She's an NHS doctor so I would say she is. She has not lived in Russia for a long time so has not been indoctrinated by Putin which is why I was surprised.

You say her politics stink because we both look at it through western eyes, other opinions exist. I am not a Putin supporter just making the point that he does have a lot of support in his own country.

One more point

This war has actually exposed the EU /NATO military alliance as unworkable and weak. Economic sanctions backfired badly, with large fuel food and gas price increases for the West. It pretty much leaves Taiwan at the mercy of China, and Ukraine,...initially there for bargaining purposes, is now no longer an option. Russia and china will just take what they want.

I disengage, I turn the page.

You are correct about the demographic. Infact she just turned 60 and has agreed to continue working for the NHS past her retirement date.

When I went to Russia it struck me how WW2 is still a big issue for them. They lost 20m people so not surprisingly national security is a big issue. It doesn't excuse the invasion of the Ukraine but it does go some way to explaining it.

After the war the USSR had buffer states friendly to them. In the last 30 years most of those are no longer under Russian influence and some have joined NATO.

Russian politicians and many of their people feel they are being hemmed in by the west.

As a contrast for the last 200 years the US policy has been to install friendly governments as their neighbours. To that end they have invaded countries and deposed leaders and almost gone to nuclear war all because they didn't like a country in their sphere of influence.

The west has not helped matters on how it deals with Russia which has just fed their paranoia.

Russia should not have invaded the Ukraine but we should keep well out of it. The EU inviting Ukraine and Moldova to join is just poking the bear.

I would have offered Russia a peace deal over the Ukraine and a trade deal with the EU.

Edited by Badger11 (22 Dec 2023 7.06am)

One more point

At least you were surprised. I am too for whilst those still in Russia have the excuse of only receiving propaganda she doesn’t. In a later post you mention how the memories of WW2 still impact the thinking there. That can only be because they are not being allowed to forget them by the regime. Offering deals to people like Putin is worse than a waste of time. It’s counterproductive. He, and Russia, cannot be trusted so if you offer an inch they will take a mile. It’s painful but the only way is to freeze them out of world affairs, as best we can, until their people start to question why.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

20m people died and you somehow think they should forget that, give me strength.

One more point

If I may, Russians have at least partially forgotten or at least pretend to, as have we in the West.

Alot of emphasis goes on to the USSRs contribution in defeating the Germans in the war and its absolutely true. However alot of people (including the latest Netflix series) continue to ignore the more sinister side of the Soviets prior to 1941 and their role in active collaboration with the Germans. Incidently, if you were to mention this in Russia, you actually risk a $40,000 fine and time in the slammer.

[Link]

History is of course very nuanced and complicated, but Russia has in recent years grossly over simplified it and then tries to use this recreated narrative of the USSRs role in WW2 to try and justify a totally unjustafiable war.