I wouldn't call invading another country chess. More like taking out a gun and trying to kill the person playing in front of you.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed your contrarian piece. I don't care how bad the West is (and I agree with you, much bad about it) but Russia chose to invade Ukraine. It chooses to launch missiles at apt buildings in Kyiv. It chooses not to prosecute its own war crimes in Bucha, etc.

And the West has tried to talk to him, and has talked to him, many times and his answer is always the same. Give me Ukraine or else. And that's the same today, and with all his bs historical rationalization. Ironic how the man who hates "woke" re-writing of history does it himself like nobody's business ;)

We can talk geopolitical chess all day long. In the end, one needs to explain why people should die? In the final analysis, your story argues that Putin is right. Again, I don't mind. But if he's right, I'd like to know why. Why do Ukrainians deserve to die and why should they ignore the West and become subservient to Putin's regime?