Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I read several important Twitter threads on the conflict that are worth reading. However, I choose those three threads ( plus few other tweets)because they highlight important angles of the conflict and debunk many myths.
To talk about Ukrainian nationalism, we first have to establish the context of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. These are not just countries sharing a common border. Our relationship is that of an empire and its colony.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
The Russian empire erases the culture of its colonies. The captured lands are renamed Russia, ethnically cleansed, and/or forcibly assimilated. For Ukraine, this manifested in several genocidal famines, and a centuries-long policy of elimination of the language and culture.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
…and defensive nationalism, poised to preserve traditions and identities.” Defensive nationalism is common to peoples whose identity is in existential danger.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
That said, although Ukraine has been oppressed and colonized throughout its history, there are many horrific examples of atrocities and mistreatment against Roma, Jews, Poles, and others, committed by Ukrainians.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Ukraine is not an ideal place. Ukrainian society is not perfect, and there is racism in it. I have personally encountered racism in Ukraine.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Jewish communities also support Ukraine in this war:https://t.co/6zdOLR20FO
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Now, let us look more at the far-right movement. As in many European countries, there are right-wing parties in Ukraine. But unlike places such as Hungary, Italy, and others, in Ukraine, such parties have tiny support.https://t.co/qQ4ubFYXg9
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Thus, the actual scale of the far-right problem in Ukraine was significantly overblown by the Western media (and Russian propaganda), especially compared to incredible progress in recent years despite the war raging since 2014https://t.co/GfVtN4S4Yq
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Russia wants the world to believe they are “de-nazifying” Ukraine, implying Russia is free of neo-Nazism. But of course, this is very far from the truth.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
An essential element of such nationalism is the idea of one's own greatness, which becomes a justification for territorial expansion beyond Russia's existing borders.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Despite this, I think Russian nationalism is weakly covered in Western media, even when relevant. For several years, Alexei Navalny has been an example of the systemic struggle against the regime in authoritarian Russia. But even Russia's opposition has close ties to nationalism.
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Navalny's nationalism is also evident in his stance on illegally annexed Crimea. When asked about Crimea, he replied that "Crimea is not a sandwich", and added: “Crimea will remain part of Russia and will never become part of Ukraine again in the near future."
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
TL;DR: Western media and Russian propaganda wildly inflate the problem of the Ukrainian far-right. The coverage fails to put the Ukrainian far-right in the larger context. Once done, it's evident that it is a tiny problem compared to Russian and even European right-wing movements
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
Is Ukraine an ideal country without racism?
— Mariam Naiem (@mariamposts) April 7, 2022
No.
Does the Ukrainian far-right have political prospects?
No.
Is Russia an ideal country without racism as they imply?
No.
Does the Russian far-right have political prospects?
It already is a fascist state.
First, a bit about Medvedchuk. He has long been among the loudest advocates for Russian interests in Ukraine, as the leader of the pro-Russia Opposition Platform – For Life party, which was biggest opposition force in the Rada (Ukrainian parliament) against Pres Zelenskyy. 2/16
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
Medvedchuk was known to own Ukraine's ZIK, NewsOne and 112 TV channels, which have been linked to the Kremlin and were pushing pro-Putin propaganda in Ukraine. (Though officially, the owner was Medvedchuk's Opposition Platform colleague, MP Taras Kozak). 4/16
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
Then came the treason charges (which Medvedchuk predictably denies). 6/16
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
These were big moves, and by all accounts made Putin furious. As Time's @shustry reports in this essential Feb. 2 story (written before the Russian invasion) … https://t.co/BSc5hVCY5T pic.twitter.com/aJcGL7ZgEF
Let's put it to the Putin Table Test. Compare how closely Putin sits to Medvedchuk (Sputnik, March 2020) vs. how far he is from his defense minister & chief of the general staff of armed forces (2022). Sure, it's a different time, but Medvedchuk is at poisoning distance. 8/16 pic.twitter.com/RAgdJVwtFe
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
In 2014, the U.S. said Medvedchuk used his “resources or influence to support or act on behalf of senior Russian government officials,” sanctioning him following Russia’s invasion of Crimea. 10/16https://t.co/u65hMDc2Ay
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
So, in summary: Putin's (failed) plan for Ukraine appears to have been a quick invasion launched on Feb. 24 and over within the week. In that push, he planned to remove Zelenskyy and replace him with pro-Kremlin puppet government likely spearheaded by Medvedchuk & party. 12/16
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
Why is Medvedchuk's capture important? Ukraine has shown that even Putin's best bud can't evade its forces. "Let Medvedchuk be an example for you," Zelenskyy said last night. "Even the former oligarch did not escape … We will get everyone." 14/16https://t.co/1Ukn5HziLg
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
But this makes Putin look even weaker, and helps Zelenskyy and his forces look more competent, at a time when he needs to show the West his government and authorities are well run, and is asking for additional assistance in form of weapons and EU membership. 16/16
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) April 13, 2022
I finally came up with something close to an answer.
