That is shifting the blame away from Russia, which is the fascist aggressor. Ukraine did not enter NATO; Russia rejected Ukraine seeking more economical independence.
Yanukovych, who was pro-EU, was originally supposed to sign an association treaty between the EU and Ukraine; but last minute he didn’t sign, while parliament had voted with an overwhelming majority for yes.
Yanukovych probably didn’t sign due to Russian pressure, which proposed instead that Ukraine become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. Protests grew into Euromaidan, but the anti-protest laws instated by Yanukovych’s party of oligarchs, repressed it, until he was deposed.
And then Russia invaded Ukraine and took the Crimea + the Donbass, and shot down MH17. For which Putin and Girkin still haven’t paid with their lives.
Since Putin was the one to pressure Yanukovych in not signing, and since Putin was the one to invade, he’s to be blamed for everything.
Ukraine would’ve been able to remain neutral – and negotiate favourable terms for transporting goods to Russia. All that without joining the Eurasian Economic Union. Thus the blame is solely and wholly on Putin for rejecting any such option.
The EU explicitly provides for a neutral nation to join (like Austria did), and even provides for interoperability with other common markets through the EEA. Though that is less favourable than being in the EU, as you then cannot vote in EU parliament about laws affecting you; a deal that Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland took. It also doesn’t come with the advantage of the mutual defence clause.
That is shifting the blame away from Russia, which is the fascist aggressor. Ukraine did not enter NATO; Russia rejected Ukraine seeking more economical independence.
Yanukovych, who was pro-EU, was originally supposed to sign an association treaty between the EU and Ukraine; but last minute he didn’t sign, while parliament had voted with an overwhelming majority for yes.
Yanukovych probably didn’t sign due to Russian pressure, which proposed instead that Ukraine become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. Protests grew into Euromaidan, but the anti-protest laws instated by Yanukovych’s party of oligarchs, repressed it, until he was deposed.
And then Russia invaded Ukraine and took the Crimea + the Donbass, and shot down MH17. For which Putin and Girkin still haven’t paid with their lives.
Since Putin was the one to pressure Yanukovych in not signing, and since Putin was the one to invade, he’s to be blamed for everything.
Ukraine would’ve been able to remain neutral – and negotiate favourable terms for transporting goods to Russia. All that without joining the Eurasian Economic Union. Thus the blame is solely and wholly on Putin for rejecting any such option.
The EU explicitly provides for a neutral nation to join (like Austria did), and even provides for interoperability with other common markets through the EEA. Though that is less favourable than being in the EU, as you then cannot vote in EU parliament about laws affecting you; a deal that Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland took. It also doesn’t come with the advantage of the mutual defence clause.