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Zelensky says that elections can be held in Ukraine if the West can provide financial support
(lemm.ee)
Elections are barred under Ukraine's martial law but its next expiration is before the March 2024 presidential vote
Peacetime elections in Ukraine cost around 135 million euros and Zelensky wants Western election observers on the frontlines
https://www.rte.ie/news/ukraine/2023/0827/1401976-ukraine-elections/
Other sources: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-says-elections-could-happen-under-fire-if-west-helps-2023-08-27/
Imagine if NATO/US had spent money on, I dunno, relocating people opposed to living in Russian territory to like west Ukraine and building modern cities there. It's just weird to have this discussion over the importance of borders and land. It's probably why Americans bit this apple so fast too. "They crossed a border and they're taking land!? BUT THAT'S GOD'S LAW!"
The majority of people in Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, when polled, wanted to be part of Russia. To avoid war and conflict ones who wanted to remain in Ukraine could've be relocated, everything paid for, and cede the land to Russia. A line on a map changes. Wow.
It would've certainly cost less money and without a doubt less lives, so, that was unacceptable. We have to pretend Russia was like... Hmm... Like the US invading Iraq or Afghanistan or Vietnam or Korea. We weren't allowed to point out these are bordering nations which used to be all part of some kind of union... And that people might have mixed feelings on the borders of the countries drawn within their lifetimes. Nope! They all hated Russia because [vaguely communist sounds]! And also that right wing Ukrainian family in Canada who just erected a statue to a Nazi great uncle of theirs, they also said Russians are all evil orcs. So, you know, pay no further attention.
And just for the record, I think Putin was in the wrong for using military force. However, this all could've been avoided if the US/NATO hadn't been on a clear "fuck Russia's shit" warpath for... since 1917. The Soviet Union may no longer exist, but the Russians are still evil and must always pay for that thing which, even if you thought they "needed to pay for it," look at suicide and general death rates from like 1991 vs the 1980s and before. Like what's the fucking mission here? No relenting until every Russian jumps off a building? It's so fucking gross and so easily justified by people who don't give a single shit. America honestly deserves the worst possible fate for what it's done to countless populations around the world, Russia being just one.
Kind reminder: some US officials pushing for this war are descendants of people who fled the Soviet Union. For example, Victoria Nuland's grandparents. This is very much a continuation of the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks.
Yes except there are no Bolsheviks left in Russia… while this whole situation is a tragedy, Russia is not anything we should ever support.
Putin and the current oligarchy are conservative capitalists. They are the furthest thing possible from the former USSR.
You should tell that to Victoria Nuland then. The way these people see it, there's no difference. They hate what they call "Russia", no matter who rules it or what name it has.
I know, and it’s absurd.
I am 100% against NATO and the Anglo Empire, but I can’t support Putin either.
But people can’t see it as possible to be against Nazi Ukraine joining NATO and also against Putin as a whole.
To hope the Empire crumbles and that the people of Russia are free from a fascist oligarchy.
Both positions are possible! They are not opposite.
No socialist would ever be against NATO and pro-Putin.
But if you try to look at things objectively and don’t cheer for death you’re a Putin supporter…
I critically support Russia in this war. Materially, it's the best option right now to dismantle the US hegemony and open the road for socialist revolution.
But Russia can’t win… at least not against the US. Not unless something crazy like China joined in.
But I feel this is exactly what the US wants. It wants to keep Ukraine just barely strong enough to not outright lose, and for Russia to keep losing people. And the war machine in Western Europe and the US will get richer and richer. Another Iraq, a decades long conflict.
I don’t support Ukraine winning, cause that would likely be the end of Russia and as Ukraine currently shows an extinction of all the left in Europe pretty much.
But I really doubt Putin and the current Russian government have any socialist or leftist goals. That they would ever be possible allies if there wasn’t a common GIGANTIC enemy.
And I also believe that’s on purpose. The current state of affairs in Russia is a consequence of basically the CIA destroying the USSR and trying to shape the future of Russia.
All in all, I’m not very hopeful to be honest. I want to believe there is socialism out there. That the other side of the coin is right. But I always have this fear we’re being double played and it’s all the Empire y’know? It’s all theatre. Nothing is real anymore.
I know what you mean, but we have to assess the world in a historical materialist way and not in an idealist way.
NATO is losing credibility and is fraying. The petrodollar is collapsing. US/UK/European hegemony is retreating. That's what matters here for me. A stronger Russia, whether it is capitalist or socialist, is a good thing, because multipolarity makes the US less inclined to mess up other countries. The uprisings in Africa against neocolonialism at this point in time are not accidental or coincidental. They very much have to do with the US having its eyes elsewhere.