People in Britain who think they are governed by fools should take a closer look at the Russian and US presidents. Vladimir Putin is systematically ruining his country. His war of choice in Ukraine is an economic, financial, geopolitical and human calamity for Russia that worsens by the day. For his own murky reasons, Donald Trump, another national menace, offered him a lifeline last week. Yet Putin spurned it. These two fools deserve each other.
On the table in Moscow was a “peace” deal that, broadly speaking, rewarded Russia’s aggression by handing over large chunks of Ukrainian land, compromised Kyiv’s independence and weakened its defences against any future attack. The Trump deal, if forced through, would have split the US and Europe; ruptured Nato, perhaps fatally; reprieved Russia’s pariah economy; and probably toppled Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.
These are key Russian war aims. But Putin, suffering from neo-imperial fantasies and legacy issues, said “no”. He reckons he can get it all, and more, by fighting on. He has persuaded the idiot Trump that Russia’s victory is inevitable – and that scheming Europeans are the real warmongers. Yet his premise is fundamentally flawed. Hard facts confound him. Almost four years on, he’s still trapped in Donbas mud and ice. And at home, things fall apart.
To a Ukrainian worried about the nation-state’s territorial integrity, that little word “the” might suggest that the speaker does not much care whether Ukraine is an independent state. Like it or not, and intentionally or not, the language a person uses reflects their political positions, including their position on Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.
Wikipedia on the Name of Ukriane
We don’t necessarily disagree, but proclaiming disregard for Ukrainian souvereignty based on the use of a definitive article in an international forum is bad faith conduct. It’s specifically an English thing and a Ukrainian/Russian thing. There are languages that are using the definitve article based on how their languages work and these kind of usages will sometimes transfer into English.
This, again, does not mean what you trying to do, discrediting another user’s opinions or arguments based on an improper use of a foreign language. That is the opposite of civil behaviour.
As a german, I had to actively learn to not use “the” in combination with “Ukraine”. It happened because of a confrontation with clever individuals like you, but that really can be done politely hinting at the proper use in the English language and not by shaming the other person.
(reup, edited out the meany words, lol)
“The” before a place name is an odd choice, isn’t it? There are really very few places (in English) that have it. “The Hague” being probably the best known. There’s one locally here called “The Dalles”.
Odd that it’s so common in Spanish but not English.
The Gambia is another one.
I don’t know, I see Ukraine vs the Ukraine in a similar light as Democrat Party vs Democratic Party. Yes, it’s possible that it’s an innocent mistake, but looking at everything else the person is saying, it’s usually pretty clear when they have an ulterior motive.
Removed by mod
If we were speaking German and he wasn’t spouting Russian propaganda I might feel bad about it. But we aren’t and he is.
And repeatedly insulting me for it isn’t helping your case. So kindly, go fuck yourself.
Oh my, so you first accuse someone of spouting propaganda and insult them at the same time, because you don’t like their perspective, all based off of the grammatically wrong use of an article and when you’re being confronted with your shitty behaviour you play victim, because said behaviour is ousted as being dumb and the kind of people acting like that, which includes you, are being called out as the idiots that they are.
Bohooo, poor little ignorant victim you are.
How about you accept, that you behaved like an asshole and throw out an excuse - that would be more impressive. But looks like you don’t have the character strength.
An alternative would be to actually provide some kind of arguments as to why the accused’s arguments or opinions are wrong, instead of straight up denouncing them - that would also be more impressive. But looks like you don’t have the intellectual strength.
Get fucked, loser.
Boohoo, litle ruzzian troll. Keep up your shrill screeching, so we all know who to ignore LOL.
Oh and btw, Sergei! How do you feel about the midget Pootin raising the cost of vodka in January, by 30% ? That will be so wonderful for your liver, and Pootang can keep affording to bomb women and children.
What a very civil answer of you. Totally not the behaviour of a ridiculously propagandised teenager, that might have had a few too many low quality vodkas themselves in their short and miserable live.
tbh this entire comment thread is trying to frame any discussion as being pro Russian. At least the pointless grammar bike shedding lets us know whom to block