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Remember, Moldova is former Romanian territory with a larger ethnic Romanian population and there have been recent (as of late last year) talks about reunification.
Romania has stated on several occasions they will defend it if nessecary.
Yep and as a NATO member, there would be article 5 considerations there as well.
Perhaps it's time to re-negotiate some treaties, as long as we're discussing financing, eh Comrade?
Romania is. If they rejoin Romania and Putin refuses to accept that, then it will apply.Moldova is not a member of NATO -- Article Five would not apply.
If Ukraine wins and gets its 2014 borders back and make off like bandits then it still has a problem.
Putin and Russia. Which are still there!
Not read a word on how Putin or Russian power can be cut off. How is that possible?
End of the day even the best case scenario is still not satisfactory as the root cause of the problem is still there.
So unless someone has a foolproof plan then apart from wish dreams and moonbeams it's going to be a tight one.
Romania is. If they rejoin Romania and Putin refuses to accept that, then it will apply.
AgreedI don't doubt that if they succeed in Ukraine now, Moldova is next on the menu, in a few years.
Of course Ukraine will always have that problem. Big neighbors can make for a tough neighborhood.
But what's being said is not "wish dreams and moonbeams", rather, it's that not fighting it out now invites further bullying and depredation. The Ukrainians ain't surrendering, and I admire that. We've got a saying down here in the South -- "It ain't the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
Ukraine is a small dog with a bunch of fight.
They don't need to win. They need to not lose. I don't think they will lose.
May have been Transneistra, which is A Russian occupied territory - which has a similar history to Donnas, too.Agreed
Didn't the leader of Belarus not show forces moving into Moldova on his map?
No, they shouldn't. Has anyone here suggested that? But Ukraine can't take Moscow and can't take out Putin - instead Ukraine must focus on achievable goals. The best Ukraine can do is take back as much land as possible before agreeing to an armistice and beginning negotiations. My worry is that the West, losing interest and wanting to return to global business, pressures Ukraine to accept the first olive branch no matter their situation.So Ukraine should just say fuck it, go ahead take our lands, and come back for some whenever you feel like it.
No, they shouldn't. Has anyone here suggested that? But Ukraine can't take Moscow and can't take out Putin - instead Ukraine must focus on achievable goals. The best Ukraine can do is take back as much land as possible before agreeing to an armistice and beginning negotiations. My worry is that the West, losing interest and wanting to return to global business, pressures Ukraine to accept the first olive branch no matter their situation.
The West won't lose interest.My worry is that the West, losing interest and wanting to return to global business, pressures Ukraine to accept the first olive branch no matter their situation.
The West won't lose interest.
The Ukraine has been part of NATO programs and EU cooperation since the 90's - as far as the Ukraine accepting any olive branch, it will be only when Russia and it's operatives leave it's sovereign boundaries.
What would reassure me and likely Ukraine is if the USA and NATO declared unambiguously and publicly the terms they are willing to accept as an official end of the conflict. I suspect the return of Crimea will not be one of them, but a full or partial (to pre-war lines) return of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to full Ukraine control will likely be one.The west cannot and will not lose interest because what happens here is in the west's interests. If Russia is successful here they will grow bolder and will want an even bigger piece of the pie.
What makes you think the USA and NATO can declare terms? You cannot declare terms if you are not at war. The only country that has any right to declare terms is the sovereign state of Ukraine. It is their country, and they get to decide.What would reassure me and likely Ukraine is if the USA and NATO declared unambiguously and publicly the terms they are willing to accept as an official end of the conflict. I suspect the return of Crimea will not be one of them, but a full or partial (to pre-war lines) return of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to full Ukraine control will likely be one.