The response of the Russian Embassy spokesman to the news that Ukraine was renting out patches of territory for Nato military training was very revealing. He said that Ukraine's behavior was not 'permissible'.
His knee-jerk reaction sums up Russia's prevailing, arrogant attitude towards Ukraine. In the minds of the Kremlin policymakers Ukraine is still a colony and to be treated as such. That is a very good reason why Ukraine should be allowing Nato to carry out exercises here.
Nato did not invade any countries. Russia has. In the decades after World War Two it was Nato that prevented the further spread of Soviet Russian imperialism.
Central European countries want to become members of Nato, not because they want to invade their neighbors, but because they want to guarantee their security against invasion. By Russia.
Ukraine, like any other country, has the right to look after itself and its people as well as it can. But because of Russia's objections, Ukraine has not been able to even hint at joining Nato without angry reaction from Russia. Of course that is not 'permissible'.
So, let Nato come to Ukraine. Let Nato troops train here. Let Ukraine become more closely linked to Nato. And let Russia worry.
