Glenn Diesen - The population of Ukraine (residing in Ukraine-controlled territory) has been reduced by half since 1991. This disaster is horrific for the future of Ukraine, yet it was also predictable. Attempting to pull Ukraine into the NATO orbit would predictably be met with a powerful response by Russia, and NATO membership was also something the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians did not want between 1991 and 2014, so pretending it was in response to Ukrainian demands is also false. It is equally absurd as attempting to pull Mexico into a Chinese- or Russian-led military bloc, which would also result in a predictable disaster. Yet, the governments and journalists who pushed these disastrous policies sell it as a "pro-Ukrainian" position, and smear those who criticised them as "Russian propagandists". The same people are now boycotting diplomacy as Ukraine is getting destroyed, and they also sell it as "pro-Ukrainian". The war propaganda is total.