u/IrishCommie2023 - originally from r/GenZhou
Here's my understanding of the situation. The war is essentially an inter-imperialist, or at least an intra-class, rivalry between between the NATO-backed Ukraine govt (and associated fascist militias) and Russian-speaking provinces in Eastern Ukraine, which arguably have socialist leanings, and are supported by Russia. The war began with the Euromaidan color revolution; a Western backed coup launched when Ukraine's previous president backed out of a trade agreement with the EU, and resulted in fascist and neo-nazi groups being elevated to the heights of political power. Hence, Russia intervened to protect the Russian-speaking population of the autonomous regions of Donbass and Crimea in the face of further Western economic encirclement
u/yw4lkwhenUcanride - originally from r/GenZhouI dont get this logic. "Well yes they are Nazis, but they have a right to their land." Are we not socialists? Can we not see what fuckery is occurring in places like Ukraine and Poland?
Putin is by no means some principled communist, but for a variety of reasons his own personal goals, along with the russian bourgeoisie, align with anti imperialist efforts for the time being.
The USSR doesnt exist anymore. Putin doesnt abide by what hand wringing liberalized USSR leaders said moments before a CIA influenced collapse of the same republic. In the same way that the U.S. doesnt abide by it own agreements in eastern Europe
Crimea votes in a way that confirms their people consider themselves Russian, and immediately the west starts backing neo-Nazis in Ukraine to fight against said decision. Here in the west those Neo-Nazi groups get portrayed as brave freedom fighters!
For all the distrust I have of Putin and his long term motivations, I have even less for the US/Western powers and whoever they choose to back in a situation like this. Edit: Especially when the people they back are verifiably literal Nazis