Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Ok Google.

Show me the definition of self indulgent.

I don't think the US would choose to have this conflict drag on; it is currently and will continue to impact the global economy for some time. In addition the longer it drags on the higher the possibility of some escalation which can't easily be rolled back.

I'm also not sure they actually want a drastically weakened and introverted Russia; because that could also lead to various consequences they do not have the stomach for.

My feeling is more that the US in particular is taking a "suck it and see" approach hoping that the current measures will slowly erode Russia enough to bring them to some sort of compromise with Ukraine. It doesn't went to escalate with more potent military aid or sanctions unless it's a direct response to some further Russian escalation.

I dunno; it just feels a bit like the West reacted quickly and with determination but have now started to fall asleep behind the wheel as Ukraine struggles on.

Incidentally I haven't seen any NATO aircraft over Europe over the past few hours: I wonder if they have they stopped flying with transponders on?

The US also announced today they were sending additional electronic warfare and anti-radar craft to eastern Europe; which some have claimed is notable because in the past they have only ever deployed to Europe when air missions were imminent.

Dunno, what happened the Ukrainian counter offensive in Kherson a few days ago? I'm assuming that because we haven't heard any 'news' that it hasn't gone well?

Putin's been worried about regime change for at least the last decade. Whatever organisations like the CIA do or do not have cooking, I believe that Putin believes they are plotting against him. The American journalist, Julia Loffe, was on the latest PBS frontline about Russia claiming that Putin was obsessed with the video of Gaddafi dying in rebel hands and was also really spooked by the 2011 protests in Russia. It was these events which spurred Putin to put a plan together to, if not effectuate regime change in the USA, then at least destabilise the country, and the plan got even better results than he thought when Trump got elected (something Russian officials didn't think was likely but saw Trump as a useful agitator to put the USA at war with itself).

Putin has since seen the deep political division in the U.S., along with the bickering in the E.U., and thought the West would be paralysed with indecision when Russian forces moved on Ukraine. However, it appeared that he slightly overestimated the level of division, and the campaign in Ukraine has been placed under extra strain due to a pretty forceful response from the West, and here we are.

Seems Putin is prepared to dig in for the long haul.

Slowly taking land inch by inch.

Mauripol will slowly fall, then onto the next.

The strategy for Mariupol appears to be to pound the city to rubble and starve the population. Going about things that way, it would be less a case of a city falling and more a case of it no longer existing. It's not only terrible for the victims but also slow, agonising and costly to the invaders.

That's not to mention that the strategy falls apart when Ukraine gets enough anti-artillery weapons into its hands.

Yes, maybe it might give people idea's. ( or add to the ones already there.. ) There's another point I was thinking about as well, Putin is well used to issuing death sentences without fear of retribution, but now (at least to his mind) he has been issued with a death sentence, and by no less than the President of the United States. Who definitely has no fear of retribution either. So for Putin, this is serious, and coming on top of all the other bad news he is contending with...

It was very noticeable. I was expecting the Russian press to go into meltdown yesterday and say in banner headlines 'Look everyone! Biden says he wants Putin removed from power!'. Instead their reaction was very subdued and muted and hardly a word about it. I guess they are nervy and edgy and any talk of regime change in Russia has them freaked (which may mean Biden made no gaffe at all when he made those remarks).

Rouble true value is unknown. Official traded value is pure fantasy because you can't trade it against most currencies. Don't know if you are old enough to remember when the official rouble was one rate against the dollar but unofficially it was measured in pairs of Levi's not dollars.

Quote :- What are you talking about.

I was replying to Strazas comment:--interesting how the Russian media 'haven't' seized on Biden's comments about Putin on Saturday. I get the feeling that any talk about regime change in Russia is something that has them very nervy and anxious and something they don't want to dwell on.

Bidens comment about Putin needs to go, which was interpreted as regime change.

And that was my reply you have read.

Yes, its a fascinating Country, so vast its hard to imagine it, and while everyone associates "Russia" with Russians, ( as they are collectively known, which is understandable ) but the reality is that not everyone in Russia is an ethnic Russian, and in some republics, they are not so popular..And as mentioned, once outside the Cities, you will see a very different Russia, the rural one. You could spend a lifetime there, and still only see a fraction of what is available. Even such a simple thing as travelling on the Moscow Metro, is an experience.

Putin says that the war against Ukraine is not his fault, and that he has been very patient.

Almost right. He should be a patient.