zlacker

The stated goal of Russia in publicly made speeches is to control the land Gap in NATO territory in Poland. That is the reason why they invaded Ukraine

Russia will not stop at Ukraine. Their publicly stated goal just like they're publicly stated goal for invading Ukraine is The first step to militarily controlling that Gap is called the sulwaki gap

I forgot what the name of the person is, but there is a naval war college professor who explained that Russia is a continental empire and it's the key to its defense are control of seven gaps without those Russia considers themselves indefensible.

Ukraine is the necessary defense line. Because the next thing that happens is Russia invades NATO gets its ass kicked conventionally and then there's a nuclear war

>>AtlasB+(OP)
That's not entirely correct. NATO is not a threat in Putin's eyes.

What they want is the gas that was going to be produced in Ukraine in 2013, a year before they invaded. They also took resource rich areas.

The proof for this is easy. Russia clearly stated they have no problem with Finland joining NATO. A border of 1340 km and Finland has one of the strongest army's in Europe.

https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-russia-no-problem-finl...

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-can-finlands-armed...

What he originally wanted to keep, is resource dominance over Europe ( eg. Gas) as leverage.

And that's why a half a million Russians are dead.

>>NicoJu+h7
> Russia clearly stated they have no problem with Finland joining NATO.

Nah, before Finland (and Sweden) joined they issued multiple threats.

>>lawn+Bp
That's what they always do.

Here's what they did when they actually joined: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-can-finlands-armed...

( As mentioned before)

>>NicoJu+XP
That's just trying to save face because their empty threats were called.

Treating anything Russia says as proof of their intentions is pure ignorance given their long track record of empty threats, lies and flip-flopping.