Tom Switzer on why NATO Expansion Explains Russia’s Actions in Ukraine

[Daniel Balan]

@Breakingthewall Of course there must be extreme nationalism in Ukraine! The only way a nation can survive centuries of enslavement and domination is via nationalism! Of course the Ukrainians joined Hitler, initially they viewed Hitler as a liberator, only to realize that he is even more brutal than the Russians! It makes perfect sense to ally with the enemy of your enemy! Had the Russians behave good with the Ukrainians for the last 200 years, today Ukraine would have been Russia's biggest friend, maybe even the same country, but Russia kept on dominating and bullying Ukraine, and then they are surprised when the Ukrainians ally with the Nazis! 

[Breakingthewall]

Just now, Daniel Balan said:

@Breakingthewall Of course there must be extreme nationalism in Ukraine! The only way a nation can survive centuries of enslavement and domination is via nationalism! Of course the Ukrainians joined Hitler, initially they viewed Hitler as a liberator, only to realize that he is even more brutal than the Russians! It makes perfect sense to ally with the enemy of your enemy! Had the Russians behave good with the Ukrainians for the last 200 years, today Ukraine would have been Russia's biggest friend, maybe even the same country, but Russia kept on dominating and bullying Ukraine, and then they are surprised when the Ukrainians ally with the Nazis! 

2 hours ago, Daniel Balan said:

 

Those who lived in pre-Soviet Crimea were Tatars who arrived with the Ottoman Empire. So, should Crimea be Tatar? Or perhaps Ottoman? That whole area is problematic, and problems aren't solved by pouring gasoline on the fire, as Biden and Nuland did. There's nationalist sentiment in Ukraine, but there are also areas with a Russian majority, like Crimea and Dombass. Is it appropriate to ban Russian in schools and ministries in these areas? Perhaps it seems like a first step toward mass expulsion. And then Biden comes along with his fortifications, his virus labs, and then his Nukes. What else?

[Breakingthewall]

5 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

joined Hitler, initially they viewed Hitler as a liberator, only to realize that he is even more brutal than the Russians

Yes, That's why the first Ukrainian nationalist government after the coup d'état made Stephan Bandera, a declared Nazi and architect of the Jewish genocide in Ukraine, a national hero.

[Breakingthewall]

8 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

Had the Russians behave good with the Ukrainians for the last 200 years, today Ukraine would have been Russia's biggest friend

Yes sure that it's only and objetive and single obvious historical truth. The vasques in Spain are very angry with Spain for the behavior in the past 300 years, let's give them nukes

[Daniel Balan]

And regarding the Russians in Ukraine, I have a breaking news for ya, Russians and Ukrainians are basically the same ethnicity, the same blood, the only difference is that the Ukrainians were more exposed to the culture of central Europe, whereas the Russians received less of that! Every Ukrainian in Ukraine knows Russian, I see no problem that every Russian in Ukraine to know the Ukrainian language! 

[Daniel Balan]

1 minute ago, Daniel Balan said:

And regarding the Russians in Ukraine, I have a breaking news for ya, Russians and Ukrainians are basically the same ethnicity, the same blood, the only difference is that the Ukrainians were more exposed to the culture of central Europe, whereas the Russians received less of that! Every Ukrainian in Ukraine knows Russian, I see no problem that every Russian in Ukraine to know the Ukrainian language! 

The Ukrainians are for Russia exactly like how is Moldova for Romania, basically the same ethnic composition, but the desire to live under different political influences! We always respected the will of the Moldovans, regardless whether they wanted closer ties with Russia or with us, why can't the Russians accept that the Ukrainians don't want to be ruled by them?

[zazen]

On 4/2/2025 at 1:31 PM, zazen said:

I think the simplest way to explain the good and bad of Zionism is this: self-determination is just, but becomes unjust once it starts determining the life of others.

No one objects the principle of liberation through self determination, or that people should have a home. The problem is when that liberation requires the subjugation of another.

Self-determination is liberation, determining others is domination. Israel already has what it once sought - a sovereign state recognised by the UN. It’s achieved self-determination, but is determined not to extend this same right to the Palestinians. It uses its legitimately established state for illegitimate actions beyond it.

