I will save Myrddin the trouble of responding...Russia is rather unlikely to eer be welcomed into the EU. The EU sort of frowns on things like invading your neighbors, killing off critical press members, extorting your trade partners by cutting off critical energy resources, and general strongman rule. THere are other issues as well, things like currency and market manipulations, environmental abuses, trade practices and more that Russia indulges which would rule out ever being part of the EU.

Here, ELena, let me help you understand. Russia invaded a tiny nation that was about to become a NATO member. It destroyed much of its infrastruture, occupied some of its territory, and is in the process of trying to steal two large swathes of its territory. Under those circumstances it is rather absurd to expect continued cooperation with NATO.

Well said but you forgot the Litvinenko assassination along with the DoS attacks Estonia, which stemmed from a very serious dispute which culminated in the removal of a sacred bronze statue in Estonia.

And don't forget about the Great October Revolution

You know, GB has a different opinion. She thinks that Russia has to share Her natural resources and the best way to do it is to join EU.



Oh, now I understand. Invading the country, which is about a member of NATO, even if this country invaded a neighbor country ( of course, respected members of NATO recognized this nearby country as a part of that tiny one and the opinion of that nearby country doesn't matter... In general, you understand... :D) is a crime.
Invading a country, which is not about a member of NATO (Afghanistan, Serbia, Iraq, Iran in a perspective), is an admiration-worthy act.
But I see a different dependence. Everything, what USA is doing - is correct. Everything what others countries are doing against USA interests - is awful.

Elena, that's a cop out and an easy way to avoid dealing with criticism of Russia in any constructive or meaningful way. While I can't speak for Lawmage, and at the threat of repeating myself yet again, no country is above my criticism. I criticize the US far more than I criticize Russia but in this case, Russia is well worthy of that criticism. It also doesn't go unnoticed that you've dodged many of Law's along with my comments is this thread and the one on Georgia.

My biggest question, which I asked both here and elsewhere, is why is Russia so afraid of NATO when nearly all of Europe, along with the US, embrace it?

Yes, that too.