Comments by "chaosXpert" (@chaosXP3RT) on "Who Is Winning? Some Points To Consider Between Russia and Ukraine" video.

  1. I have to disagree with you Preston that Russia's vital interests have to be regarded. Russia is not a country worthy of super power or even regional power status. This idea that Russia gets to dictate the choices of it's sovereign neighbors because Russia lives in perpetual fear is wrong. Ukraine, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Moldova, etc. all have the right to protect their own sovereignty, whether that means joining NATO, investing in discovered natural gas and oil fields, joining the EU, etc. and in many cases, regarding Russia's "vital interests" directly threatens these nations and/or undermines their sovereignty. Russia illegally occupied Crimea for 8 years. That was Ukrainian land recognized under international law. For 8 years, the US and EU told Ukraine not to retake their own land, Crimea. "Don't provoke Russia. Also, you cannot join NATO or the EU with current internal conflicts. Sucks to suck, I guess." For 8 years, outsiders were afraid to invest in Ukraine because of the land Russia occupied and the civil strife it directly funded. Ukraine had no opportunities to develop even if it wanted too, because of what Russia had done. Russian gas and oil pipelines ran across Ukrainian land, giving Ukraine not only natural gas and oil, but also revenue. It's not secret Russia was building the Nord Stream Pipelines to bypass any revenue it was required to pay to Ukraine. These pipelines were a direct threat to Ukrainian interests. The conflicts in Crimea and the Donbas also conveniently happened right on top of newly discovered oil and natural gas fields that could've allowed Ukraine to supply the EU with energy. All this is to say, what gives one country to the right to disregard the security and "vital interests" of other nations, especially its neighboring nations? Russia's "interests" are irrelevant and unimportant. Russia made a choice to pursue imperialistic aims rather than improve the lives of Russians at home. A choice to disregard the interests and security of Ukraine. It made the choice to abandon international law. It made the choice to destroy people's homes, liberties and lives. But I will concede that it was in fact the USA and NATO who started this conflict because they decided to do nothing when Russia invaded in 2014. I will always standby liberty and independence because that's what I believe the USA was founded on, and I will do everything I can to see the US government aid Ukraine in victory. I do not want to see the country I love watch as another fledgling democracy has it's freedom and independence torn away. In my opinion, opposing support for Ukraine is betraying the values of this country and nothing short of hypocrisy.
    1