Israel has become a launchpad to occupy Palestinian land on its periphery, and weaken the region via the US - who doesn’t just act of imperial self interest, but even when the cost-benefit analysis doesn’t add up. Evangelicals have a mythic allegiance to Israel that is about biblical prophecy, not merely power and profits.

 

1 hour ago, Kid A said:

Yeah, and it's completely coincidental that you prioritize understanding for Russia, right? Could just as well have been Ukraine? Or maybe Israel?

Maybe I have understood each side and don't need to be eternally analytical of peripheral details. It may look like bias but its focus - honing in on the core issue of each conflict. For Russia-Ukraine its security logic, for Israel-Palestine its occupation and dispossession - as I've outlined above whilst being fair to include a positive version of Zionism exists, which most Palestinian supporters would be angry at me for.

Israel claims to be acting out of security logic also -  but that's as a symptom of occupation, which is the disease causing it. Its secondary, not primary or core to the conflict. What may look like double standards on the surface are the same standards applied to different contexts. It's about who created the insecurity and initiated the conditions.

Once we've seen the root cause we're not obligated to stay in a loop of understanding both sides forever or all the details. I don't have to delve into Russian corruption, Ukrainian bio labs or Zelensky's wifes shopping spree in Paris.

37 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

It's not just pride , is a drift in a hostile direction, which was to culminate with Ukraine joining NATO as an advanced bulwark AGAINST Russia, with absolutely anti-Russian sentiment and an open bar for weapons.

True, which is why I said cultural alignment can be a stepping stone to military alignment. That alignment is weaponized to be used as a bulwark as you said. Being different is not a problem, but being used as a tool against your neighbor is.

Maybe North and South Korea are a good parallel to this. They’re like cousins - culturally linked, historically one people, now divided with their own distinctness. North Korea is nuclear armed and not aligned to the West, South Korea is democratic and Western aligned. Yet they’ve largely avoided full scale war for decades - because while South Korea is West aligned, it’s not being used as a springboard to directly challenge North Korea's survival in the same way Ukraine could be.

Being different to your neighbor doesn't mean becoming a stepping stone for a larger game of geopolitics, where you become a pawn and a proxy to go against that other nation. That's what Ukraine is unfortunately. 

 

[Breakingthewall]

21 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

why can't the Russians accept that the Ukrainians don't want to be ruled by them?

What they can't accept is that an Ukraine ruled by an oligarchy completely hostile to Russia joins NATO and has a nuclear arsenal aimed at Moscow. These Russians are crazy; they should be happy about that, and instead they invade. 

[Daniel Balan]

25 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

Yes, That's why the first Ukrainian nationalist government after the coup d'état made Stephan Bandera, a declared Nazi and architect of the Jewish genocide in Ukraine, a national hero.

This wasn't a wise move tbh! But still that Bandera dude despite being a total criminal, is seen by the Ukrainians as someone who fought for an independent Ukraine! I totally disagree with this character, but still, Ukrainians cling onto any historical figure that fought for Ukraine as a sovereign independent state!

[Breakingthewall]

5 minutes ago, zazen said:

Being different to your neighbor doesn't mean becoming a stepping stone for a larger game of geopolitics, where you become a pawn and a proxy to go against that other nation. That's what Ukraine is unfortunately. 

 

Ukraine has been scammed by the US, the big scammer . They're absolutely idiots. Look what they've achieved.

[Breakingthewall]

2 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

This wasn't a wise move tbh! But still that Bandera dude despite being a total criminal, is seen by the Ukrainians as someone who fought for an independent Ukraine! I totally disagree with this character, but still, Ukrainians cling onto any historical figure that fought for Ukraine as a sovereign independent state!

Making him a national hero is a message to the Russians of Ukraine. It means: Beware, the wolf is coming.

[Daniel Balan]

1 minute ago, Breakingthewall said:

What they can't accept is that an Ukraine ruled by an oligarchy completely hostile to Russia joins NATO and has a nuclear arsenal aimed at Moscow. These Russians are crazy; they should be happy about that, and instead they invade. 

