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by paxys 1578 days ago
> I'm not sure this is "top of mind" for them to dedicate resources against

This entire war is about Ukraine joining NATO, and the expanding NATO influence in general. How would another bordering country having a NATO referendum not be top of mind for Russia?
2 comments
multjoy 1578 days ago
Because the Finns and Russians have form. A second invasion against Finland would be a second go at the Winter War, and while they may not be a nato member, they are a full fledged EU member and Ukraine has shown that the EU will absolutely step up.

The EU may not include the US or UK, but it does include every other nuclear weapon on continental Europe.

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Hamuko 1578 days ago
Ukraine is a much larger fixation to Putin beyond NATO. There wasn't really any indication of Ukraine joining NATO before Russia started its attacks, and Finland and Sweden have been floating the idea of joining NATO if Russia started a full assault.
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zeruch 1577 days ago
"There wasn't really any indication of Ukraine joining NATO"

Yes there was. Going back to Clinton, there were moved to expand NATO eastward (at least once Nuclear possession was sorted out under Bush I/Baker) and it's been a sore spot for Putin ever since, although only distractingly so since about 2014. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_37750.htm

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