Baltic States, Home to Large Russian Minorities, Fear They Could Be Next

[mystery-ak]

Baltic States, Home to Large Russian Minorities, Fear They Could Be Next

Breitbart London 24 Feb 2022

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Viewed from Paris, London and Washington, the events unfolding in Ukraine may seem like a new Cold War taking shape in Europe.

From the Baltic countries, it looks much worse.

To Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians — particularly those old enough to have lived under Soviet control — Russia’s belligerence toward Ukraine has some worried that they could be the next target. The tensions have brought back memories of mass deportations and oppression.

“My grandparents were sent away to Siberia. My father was persecuted by the KGB. Now I live in a free democratic country, but it seems that nothing can be taken for granted,” said Jaunius Kazlauskas, a 50-year-old teacher in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital.

All three Baltic countries were seized and annexed by Stalin during World War II before gaining independence again with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. They joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies. Ukraine is not part of NATO.

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https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2022/02/24/baltic-states-home-to-large-russian-minorities-fear-they-could-be-next/

[catfish1957]

Not saying that they don't have to worry, but those are NATO member nations. 

If Putin wants that, he will be crazy, or will be getting active support and joined by the Chicoms.

[Kamaji]

Not saying that they don't have to worry, but those are NATO member nations. 

If Putin wants that, he will be crazy, or will be getting active support and joined by the Chicoms.

Agreed.  I suspect that Putin will not drive to the ocean, as it were, this time around.  To me, the big question is whether he takes all of Ukraine, or installs a friendly government to administer Western Ukraine for the benefit of Russia and only keeps the eastern provinces.