Russia - threadbanned users in OP

zerosquared

The Russia is not a threat to Europe claims are laughable when

1. Their politicians and media regularly says otherwise up to and including Putin himself who boldly claimed he wants to restore Russian empire borders on video, borders that used to cut deep into what is now EU
2. They tried and fail to freeze Europe (who didn’t cut their gas off)
3. They have a long history of murdering Europeans with exotic chemical and radioactive materials when not busy shooting down passenger planes
4. Just today we have this

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-arrests-two-alleged-military-sabotage-plot-behalf-russia-2024-04-18/

ilkhanid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034035#Comment_122034035

Propaganda from the WEST?It seems to have escaped your notice that several of the most outlandish, vicious and ominous threats are emanating straight from the mouths of the Kremlin puppets on RT:Skabayeva, Solovyov, Simonyon and the rest of that motley crew. These included the promises to reoccupy not only Alaska, but California no less, and threats to destroy London, level Warsaw and attack the Baltic States-to name only a few. And that's before we even get to the threats-too numerous to mention-to eradicate the entire state of Ukraine, "re-educate" its people and kill as many as it takes to turn it into a subservient vassal of Moscow. Calls for genocide, in short.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034439#Comment_122034439

Solovyov and co. are like the Russian version of Tucker Carlson and friends. Just saying any old nonsense as long as it gets them notoriety.

Obviously Russia would be completely unable to reoccupy Alaska or something like that unless the USA agreed to sell it back or something. A more achievable aim is to continue spreading disinformation which leads to the election of Trump who then pulls out of NATO, leaving Europe vulnerable to vastly increased nuclear threats without any confidence of cover if Russia tried the unimaginable.

SoapMcTavish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034635#Comment_122034635

"leaving Europe vulnerable to vastly increased nuclear threats without any confidence of cover if Russia tried the unimaginable"

The British have 225 nuclear warheads, and the French have 300. Both have weapons deployed on submarines.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033943#Comment_122033943

Ah, in fairness I'd take the Ukrainian figures - both their casualties and Russia's (nearly half a million?!? 35,000 in Bahkmut alone?!?) with a massive serving of salt. That's not a criticism - they're doing exactly what they should be. But even if it was 'just' 100,000 Russian casualties (as well as the 10s of thousands who must have been seriously wounded), that's off the scale in terms of modern wars. The Ukriainian's tbf seem to have priorities protection of life from teh very outset. Any of the dug in campaigns they've had seem to have been very calculated rather than heads in the sand stuff - severely degrade the Russian forces before pulling back.

Does anyone seriously believe the 450,000 is even remotely accurate?

zerosquared

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034734#Comment_122034734

it’s not too far off the US and UK figures and probably includes seriously injured who won’t return to fight, the Ukrainians have been meticulous in their documentation of dead personnel and equipment, BBC had a piece about units whose job is to scrape DNA samples off the dead Russians, now obviously these units won’t get to all the bodies especially in areas where they had to retreat, but Ukrainian units do have direct incentive to document everything especially using drones as units with more kills get better kit and bonuses and funding

A better question to ask why would anyone seriously believe anything Russian claim as all they ever do is lie lie lie about everything, this whole war tripped out the door because of lies, the whole society and neo fascist ideology is based on lies, and all the incentives are aligned to produce more lies and corruption

We have one of them right here trying very hard to paint Russians as cuddly teddy bears which is laughable

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034722#Comment_122034722

Yes, but the Russians have more, so there would be a subtext of if it came to an all-out exchange, Russia would still have the 'better' of it, whatever 'better' would mean in an apocalyptic nuclear exchange.

But the bigger crux of that would be that Russia would stop trying to undermine NATO if the US left. They'll want to cleave the larger European partners away as well.

victor8600

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034734#Comment_122034734

I do . The casualty figure includes wounded :

Breakdown	Casualties	Time period	Source
Russian forces	409,820 losses[f] (180,000 killed)	24 February 2022 – 25 February 2024	Armed Forces of Ukraine[114][116]

think these figures are reasonably accurate.

thomil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034845#Comment_122034845

As strange as it may sound, but France's aggressive nuclear policy might actually provide an extra deterrent here. France's "force de dissuasion" has two squadrons of Rafale armed with nuclear-tipped ASMP cruise missiles ready to go at any moment, in addition to the more "conventional" submarine-based ballistic missiles. From what I've read, France has a policy of a "nuclear warning shot" prior to unleashing its full ballistic missile inventory. From what I've read, this warning shot does not require the previous use of nuclear weapons by the other side, merely an indication that their use is imminent, and you can bet that Putin knows this. Should Trump win and disentangle the US from NATO, France could find itself with far more leeway to act and take that nuclear warning shot, and even sixty aircraft launched nuclear cruise missiles are going to hurt…badly.

I don't find this scenario in any way likely, by the way. As a cold war kid, the thought experiment is "interesting", though…

zerosquared

Found this article interesting and it touches on Ukraine regularly shooting down what Russians were claimed were unstoppable missiles

https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/why-so-many-of-us-were-wrong-about

makes an interesting point that US always downplays its capabilities while Russia overplays them and lies of course

threeball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033696#Comment_122033696

Trumps so demented he doesn't know who hes talking to half the time. Throws out any old soundbite that is floating around in his goldfish capacity brain.

zerosquared

Article gives a good overview of what’s in the bill in US Congress (its significant) with pork spread widely

https://www.kyivpost.com/analysis/31327

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034339#Comment_122034339

Oh, they're a strong opponent all right. As Stalin observed, quantity has a quality all of its own.

