If the goal was to curb stomp, it would’ve been done last year. And there would be no “grain deal”, there would be no flow of oil and gas to Europe, there would be no fertilizer supplies, nothing.
Ukraine and Ukrainians are not the enemy in this war. Sure the Banderite Nazis are, but they are a minority that have taken the rest of the country hostage. The real enemy that Russia is fighting here is NATO. The goal is to defeat their proxy army and deplete the collective West’s military and economic resources without completely devastating Ukraine.
The West would like nothing better than for Russia to completely eradicate everything in Ukraine. On their tally every dead Ukrainian is just as much a victory for them as a dead Russian. They know that at the end of the day, when this conflict is over, Ukraine and Russia will still remain brotherly peoples, no amount of Banderite propaganda can change that reality of kinship and historical cultural closeness.
This is why Russia needs to keep a cool head and respond to provocations like this only with actions that advance the overall military and geopolitical goal. If the grain deal no longer benefits Russia, it will be cancelled, but by that point it will be clear that its failure will have been entirely to blame on the West and their puppet regime in Kiev being dishonest actors and not abiding by its provisions.
Same goes for whatever deals are still in place for oil and gas. Let the Europeans commit suicide by continuing to sanction themselves out of a supply of oil and gas, that way it will be clear to the entire world who is a reliable business partner and who is not.
The real enemy that Russia is fighting here is NATO
I understand that
On their tally every dead Ukrainian is just as much a victory for them as a dead Russian
This I also agree with
Ukraine and Russia will still remain brotherly peoples
This, however, I cannot agree with. The whole hohol/moskal junk didn’t start in 2022, nor 2014, nor even 2004 and orange “revolution”. Hell, looking around, I’m not even sure Russia and Russia are “brotherly peoples”
Let the Europeans commit suicide by continuing to sanction themselves out of a supply of oil and gas
They’re still receiving it. Sure, the standards of living might take a hit, but will it be as large of a hit as we experienced after USSR collapse? Large enough to shake people to awaken? I doubt it. Some petit bourgeoisie might get rekt and join us proles on the bottom, but the fat cats up top don’t seem affected much.
it will be clear to the entire world who is a reliable business partner and who is not.
It’s been clear for ages to no avail. Likewise with exposing western lies and atrocities
Now there are some things i don’t agree with in what this author writes, in particular all the cringy right wing culture war stuff, but i agree with the main message:
“Legendary Russian fatalism may be alive and well, but it will be ashamed of its doubts in the end.”
It seems that Russians are more “doomer” about this conflict than non-Russian supporters of Russia are
Well we live here and experience the liberal rot firsthand. Without knowing what it’s like elsewhere (or only experiencing it through tourism or successful émigrés stories) it does create a sense of futility. The talks about nukes and Russian citizens getting attacked inside Russia with apparent impunity doesn’t help. If we are so mighty, why are people dying in Bryansk? Belgorod? Tula?
Replied to your comment up above, but I’ll weigh in one more time: while recognizing the rot in Russia – and you should recognize it – don’t underestimate the rot in the west, especially the US. In many areas, our standard of living is still much higher than in much of the world (though we also have the worst levels of poverty of any developed nation, such that UN officials travelling through rural Alabama have actually been shocked by it), but the decline over the past ten years has been really precipitous, and perhaps more importantly, the legitimacy of the state is unravelling. Pretty much everybody thinks the central government is corrupt on an institutional level, there’s no real way to fix it, and that we’re headed for disaster; all the online talk you see about “voting for change” is cope, and everyone knows it. The media also doesn’t have the unifying power it once had, largely because it’s now blatantly just virtue-signaling shit produced by and for elites. Abroad, you might see the glittering images of American life and know it can’t be reality, but in my experience, most non-Americans have no idea just how far from reality it really is. What we’re going through here is not just a “malaise” like the 1970s, or a “cynical period” like the late 80s. It really is the prelude to some kind of collapse – not particularly heartening if one lives here, but maybe a bit of cheer if you’re living in a country that’s fighting the good fight against America.
Honest question re Ukraine and Russia continuing to be “brotherly peoples:” what is sentiment of average Chechens towards Russia these days? From the outside, it looks as if they have largely realized the collective West was using them, and as a result the anger they had towards Russia has turned into anger at the west. I wonder if, following either (1) a Russian victory, (2) collapse of the Ukrainian government, or (3) Ukrainian victory leading only to IMF-imposed austerity, the Ukrainians could similarly realize that they were used, and become friendlier to Russia.
2004, colour revolution putting the rabid russophobes and western puppets in power
After few years, Ukrainians elect president that promised normalisation
2014, coup putting the rabid russophobes and western puppets in power
After few years, ukrainians again elect president that promised normalisation
2024??? seems like 2023 or 2024 will bring another huge upheaval
So while i wouldn’t say Ukrainians and Russians are brothers, not after century of chauvinist propaganda and now literal war, but they sure as hell don’t want to be enemies and USA needs to coup them every decade to remind them of their place.
I’d have to know at least one Chechen personally to answer this. I can say that ethnic Russians I know tend to dislike Chechens and frankly other Caucasus peoples. Hell, I’ve gotten crap for it in the past, and I’m not even from Caucasus.
As for “realized being used” bit… There’s anectodal evidence that the second Chechen war strategy of getting locally popular leaders on your side had its fruits. And you might have seen how well Grozny got rebuilt. This, however, only fuels animosity towards Chechens.
