One of the problems we have is our schools do not cover much in the way of European history.
These countries do not have the luxury of two huge oceans separating them from their historic enemies.
I say historic because from a Russian point of view, it has only been 81 years since one of the NATO countries, Germany, tried to wipe out or enslave their population.
And just over 150 years ago when another NATO country, France, tried to do the same thing.
These old nationalistic prejudices do not die easily.
If Ukraine joins NATO, the Russians see only potential enemies just one foot across their border.
Originally Posted by Jackie S
not to mention the fact that russia has been involved with several wars with european countries during the 1500s, 1600s, 1700s & 1800s.
they got as far as poland and never advanced beyond that. the european neighborhood were very tough to beat. some of those countries lost alot of territory to russia. Russia ended up conquering the east as they turned out to be easier to defeat than their western neighbors.