Russia - threadbanned users in OP

His aim seems to be to drive NATO and the west back. It's not just about Ukraine.

He'll use all the crazy rhetoric he has to with his own people. I wouldn't read too much in to that tbh.

The question what is the west going to do when it's Moldova or the Baltics? We aren't there yet thankfully but that would spark a real crisis.

Holy shitballs in an understatement .

He's needs to be put down

Just passed diesel priced at 1.86...holy f**

Roll on a few months from now the way things are going and we could be saying just passed diesel priced at 2.86...holy f****

Moldova is inevitable. Same with Georgia. This is what is baffling about the whole thing. This crisis will go on for months more. Then they'll for Moldova and Georgia, again more time.

How long does he think Russia will survive what is turning into an entire trade, diplomacic and cultural embargo. He can't even open the stock market ffs

The steroids part is definitely correct. He looks positively weird for a man his age. The germaphobia thing seems accurate too.

You keep on talking about a nuclear strike by Putin. This is the same lad who sits 50ft from his own staff for fear of dying from a virus. Do you really think that someone so fcuking cowardly would voluntarily sign his own death warrant by launching a nuclear strike.

Admits that civilians are fleeing the Russian forces - doesn't quite tie in with them going in to "liberate" the country from Nazism.

Except is isn't that simple.

If the President has given an order for the nuclear option to be used, it has to be within a legal framework. That generally means that the US would have to be at war with the country he wants to nuke. Other than that, you fall afoul of a whole lot of previous treaties and conventions. This is where the President's order can be legally over ridden by the chain of command. It's whole point of Command and Control.

It's absolutely not the case that one man gives an order and its automatically carried out, no questions asked. Such a scenario is absurd.

So far having the opposite effect.

Moldova is one thing, but the Baltics is NATO, completely different kettle of fish.

This was reported earlier but by unofficial sources

Now it's the Associated Press

1 General down.

The Ukrainian army just delivered a massive blow to the russians.

If any of you watch Oliver Stone's Putin interviews which conclude in 2017, he still has that charm that helped him win over the Russian people earlier. He is, of course, very selective about the truth but he defends himself ably. The best part for now is the final part where Stone pushes, a little at least, on how power can corrupt a person. This is the one point where I did not see him able to reply clearly, and he basically had no prepped answer for this other than "the people will decide".

On the balance, while capably of cruelty, he is calm and collected. He enjoys the good questions and the small talk, and occasionally breaks out into English and makes jokes. He is very sharp and an expert in one-to-one discussions, quickly making witty responses or understatements, or subtly owning his achievements. Other times, like the car-driving part, likes to play down his own importance as an individual. I just don't think he is the same person now. Had he retired before the last elections and nominated a successor, he would have been untarnished for Russians.

As a lifelong servant, and master, of the State, he cannot live outside of it and now it has corrupted him too much and it shows.

"Vladimir Putin says Ukraine and Russia are 'one people'

"We have a long history of exterminating our own people, and I have every intention to continue that great tradition."