Your last line is a fallacious argument. It doesn't matter whether or not something can be done, what matters is what people are willing to try. We have ample evidence of leaders trying things which had basically zero chance of success. That they lost in the end did not prevent all sorts of chaos, destruction and death while the inevitable was played out. That is not a cost which countries should be willing to pay at the relatively cheap cost of preparedness and deterrence.

fly_agaric

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033696#Comment_122033696

Hmm, have to say I have wondered what the Law and Justice party made of Trump's reckless comments about how if NATO countries don't spend what he deems enough [presumably with Lockheed and Boeing etc.], he will give a green light to Russia / Putin "to do whatever the hell they want". Whether they were horrifed, or just think it doesn't apply to them?

I suppose we can see it here, they still believe if they just brown-nose Trump/MAGA enough and abase themsleves before him, he'll look out for Poland if in power, shur didn't we splurge a load of money on US weapons…! Seems like a kind of a cringing, servile mentality but there you go.

jmreire

Meanwhile, in case people may be starting to think that there's no longer any morality left in Russian people…….think aagain!!!

https://twitter.com/i/status/1780998504128688506

zv2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122035385#Comment_122035385

One casualty is a tragedy, a million casualties is a statistic ~Stalin

macraignil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033231#Comment_122033231

I believe they are released by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Polar101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034035#Comment_122034035

Which Western sources are calling Russian military pathetic? The whole point is that Russia is a danger to Europe - if they were weak, they wouldn't be trying to murder their neighbours - after two years of fighting. No-one is losing interest in the conflict, we all know what Russia are on about.

BTW, you forgot that you were supposed to be "neutral", and not "pro-Russian".

pcardin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033406#Comment_122033406

and not only that. Reading and wondering what the heck is that stuff the dude is smoking. Must be very strong and certainly not available here in Ireland. Reminds me this dude.

zerosquared

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/04/18/frozen-russian-assets-will-soon-pay-for-ukraines-war

Nice, quick back of envelope calculation of $300bn invested (in western countries and companies of course) will yield 5 to 7% a year average

Which is at least 9 billion a year recurring, and when the war ends funds won’t be returned until Russia rebuilds what it destroyed, and this stash be used as collateral for loans to Ukraine

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/g7-eyeing-using-frozen-russian-assets-as-collateral-for-ukraine-loans-eu-official-says/ar-AA1nfvQ2

Russia funding its own defeat, which is great, no longer the volume of noise has increased so much in last few weeks, you can hear the squealing coming from Kremlin

ToweringPerformance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034734#Comment_122034734

If people want to believe something that makes them feel better then what's the harm?

Say my name

https://twitter.com/DailyTurkic/status/1780870794081436078?t=eLICs_jJ85O455EygaJ_rQ&s=19

Kazakhstan comes to it's senses about Putin and cancels any celebration of Soviet victory in WW2 on the 9th of May.

Putin spits blood as he says they didn't kill, deport and rape those in the countries they took over.

Good on ye Kazakhstan.

Putin claims he still has China as friends. China replies they don't celebrate May 9th either.

A used car salesman from Kildare assures Putin they will be waving flags and Z's on the m50 in Ireland.

*poor attempts of humour.

Say my name

Putin's representative in the area hit by flooding. Accuses Kazakhstan of flooding Russia. Vows that Putin will flood back as his control of weather is exponential.

http://twitter.com/Gakruks1/status/1778046591552606264

http://twitter.com/skrypnik_elena/status/1778003940623184223

TheValeyard

Russia hit two Mig29 and took out an S300 it seems.

Get Ukraine those Patriot systems!!

Say my name

Russian troops and equipment are pulled out of Karabakh back to Russia.

Azerbaijan now totally claims and seizes control of the area.

http://msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-begins-withdrawing-peacekeeping-forces-from-karabakh-now-under-full-azerbaijan-control/ar-BB1lN5HV

Say my name

Russia has abandoned plans to rescue the iconic Airbus A320 that had to crash land in a wheat field in Siberia citing financial problems and trouble from sanctions from Airbus on the Putin state.

http://yahoo.com/news/russian-airline-ditched-airbus-a320-152706622.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

RGARDINR

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036178#Comment_122036178

We will see what way this war is going to go with the Ukraine Bill either passed or not passed in the US over next few days. If passed hopefully Ukraine can stop this Russian onslaught if not I would say we will see massive Russian advances over the next few months. Either way those republican shitheads have a lot to answer for, Ukraine lost so many people over them who did not need to die, lost land to Russia that should still be in their hands and will lose more trying to take it back.

Poon Tang

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036744#Comment_122036744

They've had more than enough time now and vast sums of tax payer money.

The republicans are damn right to start questioning if they should keep dumping more money into this giant black hole.

People aren't buying into the hopium anymore. "Just get them this weapon, or plane, or tank… that will be the turning point"… "Just wait for the spring offensive…"… "Just wait for the Russian economy to collapse"… "Crimea by Christmas…" There's been no end of stupid promises and claims in this conflict.

Propaganda only works for so long. Especially when it's really crappy propaganda.

randomuser02125

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036939#Comment_122036939

"Propaganda only works for so long. Especially when it's really crappy propaganda."

Lol the only possible response to this.

macraignil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122036939#Comment_122036939

It's not investment being dumped in a black hole. It's investment in making the world and the lives of Ukrainians in particular safer by eliminating putin's terrorists and their weapons.

In spite of delays in supply of air defense systems Ukraine still makes progress in stopping putin's terrorist attacks from the air: