Is The Unilateralist Argument Now In Tatters?

[ToraToraTora]

Ukraine gave up it's nuclear deterrent in 1994. Would Russia be doing what they are if it was still in place? Discuss....

[ToraToraTora]

gromit they where Soviet Union missiles.

[Mozz71]

//Just be prepared to nuke Russian Cities, no threat any more if they believe you are serious, both sides win, no damage, it's known as Mutually Assured Destruction and it has kept the peace since 1945.//

That's if you suspect Putin would be swayed by that. To me, he's the kind of man who would happily bet with the lives of his people that Ukraine wouldn't dare use their nuclear weapons, knowing that Russia could flatten them in retaliation.

[Old_Geezer]

It is my understanding that Russia, not the Ukraine, held the launch codes. So I guess some modifications would have been needed if Ukraine had opted to keep the nukes.

[bhg481]

Not just the lives of his people, his own life as well. However well he hides from a holocaust he's doomed when he finally has to leave his bunker.

[ToraToraTora]

Mozz, you may be right but if Putin Knew that Ukraine could flatten all his cities if he sets foot in it then I suspect he would not. He's dangerous but not stupid, annihilation helps no one.

[sevenOP]

" Ukraine never had an independent nuclear weapons arsenal, or control over these weapons, but agreed to remove former Soviet weapons stationed on its territory."

Neither did Kazakhstan nor Belarus have active launch capability over the nuclear missiles staged there.

Just as Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey do not have active launch capability over the USA nuclear missiles staged there... and possibly Japan....and the UK owners of nukes ?

https://www.icanw.org/faq_on_ukraine_and_nuclear_weapons#

[sevenOP]

TTT: "it's known as Mutually Assured Destruction and it has kept the peace since 1945"

Peace for whom ? the keepers of the Holy Bomb (nukes) have never had war waged on them, but all the Western Holy Bomb keepers have waged war on others.

https://www.infoplease.com/history/us/major-military-operations-since-world-war-ii

[jno]

no mention of Mosaddegh there, sevenOP, an anti-democratic coup that has poisoned the Middle East for decades.

[sevenOP]

I steered clear of 'coups' jno, too numerous to cover and I did not want the 'hypothetical' police pouncing on me { ; ¤ ç

[jno]

the US has owned up to that one. I don't know if Britain has done the same. But overthrowing a secular elected leader and installing a Shah was a terrible mistake; its repercussions are still with us.

[Gromit]

Thanks sevenOP,
So it is a stupid naïve question based on utter ignorance of the facts or history. Just another day on AnswerBlank.