What is the role of Nato in the Russia-Ukraine crisis? - BBC News

[Uncle Joe]

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. If Democracy means anything.....the world has to draw a line in the sand.

The Ukrainians will fight this war they cannot win. But the price to Putin and the Oligarchs has to be a mortal blow to their economic power. And there can be no doubt that Trump Sympathizers are Putin's 5th column against our democracy.

[Magoo48]

2. Weren't promises made by NATO which have been broken?

[Uncle Joe]

3. The only thing I know of in regards to Ukraine joining NATO

was George W. Bush's statement during the last year of his Presidency.

WORLD NEWS
APRIL 1, 2008 1:52 AMUPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Bush vows to press for Ukraine, Georgia in NATO

KIEV (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush vowed on Tuesday to press for Ukraine and Georgia to be allowed to start the process of joining NATO despite resistance from Russia and skepticism from the alliance’s European members.

(snip)


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-ukraine-bush/bush-vows-to-press-for-ukraine-georgia-in-nato-idUSL0141706220080401

[Uncle Joe]

4. Here is something else of note.

It seems April of 2008 was the starting point as Bush announced that he supported Ukraine and Georgia becoming part of NATO.

Tensions between Georgia and Russia began escalating in April 2008. [89][90] A bomb explosion on 1 August 2008 targeted a car transporting Georgian peacekeepers. South Ossetians were responsible for instigating this incident, which marked the opening of hostilities and injured five Georgian servicemen. In response,[91] several South Ossetian militiamen were hit.[92] South Ossetian separatists began shelling Georgian villages on 1 August. These artillery attacks immediately caused Georgian servicemen to return fire periodically.[89][92][93][94][95]

(snip)

Russia accused Georgia of "aggression against South Ossetia",[103] and launched a large-scale land, air and sea invasion of Georgia with the pretext of "peace enforcement" operation on 8 August 2008.[94] Abkhaz forces opened a second front on 9 August by attacking the Kodori Gorge held by Georgia.[104] Tskhinvali was seized by the Russian military by 10 August.[105] Russian forces occupied the Georgian cities beyond disputed territories.[106]

During the conflict, there was a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Georgians in South Ossetia,[107] including destruction of Georgian settlements after the war had ended.[108] The war displaced 192,000 people,[109] and while many were able to return to their homes after the war, a year later around 30,000 ethnic Georgians remained displaced.[110] In an interview published in Kommersant, South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said he would not allow Georgians to return.[111][112]

President of France Nicolas Sarkozy negotiated a ceasefire agreement on 12 August 2008.[113] Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as separate republics on 26 August.[114] In response to Russia's recognition, the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia.[115] Russian forces left the buffer areas bordering Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 8 October, and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia was dispatched to the buffer areas.[116] Since the war, Georgia has maintained that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are occupied Georgian territories.[117][118]

(snip)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)

[DickKessler]

5. Such a stupid and needlessly provocative statement from Bush.

[Uncle Joe]

6. I believe it was easier for Bush to make grandiose statements as it was

the last months of his Presidency, he was a short timer, "Mission Accomplished."

He didn't have to deal with the consequences, so I don't believe Bush gave his statement much forethought.

Because apparently our NATO allies weren't on board and obviously Russia wasn't happy about it.