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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
[BBC] Ukraine - the narrative the West doesn't hear
2022-05-04
The set-up:
[BBC] "Ukraine and its allies, including London, are threatening Russia for the last 1,000 years, to move Nato to our borders, to cancel our culture - they have bullied us for many, many years."

That is what Yevgeny Popov, a member of the Russian Duma (parliament) and an influential TV host in Russia, told the BBC's Ukrainecast on 19 April. "Of course Nato plans for Ukraine are a direct threat to Russian citizens."

His views were both surprising and enlightening as to the very different narrative put out by the Kremlin, compared to the way it's viewed in the West. To European and Western ears, these pronouncements sound almost unfathomable, even amounting to a blatant disregard for carefully documented evidence. Yet these are just some of the beliefs held not only by Kremlin supporters in Russia and across the wider population there but also in several other parts of the world.

After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the UN held an emergency vote - 141 nations out of 193 UN member states voted a week later to condemn it. But a number of major countries chose to abstain, including China, India and South Africa. So it would be delusional for Western leaders to believe that the entire world shares Nato's view - that Russia is entirely to blame for this catastrophic war - because it doesn't.

So why are so many countries on the fence about Russia's invasion?

There are many reasons, ranging from straightforward economic or military self-interest, to accusations of Western hypocrisy to Europe's colonial past. There is no one-size-fits-all. Every country may have its own particular reasons for not wanting to publicly condemn Russia or alienate President Putin.
Posted by:Skidmark

#5  a whole lot more Ukrainians

Quick, Omaing Stalag1261 — it’s time for you and all your cousins to have half a dozen children each. No more of this one child per marriage stuff, not when war and exile are depleting Ukraine of the people who are its soul.
Posted by: trailing wife   2022-05-04 22:40  

#4  If we are going to fight the Russians for 1,000 years, we are going to need a whole lot more Ukrainians.
Posted by: SteveS   2022-05-04 18:21  

#3   Yep, we've all been threatening Russia for 1000 years. Russia is innocent.

Just look at any film or photo of civilian deaths in Ukraine, it's so obvious.

Or, check out Sweden and Finland who have been neutrals for ages appearing to be prepared to join the evil NATO.

It's all the west's fault, Russia is a god's nation. But, not the God of the bible, another one with less virtue that teaches thievery, rape and mass murder is good.

Posted by: Omaing Stalag1261   2022-05-04 17:03  

#2   "Ukraine and its allies, including London, are threatening Russia for the last 1,000 years, to move Nato to our borders..."

I wonder what the next 1000 years of NATO will bring.
Posted by: Lord Garth   2022-05-04 12:47  

#1  Evil people rise because the public can be extremely dumb. I see this every day. They cling to their beliefs and will attack any who challenge their views. Stalin, Hitler and many others came to power because of public stupidity. People like AOC, Pelosi, Schumer and Biden currently are good examples. Reelected year after year goes by. Why, because the dumb and stupid and very intelligent all vote as they do because they are all simply stupid. No use trying to educate. They do not listen. They only listen to those who already say what they believe.
Posted by: Dale   2022-05-04 04:15  

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