2/ peace requires honest understanding the circumstances leading to the invasion; otherwise any attempted solution would only obscure the conflict & the tensions. i'm going with "Russia is ultimately in the wrong here", btw.
3/ yes, the "madman Putin" is bare-faced propaganda from the west. both to create a cartoonish villain - and also to distract from pressing domestic issues.
the propaganda machine manufactures artificial pressure for abrupt taking of polarized positions, and for calling people "enemy". frens don't fight frens over propaganda.
in history and in legends we known and cherish dashing men of action - men who fought for freedom, whether successful or forlorn hope. the original way is folk tales; the modern comics books are but a dim reflection.
6/ link to a pretty refreshing analysis - well worth reading. i'm a bit surprised with how it largel ascribes the two revolutions in Ukr to US over their organic will.
that aside, plenty good details put together over three last admins - read on.
7/ recommend:
cut through propaganda.
don't let propaganda force you to rapidly take positions on issues that aren't clear to you.
don't lose your long term frens & allies.
2/ "cashless society" is a trap: you are at mercy of both domestic and foreign governments.
cash is king for where you can use it. for long distance or electronic use, a decentralized cryptocurrency is better than "cashless" - centralized banking.
2/ reject the false dichotomy of "with us or against us". don't accept GW Bush ultimatum - chart your moral path, alongside those that are natural friends and allies to you.
don't make yourself a vasal to one of two global empires.
3/ "sided with GAE" - whatever happens in Ukraine, it will not weaken the dreaded GAE. Putin is not a great savior here; his impact on domestic politics and *culture* in the west is limited. taking sides in foreign war doesn't fix our own domestic culture-politics.
1/ the invaders show a degree of restraint towards the civilians and civilian infrastructure. while that doesn't absolve them of, you know, *running a military invasion*,
it goes some way towards explaining the motivation & possible endgames for the invasion.
3/ we here don't get to hear much of it, but there's all-encroaching panslavism that's been astroturfed in Russia since times immemorial, as figleaf for imperialism. you notice it when you get to know people from cultures aligned with Moscow - like Belarus.