26 February 2022

Russia has been following the diplomatic path since at least 2014 when it helped broker the Minsk Agreement, which Ukraine hasn’t abided by.

And Russia has legitimate concerns about NATO being on their border. NATO still defines Russia as its enemy. Why? It made sense when the communist USSR existed because communism, but the USSR collapsed in the 90’s. Russia as it exists now is not communist, and Putin is not a communist.

Russia asked to join NATO but was rejected. It has made every effort to settle things like gentlemen, but Ukraine and the West have refused all gestures. What was Russia to do? One would have to be stupid to allow a sworn enemy to gain a foothold on your border.