I think when this war ends you may see the end of the Russian Federation as we know it on a world map and quite possibly as the country splits into seperate States or provinces as sanctions start to hit.
I for one would love to see Putin shot dead at point blank range. We can only hope it happens because anything else isn't good enough for the biggest scum on the earth right now.
And that's exactly what's happening, unfortunately, the most effective sanction, fossil fuel purchases, remain untouched. As a result, Putin is rolling in cash with which to fund his invasion. Granted its not worth as much as it was before the invasion, but he's not stuck for funds so long as he has a market in the EU for his fossil fuels
Good sir, I refer you to my earlier comment
Missile strike reported at Sarny town in Rivne region
is this the only confirmed hit from all those exercises in Belarus? shady
Back during the communist era, as everyone was treated equally ( theoretically) it was basically a cashless society, as the state took care of everything , so what would you want cash for? Medicine and health were covered, as was housing, and even holidays. You ( and family) got your travel permit, boarded the train and headed for the sea side, where of course, accommodation and food were all provided for. But over time, the "custom" of bringing little "gifts" to anyone providing services, and it became the norm, making the transition from communism to capitalism seamlessly. And it made criminals of everyone, because to survive, you had to make a little "Gift". Now these little gifts have grown out of control.
It would be like Hitler "negotiating" with Poland in mid to late September 1939 after the invasion. Negotiations would suggest that it was a war between two equals and they had effectively declared war on each other, when in fact one country brutally invaded its neutral and non threatening next door neighbour without warning.
Beheading. With the executioner drunk so he makes a real hames of it. 😁
(This is supposed to have happened with Thomas Cromwell in 1540.)
This article would suggest otherwise. The problem is that if you look at it from a net perspective, what the Russians get in fossil fuel money is offset by sanctions, freezing of assets, and the cost of running the country and trying to keep its army supplied and replenished. None of the noises coming out of Russia suggest a rosy economic picture around this war such that it is sustainable.
I hope for the sake of Russia and global security in general that if Putin is overthrown, Russia undergoes a West Germany-style transition. The Germans went from being a genocidal pariah nation to a firmly democratic Western-aligned state in just over a decade. A democratic, prosperous Russia that is properly integrated into the Western world should be the long term goal.
Of course many of its former satellite states in Eastern Europe would want to see far harsher treatment, which is understandable. But a broken, isolated Russia, or a balkanised Russia will inevitably fall into China's orbit imo.
Looks like the tide is turning on the civilian targeting by Russia and the "delaying" peace talks going by the twitter feeds from various countries - and about time
I don't see that number as realistic compared to what the yanks spent on their misadventures.
That number appears to be factoring in not only the cost of actually running the Russian war machine, but the cost per day from the heavy sanctions placed upon the country. This is not the only breakdown of the economics of Russia's war, but there aren't many forecasts I've come across that paint the situation as sustainable. It can't be great if the country is looking to default on some of its debts and is looking to pay the interest on others in Rubles, which are worth less and less every day because of runaways inflation.
Just people don't just disagree with injustice. They do something about it
If that little peanut headed **** in Moscow didn't have notions that we wouldn't be where we are.
But he did, and I've had about 100 pints this evening and I love the Ukrainians and hope every single one of them we receive prospers and their homeland is rebuilt swiftly.
It is incomprehensible what they have been through in a few weeks.
There should be no swift comeback for Russia from this either.
Rupel back to 90:1 USD
will take a bit longer till sanctions really start to Bite… China and India are still trading away with Russia.
I think that's obvious.
As obvious as the completely **** "special operation"
Great time to be a Colonel in the Russian army, loads of promotion opportunities.
Entirely possible I suppose; but I can't imagine Russia aren't looking for some kind of way out. Whether or not they'll find a mutual agreement is a different matter though.
Presumably Ukraine are well aware that a diplomatic agreement might not be forthcoming and are fighting as they would even if negotiations were not ongoing. I suppose it's possible they're being more cautious about their approach to fighting on the off-chance Russia aren't just trying to play for time but who knows.
Pity that thing with Belarus was all about nothing.
The west has really hung Ukraine out to dry here. Having them fight Putin whilst giving them just enough support to keep in the fight but not enough to have a chance to really save the country.
NATO knew what russias MO was and for some reason didn't and still haven't supplied Ukraine with any proper air defence systems. Placing a few C-Rams in Kiev and other cities would have spared countless lives and billions in infrastructure. Yes they would have been hit but nowhere near as badly. Look at Israel and how many rockets actually cause damage there even though Hamas could spend a night firing volleys of them. They talk about only giving defensive weapons but I don't see any weapon being more defensive than that.
It's hard to see why they would turn west after this is over given the way they've been treated by the leaders in the west. I however could see a Iron Curtain Nato type alliance forming of former soviet underlings and I don't think that's in the interest of the west at all.
This is actually one of the best explanations Ive seen, of how that society operated.
Seems obscene the west is still buying their oil and gas
How much quicker would it end if we stopped
And the award for the biggest dickhead goes to...
Is there any updates on casualties at the theatre shelter .
Had a chuckle when looking at the quote and seeing the YouTube still image.
Quite a lot of analysis from the Hoover Institution (H.R. McMaster, Niall Ferguson, et al.) on YouTube seems a bit more downbeat on Ukraine's prospects and the western strategy, which, they say, has been far too enabling of Putin by declaring what the west won't do, basically giving him freehand to do as he pleases knowing that the west won't escalate. The consensus there is that the lesson of this for Xi will be that he can get away with taking Taiwan.
Large columns of Belarus forces on the move this morning to Dobrush but in direction of the Russian boarder.
An interesting insight into the mentality of the Russian people and the generational divide
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