I write... to write the opposing piece the following day ;)

My point, I hope, is what you just wrote. It's a balancing act to keep all groups "in the open" while also keeping any of them from commandeering a government into violent repression.

All histories of countries in the shadows of more powerful countries include nationalistic formations. Right? I'm not judging them one way or the other.

Putin has focused them into one goal--the independence of Ukraine. However, if they don't get their independence, if the war slips into quagmire, then these groups can get out of control, for both Russia, Europe and the U.S.

It's a very complex situation. I can't even understand these situations after historians have had decades to sort them out! My message is--it's complicated! Sorry if that's a cop out!

BTW, am I nuts or is Medium unsubscribing me to people I could swear I've subscribed to, like you?