[geoka9]

Russia wants a few years of respite, ideally without sanctions and with the Ukraine military stripped to the studs, so that its own military can regroup and finish the job in a few years. Once that happens, the rest of Eastern Europe will be next and the Ukrainians will be first in the meat wave attacks, just like their compatriots from Eastern Donbass in 2022 (it has been occupied by Russia since 2014 and by now the towns there are nearly void of male population).

[cynicalpeace]

> the rest of Eastern Europe will be next

Do you have any evidence of these plans?

[jiggawatts]

They literally showed them during the first days of the war.

There was a press conference where they accidentally showed a diagram with arrows continuing through Ukraine into Transnistria, which is Moldova's equivalent of the Donbass.

You have to be very ignorant of geopolitics to think that there aren't more countries like Ukraine that Russia would like to return to their empire.

Some might join voluntarily but many -- like Kazakhstan -- won't without a fight. Unlike Ukraine, most of the others are not conveniently next to Europe and hence will be impractical for western nations to support.

After Ukraine falls, Moldova is next, and then the various -stans will be rolled up in quick succession. This will create a Soviet Union 2.0, which will be a net positive for Russia, and a mixed bag for the rest of the world. It'll likely be a net negative for Europe, which is why they're supporting Ukraine now.

[cynicalpeace]

So no?

"the rest of Eastern Europe" was the claim

[jiggawatts]

Serbia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, and possibly even Hungary are all in eastern Europe and at non-zero risk of a repeat invasion by Russia.

Sure, not all of Eastern Europe is at risk.

So... is that okay then in your mind? As long as Putin only takes some of Europe, that's acceptable?

[cynicalpeace]

I literally said if he takes Donbas and Crimea, yes that's worth it. You've failed to present any evidence he could take anything else except Transnistria which has already been defacto independent and considered under Russian occupation since 2022.

[nickpp]

> under Russian occupation since 2022

Which is not Russia advancing and occupying Eastern Europe at all. Nope. Just friendly neighboring acts.

[havblue]

Just to point out, the Baltic states are part of NATO so I don't think invasion from Russia is likely anytime soon personally.

[geoka9]

Russia is halfway to dismantling NATO or at least it making itself irrelevant by refusing to commit, now that an isolationist government is going to be in the US. Considering the growing popularity of the right wing pro-Russian parties in France and Germany, it may not take that long before NATO becomes a non-issue for Russia.

[geoka9]

As in copies of official documents with dates and Putin's signature? Of course not.

But if you pay any attention to what's going on in Russia, there's not much doubt. Their TV talks about it and their politicians talk about it non-stop. While civilian economy is winding down and the only jobs that pay decently are in the MIC and the military; kids in grammar schools are being taught how to disassemble assault rifles (and that's in a country with historically paranoid gun controls) and how to hate the enemy (which, for Russia, is every foreign country). Their historic military anniversaries used to be just commemorations, but now they are all-consuming cultural events that last throughout the year, non-stop, as symbols of the military might and glory. They are trying to create a death cult, and have been doing it for the past 10 years, at least.