so if someone puts their point of view about Germany needing gas and Putin using this as leverage, your classing that as idiotic wishful thinking?
Well I think they're happy enough with him at the moment because he's keeping the Russian military engaged where the Ukrainians can maul them.
It's a one-off opportunity for the US -- clown captain stays at the helm until the ship is beached.
I think Putin's fate is inextricably linked with the war, therefore he's doomed.
Reminds me of Godfather 3
155mm smart shells with 70km range at 66k a pop
Anti-air gun firing at the skies over Sevastopol
Andrew bustamante was the chaps name who spoke to lex Fridman
Ex CIA what he said I found very interesting
I don't know who fridman and bustamante are - neither seemed pro putin
Maybe people here should YouTube the interview, it was good
The oligarch's thought they could control him, and by the time they found out they could not, it was too late. He made an example of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and no one challenged him after that.
Has anyone seen the latest Ben Gilroy promoted video doing the rounds of the RussianIrishspeaks on social media
True,Europe just gets russian gas and shuts up and pretends nothing is happening in Ukraine
That graph also shows that the idea that Germany will somehow be able to force the end of the war is nonsense. Poland is nearly contributing as much to Ukraine as them (and is giving a lot more in military aid).
What I would call idiotic wishful thinking is the idea that you could just "back off" and that this would have Putin turn the gas "back on". Putin would extract a very high price especially if he smelt weakness. Not only would one have to cease military aid to Ukraine, but to revoke sanctions, and if you offered to revoke a few, he would demand more.... He would see he has you on the run.
Any negotiation with Putin has to be from a position of strength and angst about gas supplies does not convey any indication of strength.
Agreed.
Hopefully Germany sticks to the script.
It will be his own view when he eventually talks, he views the west as individualistic and materialistic and the blame, will fall on the west. Even wrote a book on the Foundations of Geopolitics.
His book sales will now go up no doubt
Moscow May parade 2023
Somebody really making a killing on those price tags.
...
Germany and France havent contributed at all hardly
Countries like Norway,who isnt even in the EU ,and Finland and Sweden who isnt in NATO have contributed more nearly,and like you said Poland and also other easter european countries like Czech republip,slovenia,Romania etc are doing alot more than Germany and France.
Looks like Germany and France are more concerned about their own politics and countries and to save their own arse.
Same with UK who is not even in EU anymore have done alot more than Germany and France combined
The best puns are unintentional
Speculation that Daria Dugin might have been the target of the assassination and not her father. I guess we may learn more in coming days.
Ukraine have flatly denied any involvement incidentally, saying they are not in the business of political murders.
What's that gobshite on about now?
I think it's more in the US's interests to drag this out a bit, at least until next year. The longer it goes on, the weaker Russia gets. Brian drain and lack of infrastructural development is not easily reversed. If Putin was to be replaced, the new leader could take the opportunity and exit Ukraine in exchange for sanctions being lifted.
Also important to remember that the US isn't always out for the best for Europe/EU. It ideally would like the EU to be a strong junior partner in the relationship. It does not want an overly strong Germany. So anything that knocks a few percent off German GDP, without threatening stability is also welcome by the US.
Stick it up here, could do with a laugh.
Of course comparing the US to 27 Member States & the EU Institutions separated out, it looks very ugly.
When you add all the EU Member States + EU Institutions together, the picture is still quite far from what it should be but not quite as bad as portrayed. Doing a quick & dirty sum of the three different types of aid, I get about €28 billion for the EU vs €44.5 billion for the US.
You probably also could consider the millions of refugees that are being accommodated all over the EU, which is also a 'contribution' worth a few billion.
There is always internal politics within the EU. While France a d Germany have not lead the way the EU is solidly behind Ukraine no matter what many think.
In a way this will be good for the EU longterm. Germany and France have weakened there longterm strength within the EU. Support for Ukraine has been driven by the old Eastern bloc countries even though Hungry is not on boards. The Czech republic, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania etc have driven EU policy supported by countries like Greece, Belgium, Spain, Holland Italy and even Ireland.
Germany will have to accept the EU majority no matter what it's political leadership sways.
The US has provided invaluable leadership which we might not have got under Trump. Biden has been immense, Along with the UK they have given other countries strength and resolve to support Ukraine.
This conflict is only going one way. Ukraine will be a nation once again
https://fb.watch/f2g0pY_Fap/
Powerful speech. How many here have known her?
So, the Ukrainians are angry because their children were raped and murdered. That's terrible in her wonky world view. As for the fighting in the east - this was started by the Russians using Yanukovych to destabilize Ukraine. The truth of any matter cannot be found simply by listing facts because facts and truth are not the same thing. Truth requires balance and context. And in the balance of things Ukraine has suffered atrocious aggression from the Russians for many years even before the USSR existed.
She is like that German 'reporter' listing 'facts' and thinking she is enlightening the world.
Sigh
Slow motion ATGM
I think that after this, the defensive situation in the EU will change. The will not be caught with their defensive pants down around their ankles again....no more all the eggs in one basket, or dependance on the US.
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