Road To War

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/interactive/2022/ukraine-road-to-war/

Opinion of Democracies About Russia

My friend:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/30/negative-views-of-russia-mainly-limited-to-western-liberal-democracies-poll-shows?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Not everyone thinks of Russia as a bad boy it seems. Negative views of Russia is limited largely to Western democracies. The Indians have a net positive view of Russia.  Negative views of China are more widespread than of Russia. I think public perception of Russia is almost entirely dependent upon what their government thinks, and what the press in their country tells them. The Western leaders are all strongly anti-Russia, and so are the press and media here in contrast to other countries. Is the press in India more pro-Russia? If it is, that would explain the Indian perception of Russia?

My response:

Western democracies  (than Asian / African / south american) are very anti Russia because the issue is happening in Europe and in a "white" country. 

The same reason why when Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO, everyone (except Turkey) was keen to accept them. While Ukraine was left in limbo for many years.

Meaning there is a pecking order even among white countries. In terms of importance,  Scandinavia > Ukraine > say Moldova >  Macedonia and so on.

And when it was about Afghanistan, of course USA and UK did try to help. But what was the level of involvement? Was it anywhere like how they are involved in Ukraine?

A second season could be that countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Macedonia are hardly relevant to the world order unlike Scandinavia or even Ukraine. 

Zelensky And Ukraine

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/opinion/why-we-admire-zelensky.html

Additional reading 

• https://vbala99.blogspot.com/2022/03/emotions-and-ukraine.html
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cohen-ukraine-commentary-idUSKBN1GV2TY
• ThePrint: Why it’s obscene to tell Ukraine to give in & how war-upended global balance of power brings openings for India: very nice comparing with India, China and Pak.
• Five Blunt Truths About the War in Ukraine
  
• Will Russia Pay for Ukraine’s War Damage? Very nice.
  

Emotions And Ukraine War

A conversation between my friend and me about the Ukraine situation. 

Polish Friend: I'm not in favour of Putin, but I'm also not in favour of Ukraine. I just hope that we, Poland, will not get involved.

Me: Well I think you are going to be [involved] as things stand now. You will fight on behalf of Ukraine, If you ever get involved.

PF: I really hope we won't.

Me: You won't like what I am going to tell you. But I anticipated that the war (not "special military operation") will proceed and involve NATO. I sold stocks anticipating it. Note that this is not my wish. But what I think will happen. My money is at stake!!

PF: Is that supposed to be a joke?

Me: Why do you ask that?

PF: Because it is ridiculous.

Me: What is ridiculous?

PF: Should I bet that India and Bangladesh go to war??

This conversation was illuminating to me. Note that my friend asked me whether she should bet and not whether she should wish for a war between India and Bangladesh. Meaning, she understood that I was betting and not hoping for a war. And she still thinks that a bet is offensive. A bet is the result of analysis, not what we hope will happen. The belief that a logic thought is no different from a desire is striking. 

An emotional person doesn't get the difference between what we wish and what we think will likely happen and hence conflates the two. Just as they don't understand the concept of cause and effect. They often think that the cause is the result of the effect.

Strange.

Additional reading 

Acknowledging the Limits of Sanctions: Very nice article