Well it's not really true if an oil/coal ban is enacted quickly: because even the likes of China has been avoiding signing new contracts with Russian companies.
It also takes time to negotiate contracts, establish supply chains, agree financing and all the other things that go into supplying things like coal. So a coal ban would absolutely have hurt Russia in the short term.
However the fact it looks like Europe are giving them until August for coal exports is very disappointing; since it gives Russia time to work on those new contracts and supply chains. We can only hope that the rest of the world will be so worried about Russia's future that they only sign contracts at drastic discounts.
Agreed 100 %, except it will be rebuilt with Russian money.....
Not entirely sure I'm comfortable with Von Der Leyens trip to Kyiv tomorrow. Hopefully the day goes well. Very brave of her and sends a huge message.
Why not comfortable? ..
The Polish, Czech and Slovenian PMs visited Kyiv two or three weeks ago when there was actually Russian troops on it's doorstep and farvmore dangerous than it is now without incident.
I'd be sticking them both on a plane, giving them a parachute each and dropping them over the Donbas. They can fully investigate the propaganda they claim the ukranians are peddling and have a good old natter with their liberating Russian buddies while they're at it. That's if their parachutes worked.
You can't really camouflage artillery or SAM positions though; or at least not when they're in use.
Artillery generally has to be established on flat land with clear lines of sight to calculate trajectories and adjust fire. The exception would be small man-portable mortars which for obvious reasons aren't particularly accurate or powerful especially at distance.
SAM systems also often need clear lines of sight and wide open spaces due to how their radar systems work; and also because you can't cover a missile launcher with a tarp and still have it be ready to fire when needed. Also if they're communicating wirelessly with other equipment or command centres again clear lines of sight is often beneficial and in some cases required.
But it probably is a good point in that modern conventional military doctrine hasn't caught up to a battlefield where the enemy has drones and satellite surveillance en masse. Certainly not in terms of Soviet or Russian doctrine at least; based on what we're seeing.
The Russian army has retreated from Kyiv so - i suspect its ok tbh - and her going sends a massive message - its a good move -
I have always been very pro European Union - but i am VERY impressed with them during this war - fair play to them
Best of luck trying to get Russia to agree to pay reparation.
I don't think Germany ever repaid it's reparation, at least not in full, Poland have been chasing them I believe for millions and they only finished paying agreed WW1 reparations in 2010.
Man of the Peoples Republic more like
Well a lot of assets are already frozen and probably 90% more not even known about so...
But yes about Germany the true figure is not known by anyone how much they really ever paid but they did pay something
The Irish government still has an obligation to Irish citizens abroad; and embassies are a part of that system.
Expelling diplomats sends the message of support for Ukraine and rebuking of Russia; we've already done that. If there are any other potential intelligence assets we should expel them too.
But expelling the ambassador and closing down the embassy completely destroys any lines of communication Ireland as a nation might have with Russia. Given that we are a non-NATO member and in a prime position to help with things like post-war rebuilding and security in Ukraine I don't think we should be completely cutting ourselves off from the Russian government.
I'm also not sure what completely cutting Russia off from diplomatic ties with the EU and the West as a whole is actually supposed to accomplish? I'm pretty sure they're already getting the message about our feelings towards their conduct.
It is also safe to say that they hold both top 2 places for the greatest defaults in the last 150 years globally.
Their Frozen assets can't be used to pay reparation without agreement.
I would suggest either a "Special Rules Bending Operation" or a "Special Rules Changing Operation"
Reparation will only become relevant if Russia ever wants to re-engage with the West and global legal and trade frameworks etc. If they're happy to continue down their isolationist (or at least isolation from the West) path it will never even enter into their thinking.
Personally I don't see how Ukraine ever gets anything from Russia without military force; unless Russia itself changes seismically from within.
EDIT: Should have added "ever gets anything from Russia voluntarily"; it's possible some Russian assets seized as a result of sanctions may find their way to helping Ukraine.
There will most likely never be reparations from Russia. They are looking at a post western dominated world.
There will be no reparations, only those that can be ceased as external assets.
There will be no trials of war criminal's. Any retribution would need to be taken now.
There will be no quick assession to the EU or investment from the west that isn't in some way favourable for the financier.
Unfortunately that is the way of this world.
A hilarious moment on Nazi state television in Moscow on Tuesday when producers inadvertently showed the wrong clip from Ukraine. Watch how angry host Solovyov becomes though, screaming abuse at the people in the TV gallery : an absolute thug and bully like his boss in the Kremlin.
What would happen if Ukraine invited NATO to take over Odessa and kyiv? No attacking Russians just to insure the safety of innocent people.. would Russia attack them? I doubt it, maybe NATO should start doing special operations themselves.
Not sure if its been shared before but - powerful
Dragging heels.
"What would happen if Ukraine invited NATO to take over Odessa and kyiv?"
Nothing would happen because NATO would turn down such an invite, NATO don't "take over" territories.
I've heard a few of these now. As someone who's very much in favour of Ukraine, I don't believe a single one. They are just far too false and impersonal.
Powerful & slighlty ironic
Although maybe the above has stopped now
Interesting interview with Obama on his perspective of the conflict. He comes off badly in this one, but to give you the gist, he essentially makes two points.
Are we still sleeping? I feel Germany in particular is akin to myself on a Monday morning when the alarm has truck at 7am. I don't really want to get out of bed, but I should.
Ah now, sure there are a lot of tossers in Cork, but that's going a bit to far.
Cannot see all of the members agreeing to this as with the Polish NATO peacekeeping proposal.
Sanctions issued, weapons sent, refugees taken in... There is more that can be done, but that does not meant nothing is being done. European politicians face the balancing act of applying sanctions to Russia in such a way that creates as little extra austerity at home as possible.
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