Here you again delve into Russian propaganda! I can't believe you said that an oligarchy is against Russia! Bro, Russia doesn't have a government, it has an oligarchy that governs Russia! A nuclear arsenal aimed at Moscow? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Bro you are neck deep in Russian propaganda! 

[Breakingthewall]

3 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

Here you again delve into Russian propaganda! I can't believe you said that an oligarchy is against Russia! Bro, Russia doesn't have a government, it has an oligarchy that governs Russia! A nuclear arsenal aimed at Moscow? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Bro you are neck deep in Russian propaganda! 

You are so naive. Ukraine is one of the most corrupted countries in the world, Zelensky was elected because his platform was to bring Russia closer together, but once in power he was told he had to do exactly the opposite. These are the ones in charge in Ukraine.

[Daniel Balan]

The closest nuclear missile to Moscow is located in France! Where as Russia has missiles in Belarus! Belarus is in the heart of Europe! Whereas France is some 2000 km away from Moscow! Tell me again who is the victim and who is the aggressor!

[Breakingthewall]

7 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

Russia doesn't have a government, it has an oligarchy that governs Russia!

Really? I thought that was Putin who ruled Russia . Maybe he's just a puppet? Seems so. 

[Breakingthewall]

1 minute ago, Daniel Balan said:

The closest nuclear missile to Moscow is located in France! Where as Russia has missiles in Belarus! Belarus is in the heart of Europe! Whereas France is some 2000 km away from Moscow! Tell me again who is the victim and who is the aggressor!

Because US built 5 laboratories of viruses close their military bases in Ukraine, then the possibility of nukes was very possible 

[Breakingthewall]

3 minutes ago, Daniel Balan said:

The closest nuclear missile to Moscow is located in France

What the American nukes in turkey, Germany, Holland, Italy and Belgium? And Poland is trying to join the nuclear program of NATO. Before speaking try to being informed. You don't know nothing, just a dumb. Bye. 

[Daniel Balan]

13 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

Making him a national hero is a message to the Russians of Ukraine. It means: Beware, the wolf is coming.

😂😂😂😂 Bro I can't take you seriously! While the Russians have massacred tens of thousand of civilians with their rockets you are surprised that the Ukrainians respond with the same level of nationalism and fascism in order to save their nation? How can you associate the wolf Hitler with this? The wolf came on 24 february 2022! The Wolf is no longer Hitler or Bandera, it is Putin! Putin has behaved towards the Ukrainians the same way Hitler behaved towards the people of the former USSR! Zelenskyy is defending his country! Zelenskyy is in Stalin's shoes now! And Putin in Hitlers!

[Daniel Balan]

7 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

Really? I thought that was Putin who ruled Russia . Maybe he's just a puppet? Seems so. 

Putin is just the facade! He isn't a puppet, but he could never have a different agenda than that of the oligarchy that is behind him! There isn't such thing as a dictator, there is a big group, a dictatorial entity comprised of many powerful individuals

[Daniel Balan]

22 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

What the American nukes in turkey, Germany, Holland, Italy and Belgium? And Poland is trying to join the nuclear program of NATO. Before speaking try to being informed. You don't know nothing, just a dumb. Bye. 

Bro you are the one that is totally deluded and dumb! Germany has no nuclear missles, nor Belgium, nor Holland, nor Poland. The only true statement in your sentence is the willingness of Poland to host nuclear missiles. Everything else, as I said, Russian propaganda! Try and diversify your information sources, because whatever you consume now, it fuels your head with Russian BS! 

NOTE: This is what AI has to say about your BS statement:

 Summary: None of these countries—Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, or Belgium—possess or control nuclear missiles or nuclear weapons. They all participate in NATO’s nuclear-sharing program, hosting U.S. B61 nuclear gravity bombs at their air bases. These are not missiles but bombs, remain under U.S. custody, and require U.S. authorization and often U.S. aircraft for use.

Have you read? All the countries you mentioned are 2000 km away from Moscow, with no nuclear missiles! Only bombs that could be carried by American Aircraft. While Russia has hyper sonic nuclear missiles in Belarus which is next door to Poland and Ukraine! As I said, you are neck deep in Russian propaganda. 

Edited June 7 by Daniel Balan