Could the Russia-Ukraine war have been avoided if Ukraine recognized officially pro-Russia Republics of Doneck and Lugansk?

No. You’re just feeding the hungry bear.

NO…Putin has been planning this since 2016 & NOTHING would have changed his mind!!!

For the love of God, I wish people would take the time to even glance at the actual history of Ukraine and what the place is about.

@HP: I admit I’m a bit short in understanding Ukraine’s local political history, but I just regret the deaths of the war, soldiers AND civilians both.

@luigirovatti, from your question, it sounds like you didn’t know that Putin already took Crimea in 2014. Now it is a base for his southern attack on Ukraine.

Putin was determined to attack. The eastern territories were a pretext. Any other, or none, would have sufficed.

@Jeruba: Unfortunately I cannot correct my mistake in the main body of the question. It must be left as is and I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.

Appeasement doesn’t work with dictators. They always want more.

Putin wants all of Ukraine !

The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances signed by the USA, the UK and the Russian Federation in 1994 included security assurances against threats or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in return for giving up their nuclear weapons. How trusting and how foolish they now appear.

Ukraine has been an independent country for 31 years. Before 1991 it was one the Republics comprising the Soviet Union, and had been so since established as such in 1917. But prior to this Ukraine had been a Russian territory of tremendous significance since the era of Catherine the Great. Ukraine was considered “the breadbasket of Russia” and then the Soviet Union. The Crimea was integral to Ukraine and the vital access to the oceans for the Russian navy. The Black sea is indispensable to the strategic viability of Russia both militarily and commercially, with Sevastopol as the base for its Black Sea fleet. Again this has been the state of affairs since Catherine the Great. The Russians would be insane to cede control of so critical an asset to an independent Ukraine or allow NATO or anyone else to encroach on its status.

@HP so your thesis is that because Ukraine was important to Russia 150 years ago, their independence for the last 31 years is to be laughed at?

No. My position is that though the status of Ukraine has shifted, the strategic importance of the place to Russia HAS NOT.

No. Putin wants to re-establish the USSR to what it was 40 years ago. Ukraine is the starting off point.

@HP The days of Catherine the Great were the days of colonisation and empire. Those days are past and most of us don’t want to see them return. In its place we have self-determination, democracy and resolution of issues through mutual respect and dialogue. Being of “strategic importance” gives you no right to invade a peaceful neighbour and while Putin has given several spurious reasons for his shameful attack I haven’t heard him cite that one.

That would have been about as successful as giving a would-be rapist your wallet.

@flutherother I wish you and the rest of us could get past the right or wrong of Putin’s behavior, or for that matter our own. The United States is notorious for pulling this sort of shit at the drop of a hat. Forget about right or wrong. Ask yourself whether or not it’s the smart thing to do. And to reduce the issue to its simplest form, can he get away with it?

For the love of God, I wish people would take the time to even glance at the actual history of Ukraine and what the place is about.

I can tell you one thing…It was NOT Ukraine that sided with Germany to take on the rest of the world during WWII. It has NOT been Ukraine poisoning those who dare to stand against Putin. My whole lifetime has been wrapped around the Cold War where Russia or Putin has been trying to destroy us & NOT once was Ukraine involved!!! Ukraine did NOT exist until somewhere around 1990 where Russia has been trying to destroy us since 1939 & even before. So as a red blooded American citizen, I REFUSE to be apologetic because I don’t feel sorry for Russia!!! I DO feel sorry for the people of Ukraine who are being murdered for the amusement of a bully!!!

^ Dear fucking lord.

I feel sorry for the Ukranians as well. For that matter, I feel sorry for the Russian people. I repeat, this is not an endorsement of Putin. It’s an attempt to explain his behavior and answer the question of whether or not his Ukrainian “adventure” is the smart thing to do. Would we do it? And last, but certainly not least, can and WILL he get away with it? Was it the SMART thing to do?

@LadyMarissa – I know that history is challenging for many “red blooded Americans”, but I’m still attempting to understand how it’s possible that you don’t know who fought against Germany in WW2.

@LadyMarissa: “I can tell you one thing…It was NOT Ukraine that sided with Germany to take on the rest of the world during WWII.”

@LadyMarissa: “Ukraine did NOT exist until somewhere around 1990 where Russia has been trying to destroy us since 1939 & even before.”

Ummm…did I misread your comment? And did 3 people who gave you a “Great Answer” do the same?