Russia has their friends. In fact, I hear their relations with Germany weren't too bad before this.
Indeed, before this, which means when Europe was still hopeful that Russia would recognize the obvious benefits of long-term cooperation rather then confrontation. Could have been a win-win, but instead it turned into a lose-lose. Still, Russia, has more to lose than Europe, after all, European economies are built on more than the export of two types of energy resources. Of course, Russia can pack up its toys and just sell to China for a lot less, but hey, they sure showed us, right?
Agression in Ukraine? You overthrew a democratically elected neutral govt and replaced it with stooge govt, you went into Russia's backyard and tried to steal their ball, they kicked you in the balls instead as a response, this isn't aggression, it's an adequate response.
Actually, the Maidan protests began precisely because Yanukovich gave up the neutrality, in favor of developing closer ties with the Russians, and severing any hopes of a closer European integration. Events lead to early elections In May 25, 2014, which were closely monitored by the OSCE (in which Russia is also a member) except for areas under direct Russian occupation or proxy-financed rebellion. Clearly, those areas were not interested in voicing their opinions peacefully anymore.
But either way, I was under the impression that Ukraine was a sovereign country that had the right for self-determination? And that Russia itself guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity DIRECTLY in two(Article 2 & 3) different (Article 1; 2 & 3) treaties. Not even going to mentions more generic stuff like the the UN and OSCE charters.
The politician could have been knocked out due to heart attack or some accident, but getting shot in middle of kremlin on cameras, that's custom designed for taking a PR shot at Putin. Putin had no reason to knock out someone who doesn't even have the political stature to be a viable opposition leader nor managed to build up one for the past few years and Putin had the capability and the means to knock em out where it wouldnt hurt him politically.
Actually, what CCTV footage are we talking about, because funnily enough, the cameras weren't working at the time. How unfortunate! If you mean this video (with the ant-sized people on it) it's from a TV Center webcam, which they use as a live background for news reports and whatnot, and wasn't designed to identify anyone or anything. As for Nemtsov being insignificant: yes, in a way, you are right. That's because there's no friggin opposition left to sperak of!
Putin is smart enough to not go and poke a proper member of NATO, as is NATO that is smart enough to not use one of it's members to poke Russia, instead they use more grey or red areas rather than the blue.
Agreed about NATO, but you give Putin WAY too much credit. Never underestimate what unchallenged and yet surprisingly lonely megalomaniacs are capable of.
Putin played the cards he had, he inherited a country falling on it's own weight and turned it around into something.
True, but on the long term, you still need allies to have your back and they are getting fewer and fewer
It's funny people think, by people I mean Americans and westerners think the US does nothing wrong and everything that happens is just crazy conspiracy theorists making up stories.
But when something goes wrong in a different country it's obviously the government because we say so.
Certainly didn't say that, the fine people of Latin America could elaborate on this subject at length. If you want MY PERSONAL opinion though, I'd pick US influence over the Russians any fucking day.
To call Russians idiots for believing this makes you a massive dumbass imo or a hypocrite at the very least.
LOL