Lol, with the prices for oil and natural gas going through the roof it actually goes some way to compensate for the sanction induced economic damage.
NATO bombed Serbia. They broke Kosovo from Serbia by force and recognized its independence. NATO bombed Libya and turned it into an open air slave market. NATO used Article 4 (not Article 5 like some people assume) on Afghanistan and sent troops there.
The US withdrew from ABM and INF Treaties. They place Mk 41 VLS in Poland and Romania next to Russia. They claim these systems are to intercept Iranian missiles into Europe. Why not place missile systems in Turkey then? Why Poland? Also AFAIK Iran never threatened Europe. Only reason they do not do to Russia what they did to Serbia back when Chechen war happened was Russian nuclear deterrent. Mk 41 VLS in Poland and Romania help undermine this deterrent.
Because approx. 81,5% of the world isn't Chinese meaning China can't achieve its current geopolitical goals by itself without others. And because its main adversary the US is that much more adapt on the world stage with a very firm grip indeed.Why should China adapt to the internal views, perceptions and political realities of other states? You are required to answer why China should even bother doing that before opining on how adeptly China does so. Why don't these other states adapt to the internal views, perceptions and political realities of China?
You claimed NATO was not threatening. When in fact they have used force to break apart countries and do regime change operations before.What's the connection to my post?
The West isn't 81.5% of the world. It's a smaller share of the world than China.Because approx. 81,5% of the world isn't Chinese meaning China can't achieve its current geopolitical goals by itself without others. And because its main adversary the US is that much more adapt on the world stage with a very firm grip indeed.
You can't play the game of global domination by being inward-looking.
Total political power grab on Donesk and Luhansk provinces(all the provinces area) in a neutral Ukraine, water for Crimea. and disarmement of Ukraine are probably the minimum objectives for Russia. If they can get that Putin can keep is place. Less than that and I can see a real power struggle at Moscow. Russian army and economy readiness will be hammered bad in the process and it's Nato gain too. I don't see clear looser beside Ukraine.Russia might be able to topple the government - with great effort - but it cannot control Ukraine. There will be an insurgency that will be indefinite. Realistically speaking, Russia can offer the status quo ante bellum in exchange for neutrality. There are NATO countries that will NEVER agree to Ukraine joining NATO again after this.
That aside, taking Mariupol will be a huge strategic and symbolic victory for Russia. Kiev is in predominantly Ukrainian speaking Ukraine, and aside from that is a big city. It will too much cost of resources to take it...
Lol, with the prices for oil and natural gas going through the roof it actually goes some way to compensate for the sanction induced economic damage.