John Mearsheimer Tells European Parliament Putin Never Sought to Conquer All of Ukraine | APT

Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @apt_news   Speaking at the European Parliament during his lecture "Europe's Bleak Future," political scientist John Mearsheimer challenged what he described as the conventional Western narrative surrounding Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Mearsheimer argued there is no evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin intended to conquer all of Ukraine or incorporate it into Russia before the invasion began. He pointed to Putin's speeches and writings—including his July 2021 essay and his February 2022 addresses—which, according to Mearsheimer, acknowledged Ukraine as an independent state despite questioning its historical origins. He also argued that the size of Russia's invasion force was inconsistent with an attempt to occupy the entire country. Comparing Russia's troop numbers with historical military campaigns, Mearsheimer said Moscow lacked the manpower required for a full-scale conquest of Ukraine. The political scientist further claimed that Russia sought negotiations almost immediately after the invasion began. He cited talks held in Belarus and later in Istanbul, arguing they suggested the Kremlin was pursuing a negotiated settlement rather than the annexation of all Ukrainian territory. Mearsheimer also repeated his long-held view that the peace process collapsed after Ukraine, encouraged by Britain and the United States, withdrew from negotiations. The lecture forms part of Mearsheimer's broader argument about European security, NATO expansion, and the long-term consequences of the war for the continent. #JohnMearsheimer #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EuropeanParliament #EuropesBleakFuture #NATO #Geopolitics #UkraineWar #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #Europe #RussiaUkraine #PoliticalScience #WorldNews