For the purposes of my comment I’m using the dictionary’s definition of ‘imperialism’, which is to say no, I’ve not read those author’s works.
As for your questions:
NATO is definitely involved, but Russia is not fighting them. I would liken them more to a boxing coach, their influence on Ukraine is massive and undeniable, but they’re only providing support, Ukraine is the one actually dealing (and receiving) the punches (Also the coach gave the boxer steroids but in this context its okay(weird reaching metaphor))
I’m not here to defend NATO, I’m not like a NATO-fan. I can criticize NATO and Russia in the same breath.
I simply do not believe Russia’s stated aims, much like the stated aims of the conflicts the US instigates it fails to stand up to scrutiny. What does ‘denazifcation’ of Ukraine even look like? Russia goal was regime change, hence why their first thrust was to Kyiv in hopes of immediately ending the war.
If Russia had immediately ended the war, it would have been a great success and put Russia in a good position. But they didn’t and now even if Russia succeeds and upends the Ukrainian government, it would seem like a pyrrhic victory given the circumstances.
I see. Would you like to get into a discussion about the theory of imperialism? I can’t claim to know everything and I will likely start with linking some other comments I’ve written but it will shed light on the situation and will reveal why I disagree with your characterisation of Russia as imperialist.
When you say that it was okay for the coach to give the boxer steroids, does this not mean that you think NATO is right to back Zelensky’s government?
At the least, denazification likely means disbanding the neo-Nazi militias and batalians, acting on the support for Stephan Bandera, reinstating memorials, etc, to the Soviets who liberated Ukraine in WWII, regulating Nazi-adjacent speech in the media, fully explaining the history of Ukraine in educational settings, and ending the attacks on innocent civilians in Eastern Ukraine. Much of this was reported in Western press before the invasion but it’s become very difficult to find if the articles still exist.
Did Russia realistically hope to take Kiev in one fell swoop? That narrative does contradict the denazification and demilitarisation rationale. Another interpretation is that bogging down the Ukrainian military, with it’s known support from NATO, would achieve Russia’s publicly stated goals via a war of attrition. Even if Russia had taken Kiev, it would have been unlikely to have achieved it’s started goals.
For the purposes of my comment I’m using the dictionary’s definition of ‘imperialism’, which is to say no, I’ve not read those author’s works.
As for your questions:
If Russia had immediately ended the war, it would have been a great success and put Russia in a good position. But they didn’t and now even if Russia succeeds and upends the Ukrainian government, it would seem like a pyrrhic victory given the circumstances.
I see. Would you like to get into a discussion about the theory of imperialism? I can’t claim to know everything and I will likely start with linking some other comments I’ve written but it will shed light on the situation and will reveal why I disagree with your characterisation of Russia as imperialist.
When you say that it was okay for the coach to give the boxer steroids, does this not mean that you think NATO is right to back Zelensky’s government?
At the least, denazification likely means disbanding the neo-Nazi militias and batalians, acting on the support for Stephan Bandera, reinstating memorials, etc, to the Soviets who liberated Ukraine in WWII, regulating Nazi-adjacent speech in the media, fully explaining the history of Ukraine in educational settings, and ending the attacks on innocent civilians in Eastern Ukraine. Much of this was reported in Western press before the invasion but it’s become very difficult to find if the articles still exist.
Did Russia realistically hope to take Kiev in one fell swoop? That narrative does contradict the denazification and demilitarisation rationale. Another interpretation is that bogging down the Ukrainian military, with it’s known support from NATO, would achieve Russia’s publicly stated goals via a war of attrition. Even if Russia had taken Kiev, it would have been unlikely to have achieved it’s started goals.