Vladimir Putin has launched his invasion of Ukraine, seemingly expecting that his forces can subdue Ukrainian resistance. But the attack could severely destabilize his regime — with Russians already showing a notable lack of enthusiasm for war.
Russia overall did not want war. But Ukraine has waged war on Donbass since 2014, violating the Minsk protocol. Ukraine has shown hostility towards Russia and wanted to join NATO. That is a declaration of war intentions by the US’ own principles (citing the Cuban missile crisis)
The Minsk protocol was violated by both sides before the ink was dried. If you were Ukraine and Russia was actively involved in slicing off portions of your country, would you not seek protection with cooperation with more powerful countries? After all, Russia likely would not have dared launch this invasion if Ukraine was in NATO lest Russia get slammed with the full force of Article 5.
When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, Putin’s approval shot up to 80%. They are trying to paint this narrative that the dictator madman Putin is unilaterally attacking Ukraine against the popular will of his people. Putin’s approval rose to 69% (nice) after this latest operation. It was 8 points lower in August. Even by Jacobin’s own single source, when they’ve only had a short period to poll these issues and things are dynamic, half of ordinary Russians do support the recognition of LPR and DPR. So that contradicts the title of the article.
Of course that doesn’t make ordinary Russians the bad guys. It’s just that your average westerner who can’t find Ukraine on a map thinks they know better about complex geopolitics than people who actually live in the region. Unsurprising.
Now, I suppose it could be higher now. I already had no idea why russians seem to support Putin as much as they do for 22 years, so I don’t claim to know how their minds operate.
The last 2 sentences are very accurate. These are the same people that will shit talk about China/Korea politics yet cannot tell Thailand apart from Phillipines. Almost too many pro-NATO elements supporting Nazism showed up yesterday, which seems like a scary trend.
Almost too many pro-NATO elements supporting Nazism showed up yesterday, which seems like a scary trend.
It’s easy to do when Putin calls everyone he doesn’t like a Nazi. Never mind that that’s a much more limited segment of the population with little political power. Ukraine could get down to solving the problem with actual neo-Nazis if Putin would butt out of its business. Instead, Putin will likely use Nazis as an excuse to unseat a Jewish Ukrainian president. Irony much?
It is scary. Almost like the neocons, western ultra leftists like Vaush et al, and neo-nazis are starting to join hands.
It is worth me clarifying though, while this Jacobin article is trying to argue the Russian people aren’t with Putin on this, and that’s wrong, it is true that the Russian people don’t want this war. The ones who wanted and started this war since 2014 are the imperialists in NATO. Russia has only intervened in countries that were promised NATO membership, Ukraine and Georgia. People who think Russia is rebuilding an empire through force and would have attacked regardless don’t appreciate the timing of these interventions either. The Russians want to live in peace without jeopardizing security.
The Russians want to live in peace without jeopardizing security.
Yes, but that may not be what their government wishes (for various sorts of interests). Just ask any political refugee (eg. anarchist/queer people) from ex-USSR and they will tell you that Putin is rebuilding the Russian Empire and will provide you with ample evidence of both hard and soft power applied throughout ex-Empire/ex-USSR colonies. A key difference with historical russian empires though, is that Putin is delegating a lot of power to local rulers (eg. Kadyrov/Lukashenko) so that on paper their regions appear to be politically independent: it’s not formally an Empire. It’s a trick he learnt from western powers (USA in south america, France in Africa, etc).
When shit meets fan, it often happens that enemies become friends. For instance, in 1939 Finland the communists and the right (who had fought a bitter war against each other just 20 years prior) joined to fight against the aggressor, Soviet Union.
That is called nationalism at play. Read about it. Next you will want to tell me NATO being founded by Hitler’s army chief was justified and they totally do not practice imperialism and are totally not practicing economic and military fascism.
Poor Russia, even though they gave up communism for good old capitalism the nazis are still coming after them. What does it take to satisfy them? Poor little Russia! Now it has to invade other countries to protect itself!
Putin’s speech last night, in which he announced the outbreak of war, represented the unconcealed language of imperialism and colonialism. In this sense, his is the only government that so openly speaks like an imperialist power from the early twentieth century. The Kremlin is no longer able to hide behind other grievances — including even NATO enlargement
it is remarkable that despite complete control over major media sources and a dramatic outpouring of propagandistic demagoguery on TV, the Kremlin is unable to foment enthusiasm for war.
The article looks really grifty to me. What NATO is practicing is totally not divide and conquer imperialism, but this is. The whole global media is controlled and spouting the same stuff, and for some reason that is independent media. In another Jacobin article:
Under the Minsk accords […] these regions were meant to gain autonomy while staying part of Ukraine. Putin’s move effectively rips that agreement up.
Ukraine attacking Donbas before is treated like it never happened. What is with all these outlets?
NATO controlled media is lying and polarising masses, sometimes using fake wordsmith play in articles and sometimes riling up masses using misrepresented footage or its context. In the end, Ukrainians will suffer from all this.
🇺🇦 defeat Putssin - Everyone wins.
Do you mean Putin has SS Waffen flag Nazis in his country’s military? Because last I knew, Ukraine has that, not Russia. Russia is not a Nazi country.
Why do you have that SS there?
