1. Re the assertions of Nazis in Ukraine.

Yes there are neo-Nazis there. Does that justify invasion? There are neo-Nazis in Germany. In Poland. France. Britain. The USA. Here. Does that justify military intervention? There are Nazis in Russia. Well let's go get 'em.

But are they important or influential in Ukraine? Not in the slightest. Putin's claims are mere window dressing to naked aggression. That they are believed by Russian apologists or the deliberately ignorant (hi, AC) is intended.

The neo-Nazis groups in Ukraine are a very small minority with no power. In the last election, Ukraine voted in a Jew. Nazis? The ultra-nationalist and neo-Nazis groups formed a coalition to get seats in the Rada (parliament). Of the 450 seats they won....none, nada, zero, nix, nought, nikto. They have no support in Ukraine. They are a phantom Putin uses to justify war. Falling for it is instructive.

2. The promises made in 1990.
Yes, promises were made. But circumstances change. For example, Russia made promises in 1994 to honour Ukraine's borders in return for them giving up their nukes. But Russia has broken those promises. Why? Because circumstances change.
Circumstances changed. After the promises were made (to the USSR, not Russia - a distinction that seems to elude AC) the wall came down, the Soviet Empire dissolved followed by the Soviet Union itself. Circumstances changed.

Again I ask, do you think Poland doesn't have the right to seek NATO's protection from Russia. Russia has invaded Poland 3 times in the last 100 years wiping out millions of Poles in the process. Should Poland be required to just wait patiently for the next invasion?

Armchair Critic

<< I heard one of the Maidan snipers came clean a few years back and said he was worked for the US. Not sure if it's true or not, and I haven't looked into the details as yet. >>

There is indeed compelling evidence to support this claim, but of course it will never be made public … well, certainly not in the Western mainstream media.

<< In the early days of fighting in Eastern Ukraine, about 40 American mercenaries traveled to join the fight on either side as Buzzfeed News reported. Among those was Brian Boyenger, a U.S. army veteran from North Carolina, who is alleged to have recruited Georgian mercenaries during the Maidan Square protests to carry out black-flag terrorist attacks and sniper killings that could be blamed on Viktor Yanukovych’s security forces in order to discredit them. >>

https://covertactionmagazine.com/2021/07/29/our-mission-is-to-lead-the-white-races-of-the-world-in-a-final-crusadeagainst-semite-led-untermenschen-subhumans

https://gordonhahn.com/2017/11/17/foreign-involvement-in-february-2014-maidan-terrorist-sniper-attack

mhaze

<<The neo-Nazis groups in Ukraine are a very small minority with no power. >>

This is not correct. They hold enormous sway in Ukraine and they've been supported (and exploited) by the US.

<<Azov it should be noted is not some fringe group within the Ukraine, but is supported at the highest levels of the Ukrainian government. >>

See the CovertAction article I've linked to above.

Bronwyn wrote: "Russia is not trying to expand. It’s defending its own territory, as is its sovereign right to do so. It's resisting having its borders militarily surrounded and threatened by NATO ... again, as is its right. Russia does not want to annexe Ukraine. Its intent is solely to demilitarise and de-nazify its unstable and threatening neighbour."

Russia wants to incorporate the DonBass into its territory. That's expansion. We don't know what it wants to do with Ukraine but at the least it wants to make it a client state. That's expansionist.
Again, a nation that isn't expansionist shouldn't be concerned about being contained.

Russia isn't defending its territory. No one, absolutely no one is threatening its territory. Ukraine isn't threatening Russia except that if it is ever allowed to be successful then it will live as an unwanted example of the failure of the Russia ruling elite.

"They [the neo-Nazis] hold enormous sway in Ukraine...."

Yes so much sway that they managed to win not one seat in the most recent elections. </sarc>

I get that you need to believe Putin's Nazi justifications, but they are a mere pretext for invasion. They aren't a real threat to either Russia or mainstream Ukrainian society.

Things don't seem to be going as planned for the Russians. Significant resistance by the Ukrainians with the consequent loss of life and materiel.

