Russia - threadbanned users in OP

is_that_so · 01-06-2022 07:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142086#Comment_119142086

Not sure exactly where you are getting this stuff from apart from through the prism of Russia's illegal invasion. On that front judging by what the Germans are apparently not sending, Ukraine couldn't defend a village with it. Most of Eastern European EU members barely tick the boxes on EU membership. Both Poland and Hungary do not and are being financially punished for it. The rest have levels of corruption, lack of transparency and a variety of rights issues that don't look like they want to fix any time soon so it's a bit rich tehri being outraged by what the big two think or say. The EU at its core is France and Germany and it was built around a determination not to see another war between them so yes they do have a lot of power and influence. That is really not an accurate picture of the EU of just those two as countries move fluidly from opposing blocks as their national interests dictate.

drunkmonkey · 01-06-2022 08:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142859#Comment_119142859

In fairness we're doing a pretty good job of smashing it ourselves with all these sanctions getting lumped on ordinary citizens. It's not hurting Russia it's hurting us. I think the question is how long will people put up with it.

Complete nonsense to think we can solar panel ourselves out of this mess while supporting Chinese businesses that are still trading with Russia. The Americans are laughing their asses off at us.

Podge_irl · 01-06-2022 08:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142769#Comment_119142769

The lack of a oil pipeline ban has absolutely nothing to do with Germany and they were not opposed to it.

Podge_irl · 01-06-2022 08:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142940#Comment_119142940

Honest from his own worldview perhaps, but its a bit rich to suggest that the EU should be railroading some of its members and forcing through restrictions they vociferously oppose as opposed to engaging in (frustratingly slow, I will grant you) diplomacy and negotiation to come to an actual, fully supported common position.

Podge_irl · 01-06-2022 08:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143018#Comment_119143018

If Putin decides EU/NATO is weak and invades the Baltics he will be defeated in a few days based on current evidence so the laughing will be limited. And Ukraine isn't in either organisation so the comparison remains a bit pointless.

I would rather a stronger response from the EU. But complaining about the EU arguing among itself (i.e. its members) is rather grossly ignoring what the EU is and the fact that it is not in fact an all powerful overlord, which is more or less the entire point of it. Also the response, while more limited than I would like, is also easily the strongest combined foreign policy move the EU has ever made.

drunkmonkey · 01-06-2022 08:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143005#Comment_119143005

I thought we had Oil reserves as well, how many years would it take them to get online, our economy would be well sunk by then, I honestly don't think a lot of businesses can survive 6 more months of this.

I've a feeling the EU know this won't go on much longer, Zelenskyy is goosed by the looks of it, he's not going to beat them back.

Jinglejangle69 · 01-06-2022 08:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143071#Comment_119143071

Zelensky is goosed and won’t beat them back?

The 40 mile convoy on the way to Kiev says hello.

jackboy · 01-06-2022 08:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143071#Comment_119143071

If Ukraine lose that will be because the west have decided they should lose. If the west give Ukraine the supplies and training they will win. Russia are unable to replace equipment losses, that means there is a timeline on their ability to conduct the war. A few minor defeats of the Ukrainian military may be strategically considered victories in the long term.

Dyr · 01-06-2022 08:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119141524#Comment_119141524

Merkel would have done even less.

timmyntc · 01-06-2022 08:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143070#Comment_119143070

There is unity in the European union, in that no member state is getting shafted. Hence the compromises on oil embargo for Czechia, Hungary, Bulgaria. That's what a Union should do, ensure that no member state gets left behind. Unlike Russia we are not a strongman union where the small guys can get shafted and whatever the big boys say goes.

drunkmonkey · 01-06-2022 09:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143083#Comment_119143083

What Convoy is this? Have they pulled troops from somewhere else?

Their taking of the Russian border post didn't last long.

Podge_irl · 01-06-2022 09:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143070#Comment_119143070

There appears to be an appetite to change doctrine from having "tripwire" forces in the frontier states to larger ones. Either way, while I agree it would make a massive difference to those populations near the frontline, a full NATO response would fairly shorthand deal with anything Russia tries to do. (and we saw how long it took to build up the forces to invade Ukraine I might add).

Also the EU just isn't going to be leading the response, for good or ill. It is not a military alliance.

I would like greater unity in the response, but its not there for various reasons - not least being that the hardships from the measures are not equally distributed. Achieving unity takes time, it is both a weakness and a strength but overall more the latter I believe.

nigeldaniel · 01-06-2022 09:14AM

Vladimir Putin 'may already be DEAD and using a body double', intelligence sources claim (msn.com)

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/vladimir-putin-may-already-be-dead-and-using-a-body-double-intelligence-sources-claim/ar-AAXRwKP?ocid=windirect&cvid=90551b64eb2f40cba8f2977b9e4ef5c1

Strange days are these...

timmyntc · 01-06-2022 09:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143196#Comment_119143196

Because they have not been forced to disconnect from Russian oil

Hungary and Czechias hardships have not happened yet - thats the point. If they were to be cut off Russian oil pipelines they would suffer a state of emergency. Hungary has no ports to import oil en mass, nor do they even have the refineries to deal with oil from other sources. Czechia and Croatia would have similar issues with sourcing and refining respectively.

EltonJohn69 · 01-06-2022 09:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143212#Comment_119143212

Apparently Hollywood actor Chevy Chase was seen on flight to Moscow a few weeks ago boasting that he landed “the role of a lifetime” and that “people will soon be calling me Mr. President”. Coincidence ?

zv2 · 01-06-2022 09:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142940#Comment_119142940

Kasparov understands the Russian mentality very well.

briany · 01-06-2022 09:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142859#Comment_119142859

They've been shite-talking since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, or this phase of Russia's invasion, to be more specific.

