Putin gone (We wish)

[ladymuck]

What do you reckon his real motivation is?

1. recreation of some form of Soviet Empire
2. won't accept Ukraine as independent country, unless it has a government which kowtows to Russia
3. genuine fear of further NATO expansion
4. ridding Ukraine of Nazi and drug addict leadership
5. narcissistic attention seeking

1 and 5 mainly, with a side order of 2

[OwlHoot]

1 and 5 mainly, with a side order of 2

6 Extended exercise for Russian troops, to keep them mean and keen and up to scratch, instead of moping about bored in Russia!

No seriously, mostly 3 I reckon, along with the wheat and fertiliser (all of which will increase the dependency on Russia of India, China, _and_ let's not forget countries in North Africa, where Russia is also trying to increase its presence and influence)

[malvolio]

6 Extended exercise for Russian troops, to keep them mean and keen and up to scratch, instead of moping about bored in Russia!

No seriously, mostly 3 I reckon, along with the wheat and fertiliser (all of which will increase the dependency on Russia of India, China, _and_ let's not forget countries in North Africa, where Russia is also trying to increase its presence and influence)

3 is a nonsense. NATO is a purely defensive organisation, not a belligerent. If it has a proactive aspect, it is purely to act as a deterrent. Fear of it is only needed if you intend attacking one of its member states first.

[OwlHoot]

3 is a nonsense. NATO is a purely defensive organisation, not a belligerent. If it has a proactive aspect, it is purely to act as a deterrent. Fear of it is only needed if you intend attacking one of its member states first.

That may be so in theory. But missile launch sites in NATO countries present a belligerent aspect, especially when practically on the Russian border hardly 100 miles from Moscow, and at the best of times that is enough to put the wind up someone as paranoid as Putin!

[Paddy]

That may be so in theory. But missile launch sites in NATO countries present a belligerent aspect, especially when practically on the Russian border hardly 100 miles from Moscow, and at the best of times that is enough to put the wind up someone as paranoid as Putin!

400 miles. Go to Google maps, right click on Moscow select measure distance.
Back to the subject, during the cold war the one thing that stopped an invasion in the Baltic Region was the vast dense forests. It would have slowed down the Russian tanks too much. It is far better to employ tank defences rather than relying on nukes.