first off, russia itself hasn't had a free election since roughly 2000. if you disagree you can debate navalny's grave. pulling 90% of the vote against the puppets you allow to pretend to run against you -- while jailing or killing sincere opposition -- is soviet stuff, not democracy at work.
second, you fail to consider the elections of pro-russian leaders to run ukraine might have been similarly goofy. does it not occur to you why mass protests occurred?
third, the basic thing you're confused about is ukraine got independence and borders in 91. period. nothing you said about how ukraine is run justifies russia warring on ukraine and changing the borders. ukraine got crimea, ie, the naval base, in the divorce. got donbas, ie, the mines, in the divorce. whether you like ukraine's politics, choices, or even the outcome of any elections or civil conflict or protests......doesn't matter. it's handwaving. it doesn't explain why russia gets to become involved and gain its neighbor's lands.
i mean, does mexico get to take back the land they lost in the 1840s because they don't like dealing with trump instead of biden? no.
fourth, there have been two ukraine presidential elections held since, zelensky has been elected by ukraine. how long did FDR rule when we ended up in a war?
So embarrassing for the US to have a U.S. President negotiating on behalf of Russia. He is a traitor to his country.
Your solution is to continue the failed policies of Biden? Drop another $100 billion and watch as hundreds of thousands more die? There is a reason these invasions took place during Obama and Biden’s tenure. Zelensky came and campaigned for Biden because he has leverage over Biden and could get anything he wanted from him (honey trap and bribery of his son). Any leverage he had over Trump went away after the failed impeachment attempt.
first off, russia itself hasn't had a free election since roughly 2000. if you disagree you can debate navalny's grave. pulling 90% of the vote against the puppets you allow to pretend to run against you -- while jailing or killing sincere opposition -- is soviet stuff, not democracy at work.
second, you fail to consider the elections of pro-russian leaders to run ukraine might have been similarly goofy. does it not occur to you why mass protests occurred?
third, the basic thing you're confused about is ukraine got independence and borders in 91. period. nothing you said about how ukraine is run justifies russia warring on ukraine and changing the borders. ukraine got crimea, ie, the naval base, in the divorce. got donbas, ie, the mines, in the divorce. whether you like ukraine's politics, choices, or even the outcome of any elections or civil conflict or protests......doesn't matter. it's handwaving. it doesn't explain why russia gets to become involved and gain its neighbor's lands.
i mean, does mexico get to take back the land they lost in the 1840s because they don't like dealing with trump instead of biden? no.
fourth, there have been two ukraine presidential elections held since, zelensky has been elected by ukraine. how long did FDR rule when we ended up in a war?
FDR still won elections in 1940 and 1944, so not a good example.
first off, russia itself hasn't had a free election since roughly 2000. if you disagree you can debate navalny's grave. pulling 90% of the vote against the puppets you allow to pretend to run against you -- while jailing or killing sincere opposition -- is soviet stuff, not democracy at work.
In important meetings between world leaders, VPs are to be seen and not heard.
first off, yes, exactly, and diplomatic stuff is usually scripted. and you don't meet unless it's all agreed. summits are for show. this reads like the show was to be a pro wrestling lead-in.
second, trump obviously planted the "here to sign something" stories and was not right about that. or ukraine would have signed the mines deal before it left.
third, ordering ukraine to leave is itself crappy protocol.
fourth, it's lame ivy league crap to frown on how someone from an invaded country shows up dressed, or whether they are in suit and tie. i chuckled at zelensky saying i'll put on the monkey suit when i have a peace to sign. paraphrasing. which is itself an implied critique of what he was really here to do.
related point, but even if you think it, it's undiplomatic to say it. but this administration is about symbolic flame wars rather than getting anything done. we seem very proud we got russia to the table via god knows what concessions when they are under sanctions.
fifth, i am glad he spoke up about the utter russian-propaganda gibberish trump has been throwing around about the war. i am sure ukraine is like, on what planet to do you live? they rolled tanks and troops across their borders. and it's grotesque how it becomes a quasi-soviet party line in this country.
last, people forget zelensky was on the other end of the failed Perfect Call and didn't do what trump wanted. trump may pretend he wasn't working with russia, but he didn't deny the phone call on That Other Impeachment. he tried to force zelensky to rip biden. he refused.
i don't think this is sincere foreign affairs. i think this is personal payback.
i think we're the wrong side of history on this right now and any Real Reaganite would know that. putin's probably worse than gorby, not better.
the idea that being so frightened of your big bully neighbor that you would like some friends, is somehow the victim's fault when they get punched for trying to make friends, is laughable.
No, I advocate for actual diplomacy, not an extorsion racket.
Trump negotiates like a poorly written mob boss character. He basically said "that's a nice country you got there, be a shame if something happened to it."
first off, russia itself hasn't had a free election since roughly 2000. if you disagree you can debate navalny's grave. pulling 90% of the vote against the puppets you allow to pretend to run against you -- while jailing or killing sincere opposition -- is soviet stuff, not democracy at work.
Nonsense.
Soviets collapsed over 30 years ago.
Putin is very popular in Russia.
You are swallowing US propaganda
ok, whatever igor. it's not like putin brought back the soviet anthem and logos. or seems to want to bring back the old USSR borders -- hence bye bye ukraine, georgia, etc.
the last time putin had an actual real election was 2000 and he pulled 53.4%. since then putin decides who is allowed to run against him, and exiles, jails, or kills popular opponents like navalny.
putin was supposed to be term limited more than a decade ago. did you never pop your head up in moscow and ask how he's still running the place a quarter-century later? i am sure the processes to get there, you know, fully democratic, plenty of free speech, no one having balance problems out a 9th floor window, deciding they have a taste for poisoned tea, dying age 47 in prison.