Russia Ukraine war, page-27040

@szaba_the_hut - I have a friend like you - he has Serbian background. Serbia atm is playing both sides, taking grants, money from the EU but supporting Russia in this artificially produced conflict. They, too, had NATO bomb Belgrade, but not before they had murdered many of their former compatriots, just because . . . . most likely territorial and attempted land grabs on both sides - human beings are like that.
Just the same the NATO bombing of Belgrade was out of proportion, but this is what you get when you act aggressively and start mass-executing people, who were former citizens of the same country as you.

Putin's plan was long-term and he showed his hand over the years in many smaller conflicts, not always openly, often using other nationals or the infamous 'Wagner' troops - and then when it was all over and when it came to apportioning 'blame' and afterwards - and to quote a poet: 'MacCavity wasn't there' (T.S. Elliot).

And what about Putin's way of getting rid of his opposition, and when the target fled, even following up with sly poison executions in foreign countries?

But let us return to this attack on a peaceful country by Russia: the former Communist Eastern European countries had had the living experience of communism and enough fear of the Russians to welcome NATO weapons onto their territories, Poland foremost, which has always been a battle field for both East and West. Can you blame them to seek the protection of the West?
.... and why do you think so many of Putin's protegees invest their money in the West - have amazing penthouses, yachts etc. all placed in Western Europe, England? They do not trust the stability and peaceful intentions of their own government.

Here is your nuance - that particular neighbour has had dominion over you in a less than glorious past, which impoverished you, you managed to oust him, but now he has a history of violence and is manufacturing poisons in his back shed - so you do need to look out for yourself . . . .
Taurisk