Why would I care whether they know I exist?
Socrates frowns, but Putin winks.
I understand the ideological basis for your argument, but I do not think that merely sending a message to other authoritarian governments is worth such a high price in human lives.
I don't think that sending a message to China is worth the cost of continuing the war. Russia isn't about to collapse anytime soon.
A reasonable negotiation would be for Russia to agree to withdraw their troops, go back to their own country, return all the land they have illegally seized, pay for the damages they have caused, and become a good neighbor who respects borders. And in return for this, Ukraine would agree to all the same points with respect to Russia with the exception of paying for any damages within Russia, because Russian started this. Also, Russia should pay a negotiated amount for all the Ukrainians killed in their baseless unprovoked attack.
The Ukrainians seem to disagree, because it's their freedom they're willing to fight and die for. I suspect if they didn't think it was an existential crisis, we wouldn't be witnessing the fighting spirit they continue to exhibit in that "give me liberty, or give me death!" vein.
That would be rewarding unprovoked military attacks on neighbors. There is nothing 'good' about that.
I understand, but at this point I don't find that sentiment admirable or praiseworthy. I think it's wasteful.
Unprovoked military attacks, killing people, destroying homes and cities are not a negotiation either.
How about if China launches a surprise attack and seizes half of the USA? Then they say: "Let's negotiate a peace where we keep what we took."
That's not a realistic negotiating position. That's Ukraine getting everything, and Russia getting nothing. Russia will never agree to that.
Understood, however to those fighting to preserve their way of life, it might not be wasteful for obvious reasons. This country would not exist had it shared that same sentiment, and unfortunately, history demonstrates that armed conflict is the way people tend to resolve these differences. I wish it were different, but those looking to deny others the right to self determination are willing to waste human life to suppress the rights of others, and that's the real waste here. The Ukrainians fighting know exactly why they're fighting, but can the same be said for the Russians soldiers? They're following orders, sure, but that's not the same motivation or reason to fight. That's what I see the waste of life here purely on the Russian side of this conflict, because it was one of choice, and continues to be.
If we ever want the war to end, then both sides must agree to start negotiations. The onus does not lie solely on Russia to try to find a peaceful solution to this.
Yeah, that one really came out of left field. More so because it exposed the vulnerable position Russia is in right now because it has put so many resources towards this war. They're stretched militarily and aren't getting the same kind of support the Ukrainians are.
Putin's hollow justifications for invading the Ukraine are irrelevant to me. I'm a practical man, not an ideological one. I favor a quick end to this war, and if that means Ukraine ceding some territory that is currently occupied by Russia, I consider that to be worth it. As far as I'm concerned, that territory is already lost. Putin isn't going to give it back.
Defeating Russia militarily is a pipe dream that should be abandoned.
The onus should, since they started the war. From a Ukrainian perspective, I imagine the more realistic compromise is to go back to the status quo prior to the invasion starting. Rewarding Russia with additional land only sets the incentive for a future invasion, since the message is clear that if they invade, there will be a reward. It would not be unreasonable then, to assume Putin would calculate a dissection of Ukraine through multiple small invasions in much the same way he did in Crimea.