Historian responds to Oliver Stone about Putin and NATO | Stephen Kotkin and Lex Fridman | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR
The argument that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was forced by NATO expansion is false, as Russia has historically engaged in aggressive behavior regardless of NATO's existence.
Key Insights
- 🇷🇺 Russia's aggression is not a result of NATO expansion but rather a strategic choice made by the country.
- 👮 Historical agreements and international law support a country's freedom to choose its alliances.
- 🫚 Russia's aggression is not rooted in cultural tendencies and predates NATO's existence.
- ⚾ The West's strength and voluntary alliances are not crimes but choices made by countries based on their interests.
- 😑 Expressing a desire to join NATO or the EU is not a provocation or a threat to Russia.
- 🥹 The argument of eternal Russian imperialism or Western imperialism does not hold, as it is a matter of geopolitical choices and capabilities.
- 👊 NATO is a defensive alliance that defends its members if they are attacked.
- 👯 Ukraine's desire to join NATO is a legal and realistic choice based on its own interests and the will of its people.
Transcript
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Questions & Answers
Q: Is NATO expansion the reason behind Russia's invasion of Ukraine?
No, historical agreements and international law affirm a country's right to choose its alliances. Russia's aggression predates NATO, making it a geopolitical choice rather than a reaction to NATO expansion.
Q: Can Russia's aggression be attributed to its cultural tendency towards aggression?
No, there is no inherent cultural trait in Russia that predisposes it to aggression. Russia's aggressive actions are strategic choices made in response to the mismatch between its aspirations and capabilities.
Q: Is the West to blame for Russia's actions?
No, the West's strength and the willingness of countries to join Western alliances are not crimes. It is not a provocation for a country to express its desire to join NATO or the EU, as these choices are based on perceived interests and are legal under international law.
Q: Are there examples of Russian aggression predating NATO's existence?
Yes, there are instances in Russian history where similar behavior, policies, and actions to the current Kremlin actions can be observed. These examples predate NATO's existence and expansion.
Summary & Key Takeaways
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The speaker disagrees with the notion that NATO expansion is responsible for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, citing historical agreements that uphold a country's freedom to choose its alliances.
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The speaker argues that Russia's aggression predates NATO and can be traced back to its own geopolitical choices.
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The West's strength and the willingness of countries to join Western alliances are not crimes or threats to Russia, but rather voluntary choices based on perceived interests and aspirations.
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