Mike Dilger ☑️ on Nostr: In general, I side with smaller groups against larger groups that oppress them... all ...

In general, I side with smaller groups against larger groups that oppress them... all the way down to the individual. So I side with Northern Ireland against the UK. I side with Palestine against Israel, with Catalan against Spain, with all the many nations captured by the Russian Empire against the Russian Empire. With Ukraine against Russia (even though I often have practical advice that might sound like I'm on the other side).

> And I believe you think that Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk should be allowed to go to rusia peacefully. And I assume you believe that in this case there could be chances for peace and love between all parties and its bad Ukraine who refused to follow this path. I can’t agree of course but I can understand this point from an outsider.

It seems to me to be a way to end the war, even if the bad guys win. It doesn't seem like you can win. But maybe I'm wrong. If the US, Germany, France, and the UK decide to join the war, then you could win. But of course that would be so much bigger of a war that I think it is also a bad path forward.

> Do you still believe its all about peoples identification and not about imperialists trying to grab with violence anything they are capable of?

Both.

Russia definitely has imperial ambitions. They have said as much. Their main purpose is to capture and control regions that could be effectively used against them, for strategic reasons. That doesn't mean it is "right", but it is good to understand the enemy, to understand why they do what they do. Ukraine is how Moscow was invaded every single time Moscow was invaded throughout history. And controlling the Black Sea, not just for their own access to Sevastopol, but also to deny access to Ukraine, gives them more strategic control of the region. But I'm not on their side. I don't think they are right. And if they can be pushed back then that is a better outcome.

But if the US and NATO use Ukraine to attack Russia, that is a much worse outcome. Maybe that is not what NATO intends, but a lot of people suspect this ambition. Because of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_dilemma nobody is right or wrong on this point, nobody can possibly know the truth, and everybody will act in their own defense. So we cat at least understand why Russia does this, even if we oppose it.

I don't think Russia would take Kyiv or Lviv because that would be like trying to swallow a porcupine. I think it is hard enough to get the people of the Donbass region to see themselves as Russians and not as oppressed Ukrainians.