Comments by "Tim Trewyn" (@timtrewyn453) on "Ukraine Matters: What Ukraine Needs Most | Jake Broe Podcast (E017) @UkraineMatters" video.

  1. Per the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, the US and UK had a basis for proposing military exercises with Ukrainian forces in Fall 2021 and Winter 2021/2022. Such exercises would have upset Russian calculations for the invasion of Ukraine. One has to wonder what foresight there was as to the changes that would occur in geopolitics since the invasion that favored the choice by the US/UK and others to stand aside and let the invasion happen. Yes, there was a failure of deterrence, but there is also now a notable list of changes that are favorable to the US: European defense budgets increased, European unity improved, the addition of Sweden and Finland to NATO, the replacement of Russian oil and gas sales to Europe with more US sales, the demonstration of Western equipment to the arms market, increased sales of US military equipment, the demonstrated poor performance of Russian military equipment to the arms market, the demonstration of the relatively poor performance of a military controlled by an autocracy, the greater leaning of Ukraine toward the West, the avoidance of Russian and European criticism of the escalation of tensions the exercises would have generated, and the moral clarity provided by Russia's bald act of aggression. We owe Ukraine a great deal for choosing not to deter the invasion.
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  2. Jake, you have a good mind!
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