General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Russia is not our Adversary [View all]moondust
(19,963 posts)involving or characterized by conflict or opposition - OED
I think you could probably say that about the U.S. and Russia today under Putin, particularly after Crimea, but not Russia under Yeltsin.
Question: Since Putin would never give up Sevastopol and didn't trust Kiev with it after his boy Yanukovich fled, why didn't he negotiate with Kiev to buy Crimea, maybe with some debt forgiveness, rather than taking it with an illegal land grab? Was the threat of superior military force simply the cheaper and therefore preferred route for the "richest person in the world"? Didn't Kiev invest in and maintain Crimea's infrastructure, public services, etc., as its own for like 60 years?
Similarly, Putin wouldn't want to give up Tartus and was probably ready to step in to back Assad from day one but wasn't needed until Assad was getting his ass beat. Obama probably knew Putin was always there waiting in the wings if needed and thus wasn't willing to commit to direct action as in Libya and risk WWIII.
Question: If residents of Crimea and Donbass would rather live in Russia why didn't/don't they just move there? There's plenty of room in Russia for them. Maybe the Tatars would like to have Crimea back.