[throwawaymedia]

I'm Ukrainian, but I just want to throw a provocative thought in here. Everyone's talking about how bad and evil Putin is and all that. However, nobody's talking about the _why_ Putin is doing what he's doing. For the past 14 years, Russia is trying to find a solution as for the NATO's expansion to the east. The US does NOT want to stop the expansion despite anything. If I place a tent next to your house and start watching your windows daily, what's going to be your reaction? That is EXACTLY what's happening today. Nobody cares about Ukraine. Neither the US nor Putin. Ukraine is poor country. The _core_ of the problem is the US and its desire to place military bases across the world, including Ukraine, hence next to Russia's borders. Who'd like that? The US didn't like it in 60th during the Cuban Missile Crisis, so is Russia today.

Everything started in April of 2008, during the Bucharest Summit Declaration saying that "NATO welcomes Ukraine’s and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO". Russia immediately said that this is not going to happen because it affects their security - and it DOES make sense, doesn't it? That led to a war in Georgia. Today it's a war in Ukraine, my home country.

Once again, Putin is just a side effect. The core, the _root_ cause is the US's maniacal NATO expansion aspiration.

[lalaland1125]

You realize that NATO is a voluntary union?

If Ukraine wanted to promise Russia that they would stay out of it, they could have done that without any US involvement.

Why should the US tell Ukraine how to conduct its foreign policy?

[DrJaws]

there are other countries that are closer to Russia than cities like Kyiv , but Russia is invading them

also, why Russia should decide on how other countries decide their internal affairs?

Ukraine doesn't need the approval of Russia to join or not join NATO.

[throwawaymedia]

You are right, Ukraine doesn't need the approval of Russia, however, becoming a member of NATO is only possible if membership does not affect security of any other country. That's written on paper and one of the conditions. But since the US politics is against Russia (for some _stupid_ reasons - do a research and educate yourself), Ukraine becoming a member of NATO is a direct threat to Russia.

Edit: I also want to add to this that the US is completely aware of the situation. They know exactly that their decision not to stop the expansion leads to a war. First, the US is not stupid. Second, there is a great example - Georgia, where war for the exact same reason took place. So, who's to blame here? Is it really Putin? My common sense tells the opposite.

[artem247]

SHIT, Ukraine is not in NATO, it is not on track on joining NATO, It was clear for everyone in Ukraine that with Crimea and LNR/DNR nobody would accept Ukraine into NATO.

There wasn't much support for NATO in Ukraine internally before seizure of Crimea. Who's in the wrong here? Hmm, I don't know.