AHH Finally some sense - only There are other war's Conflicts also going Right Now around the World So it's Not Just Putin & Russia.
My Point is You were Very Quick to Single out Putin & Russia - Yet had Ignored Other Conflict's & What NATO & America have done - That's one sided Blinkered Bias.
I Hope You were Equally Angered,Focused & Vocal When it was NATO & America Majoring in The Killing / Barbarianism & Furthering Their Own Agenda - Were You ??
I had said the same thing, many times previously, so not finally. However, glad we are on the same page around that particular bone of contention.
Re: Blinkered bias. I simply have a different view of the situation regarding Russia than some of the posters in this thread. I could counter the same. It really isn't helpful to just claim that someone is blinkered, when they have a difference of opinion.
I also see no value in using whataboutism when assessing the moral actions in relation to a specific situation. What about when the west was a shit? Ok, the west was a shit, doesn't alter the fact that Russia is being a shit now.
I get that some here see a causal link between NATO expansion and Putin's invasion of UA. To this, I am of the opinion that it was highly illogical of Putin to believe invading UA was going to result in less NATO sign ups and greater security and prosperity for his people. A fact that is unravelling before our eyes.
I also am of the opinion that this is not the prime mover for his invasion. I believe the invasion is another example of him wanting to display a projection of power, to secure the abundant resources of the region, all due to a twisted world view about Russia's place in the world. He runs a kleptocracy with a wilful disregard for the lives and wellbeing of his own people, let alone other state's inhabitants, as displayed amply in how he is conducting this war and threatening the world with nuclear annihilation. In all, i find his actions contemptible in the extreme.
It is beyond doubt that there is no democracy in Russia and Putin is resulting to the sad repetition of what despots have tended to throughout history: become menaces, start wars, disavow entire swathes of people's (and states) rights to existence, genocide, etc. It's a sad old trope and one I wish, we as a race, could rid ourselves of.
Re: NATO / other conflicts. I for one am glad NATO exists. It is no coincidence that Putin has not attacked a NATO country. As mentioned previously, in response to a previous poster's assertion that NATO is an aggressor, Article 5 has only ever been invoked once, post 911. Putin takes land by force, invariably killing indiscriminately as he does so, then seeks to consume that land. States apply to join NATO and remain autonomous.