Russia saved the world from the Nazis with Stalingrad — the true turning point in the war. The cost of World War 2 to Russia was 27 million dead. That’s MILLION.
It is not difficult to understand Russia’s concern about European expansionism and imperialism toward Russia. First there was Napoleon, then more aggression from Europe toward Russia in World War 1, and then Hitler and the Nazis and that huge loss in lives in the millions. Now we have NATO and the US waging a proxy war in Ukraine — a covert invasion of Russia.
In much the same way that the Cuban missile crisis was existential for the US, this proxy war in Ukraine is existential for Russia. Russia will not tolerate having American missiles in Ukraine, that close to their capitol — thus their point of view that Ukraine cannot be a member of NATO.
No way Russia will back down from this conflict without complete capitulation by Kiev. That’s the only deal out there acceptable to Putin.
Henry's Views 