A fine bit of legalese and legalistic thinking Not even vaguely. Its just simple direct fact. Ukraine didn't attack Russia. Russia did attack Ukraine. Therefore Russia is the aggressor. You can make it more complicated, you can try to justify the aggression. But there really isn't any justification for it.
If I'm surrounded by a pack of thugs, I won't be waiting for them to actually strike the first blow Ukraine wasn't going to strike any blow against Russia. It might not have always agreed with Russia. It would want to act in ways that Putin didn't see as being in Russia's interest (for example there has been a majority for joining the EU for some time, and a significant minority for joining NATO (which became a slight majority after Russia attacked in 2014, and a strong majority since the attack in February). But NATO membership wasn't going to actually happen, and in any case would not be an attack on Russia if it did happen, and given Russia's actions towards non-NATO neighbors (invasion of Georgia, occupation of part of Moldova, not to mention the long history before that) it was a quite reasonable desire (if not something the alliance would actually accept as reality).
And no if Canada or Mexico joined the CTSO or formed an alliance with China an American attack on them would not be justified. Ending the trade deal, frosty relations generally, sure, but if the US attacked it would be pure American aggression.
Oh, but Mq, we hadn't actually touched you, all we did was stomp on your child's face The only stomping here was Russia's. Ukraine isn't Russia's its its own independent country not Russia's child, and the US didn't stomp on it (although Russia did repeatedly.
You know how Americans whine about RussiaRussiaRussia influencing USA elections Which IMO is quite overblown. Not entirely made up, but the "interference" was propaganda, both direct and under various covertly Russian controlled social media accounts. Possibly something to get mildly upset about, but within Russia's rights to do, and not a very significant issue. |
