• Why Is the U.K. So Hawkish on Ukraine?

    From Oleg Smirnov@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jan 18 19:16:37 2024
    XPost: soc.culture.russian

    ltlee1, <news:b7a1f6fb-a3f2-4f05-9255-cebba3d45bban@googlegroups.com>

    Such a thorough pact has, since last week, cemented the U.K. as
    one of Ukraine's most steadfast supporters in the latter's war
    against Russia. Notwithstanding the incredible lengths the
    agreement goes to to provide Ukraine seemingly endless benefits,
    the $3 billion donation marks the largest sum of annual funds
    Britain has spent on their favorite Slavs over the past two years
    of the war. What sparked this decision?" https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-u-k-bleeds-green-for-ukraine/

    The UK (establishment) is hawkish on Russia, the Ukraine is just a
    tool. It's an old complex, since centuries back. The UK had lost its
    empire in a large part due to Russia (and then the USSR).

    ...

    In the political class sense, the most hawkish on Russia are the UK
    and Poland, while in the grassroots sense, the most anti-Russian, or Russophobic, are people in the Benelux region and close to it.

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  • From Oleg Smirnov@21:1/5 to All on Fri Jan 19 19:14:33 2024
    ltlee1, <news:518e52c1-712a-4860-98ea-f20ecd45d71fn@googlegroups.com>
    On Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 4:17:25?PM UTC, Oleg Smirnov wrote:

    https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-u-k-bleeds-green-for-ukraine/ >>
    The UK (establishment) is hawkish on Russia, the Ukraine is just a
    tool. It's an old complex, since centuries back. The UK had lost its
    empire in a large part due to Russia (and then the USSR).

    ...

    In the political class sense, the most hawkish on Russia are the UK
    and Poland, while in the grassroots sense, the most anti-Russian, or
    Russophobic, are people in the Benelux region and close to it.

    Agree on the UK-USSR great power rivalry of last century plays a role to
    UK hawkish. I also think UK is hawkish because it is keenly aware of its
    much diminished influence today. Not being a member of the EU, playing
    up its NATO role is one avenue for it to be influential.

    I also think "to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down" has long passed its sold by date.

    Don't quite understand why Benelux region people are Russophobic. To the extent that they could accept Germany, why can't they similarly accept Russia?

    Because of alienness, as there was, historically, little
    interaction between Russia and the north-western corner of
    Europe, so in their beliefs Russians must be sort of Huns.

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