I didn’t think of that Putssin = SS , thanks for making the link for all.
Ban me if you don’t like what I say and consider that I have banned you from now on. Sometimes it is best to ignore what we consider to be trolls.
I am not the moderator, but that SS reference is very disgusting, even if unintentional.
Russia overall did not want war. But Ukraine has waged war on Donbass since 2014, violating the Minsk protocol. Ukraine has shown hostility towards Russia and wanted to join NATO. That is a declaration of war intentions by the US’ own principles (citing the Cuban missile crisis)
The Minsk protocol was violated by both sides before the ink was dried. If you were Ukraine and Russia was actively involved in slicing off portions of your country, would you not seek protection with cooperation with more powerful countries? After all, Russia likely would not have dared launch this invasion if Ukraine was in NATO lest Russia get slammed with the full force of Article 5.
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Nobody, except right wing politician, weapon industries and integral idiots, wants a war
When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, Putin’s approval shot up to 80%. They are trying to paint this narrative that the dictator madman Putin is unilaterally attacking Ukraine against the popular will of his people. Putin’s approval rose to 69% (nice) after this latest operation. It was 8 points lower in August. Even by Jacobin’s own single source, when they’ve only had a short period to poll these issues and things are dynamic, half of ordinary Russians do support the recognition of LPR and DPR. So that contradicts the title of the article.
Of course that doesn’t make ordinary Russians the bad guys. It’s just that your average westerner who can’t find Ukraine on a map thinks they know better about complex geopolitics than people who actually live in the region. Unsurprising.
I think that approval rating was measured before Putin started the war against Ukraine.
See for yourself
https://theconversation.com/putins-public-approval-is-soaring-during-the-russia-ukraine-crisis-but-its-unlikely-to-last-177302
Gun referred to this https://theconversation.com/putins-public-approval-is-soaring-during-the-russia-ukraine-crisis-but-its-unlikely-to-last-177302 which refers to https://www.levada.ru/2022/02/04/odobrenie-institutov-polozhenie-del-v-strane-doverie-politikam/ which shows that Putin’s approval rating was 69% in January 2022.
Now, I suppose it could be higher now. I already had no idea why russians seem to support Putin as much as they do for 22 years, so I don’t claim to know how their minds operate.
Fair enough, I’ll correct it
The last 2 sentences are very accurate. These are the same people that will shit talk about China/Korea politics yet cannot tell Thailand apart from Phillipines. Almost too many pro-NATO elements supporting Nazism showed up yesterday, which seems like a scary trend.
It’s easy to do when Putin calls everyone he doesn’t like a Nazi. Never mind that that’s a much more limited segment of the population with little political power. Ukraine could get down to solving the problem with actual neo-Nazis if Putin would butt out of its business. Instead, Putin will likely use Nazis as an excuse to unseat a Jewish Ukrainian president. Irony much?
Alright, time to pack up. You are not arguing in good faith.
Hey, I’m not the one spraying Nazi accusations everywhere.
It is scary. Almost like the neocons, western ultra leftists like Vaush et al, and neo-nazis are starting to join hands.
It is worth me clarifying though, while this Jacobin article is trying to argue the Russian people aren’t with Putin on this, and that’s wrong, it is true that the Russian people don’t want this war. The ones who wanted and started this war since 2014 are the imperialists in NATO. Russia has only intervened in countries that were promised NATO membership, Ukraine and Georgia. People who think Russia is rebuilding an empire through force and would have attacked regardless don’t appreciate the timing of these interventions either. The Russians want to live in peace without jeopardizing security.
Yes, but that may not be what their government wishes (for various sorts of interests). Just ask any political refugee (eg. anarchist/queer people) from ex-USSR and they will tell you that Putin is rebuilding the Russian Empire and will provide you with ample evidence of both hard and soft power applied throughout ex-Empire/ex-USSR colonies. A key difference with historical russian empires though, is that Putin is delegating a lot of power to local rulers (eg. Kadyrov/Lukashenko) so that on paper their regions appear to be politically independent: it’s not formally an Empire. It’s a trick he learnt from western powers (USA in south america, France in Africa, etc).
When shit meets fan, it often happens that enemies become friends. For instance, in 1939 Finland the communists and the right (who had fought a bitter war against each other just 20 years prior) joined to fight against the aggressor, Soviet Union.
That is called nationalism at play. Read about it. Next you will want to tell me NATO being founded by Hitler’s army chief was justified and they totally do not practice imperialism and are totally not practicing economic and military fascism.
Poor Russia, even though they gave up communism for good old capitalism the nazis are still coming after them. What does it take to satisfy them? Poor little Russia! Now it has to invade other countries to protect itself!
Poor little NATO Nazis, controlling the world is not enough, need more control.
Says the tankie.
The article looks really grifty to me. What NATO is practicing is totally not divide and conquer imperialism, but this is. The whole global media is controlled and spouting the same stuff, and for some reason that is independent media. In another Jacobin article:
Ukraine attacking Donbas before is treated like it never happened. What is with all these outlets?
NATO controlled media is lying and polarising masses, sometimes using fake wordsmith play in articles and sometimes riling up masses using misrepresented footage or its context. In the end, Ukrainians will suffer from all this.