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
It is a paradoxical combination of extreme short-termism and extreme long-termism. A mix of myopia and hyperopia that did not allow the Kremlin and Putin personally to see the reality at hand. 2/15
In other words, Putin decided to play the only game he knows – the game of chicken – with the new US president. He probably thought that Biden was weak and would cave easily. 4/15
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
Biden, of course, did not cave and the Geneva talks in Summer 2021 brought no results. Again, Putin responded in the only way he knows – by raising the stakes and once more ordering to concentrate troops at the border. He also expanded his demands towards the US. 6/15
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
At this point, the invasion was the only option Putin perceived in the chicken game he himself started. If none of his demands are met, what else is there to do? Lose the game? Not a chance! 8/15
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
In sum, the logic of the game (as Putin perceived it) pushed him towards launching the invasion. Still, the gravity of the decision dawned upon him. This is when long-term, "historical" thinking kicked in. 10/15
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
As Volodymyr Artiukh noted, "The [Kremlin's] logic is: “There’s seven bad years ahead, but then we’ll have our hundred years of empire.” This is the frame of mind, if you read closely what the Russians are saying."
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
This is exactly correct. 12/15https://t.co/nKOwGGndcv
To sum up: the invasion was caused by extremely short-term and extremely long-term considerations. Basic common sense just disappeared between Putin's immediate desire to "show them" and the fantasy of "securing his place in history". 14/15
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
Perhaps none of this matters now. The decision is made. But the valiant Ukrainian resistance to this murderous aggression changed everything. Whatever Putin's motives, he was already taught a lesson. 15/15
— Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_) April 13, 2022
"It was 14 years ago, in 2008, that Merkel, together with France's then president, Nicolas Sarkozy, helped block NATO's membership invitation to Ukraine during an alliance summit in Bucharest. They saw it as a provocation to Russia." https://t.co/kltdo5qtum
— Amanda Rivkin (@amandarivkin) April 12, 2022
Woman tells how Russians were shocked how Ukrainians lived – "They have all houses made of bricks, laptops and Nutella in every house – it can't be," pic.twitter.com/223aDNib4q
— Expat in Kyiv (@expatua) April 9, 2022
Before the russian murderers came, Mariupol was a cozy city where Greeks, Ukrainians and other ethnic groups lived in peace and harmony. That was the case in the rest of Ukraine as well. We have to bring russia to justice. Every murderer must be punished, from putin to a killer.
— Alexander Khara 🇺🇦 Αλέξανδρος Χαρά (@alexanderkhara) April 7, 2022
Maria Zakharova calling Ukranians "Soup Nazis". No joking. She is definitely drunk. Seinfeld crying 😢 https://t.co/prTVsDbxJE
— Oğuzhan Güler 🇺🇦 (@OGuler77) April 8, 2022
Read this interview with Karaganov (reliable bellwether of 🇷🇺ruling elite majority consensus).
— Thorsten Benner (@thorstenbenner) April 10, 2022
If afterwards you still harbor any illusions about sustainable negotiated settlement with Putin's Kremlin on European security order read it again. And again.https://t.co/PjbuJF8GoK
A snapshot from the Irpin 'house of culture': https://t.co/btdWWnrTLu
— kriszta satori (@fulelo) April 9, 2022
Nervana 