If the US hadn’t continually expanded NATO eastward against its stated promises, and hadn’t affected a coup in Ukraine in 2014, and hadn’t flooded Ukraine with weapons under the Trump & Biden administrations, then the Russian invasion probably wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

And there's no way to resolve this without killing 50 people in a grocery store.

Leftists who don't see Putin as a fascist are fucking tragic. I feel sorry for you, bud.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He’s a war criminal who bombed his own people within his own borders in order to get into power. There are virtually no leftists who are confused about what kind of person Putin is.

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Then why are you - and Chomsky - making excuses for him?

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We’re not making excuses for him.

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You're both framing his invasion of Ukraine as a struggle against NATO expansion, which is the same excuse he gives for his "special military operation"

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

It was framed that way for decades by people on the left and also by centrists like Jeffery Sachs and by right-wing, realpolitik ghouls like Henry Kissinger and John Mearsheimer.

And Ukraine really does have a Nazi problem, which American media used to cover before Russia’s invasion, and then after the invasion it suddenly was considered Russian disinformation.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Turns out it's more complicated than "person does bad things, and so every single action and affect of their action is completely cartoonishly evil". Doesn't mean some things they do AREN'T, don't get me wrong.