I have been challenged in my critical support of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by Lenin who during the First World War said it was foolish to support Germany against Russia or vice versa, and that the people should seek revolution regardless.

This is written in The Defeat of One’s Own Government in the Imperialist War

The phrase-bandying Trotsky has completely lost his bearings on a simple issue. It seems to him that to desire Russia’s defeat means desiring the victory of Germany.

In all imperialist countries the proletariat must now desire the defeat of its own government. Bukvoyed and Trotsky preferred to avoid this truth

  • @savoy
    16•2 years ago

    The PSL’s statement on Russia’s intervention is a good read to view the line we should take on this conflict.

    The conflict currently exploding in Ukraine and rippling throughout the region and the entire world is hugely dangerous. The reckless and provocative actions of the U.S. government and its allies must cease immediately. The economic warfare being unleashed against Russia — which will first and foremost affect the country’s working class — will only deepen the crisis, as would troop deployments anywhere in Europe.

    Recognizing that Russia has legitimate security concerns does not require an endorsement of all its military actions, nor Putin’s suggestion that Ukraine has no basis to exist as an independent county, nor his larger geopolitical strategies. The role of the U.S. antiwar movement is not to follow the line of countries in conflict with U.S. imperialism, but to present an independent program of peace and solidarity and anti-imperialism.

    The menace of war can only be defeated by international solidarity among the peoples of the world and a resolute struggle against U.S. imperialism, which must demand the abolition of NATO. No war on Russia!

    The article is a month old now but there are other updates regarding more current events.

    • @RateAndStevolution
      12•2 years ago

      I posted this elsewhere as a good summary of my positions and it just got called tankie propaganda. I wish I knew other MLs in my field, but it’s all a bunch of libs.

      • @savoy
        9•2 years ago

        Yeah posting in liberal online spaces is always going to be hit or miss, there’s no motivation from the other party to enter into good-faith discussions. As this event is currently ongoing, it’s probably best to ease in very gently and try to get a feel if discussing is going to be a waste of time or not, then try to focus on NATO instead of letting the other party dictate the flow towards condeming Russia.

        • @aworldtowin@lemmy.ml
          5•2 years ago

          It’s especially difficult after 4 years of Russiagate. These “tuned in” libs consent has been so manufactured and US intel being right about Russia invading sealed the deal for most of them. Biden just recently said that Putin can’t stay in power and they all cheered in every comment section everywhere lol.

        • @RateAndStevolution
          3•2 years ago

          It’s honestly ending up this way with everything. I honestly just need to wait for this to blow over. I tried and get people more invested in some of the elections and actions of the global south which aren’t fully in support of the US, and it just gets ignored.