The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
ecfr.eu
Europeans’ response to Russia’s war on Ukraine confirms their profound dependence on the US – an unwise position given the security challenge in Europe and coming geopolitical competition with China.

The report is absolutely scathing. Some choice quotes:

But when the next crisis came, both the US and the governments of Europe fell back on old models of alliance leadership. Europe, as EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell loudly lamented prior to Russia’s invasion, is not really at the table when it comes to dealing with the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It has instead embarked on a process of vassalisation.

But “alone” had a very specific meaning for Scholz. He was unwilling to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine unless the US also sent its own main battle tank, the M1 Abrams. It was not enough that other partners would send tanks or that the US might send other weapons. Like a scared child in a room full of strangers, Germany felt alone if Uncle Sam was not holding its hand.

Europeans’ lack of agency in the Russia-Ukraine crisis stems from this growing power imbalance in the Western alliance. Under the Biden administration, the US has become ever more willing to exercise this growing influence.

  • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    So, it was never a demand from Ukraine at the negotiating table to stop those relocations or to allow inspections?

    Are you fucking serious. “Was it ever a Ukrainian demand to stop the genocide of Ukrainian people”. Are you listening to yourself. Have you touched grass recently.

    I don’t refer to evacuating civilians in occupied areas,

    People who had it happening to them don’t call it “evacuation”. Evacuations also don’t tend to be by force, or end in internment camps.

    You claim to be “oh so neutral” and yet you’re regurgitating Kremlin propaganda 1:1. I have no idea who you’re trying to convince, here.

    This is not about pacifism, it is about being pragmatic. Throwing in more soldiers to die has not proven effective at saving innocent Ukrainians. We’ve had 300 thousand dead now.

    That’s wounded, not killed. Killed we have about 70k Russians, maybe 20k Ukrainian soldiers. Not counting civilians (which are overwhelmingly Ukrainian, anyway).

    Obviously, Russia throwing more soldiers into the grinder to die has not proven effective in advancing its war goals, so why aren’t they fucking off to their side of the border? This kind of logic always cuts both ways and you applying it to one side only betrays your bias.

    If some heads have to roll, sure, but how many heads, both Ukrainian and Russian, have to roll before we recognise that this is not really working?

    “We” doesn’t matter. Ukraine will fight until it’s free, Russia until it’s exhausted. That’s what’s going to happen, that’s how war works, no matter your preference, war is and will always be unaesthetic: It continues until the parties have an agreement on what can be achieved by both sides, and with Russia being unrealistic (because jingoist and superiority complex and валяй, ебёна мать!1) it’s dragging out. Russia’s mind about its own goals cannot currently be changed by any other means but on the battlefield, that’s why that’s where negotiations take place.

    Becoming rather rude are we?

    I subscribe to the same philosophy as Linus Torvalds in these matters. You can rest assured that I’m not writing in anger.

    1 You probably don’t get the reference: Pushkin, The Wagon of Life.