So basically the whole aim of Putin's strategy was to weaken NATO instead countries that were wayward members have been reinvigorated and are bolstering their military. The alliance is more United than it has been over the last 30 years.
Even worse he has exposed the Russian military as a paper tiger that's great at bombing civilians and hospitals but useless when it faces up to another proper army.
No sign of any "Wunderwaffen", no real precision munitions most of their kit is USSR era and appears to be badly maintained. No proper logistical support for the frontline troops. None-frontline assets thrown into frontline positions with disastrous consequences.
Whatever losses the Ukrainians have suffered with equipment and vehicle losses has been countered with the amount of abandoned and undamaged vehicles they have captured. This is a complete and utter sh!t show by the Russians.
I’d love to know if Putin anticipated global responses or if he thought it would be like Crimea. I always presume he’s a chess master who has everything planned and accounted for but honestly I wouldn’t have a clue.
Is it considered a bit to aggressive to Appeal to the people of Russia to rise up against the tyranny? Like is it felt it could tip Putin over the edge and cause full on war? Calling it Putins war seems to be close to going down that route.
Also, if or when they take Ukraine and if or when they catch zelenski, is that the time Putin thinks he can de escalate and hope the sanctions and attention it all dies down.
Would it make sense for Putin to capture Zelenski, torture him and force him on tv to tell allies to leave all alone?
I mean , this all feels like a nonsense post, but I’m only asking questions I’m wondering about. I honestly don’t know how OTT or implausible they might be,
If there is no peace agreement, and Russian troops were to simply withdraw, it leaves us with a situation where there could still be an ongoing conflict in Donbas, and Crimea would still be under de facto Russian control. In order for Ukraine to move on, and accede to the EU and/or NATO, it cannot really remain in this state of partial destabilisation.
Crimea, being overwhelmingly Russia in terms of its people, having previous referenda (before 2014) to move away from Ukraine, and it once being part of Russia proper all mean to me that the Russians have a legitimate claim on it. I'm suggesting to just give it to Russia, but to have a proper internationally-observed referendum to settle the question.
Regarding, Putin's people at home, I'd say they're a bit like Trump's people in the USA. Even if they were exposed to countering versions of events, they wouldn't believe them.
The fact that there are still posters on here claiming that Trump was Putin's bit$h is testament to how effective far-left propaganda was in 2016.
Trump, and Biden too, should both be in retirement communities at this point, but the Trump-Putin alliance thing was only ever bull.
There's been a spotting of John Delaney frantically trekking across the North Scandanavian woodlands armed only with with a few contacts in Ireland and a slab of cans in an effort broker a game of football with the Russians.
Whilst we are talking about certain politicians being compromised. I think FIFA now have a huge problem. We all know how easily compromised their officials can be. The correct thing to do right now would be to suspend Russia's membership.
Are "unlikely" and "improbable" not synonymous though?
I thinks actually word for word what putin said
It sounds more militaristic than it is. Much of that money will be needed to get the Bundeswehr back up to a decent state of operational readiness. None of Germany's airborne units have done a practice jump in years, stockpiles have been drawn down regardless of their age, bases have been closed purely based on budgetary concerns without a single thought on whether they may have been needed operationally. A number of major armaments projects have turned out to be major flops, resulting in massive capability gaps, particularly for the Army and Air Force. Tis wasn't helped by a string of thoroughly incompetent ministers of defence who used the Bundeswehr as a way to funnel money to their friends in major consultancy firms. One of these former ministers is currently president of the European Commission. Just last week, shortly before the war kicked off, the inspector general of the German armed forces stated that as it stands, the Bundeswehr would not be able to fulfill its obligations to NATO if an Article 5 scenario were to occur.
A lot of the troops that have been captured seem to be the conscripts or new recruits.
I think for me what it looks like is they sent their greenest men in to do the initial work because they were less valued, and are holding off for the experienced troops. Although special forces/paratroopers are obviously out and about doing work.
A MAD scenario has deterred nuclear use since 1945. We all had lots to lose. Russia has less to lose now. They have been threatening nuclear weapons since the start if anyone interferes in the invasion.
Some might say Coronation St. is a form of gay porn
They need to stream Coronation Street - the Russians will die in their thousands of boredom.
Wait til Beasty bans him from boards.ie
Dont forget, Russia didn't inform or consult China on the invasion. The US contacted China weeks before the invasion to ask them to intervene in an invasion. China assumed it was the US stirring the pot and didn't believe an invasion would happen. They told the Russians the US was stirring the pot. So when the invasion happened, the Chinese were surprised.
This is not the 20th century, the Germans like the EU and are happy within NATO. This is a recognition that Russia as an actor cannot be trusted anymore.
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Mike Tyson
An apt quote to sum up the Russians "plan".
Putin loves Judo. You might not. Being ostracised from that community will hurt him personally. He does not care about innocent children but he loves Judo.
I keep imagining a movie like ending to this.
After his city survives the bombardment, Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko somehow (we can iron out the technicalities later) manages to confront Putin one-on-one in his war room. Now Putin is trained in combat by the KGB and probably knows 101 ways to kill a person, but has never stood in front of a giant, heavyweight boxer, with no back-up to help him out.
A noticeable wet patch forms on the front of Putin's pants as Dr.Ironfist prepares to land the first blow all the while proclaiming 'you ****-ed with the wrong people'.
Putin is then dragged kicking and screaming to the Hague and sent down for life.
156k refugees already in Poland. Massive queques (20 km) on the Ukaranian side as they have some flow problem as some of the board guards were delegated to fight. Polish side simplified procedures to get them in. People from different parts of Poland drive to border crossings to pick up random Ukrainians and take then home, take them to rented accommodation or a shelter. Hotels are offering hundreds of rooms. Some companies are renting houses to get the families of their Ukrainian employees. I know that one large company rented 200 houses.
Ukrainian cavils stopped a tank by gathering on front of it.
Polish volleyball team refused to play in Russia or against Russia/Belarus.
There are votes being gathered in Russia to start impeachment of Putin.
Poland also waived any visa requirements for Indian students caught in the war, so they can escape to a safe place.
I'm not sure what's the situation form the football World Cup qualifiers, but there are voices that Russia should be kicked in and Ireland taken instead :-)
Maybe you are mixing up talk of a land corridor to Kaliningrad? It is separated from mainland Russia
The last thing Europe needs is a psychotic Russia trying to reform the Soviet Union.
Once this war is lost by the Russians, Putin et al will be international pariahs. They will literally lose everything. And more locally, Putin likes to depict himself as the strongman, a winner. When he loses the war, it won’t be a good look to his people at home. I cannot see the Russian people tolerating him much longer.
He is a madman with nothing to lose
Eskimohunt. We've been through this before. Your solution to every problem can't just be just to stream more gay porn
Interesting analysis on Facebook. As I said I don't believe Russia has an "A" game, I think they have blown their load based on false assumptions, underestimating the enemy and ego driven ambitions.
What is "unlikely but not improbable" supposed to mean?
The last thing Europe needs is an increasingly militaristic Germany. This will only result in less stability in the future.
The defiant ex president is expecting a large city centre bomb
Now the Turks calling it a war and may move on access to Bosphorus.
Wow, Germany just announced it's going to spend 100 billion rebuilding it's military, so it begins..
The many Russians on ski holidays around Europe this time of year are going to be having a confusing time, plus getting home might be a headache
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