The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread

[Feanor]

"Russia can just leave" is about who’s responsible. Russia chose to invade, and it can end the invasion by withdrawing. That says nothing about whether it will. "Russia won’t leave" is a serious practical problem, but it answers a different question. It doesn’t make Russia any less responsible, or shift that responsibility onto Ukraine for resisting. That still leaves the practical question of what would make Moscow change course.

And why is Russia’s refusal treated as fixed, while everyone else are expected to adjust? One could just as easily say Ukraine will never cede territory and Russia will have to adjust to that. Either way, one side’s position is non-negotiable and the whole burden falls on the other. Neither position is helpful. Any settlement will mean likely compromises on both sides.

Except responsibility isn't reasonably in question. There are things the west could have done to prevent it, but Russia caused it. So there's not much to discuss. On the other hand the question of how this resolves is far more interesting and impactful. And the reason why Russia can afford to be inflexible more so than Ukraine is because all the long run trends are against Ukraine, especially the population issues. Theoretically the combined support of the collective west could propel Ukraine to victory but in practice this hasn't been happening and the longer this drags on the less likely this possibility becomes.

 

[personaldesas]

Except responsibility isn't reasonably in question. There are things the west could have done to prevent it, but Russia caused it. So there's not much to discuss. On the other hand the question of how this resolves is far more interesting and impactful.

I agree. My point in the earlier exchange was simply that these are separate questions and shouldn't be conflated. Responding to the true statement that Russia could end this war at any point with “but it won't” is equally meaningless. Those questions describe different dimensions.