@Carla Yes, Carla, we can ask the Ukrainians what they want. What if they want American boots on the ground? Do you have a young person we can send? I would go for you, if I were still young.😉
@DogMan what if they want to maintain their sovereignty and borders? "Their" being the operative word. And if "their" fate is being decided, shouldn't they have a seat at the table?
@Carla I think every European leader needs to be at the table. It looks to me like this is just going to be a long unproductive war, that will drain the United States.
Diplomacy and negotiation has to happen soon, don't you think?
@DogMan sure. War is terrible. Ultimately, russia invaded a sovereign nation, violating the treaty they signed in 1997. And sure, everyone involved should have a voice. The loudest and most compelling voice, that of the nation struggling to maintain their freedom. Putin has been accused of being a war criminal. Trump is ignoring that. The only concession russia should get is being able to withdraw without troops being killed in their retreat.
@Carla I doubt there is any such thing as 'what the Ukrainians want'. They've been a mixture of Russian & Ukrainian speakers (among others) for a long time. Putin is simply trying to gain territory by using the potential for cultural conflict to 'divide & conquer'.
I think the throwing together of Russians & Ukrainians in a single new country dates back to the 1916 (?) "Peace Conference". It's a while since I read about that but I'm certain the decisions were dictated by the 'big three' - Lloyd George, Wilson, Clemenceau (and maybe Orlando) - without input from any of the populations involved.