Interesting – thanks for the inside view. Honestly, while I support Russia and the SMO, and think (for reasons I’ve explained elsewhere) that western communists should refrain from criticizing Putin’s government, it can be easy for us westerners to think Putin is better than he really is. Mainly out of reaction to the blatant Russophobia in all the media, and also because, as a competent, dignified leader, he automatically comes off looking better than the clowns we have in charge.
If the goal was to curb stomp, it would’ve been done last year. And there would be no “grain deal”, there would be no flow of oil and gas to Europe, there would be no fertilizer supplies, nothing.
Ukraine and Ukrainians are not the enemy in this war. Sure the Banderite Nazis are, but they are a minority that have taken the rest of the country hostage. The real enemy that Russia is fighting here is NATO. The goal is to defeat their proxy army and deplete the collective West’s military and economic resources without completely devastating Ukraine.
The West would like nothing better than for Russia to completely eradicate everything in Ukraine. On their tally every dead Ukrainian is just as much a victory for them as a dead Russian. They know that at the end of the day, when this conflict is over, Ukraine and Russia will still remain brotherly peoples, no amount of Banderite propaganda can change that reality of kinship and historical cultural closeness.
This is why Russia needs to keep a cool head and respond to provocations like this only with actions that advance the overall military and geopolitical goal. If the grain deal no longer benefits Russia, it will be cancelled, but by that point it will be clear that its failure will have been entirely to blame on the West and their puppet regime in Kiev being dishonest actors and not abiding by its provisions.
Same goes for whatever deals are still in place for oil and gas. Let the Europeans commit suicide by continuing to sanction themselves out of a supply of oil and gas, that way it will be clear to the entire world who is a reliable business partner and who is not.
I understand that
This I also agree with
This, however, I cannot agree with. The whole hohol/moskal junk didn’t start in 2022, nor 2014, nor even 2004 and orange “revolution”. Hell, looking around, I’m not even sure Russia and Russia are “brotherly peoples”
They’re still receiving it. Sure, the standards of living might take a hit, but will it be as large of a hit as we experienced after USSR collapse? Large enough to shake people to awaken? I doubt it. Some petit bourgeoisie might get rekt and join us proles on the bottom, but the fat cats up top don’t seem affected much.
It’s been clear for ages to no avail. Likewise with exposing western lies and atrocities
It seems that Russians are more “doomer” about this conflict than non-Russian supporters of Russia are.
Maybe you should read this: https://imetatronink.substack.com/p/ok-doomer
Now there are some things i don’t agree with in what this author writes, in particular all the cringy right wing culture war stuff, but i agree with the main message:
“Legendary Russian fatalism may be alive and well, but it will be ashamed of its doubts in the end.”
Well we live here and experience the liberal rot firsthand. Without knowing what it’s like elsewhere (or only experiencing it through tourism or successful émigrés stories) it does create a sense of futility. The talks about nukes and Russian citizens getting attacked inside Russia with apparent impunity doesn’t help. If we are so mighty, why are people dying in Bryansk? Belgorod? Tula?
Replied to your comment up above, but I’ll weigh in one more time: while recognizing the rot in Russia – and you should recognize it – don’t underestimate the rot in the west, especially the US. In many areas, our standard of living is still much higher than in much of the world (though we also have the worst levels of poverty of any developed nation, such that UN officials travelling through rural Alabama have actually been shocked by it), but the decline over the past ten years has been really precipitous, and perhaps more importantly, the legitimacy of the state is unravelling. Pretty much everybody thinks the central government is corrupt on an institutional level, there’s no real way to fix it, and that we’re headed for disaster; all the online talk you see about “voting for change” is cope, and everyone knows it. The media also doesn’t have the unifying power it once had, largely because it’s now blatantly just virtue-signaling shit produced by and for elites. Abroad, you might see the glittering images of American life and know it can’t be reality, but in my experience, most non-Americans have no idea just how far from reality it really is. What we’re going through here is not just a “malaise” like the 1970s, or a “cynical period” like the late 80s. It really is the prelude to some kind of collapse – not particularly heartening if one lives here, but maybe a bit of cheer if you’re living in a country that’s fighting the good fight against America.
Honest question re Ukraine and Russia continuing to be “brotherly peoples:” what is sentiment of average Chechens towards Russia these days? From the outside, it looks as if they have largely realized the collective West was using them, and as a result the anger they had towards Russia has turned into anger at the west. I wonder if, following either (1) a Russian victory, (2) collapse of the Ukrainian government, or (3) Ukrainian victory leading only to IMF-imposed austerity, the Ukrainians could similarly realize that they were used, and become friendlier to Russia.
About Ukraine, note the turn of events:
So while i wouldn’t say Ukrainians and Russians are brothers, not after century of chauvinist propaganda and now literal war, but they sure as hell don’t want to be enemies and USA needs to coup them every decade to remind them of their place.
I’d have to know at least one Chechen personally to answer this. I can say that ethnic Russians I know tend to dislike Chechens and frankly other Caucasus peoples. Hell, I’ve gotten crap for it in the past, and I’m not even from Caucasus.
As for “realized being used” bit… There’s anectodal evidence that the second Chechen war strategy of getting locally popular leaders on your side had its fruits. And you might have seen how well Grozny got rebuilt. This, however, only fuels animosity towards Chechens.
Interesting – thanks for the inside view. Honestly, while I support Russia and the SMO, and think (for reasons I’ve explained elsewhere) that western communists should refrain from criticizing Putin’s government, it can be easy for us westerners to think Putin is better than he really is. Mainly out of reaction to the blatant Russophobia in all the media, and also because, as a competent, dignified leader, he automatically comes off looking better than the clowns we have in charge.