has been strengthened economically
A wartime economy produces encouraging economic figures but cannot be sustained and, when the war produces this kind of strain, the post-war economy is economic collapse. The war has to end someday and it will be ugly for the Russian people when that happens.
Ukraine broke the Minsk agreements, and Russia recognized that the agreements weren’t worth anything then. Pretty clear-cut. Russia’s economy is being strengthened not just by temporary wartime economics, but also by being further embedded in Chinese trade, as well as increased cooperation with the global south. Russia’s desire for the four oblasts has been consistent, and they have been steadily gaining territory month over month as war in Ukraine becomes increasingly unpopular.
You have proven nothing regarding the war being about “vainglory” or “mass expansion,” these are absurdities one must conjure out of thin-air in order to treat Russia not as a country of humans but instead as a saturday morning cartoon villian. This is Marvel-movie style analysis of complex geopolitical interactions.
Kiev already broke the Minsk Agreements that were meant to solve the issues of Ukrainian armament and oppression of ethnic Russians. There’s only so many times you can deliberately break international agreements before nobody takes you seriously. The Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics broke away a decade ago, and have been at war since.
As for Russia, what they gain is security. When diplomacy fails, they are taking the millitant route. I ask you, if this is for “vainglory,” why limit it to the Donbass region? Russia has proven capable of fighting an attrition war that Ukraine cannot, why not go for other areas in Europe? The narrative that Putin just wants to restart the Russian Empire, as though he wants to become the Tsar, is ridiculous. Not only is the Russian population benefiting massively from strengthened ties with China, it’s populace increasingly favors socialism over capitalism:
There’s no “meat grinder” here, Russia has been strengthened economically, and appears to be meeting its stated goals. There’s no backing to the “empire” narrative, of Russian conquest of Europe.
Ukraine maintained every part of the Minsk agreement reasonable to keep while Russia was in blatant violation of the agreement. Russia agreed to a withdraw of military forces from Ukraine (including the Dombass region) and refused to do so after signing the agreement. This constrained what Ukraine could reasonably do under the circumstances. To Russia, the agreements were a hiatus in a bigger fight.
The LPR and DPR are not recognized as legitimate entities under the Minsk Agreements. They were added without consent by Ukraine after Ukraine had already signed the agreement.
Yes, now bombs fall on Russian cities, power plants go dark, and refineries are on fire.
Russia has already expanded their territorial claims beyond the Dombass.
Neither side is doing well. If Russia was capable, they’d be gaining more than a few meters every day.
Russian demographics are in the toilet and friendship with China isn’t going to help.
A wartime economy produces encouraging economic figures but cannot be sustained and, when the war produces this kind of strain, the post-war economy is economic collapse. The war has to end someday and it will be ugly for the Russian people when that happens.
Ukraine broke the Minsk agreements, and Russia recognized that the agreements weren’t worth anything then. Pretty clear-cut. Russia’s economy is being strengthened not just by temporary wartime economics, but also by being further embedded in Chinese trade, as well as increased cooperation with the global south. Russia’s desire for the four oblasts has been consistent, and they have been steadily gaining territory month over month as war in Ukraine becomes increasingly unpopular.
You have proven nothing regarding the war being about “vainglory” or “mass expansion,” these are absurdities one must conjure out of thin-air in order to treat Russia not as a country of humans but instead as a saturday morning cartoon villian. This is Marvel-movie style analysis of complex geopolitical interactions.