Comments by "LancesArmorStriking" (@LancesArmorStriking) on "How Putin (Accidentally) Re-United Europe - TLDR News" video.

I don't think that's the case. If Russia were to allow Ukraine to drift to the west, its oil fields would be scooped up by Western companies and Russia's largest revenues (oil, gas) would be eliminated. By seizing Ukraine, he is ensuring that this cannot happen. Though, Crimea would have been good enough since that is where most of the gas fields are, so you may be right. I don't think he intentionally acts against his own interests, though, he likely overestimated the army's ability to steamroll through Ukraine.
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@nathanaelsmith3553 I hate to butt it, but how 'widely' is she 'respected and admired'? For what? The only thing of substance she did was organize student climate protests in Sweden- a country whose government already pledged to transition. The protests seem like low-hanging fruit, which is why students were able to do it, instead of (for example) adults protesting the Keystone XL pipeline in Alberta. Everything following that event has consisted of Greta simply speaking, coasting on her student protest clout. But I have yet to hear any new tangible achievements from her, besides simply becoming "a widely respected and admired figure". Admired for what achievements? Seems like Sweden's Kim Kardashian (in the sense that she is now famous just for already being famous), sorry man
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No. This was tried already, and the West ruined Russia. In fact, it is directly America's fault that Russia is an oligarchy, Russia would sooner start WWIII than allow the West to influence it again.
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@geoffdeath2590 No, wrong. The West told Russia how to rebuild its economy in 1990s, and Russia listened. That's when life got even worse, and stayed that way until putin took over in 2000.
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@vulpes2417 Is that really the only thing you want to look at? How myopic. The median Russian salary tripled under him, life expectancy shot up (finally approqching 1989 levels in 2011) and alcoholism rates fell. The value of the ruble only went up in terms of purchasing power parity, but it would have been Herculean to have it constantly grow in real terms, since the government had defaulted on the ruble in 1998. Say what you will, but 2000s Putin was a net positive for Russia. This is why he was (likely, since it was never truly democratic) genuinely re-elected in 2004, and him dragging Russia out of its extreme poverty is what kept his approval ratings so high for so long (going by Western polling data).
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@Pobotrol Land is zero-sum, with Ukraine in Russia' orbit the absolute closest any Western power can get to Moscow jumps from 300km to almost 1000km
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@garlandgarrison3739 Would you prefer Assad have been toppled, and the country fall deeper into civil war? I'm sure the Syrian people value "freedom" over food and electricity, and who better than you to make that judgement for them?? And dont worry, I'm sure the West will successfully establish a government this time, just look at their track record with Libya and Afghanistan! Passing with flying colors -.-
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