[mothballed]

North Korea has nukes but those in the Nordics are bragging about defeating Russia by buying heat pumps. Much of Europe has been living in a time of what amounts to ignorant bliss which Putin is slowly shaking them out of.

[knallfrosch]

It would have been stupid not to try peace.

Germany hasn't invaded France (or vice versa) for two generations now. The Soviet Union dissolved itself peacefully by act of parliament. (Compare to Germany/Japan/Napoleon)

[hiprob]

"Peacefully" is a strong word, that same parliament would later be "peacefully" removed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Russian_constitutional_cr...

[knallfrosch]

Can you name a more peaceful end of an 20th century empire?

[graemep]

If you want peace, prepare for war

[mothballed]

And if you aren't prepared, but you have peace anyway, you never really made the choice. You just had a bout of luck.

[tim333]

>Nordics are bragging about defeating Russia by buying heat pumps...ignorant bliss...

I think you'll find Finland in particular doesn't have much innocent bliss regards Russia and some history there.