US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been sharing cold stares and colder shoulders for the last few months as tensions over Russia's intervention in Ukraine (leading to the current chaos in Crimea) increase. Knowledge of their general dislike for each other has created a plethora of political cartoons and, more recently, a combination of the two on a jumbo screen at the D-Day anniversary celebration on June Sixth. Despite a moment of shared humor over their shared screen, the two are constantly monitored and kept away from each other as if they were two elementary school students who simply can't get along.

Tensions in Ukraine now are more than just residue Cold War tensions between Russian and the ex-Soviet state. Now Putin has taken action to reclaim large portions of Ukraine, claiming to be helping the ethnic Russians.

On a likely unrelated but frequently addressed note, Adolph Hitler made similar moves before World War Two, saying that any forces going into other countries were for the purpose of assisting Ethnic Germans. This DOES NOT mean that Putin is copying Hitler. We do not know that for a fact; we only have theories and similarities right not. Conversely, this does not mean that he isn't making Hitler-like moves.

The United States, rather in character, has been making empty threats to stop Putin if he doesn't pull out of Ukraine. Obama has been frequently animated being trampled on by Putin in his weak attempts to stop him.

The United States does have a right to be concerned with the recent events in Ukraine. If Putin continues pushing to reclaim land inhabited by Ethnic Russians, he will eventually land in Estonia and Lithuania. Estonia and Lithuania are both NATO members but both also have a very large Ethnic Russian population. In Estonia, over 25% of the population is Ethnically Russian. Estonia has more Ethnic Russians than Ukraine.

It's possible that Estonia will be ignored by Russia for the time being because of it's NATO partnership. If Russia were to invade Estonia, the rest of the NATO members would be called upon to help. This could be why Crimea was claimed and joined the other claimed lands. Another possibility is that Russia was interested in Crimea, not in Ukraine as a whole, because of Crimea's 58% Ethnic Russian population. The rest of Ukraine has a much lower Ethnic Russia population at 17% (as of 2001).

The question stands: Could the situation in Ukraine develop into a Third World War? Or is the situation simply a more dramatic run-off from the Cold War and politics between once-Soviet nations?

On one hand, I don't think what Russia is doing is bad considering most of the ethnic Russians *do* want to go back to Russia. On the other hand, I don't think those ethnics realize just how much of an effect a change like this (especially if/when it spans through nearby countries) is going to have on politics in the area and the world. If Russia can just go around and take back territory from previous wars because the citizens like them, it sets a really, really bad standard. A single incident isn't bad. Extending it? It's going to get messy. I don't think it'll be WWIII so long as Russia sticks to the Ukraine, but if they go past that, it may have influence around the world and inspire countries in less approved situations to start similar practices. I wouldn't doubt a multi-continent war could begin as a result.

>>1
Hitler was helping ethnic Germans.
World isn't black and white, you know.
This is already a cold war.
Could escalate, but I'm paranoid so maybe it'll just be a pissing match.

>>2 Also this

Very interesting point. But invasions aren't done cause of how many people there are from the home country. Its done cause of resources or just plain expansion of territory. Helping ethnic Russians is just a poor ass excuse to do that. Although there are not alot of resources in Crimea for a country like Russia. Same thing with Estonia and Lituania . So I don't entirely understand Putins motives. >>2>>3 I also agree with you guys too

>>4 The ethnic Russians in Crimea have been petitioning ever since Ukraine took the territory to go back to Russia. The president always refused, but it has been a continuing issue, so Russia probably just got tired of the arguing and took it back. But still.

How come Eastern Asia never has any problems with the U.S. ?

My favorite part of this whole thing is how he denied to the last minute that his soldiers were Russian.

The uniforms and accents were pretty obvious, dude.
Don't think anyone was fooled.

I'm Russian and this situation is really funny for me. And for long time I ve been living in Crimea.

>>6
implying North Korea and China aren't in East Asia
and/or
implying North Korea and China don't have problems with the U.S.

lolwut

>>9
Yatahaze: A field of science dedicated to the study of the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth.

>>9 I meant east, EAST Asia... (a.k.a. Japan...)

Well i am from Serbia , and Crimea is same as Kosovo story , but the difrence is Crimea will not get independence like kosovo , Even Crimea have more valid reasons to be independed then Kosovo. Moral of the story is War reasons are retarded , if majority wants Independence than give im that .

>>11

>implying Pearl Harbor wasn't a thing
>implying there has never ever been tension with Japan since

>>11
If you mean one specific country, then directly name the specific country the first time, Goofballichi Weebagawa.

>>13 this

>>13 To be fair, there haven't been any explicit problems, at least not on the same scale as this one.

hmm....war is denfently a huge possibility although I doubt that world war three will happen

Obama isn't going to do anything involving Russia except place embargoes on them, he's obviously more concerned about starting another Iraq war and giving weapons to the Taliban and ISIS so they could start shit. I called this way back when I was arguing with Magnolia about the Free Syrian Army.

