But Russia has had decades* to diversify its economy, the EU can't hoold the bill for their lack of forward thinking and corrupt oligarchs.
> If the EU guaranteed they would send X billions every month forever, on the condition of no military invasion, then I highly doubt the Kremlin would have been as aggressive.
I'm sure you mean this facetiously but it's worth pointing out how ridiculous this sounds, like being extorted by Russia ?
It is extortion, though there's no real way around it in dealings with Russia as they have very peculiar red lines, and they are very determined to defend them.
It probably would have been smarter for the EU to just pay up instead of paying 2x or 3x more for less than nothing, since all the money spent instead on military equipment, soldiers, ammunition, etc., is just turned into scrap and body bags on the battlefield. Which the EU will likely have to pay to clean up and restore in the future.
> It probably would have been smarter for the EU to just pay up instead of paying 2x or 3x more for less than nothing
So moral compass doesn't matter for you. "Pay the shake down" is your take.
> Which the EU will likely have to pay to clean up and restore in the future.
You say clean up, but forgetting that Ukraine has an incredible amount of highly skilled/educated population. They're not some 3rd world lost country as you imagine.
Investment in Ukraine when things finish up might actually be beneficial.
A moral compass where saving soldier's lives has little value is possible, though if you truly believe in that, it's a bit unwise to brag about it on HN.
Since the usual standard of modern day western society is that a soldier's life, including Ukranian soldiers, is worth quite a bit.
Sorry but are they peculiar? I wonder how the US would respond to Iran in the hypothetical where they forge military alliances with Cuba and then later start expanding to Mexico. Because that’s the direct analog to what’s happening in Eastern Europe.
This seems a bit disingenuous, similar situations are already in place, with Hungary/Orbán having basically an agreement with Russia, also India having no issues ignoring sanctions, yet we don't see annexations. Not to even mention Iran.. So it's not an analogy of what is happening in Eastern Europe. The soviet union was bad for those 'states' Europe was better, they wanted to join. Simple as that. Ukraine also wanted to join.. And Putin felt entitled to say no.
In a sense you're defending oppression and lack of independence.
We see a mature grown up approach from Europe, diplomatic, although slow.. Means that a lot less people die in the decision. If they decide to leave the EU, go ahead. If they decide to join, it's decided my all members based on criteria.
Nowhere along the line does someone say : "Well, we're claiming Ukraine as our because it's close to your border."
> If the EU guaranteed they would send X billions every month forever, on the condition of no military invasion, then I highly doubt the Kremlin would have been as aggressive.
I'm sure you mean this facetiously but it's worth pointing out how ridiculous this sounds, like being extorted by Russia ?
Edit : Decades not generations.