IMO you too need to look at the big picture which includes your list of negatives for Russia plus a list of negatives for the Ukraine and others: -100s of thousands dead -millions of Ukrainian women & Children migrated abroad & not likely to return -a wrecked Ukrainian economy -a Rump State (a Ukraine-wide election not possible due to Russian occupation) -Industralised East/South East economy wrecked & under Russian Control -Loss of Crimea
Outside Ukraine & Russia: -global inflation due to disruption of energy supply -African food availability disrupted -weakening of the USD as the global reserve currency -Doomesday clock closer to Midnight -German manufacture wrecked due to increased input costs -European energy costs increased -Euro weakened
Positives: -increased arms & gas sales for USA -Cheap energy & minerals for China -Cheap energy for India -Strengthening of the BRICS
etc etc etc.
So from a "Big Picture" perspective , this war has been generally damaging and that's why I oppose war as a civilised means of resolving international conflict.
Had both sides sensibly negotiated a deal pre 2014 which respected both countries' National Security concerns , then both countries would be much better off today (not to mention the rest of the world.)#
And the tragedy is that when both sides have had enough killing and suffering that there will have to be a negotiated peace; something which should have happened pre 2014
So in order to see "The Big Picture" one has to appreciate both sides' National Security concerns and not a one-sided/bigoted view because by appreciation both sides positions is as close to being neutral as possible, IMO.
Again, war is the problem, not the solution,
# Aus is still struggling with the aftermath of inflation caused by this war with the prospect of recession. (Just talk to a working class family with a $300K + mortgage!) -