There is no way the Ukrainian army can hold out for long against the Russians but anything but a clean and quick victory is a disaster for Putin.

Zalensky, the man many thought a fool as a president, and supposedly the man the Russian most want, instead of going into hiding as expected, has decided to stay in Kiev to fight and raise morale. Not quite Churchill's "Fight them on the beaches..." but still pretty impressive. Equally, former president Poroshenko, has taken a gun and joined the civil defence.

Putin, who rejected all peace offers, now is prepared to talk. He could be bluffing but he could be blinking. Time'll tell.

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In other news, the US said they couldn't cut Russia out of the SWIFT system because Germany and Italy are opposed to it. They've both come out and denied that.

Perhaps Biden wants to keep the Russians in SWIFT because that's the only way Hunter can continue to get his salary.... http://nypost.com/2020/09/23/hunter-biden-received-3-5m-from-russian-billionaire-report/

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The Chinese (and the Taiwanese) are watching this very closely. The fate of Taiwan may rest on the fate of Ukraine. Its now said the Chinese have been helping the Russians to prepare for this for months.

From the NYT..."Americans presented Chinese officials with intelligence on Russia’s troop buildup in hopes that President Xi Jinping would step in, but were repeatedly rebuffed." China then shared the information with the Russians.

The Soviet Regime - a blood-stained machine
Which murdered millions in simple routine
Might is Right was their slogan of choice
Dissenting cries were not given a voice

In our history books we've been told
Of the many deported, tortured, and sold
People were arrested and shipped to Siberia
To the Russian Tundra and its interior

Countries suffered a massive loss
Of lives buried in the permafrost
Putin like Stalin are two of a kind
Yet some in the West to this are still blind

Putin like Stalin will take what he wants
He will kill and destroy those who fight in response
The world can't allow this rampage of terror
Not protecting Ukraine would be a huge error

The world must link hands as others have done
Bring down from within for this fight to be won
Russians must show they won't tolerate
Going back to the past, of fear and hate

Russians must say, 'We want peace not war'
And proclaim very loudly that war they abhor
The draconian systems must not return
There are lessons there from which we can learn

The world must unite and be made aware
This is a fight that we all should share
Putin must be stopped in his tracks
Only then can we sovereign nations relax

mhaze

<< Russia wants to incorporate the DonBass into its territory. That's expansion. We don't know what it wants to do with Ukraine but at the least it wants to make it a client state. That's expansionist. >>

Russia’s objectives have been enunciated clearly and unambiguously. They are very specifically the denazification and demilitarisation of Ukraine. Ukraine's Western-supplied military infrastructure is being targeted and destroyed and its ubiquitous Neo-nazis are being systematically weeded out. Ukrainian civilians are being given every opportunity to escape harm and the Ukrainian military are being encouraged to surrender and go home. The Donbas region is being protected, but there is no plan to permanently occupy the rest of Ukraine or any of its neighbours. This military intervention is all about protecting Russia and Russians. It is not expansionist.

<< Again, a nation that isn't expansionist shouldn't be concerned about being contained. >>

I can’t think of a nation anywhere which would accept having its borders surrounded by foreign military bases with missiles pointed their way. This is exactly what NATO is doing to Russia. Imagine if the roles were reversed and Russia organised an alliance to surround America. All hell would break loose. Why should Russia have to live under the constant fear of military attack? What gives America the right to do this to another country?

<< I get that you need to believe Putin's Nazi justifications, but they are a mere pretext for invasion. They aren't a real threat to either Russia or mainstream Ukrainian society. >>

The neo-nazi threat is very real. You obviously didn’t read the link I posted. It’s clear I’m wasting my time when you won't even look at the evidence I provide.

I’m a pacifist. I’m deeply saddened by this military intervention and can only hope it ends soon and with minimal casualties. I do, however, understand what has led to it. Unfortunately, most in the West do not. They accept without question the simplistic narrative of Putin as the evil and unprovoked aggressor and seem unwilling to delve any deeper.