General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,254 posts)

21. Yes, but they're not being threatened with anything.

Sun Mar 2, 2014, 11:38 AM

Mar 2014

So, there's nothing to do. It's understandable that they might be worried, but Russia doesn't seem that interested in them at the moment. During the days of the Soviet Union, those areas were buffer zones for the USSR. That's not important in 2014 and into the future.

Ukraine and Crimea are important to Russia, economically and because of a large ethnic Russian popular in parts of Ukraine. Unrest there is of concern to Russia, primarily for agricultural and natural resource reasons. Russia doesn't want instability in Ukraine. Russia also doesn't want Ukraine to be aligned with the EU. Economics are pretty much the issue here.

Right now, Ukraine is unstable. Russia believes it is in Russia's interest to make it more stable.

But Ukraine is not part of NATO, and right now, no NATO countries are seriously threatened by Russia.

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The United States will not have a military response to what is [View all] MineralMan Mar 2014 OP

K&R Fumesucker Mar 2014 #1

I wouldn't go that far. NATO has a stake in protecting its members from TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #2

Ukraine is not a member of NATO. LisaL Mar 2014 #4

No (and in fact one of Russia's fears is that it WILL be)--but Poland is. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #6

But, what military resources do Latvia and Lithuania bring to MineralMan Mar 2014 #12

You got me. But apparently they are in NATO, so they get protection TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #15

Yes, but they're not being threatened with anything. MineralMan Mar 2014 #21

Poland also doesn't want instability in Ukraine. And Poland is a NATO member. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #23

Poland may have facilities on its soil, but MineralMan Mar 2014 #25

Russia is going in to PROVOKE violence and instability, provoke civil unrest, gin up TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #27

Bulgaria & Romania will be the places to watch bigbrother05 Mar 2014 #45

We are now relying on Romania as a transit base to and from Afghanistan, TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #46

"One of Russia's fears is that it WILL be" +10 (nt) PosterChild Mar 2014 #42

NATO's not going to mobilize anything more than MineralMan Mar 2014 #9

I don't think it will come to that. If Ukraine WAS a member of NATO we wouldn't TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #13

It's doubtful that Ukraine will turn into MineralMan Mar 2014 #26

Right now it's a carefully choreographed dance, with backchannel TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #28

You and I apparently look at this differently. MineralMan Mar 2014 #33

Here's a view on NATO involvement: TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #35

Are you an expert in this field? Mojorabbit Mar 2014 #40

Nope. I'm just an observer who has been interested MineralMan Mar 2014 #48

k&R nt Bonobo Mar 2014 #3

Some interesting background history agent46 Mar 2014 #5

Also: Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #8

Thank you for this recommendation, Democracyinkind. Heidi Mar 2014 #18

You're welcome! Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #20

Of coarse we won't respond militarily bigdarryl Mar 2014 #7

The economic factors are far more important than MineralMan Mar 2014 #10

Ukraine is ecnomically important to Russia because of natural gas transit to Europe Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #30

Yes, exactly. Russia has important economic MineralMan Mar 2014 #34

The war machine benefits n2doc Mar 2014 #32

Absolutely, this talk about military response is turning the clock back to the good old cold war lostincalifornia Mar 2014 #11

Truly, we have learned something from the cold war. MineralMan Mar 2014 #16

So far, I only see one person suggesting a military response and they were roundly criticized. stevenleser Mar 2014 #14

It's more the worry about any possible military response that I'm MineralMan Mar 2014 #17

The US won't even have an economic response. Russia's main exports are oil & gas. reformist2 Mar 2014 #19

That's pretty much the case. MineralMan Mar 2014 #22

Why Ukraine and that region is of interest to me. MineralMan Mar 2014 #24

Ah, a former Cold Warrior. I suspected you aristocles Mar 2014 #29

Ah...... GP6971 Mar 2014 #54

Bravo! Vinnie From Indy Mar 2014 #31

I also believe there will be lots of sabre rattling but the U.S. is not going to take on Russia. OregonBlue Mar 2014 #36

Agreed.... paleotn Mar 2014 #37

I see no mention in this thread about the people who orchestrated the coup watoos Mar 2014 #38

I don't believe that's true Gman Mar 2014 #39

Propaganda effort: TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #44

Oh, man, more of this. It's everywhere, all saying the same things. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #43

Aside from the agit-prop, of course Demeter Mar 2014 #41

Thanks for posting this rational op. 2banon Mar 2014 #47

Have read all the comments with great care; thanks, MM, for a very helpful OP. IrishAyes Mar 2014 #49

We don't fight countries who have nukes. B Calm Mar 2014 #50

I Agree One Hundred Percent, Sir The Magistrate Mar 2014 #51

i agree. nt DesertFlower Mar 2014 #52

The war thing is a straw man for the Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #53

That's the truth. Russia is still a nuclear power. backscatter712 Mar 2014 #55