:I

lol I forgot Magnolia was here before

No wwlll will be fought by Usa france England vs China north Korea venuswala and another country

>>20 The Vatican City is the other one.

Why the Vatican city, it should be Sealand.

>>13 Pearl Harbor was like a bitch slap to America...
>>14 Who taught you your manners?

>>23
My kind charming mother. She would've treated that comment the same way too.

Cause seriously

>Pearl Harbor was like a bitch slap to America
>Pearl Harbor was a bitch slap
>bitch slap
>to America
>America
>Harbor

Confirmed for weeb, leave my glorious U.S. and go live with the silly eyes!

There on the same page most of the stuff putins made law really isnt that diffrent from what obama has put into law

>>26 You're comparing a democrat and a socialist. Those are on two completely different ends of the political sphere. Their laws and policies are far from alike. That's one of the major reasons why there's so much tension between them.

>>27
This.

>>26
I dare you to come up with some examples.

>>26 sounds like a troll comment

>>27 Putin isn't a socialist...he's more of Russia's answer to conservatives.
Obama is debil.

>>28 they both went to Israel and kissed that dirty rock.
They both love Israel.



Guys, who do you think would win in a fight, Obama or Putin?

>>30
who would win in a fight? What kind of stupid question is that?
ex-kgb vs a college basketball player?

Yeah right just another chess game without two players they both seemed to consentraited on oppressing there own people that they serve dont believe me just ask your self what happends when too many people rely on the goverment and the goverment say if they dont agree to this it will all go away majority wins over minority and i just got put on the nsa watch list for posting this proble

I wonder if we can start WWIII just by arguing about this topic....

>>33
The BBS has been actively partaking in the War on Stupidity for years now. It's up to you guys if that escalates or dies down.

how about georgia 2010? same here

Now, I'm usually all for being all passive as violence kinda gets no one anywhere... But there comes a time when [we] Americans should step and just take some actual, well, action!

>>37 why?

We're all getting drafted if WWIII pops off.

#img,http://socioecohistory.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/russia_wants_war_look_how_closely_they_put_country_to_our_military_bases.jpg;

I've heard about this. From what I know he tried getting Jews to sign a list to I.D. who was Jewish and who was not. I heard this from a friend of mine and i am unsure if it is true, but it very well can be.

I read somewhere that most wars are begun because the belligerent country's leadership is scared. I think it really applies here. I think that President Putin is fearful or at least 'shocked and awed' at the progress of neighbouring countries such as China. Currently China is the world's largest trading power. That coupled with the fact that it's military expenditure in the year 2012 was $100 Billion, it would be hard to believe that Pres. Putin is not even slightly intimidated by its south - eastern neighbour. IMO this whole annexation of Crimea was a big ''Russia's still big and powerful and it must be feared''. I think this was Pres. Putin's way of trying to get the international community's attention on Russia. He wanted people to think that the Russian Bear still has its teeth and claws while in reality it's become more of a docile and timid bear(can't even call it a bear).

Anyways, just my thoughts. Would like to hear yours too.

It would be romantic, but I don't really think the russian government really cares for a handful of crimeans(no offense). I think their long term goal is to control the Black Sea, and Crimea is a good position for that. Perhaps Putin's megalomania kicked in, and for some reason he wants to extend his territory to the Balkan, but I doubt that even the russian government would let their dear father figure do that.

>>43 I agree with that. It's not a secret that Russia wants to control the Balkans and Turkey (more specifically the Bosphorus in Turkey) and they nearly suceeded in the Turkish-Russian war. I don't think they've ever forgotten about that goal and they will continue trying till they finally succeed.

bump

I can just imagine a World War III because of this. More countries join Russia andthen declare War or something. Although thats probably not going to happen and the issue is going to be settteled before it goes outof hand.

Russia is getting really connected with a lot of eastern and southern developing countries as well, The BRICS (Brazil,Russia,India,China,SouthAfrica) have become a major competitor to the EU, at least economically, and it most certainly indicates that these countries are interested in working together long term, especially with the amount of money their pouring into it. With the amount of control over oil Russia has, and the increasing demands for oil from China, India and South Africa, I can see some serious economic wrestling going on between the 'eastern economy' and the 'western economy'. Oil prices in Europe are going up all the time and its only a matter of time before Russia decides to cut off the supply for whatever reason. At that point either one of two things is going to happen, shits going to go down between Russia and the EU (and you just know the USA is gunna get involved as soon as they can find an excuse to do so), or The EU is going to do some serious partnership making to find alternative sources of oil (probably leading to another cold war style 'who has the most money' competition).

Russia? nathalia pokslonkaya?

There isn't going to be a WW3.Why?Because of the nuclear weapons.If many of them are released at the same time will literally destroy the whole planet.If there is going to be a war though,they can't rely on nuclear weapons.
This is what a marine soldier that came to our school to present us about the marine troops told us and I think he's right.

>>49 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_Option

Just because nuclear weapons are that powerful does not mean people wouldn't use them.

^