re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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The Estonians and Latvians and Lithuanians and Fins and Poles say "the problem isn't just Putin, it's Russia!" Historically, all Russian leaders have been obsessed with using those countries as their own security buffer.

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The concept of buffer states or some form of barrier has been important to every great power in history. Its easy to criticize Russia historically for this, but they have never been the only power in their entire hemisphere (US) been an island (Britain) or been able to keep out your largest existential threat with just a wall (China, in theory anyway).

I think it creates some instability and paranoia among leadership that you don't see in many other places. France has a bit of that through their history too, and Germany.