The Lieven's article in the Nation (i.e. Austria-1955 neutrality of Ukraine via Minsk-III) is preposterous , it simply gives Russia the mandate to keep swallowing Ukraine piecemeal. USSR respected Austrian neutrality because Austria was out of reach anyway, Russia will never honor any deal with respect to Ukraine.
The Lieven's article in the Nation (i.e. Austria-1955 neutrality of Ukraine via Minsk-III) is preposterous , it simply gives Russia the mandate to keep swallowing Ukraine piecemeal. USSR respected Austrian neutrality because Austria was out of reach anyway, Russia will never honor any deal with respect to Ukraine.
The fact that AT endorses this approach shows that his Russian bias is even stronger than the one shown in the Chartbook (and even that is evident enough). All the talk about Ukrainian attack in Donbass in particular is ridiculous - stop parroting Moscow propaganda!
In the period of 1945-1990 Austria was definitely not "out of reach" - Soviet troops were both in Hungary and Czechoslovakia at the time. As a land power not protected by two vast oceans, it is paramount for security of Russia to have some buffer or perimeter around its core towards the usual direction of invasions - which is from the west, or south-west. This geostrategic need is the same regardless of who is in charge in Russia, a Czar, a Dictator, or a President. To achieve this goal, it is sufficient that the countries bordering Russia are just not overtly hostile and not hosting foreign troops or bases. Neutrality is respected, and gives benefits, such as Soviet troops leaving Austria, or leaving bases in the Baltic and giving them back to Finland.
The Lieven's article in the Nation (i.e. Austria-1955 neutrality of Ukraine via Minsk-III) is preposterous , it simply gives Russia the mandate to keep swallowing Ukraine piecemeal. USSR respected Austrian neutrality because Austria was out of reach anyway, Russia will never honor any deal with respect to Ukraine.
The fact that AT endorses this approach shows that his Russian bias is even stronger than the one shown in the Chartbook (and even that is evident enough). All the talk about Ukrainian attack in Donbass in particular is ridiculous - stop parroting Moscow propaganda!
In the period of 1945-1990 Austria was definitely not "out of reach" - Soviet troops were both in Hungary and Czechoslovakia at the time. As a land power not protected by two vast oceans, it is paramount for security of Russia to have some buffer or perimeter around its core towards the usual direction of invasions - which is from the west, or south-west. This geostrategic need is the same regardless of who is in charge in Russia, a Czar, a Dictator, or a President. To achieve this goal, it is sufficient that the countries bordering Russia are just not overtly hostile and not hosting foreign troops or bases. Neutrality is respected, and gives benefits, such as Soviet troops leaving Austria, or leaving bases in the Baltic and giving them back to Finland.
Look at a Map, Polly.