It's a transparent attempt to drum hatred and fear of the West into the mind of ordinary Russians, in an effort to keep them behind the current actions in Ukraine.

It's two fold as well because we see these clips and think, 'this is what Russia want to do. Let's get them!', and the Russians can then use this to give their own propaganda more weight. It's a feedback loop of hostility.

The West cannot control what is being said on Russian state media, but it can at least refrain from wars of words and escalating hostilities any more than is necessary whatsoever. Let the sanctions and weapons to Ukraine do the talking.

shivaz · 01-06-2022 09:34AM

BERLIN, June 1 (Reuters) - Germany will supply Ukraine with the IRIS-T air defence system, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, following pleas from Kyiv and German opposition parties to step up heavy weapons deliveries.

Scholz feeling the pressure.The big question in When?

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-send-iris-t-air-defence-system-ukraine-scholz-2022-06-01/

shivaz · 01-06-2022 09:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143320#Comment_119143320

I think it's deep within the German psyche not to fight after the wars.They are been shown like Kenny Rogers said " sometimes you gotta fight to be a man"

The IRS-T is a nice system to have.Aircraft,Helicopters,cruise missiles and can get past the decoy flare systems

thomil · 01-06-2022 10:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143291#Comment_119143291

I'll believe it when I see it. At this point, I wouldn't trust Scholz nor anyone else in the SPD to give me the time of day! That bastard has done more damage to Germanys reputation in three months than I thought a single person would be able to do in a decade. For the first time in my 40 years on this planet, I'm actually ashamed of my nationality.

RedXIV · 01-06-2022 10:06AM

To be fair, I think it's blatantly obvious that the German public does not agree with what's happening at the top. I just hope the next election reinforces that

shivaz · 01-06-2022 10:09AM

The Swiss need a kick in the hole.SWITZERLAND has banned Denmark from supplying Piranha III armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine, as reported on Wednesday, June 1

‘they do not want to supply weapons to conflict zones itself’ and would prefer to ‘stay neutral’.

The Swiss Federal Council is expected to make a decision on Friday, June 3

https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/06/01/switzerland-denmark-piranha-iii-ukraine/

charlie_says · 01-06-2022 10:26AM

Even the Guardian Opinion section is saying the sanctions aren't working and are hurting people.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/30/eu-forget-sanctions-russia-ukraine-food-energy-prices

charlie_says · 01-06-2022 10:33AM

Sanctions remind me of the complete global policy **** up of lockdown policy.

Have to wonder if too much political capital spent now to turn this ship around? Our great leaders are useless, especially the Brussels types.

shivaz · 01-06-2022 10:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143547#Comment_119143547

If the sanctions are not working then why did Putin want them lifted in exchange for the lifting of the Black sea blockade.He could have asked for something else.

fly_agaric · 01-06-2022 10:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143547#Comment_119143547

Do people expect the cutting off of Russia to be cost-free? That is not going to happen.

The sanctions aren't or shouldn't be expected to get Russia to change course in my own opinion, or if people expect that from the sanctions they are hoping in vain given how determined Putin + the regime seem to be on pursuing this.

They will reduce our dependence on Russia and hopefully slowly strangle Russia's economy, cripple it's ability to build up its military, and make sure it can't go "on tour" once again in a Baltic state or Poland some years down the road.

The only thing that's gong to stop them in my view is combination of everything blowing up and getting too much: Ukraine's resistance/the help it gets from abroad, the economic sanctions + international pressure on Russia, and perhaps an outburst of serious Russian public anger if Putin is forced to try and put the population/economy on more of a "total war" footing to just to keep on going in Ukraine. In summary making the price to carry on with this just too high for Putin.

zv2 · 01-06-2022 10:42AM

A few drone drops are a nice start to the day-

https://twitter.com/u_me_reality/status/1531945618880577542?s=20&t=P4LkJp5_5gy4LvKur_PAcQ

zv2 · 01-06-2022 10:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119142859#Comment_119142859

Is Craggy Island a NATO member?

Raoul Duke III · 01-06-2022 10:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143628#Comment_119143628

Yeah, there seems to be a disconnect between the desire to defend a democratic state from invasion and actually having to bear some fairly minor personal pain as a result. Which feels pretty insulting to the Ukrainians actually fighting and dying.

Maybe our politicians aren't doing a good job of explaining this to us. But it is most definitely worth it if it muzzles Putin.

thomil · 01-06-2022 10:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143434#Comment_119143434

It's not that. For me, this whole thing goes a lot deeper. Germany and its population occupy a special place in history, due to the horrendous crimes committed and due to the fact that we were still invited back into the global community. I was raised in the spirit that we as a nation have a special responsibility not to let the horrible events of 33-45 repeat themselves. That means using every means possible to prevent another war, but at the same time standing up to those countries that use military force to redraw the borders in Europe and not standing idly by when concentration camps are set up again, entire districts depopulated and deported. This is where we're failing big time at the moment.

Germany, in its post-war constitution, is prohibited from using military force in anything other than self defense or treaty obligations, so I get that a direct involvement in Ukraine would not only be problematic from a political point of view, but possibly illegal. I also get that the state of the Bundeswehr is atrocious, to put it mildly, and that a lot of weapons are needed just to get that force to something approaching an acceptable state of readiness. However, Germany has a very capable defense industry, and at the very least, Germany should be expediting delivery of their products to Ukraine. The very fact that not just the Chancellor, but the minister of defense and senior officials within the Ministry of Defense, need to be publicly shamed into doing so is just infuriating for me. We should know better and do better!

Russia - threadbanned users in OP

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