Ukraine say's Russia has invaded

Lithuania and Latvia have had trouble with their Russian citizens in the past (IIRC), so they're probably a bit worried right now that it might cause flare ups in their own countries.

 

Then you've not been paying attention

 

Syria was a very different situation with no clear goal for intervention and no obvious exit strategy. It's just a mess.
This is a much more clear cut situation with very definite worries for the European nations and the US.

Combined with Ukraine (which is a long way from being militarily weak) those three would likely beat the Russians, especially if "beat" means stop incursions into Ukraine. While it's unlikely we'd successfully invade Russia, without the old USSR and Warsaw pact countries Russia has nowhere near the military might it had during the cold war. Also although on paper it can still field impressive numbers the bulk of them are conscripts and reservists.

 

I was just wondering about the state of the Russian military. From what little I know, they are a very unhappy and a not too eager bunch of conscripts and reservists.

Damn predictive text. I nearly wrote, "bunch of constipation". Funny considering my location!

 

WHY ARE YOU EVEN CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF FIGHTING RUSSIA?

It's not on the table and if the US or the UK even hints at it being on the table, the citizens of that country need to organise a coup of their own.

Ukraine cannot be allowed to become the flashpoint that kicked off World War III. It cannot.

Russia didn't go to war when the US invaded Afghanistan. Russia didn't go to war when the US invaded Iraq. Russia didn't go to war when the US invaded Serbia or when they got involved in Libya or any the other hundred countries America has molested over the last few decades.

We owe Russia a little non-intervention.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/02/crimea-crisis-russia-ukraine-cold-war

 

Big Nevile chamberlain fan are we.

This is why the UN and NATO exists.

 

No, I'm a big fan on my entire family not being killed. You may disagree, that's your choice.

No, the UN and NATO exist to prevent World War III, not to start it.

There's a reason why Ukraine aren't in NATO - this is that reason.

Whatever Russia do in Ukraine will pale in comparison to what the US lets Israel get away with. It's only because its Russia that we even care.

 

Russian expansionism will lead to a resumption of the cold war. This in turn may or may not lead to world war 3. As things stand the threat of military action from the rest of the world will curb Russian ambitions. Lack of said threat will encourage them to make increasing landgrabs. Once they've consumed enough countries and conscripted their young men then they'll be an even bigger problem.
There are comparisons to be made here with the annexation of the Rhineland. Failure to act decisively now could well lead to much more serious problems in the next few years.

 

That was the German narrative for their invasion of the Rhineland. It's an aggressive expansionist act against another sovereign nation.

 

Yes, because Russia is a country well known for it's reasonable response to threats.

What you are proposing would actually be the restart of the Cold War. It is hilarious that you think threats are a way to stop it - you do know what the Cold War was, right?

At the moment, there has been no land grab and no suggestion of a land grab. So far the only thing they are even hinting at is a peacekeeping operation and maybe a forced regime change and I don't think even the US or the UK have the balls to call out another nation for that kind of behaviour.

No there's not, you're being overly dramatic. Russia has seen a friendly government in a neighbouring country overthrown in favour of an unfriendly government. They have significant investments in Ukraine and are understandably unhappy about the situation - who would want an unfriendly and unstable neighbour?

The mere idea of threatening military action against Russia is insane.

This is none of our business and it should remain none of our business.

 

It's not the same. It's not even remotely the same thing.

 

The Ukrainians had functioning government and were starting to stabilise until the Russians got involved.

 

Not to mention there wasn't a massed armed insurrection so peace keeping is unnecessary.

 

Crimeans might disagree with you.

The Crimean peninsula is massively pro-Russian, they probably welcome the Russian intervention into what they see (rightly or wrongly) as a coup.

 

^ This.

I had a week's holiday in Crimea (staying in Yevpatoria) and was surprised anyone still thought it was part of Ukraine proper given the sheer number of Russian flags on display.