That's the term Western media use, if someone who resists an attack on their home and people is a militant so be it, it's like when the same people call Palestinian resistance fighters or Hezbollah terrorists, the Nazis called the French resistance terrorists, Givi like many of the Donbass militia had served in the Ukrainian Army.
I understand.
I wonder if Mr. Putin underestimated the West. Indeed it would've been better to move in immediately after the coup and restoring law and order.
I wouldn't say that because they were ethnic Russians. They were defenders of their families and indeed with arms. Does that make them "pro-Russian militants?" I don't think so because I feel a negative connotation with that remark.
Putin didn't even recognize the breakaway Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk for a very long time, the people in the West who he was dealing with are double dealing rats, they would have seen Putin as weak at the time because he didn't use the sledge hammer to lay the law down, it was a mistake and a lot of people died before he acted in 2022.
I think the correct term is "overestimate". Putin took them at their word.
Well i hope he has learned his lesson because those people just can't be trusted as we saw from Minsk, those scumbags are responsible for killing Russian civilians, i am surprised Putin has not reacted much stronger.
It was a Western report that's why they used the word militant.
Well, there was a VERBAL promise to Gorbachev when the Berlin Wall came down. NATO will not expand to the East from the Oder river. How did that work out? Previous behaviours are out there.
Clearly.
I think he has already demonstrated it. He isn't budging on his goals in Ukraine. In fact, he is increaing his demands the further the war goes on. The generous deal he offered Zoolinsky is now off the table.
That's the dilemma. Do you trust the word of former presidents? Do you acknowledge changes in policy along with changes in leadership? Or do you just say, "Screw you! I’m done speaking! This is what I want and I'm going to get it!" and bulldoze forward?
Sanctions? No way in hell. There are already 40,000 of them in effect. Have you never seen a Russian boxer? Hit him and see what happens.
I would take the screw you option because those clowns have had more than enough rope.
Both boxers suck. No style, no technique, neither would stand a chance against an American.
second, what do you feel about it , 
loser ?
So why have they not worked so far? sanctions have damaged Europe more.
