Agreed. It's a pretext for an asset grab.
Russia's unilateral breach of an existing agreement makes negotiations difficult. As Russia has shown it cannot be trusted any solution will need an effective means of enforcement, something which will be difficult for Russia to accept but without which will be difficult for Ukraine to accept.
Talk of Nazi' this and Nazi that is straight out of the Kremlin play book.
I have no idea why people think that Putin will use Nukes. The chances are so low. They have never used them in the last 70 years, if they do use them there will be MAD, thus the end of Russia(and everyone else, although I bet not everyone). Why would they ever use them? The only point that I can see them using nukes is the moment before they lose access to their own nukes, then sure a decision would have to be made. I actually think Nato could invade and occupy large parts of mainland russia and even still they would not use nukes, only when the end of russia as a state is threatened might they consider nukes and even then, it is still better to not use them from russia's perspective.
(Putin presses the big red button under his desk. A couple of seconds later at an unattended vending machine at the far end of the Kremlin...)
Ireland needs to start growing a lot more Rape Seed, and to have it's own crushing plant and refinery. Ukraine was one of the biggest producers of seeds and vegetable oils, as are Russia, and all foods contain this, it's will soon show up in the prices of food.
Are you suggesting its lies?
The OPSEC point made in that twit is valid, though the building is not the same as the one in which the photograph is taken.
As regards the car, the point about the folks in the BMP being jumpy is a valid one. Commuting around in your Skoda in a war zone is not an advisable activity for just such reasons, and it's not the first time such things have happened. The death of Katerina Esser, a young woman in a civilian car in the wrong place at the wrong time who was machinegunned by a tank was also caught on film... in 1945. Granted, on that occasion, at least the Americans attempted to render first aid and there was active shooting going on, but still, we don't know if the Russian convoy was just coming out of an ambush of its own.
Whilst it is true that the Russians do seem to be showing limited care for civilians (whilst equally being reluctant to run over or shoot protesting civilians trying to block them), I wouldn't write this down as being anything other than a tragedy of war as opposed to total indifference.
Isn't this like saying Ireland has run out of Guinness?
@generic_throwaway - I guess ultimately you can make gas yourself if you have enough electricity?
Don't know about the electricity but we have the gas problem covered in our house. The wife has no problem at all flapping the duvet after a chicken madras.
It's a puffed up diversion and part of the Kremlin propoganda effort. And even if you take the puffed up diversion of a tiny amount of problem elements within one division to be true, on what planet is it a pretext for this war? Germany has been found to have a far right problem within its special forces. Shall we all cheerlead and offer up excuses for an invasion of Germany now?
Russia has a far right problem that supersedes Ukraine by a very very large margin. If Putin is worried about Neo Nazis, he'd want to have a chat with himself why he's sending the Wagner group around the world conducting shadow wars around the world on his behalf.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
To any material level, i.e. pretext to invade. Yes, with knobs on.
Yet Putin's popularity in Russia has surged since the invasion.
There might be a couple of hundred extreme nationalists in one of the Ukraine battalions, we don't know. I would suggest that Ukraine and everyone else involved has more to worry about at the moment than this. It certainly doesn't justify the invasion. I would also be inclined to disbelieve anything I hear from the Russians, when almost everything they come out with is lies, I just assume all of it is.
Who says? 🧐
Is that something you concocted on the spot or is it evidenced by polling from a credible independent outlet?
Because given your posting form, I'll file that under gloop you made up until you furnish proof to the contrary.
Yes bring it on.
Russia has more to lose so its probably another one of their empty threats.
Not sure about, 'bring it on'. But, it's something the west has to face up to*. Would Britain have bought Oil/Gas off the Nazi's?
*it's incredulous it was allowed happen in the first place - energy security in Russian hands.
Doesn't surprise me in the least.
Russia is an extremely nationalistic country so the majority will blindy support their leader regardless.
You will not get an unconditional surrender from Russia, and this will ultimately have to be resolved at a negotiating table. I would agree with you. With the caveats
We honestly dont know yet but the west is doing what it can.
Walt is another GIANT of IR Academia - his golden bridge (things we give Russia at the table) could include 'We ill cease 'flattening you' financially and economically'
The commentary I heard on that topic earlier today and they were thinking that whilst it would be bad for Europe in that situation and some countries would really struggle initially, it would be far worse for Russia as they have no other customers,and then absolutely no money coming in.
Europe could source supplies, eventually, from elsewhere though.
On the part of Russia it wouldn't even be cutting off your nose to spite your face, it would be cutting off your head to spite your face type levels.
(Popularity poles were conducted by putin inc.)
Mariupol getting squeezed
Talks between Venezuela and US have been going on behind the scenes for quite awhile apparently. Personally Maduro is reprehensible, but indeed he's the lesser evil of Putin. US may move to start importing Venezuelan oil to counteract the ban on Russian oil imports, which could stabilise that impact to global prices somewhat
And notice how the agreement with Ukraine didn't call out that they couldn't join NATO... you would think if it was such a deep concern that would have been the time to raise it. But nope.
There was no verbal assurance that NATO would never accept ex Soviet bloc countries.
It was just so far a possibility of countries like Poland, Ukraine etc joining NATO at the time nobody though within 10 or 20 years they'd be asking to join NATO... it was more like "Well, we've no plans along those lines."
Airspace bans having an effect
Official state statistics are reporting his approval rating has exceeded 100% for the first time.
I get your point Robin, but surely the Chinese would be quite willing to buy Russian energy (at knockdown prices one imagines) and I'm not sure if intertwining those two countries any further would be helpful to global stability... such as it is these days...
Heh, like certain voter turnouts in Russia.
Even China will reach saturation point if it's taking all Russian Energy exports, unless they pay for advance shipments maybe.
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