Why can't Russia give back Ukraine's territory in exchange for Ukraine's promise never to join NATO?

[EvilCat Breath]

What if Montana voted to become part of Canada?

We'd never let that happen.

Ukraine did not think a civil war was worth fighting. It certainly would not be a fight we should get involved with under any circumstances. The people of Crimea wanted to return to Russia. It is none of our business.

 

[martybegan]

We would probably have gone to war with Japan in any case if for no other reason than they attacked us. Japan has had designs on a modern empire since 1900 and were emboldened by their destruction of the Russian Naval Fleet in 1905 and their subsequent colonization of Korea and Manchuria.

There is no basis to argue that the toothless talking shop inaccurately called "The League of Nations" would have had any influence over Japanese ambitions in Asia if we had been involved.

The existence of Austria-Hungary Empire provided no stabilization to prevent The Seven Years War (the first actual World War in global history) or any other of the dozen or so European conflicts that occurred in the intervening years.

Germany was a violent, aggressive neighbor long before the unification of the German States in 1871, having attacked and conquered Austria, France and Balkan States in the years prior.

I submit there is nothing Americans can do to prevent Europeans from killing each other that wouldn't be more damaging to our own country than just staying out of their shenanigans.

AH provided trade links and oversight, the 7 years war was a long time before the 1800's.

 

[fncceo]

AH provided trade links and oversight, the 7 years war was a long time before the 1800's.

The roots of European hatreds, prejudices, and ultimately their wars go back 2,000 years. The longest period of European peace was 1871 to 1914 (43 years) due to the fact that European powers were busy expanding their empires beyond the borders of Europe and had little time to go to war with each other over land when they could get all they wanted in third-world countries.

 

[martybegan]

The roots of European hatreds, prejudices, and ultimately their wars go back 2,000 years. The longest period of European peace was 1871 to 1914 (43 years) due to the fact that European powers were busy expanding their empires beyond the borders of Europe and had little time to go to war with each other over land when they could get all they wanted in third-world countries.

I think the alliance system also stopped them from going all out for a time, but ironically it led to a local conflict expanding into a continent wide one.

 

[ESay]

So, Russia has taken Crimea and parts of the Donbas territory from Ukraine. That's pretty much an invasion.

Why can't they work out a deal where Russia agrees to give back Donbas and Crimea to Ukraine and Ukraine agrees to never join NATO?

Seems easy enough.

It is highly doubtful that Ukraine will ever join NATO. Such a decision should be approved by all Nato members, which won't be the case. So, why should Russia give back the territories they consider their own for some vague agreement?