Vladimir Putin has officially declared war on Ukraine

I'm not sure if they were actually targeting Chernobyl itself - the bombing was about 26 miles away.

Having said that, there is an exclusion zone ( the surrounding area is still radioactive and is sealed) still remaining in place around the area and is protected by the military so it could very well be a target, military personnel rather than for any other reason.

It is an imperial race between the US, Russia and now ever-rising China (although their Africa path has kind of been compromised but still). It's very hard for Americans in particular to step back and see this larger picture because they're 1. in power; 2. descendants of a young nation who has never really had a proper war in its own country besides the one they led and won against the natives and the Civil War which was an internal political war and not one embedded in the same stakes as international wars with rival major powers. It's a very geographically privileged position to be in as well for the USA: separated by oceans, no dangerous neighbours at your doorstep. It's a beautiful place to go establish a nation but it comes with the danger of not developing a sense of understanding for the rest of the world. Not many other nations of global power are in this position, heck neither of the US's "threats", Russia and China, are in this configuration. 

This creates a certain blindness which you brought up: both from just living in a different configuration where you're used as a puppet/pawn for a mega power because your geographical positioning but also a lack of long history of going at war with other countries who are both your neighbours and your greatest risk of invasion. It creates many centuries of tensions, conflict resolution, temporary peace, etc. That leaves a legacy when you're educated in these through schooling and family history. I don't think many people in the US even consider the current use of other countries around the world, including in Western Europe and the Middle East where we live, is plain imperialism. It's not because you're not naming other places as your own like it once used to be done that you aren't acting and using them as your own for major self-serving geopolitical, economic, financial and military purposes. It's clear as day to us but I don't know what it will take for the American voters to grasp this, accept this and want to act through voting against this. I don't see it happening anytime soon, unfortunately. And the wars will rage on elsewhere, comfortably away.

You have to start thinking about why Europe can't and whether it's been kept from being able to since the end of WW2. I would urge you to show newspapers of record pointing the finger straight at the US from these other nations you bring up. I've brought up my personal conclusions and general sentiments. But overall, January has been a month of US/Biden putting themselves on the first pages of newspapers through very vocal, public addressing. You can't blame Europeans here who have been trying to deescalate diplomatically on their side.

It's hard for Europe to handle European affairs when the US has made a point of being involved at least since WW2 and quite honestly, before that as well. The US has played the role of world policeman (for better or worse) so yes, countries/people expect that to continue. I don't think the US should - and I've believed that since the early 90s and Desert Shield/Storm. But regardless of anyone's beliefs - the US role in world affairs IS a contributing factor to the current problems. I also think that people outside of Eastern Europe who are more worried about a potential threat to themselves and less worried about the ACTUAL threat in the Ukraine need to refocus their priorities.

Yes, but if you look at the history, the US has set up situations, not just in Eastern Europe, but globally where the local populations are just stuck between a series of bad choices. US interference in the internal fairs of other countries has a long and sordid history. To understand what is currently going on you have to understand that history. The IS does t have any good options right now, but a lot of that is because of our own actions. I do t believe in American isolationism but we have not historically been good political partners in many ways.

I agree that there have been policy and military decisions over the years that have created the situation that we are in now.  But I disagree that the US is the only country that has made influential decisions or is to blame for everything that has happened.  EVERY country has a history.  I find it very offensive to blame Russia invading Ukraine on anyone but Putin.  

Biden has said that the US isn't sending troops to fight Russia.  Surely people will in Europe will be happy about that so they can handle it, right?

I would like to thank those that have shared their opinions and knowledge on this thread. I am a US citizen that has never had the opportunity to go abroad. My understanding of European politics etc is non existent.

My heart goes out to those in the Ukraine and to those that have family members that serve in the military (any military unit/country).

I don't for a second believe that the US hasn't made massive foreign policy errors. I don't know a country in the world who hasn't. We are kind of johnny-come-lately to these conflicts. With 1,000s of years of conflict and rewriting of borders. We usually don't have the perspective of unintended consequences and have paid the price over the last 70+ years of trying to resolve conflict and inevitably creating more conflict.

I wanted to post a video of the map of Europe over the last 1000 years (it's long, you can easily watch on 2x speed). I have no doubt there are errors and please don't post, actually Saxony at that time was..... It's to give a flavor the non-Europeans to better understand just how much conflict Europe has experienced. If someone has a better, more accurate representation, please post.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjWVFZ5e_vo&ab_channel=KatarinaPeter

I feel for the people of Ukraine, I don't think there are easy answers here and fear that the conflict will continue escalate as long as Putin is in charge.

You do realise that Russia is part of Europe, right? «Europe» isn’t a country like the US, just in case you didn’t know. 

Of course I know that.  Earlier in the thread she said that she wanted Europe to be able to handle Europe's business (which includes Russia and Ukraine) and for the US to stay out of it.   That is what I was referring to.  

That is an interesting video Darcy; thank you for sharing.

I am listening.  I also disagree with some of what she says, and think it is offensive. I don't think that mothers saying they worry for their sons who are in the military means that they are self-centered or not thinking/worrying about the people of Ukraine.  We all worry about that and have empathy for people who are living there. There are other consequences that we will likely all face (like higher prices) but that is nothing compared to what Ukrainians are experiencing. 

The build up has been happening for awhile now.  What I have heard is that giving the information that the administration and the media has given over the last month or so was done because of the threat of a false flag attack, and to let the world know what is really going on.  I can see where in some ways that could be seen as emboldening Putin, but I can also see why it was done that way.  However, blaming the US takes the responsibility off of Putin, which is where it needs to be.  

And let me reiterate this: there is no Manichean black-or-white game going on here from my side of things. I'm myself a descendant from arguably the most at-war and military most successful country in the world. France was a major imperialist player as well. My nation's history is not pretty. What a US-biased Ukraine discussion does seem to reveal to me is the lack of awareness and acknowledgement of the fact that it is one more fruit of the continued imperialist ways of the US over other parts of the world. In this case, it's interesting to point out because we're talking about the developed world, supposed Allies (but never equals if you will). The problem rages on elsewhere, too.

There will not be an easy, click-of-the-fingers solution but the debate and thinking need to start somewhere. I see no better place than a current crisis to do so. This doesn't mean Europe as a whole or the EU is the angel and the US the villain. Don't be mistaken but also please rethink and reassess the knowledge you have of how we got here and how got to other recent-ish conflicts that implicate US troops, military bases and general power games. To go: "you sort it out now, there, you get to play the field, happy?" does not work here. It's throwing a tantrum and then waiting in the bushes to play the "told you so!" part afterwards. I'm really not interested in this. I'm interested in shifting power grabs of yore (and present) and shifting + letting others transition into greater autonomy and independence of their choice and making.

I can’t disagree with a single word. And thank you for the other Politico link.