Many may well be poor from ethnic minorities but then again I don't believe many of those Russian soldiers who have tortured and raped Ukraine women and children are ex University Challenge contestants! Given the circumstances I hope many more trainloads and planeloads of them are blown to smithereens!
After the shite that Putin pulled today and his "speech" the US and NATO should give Ukraine everything it needs to drive Russia out of its lands including weapon systems to take out strategic targets in Russia.
They should also make it crystal clear that any Russian use of a WMD will result in all air assets of NATO being deployed against Russian ground and air targets in Ukraine.
The Russian problem is that they are running through finite resources. They can't replace their losses of tanks, armoured vehicles, missile launchers, anti aircraft systems , aviation, and basic ordinance. Every day is degrading their resources.
Ukraine, on the other hand, has an infinite resource of better weapons, better delivery systems, real time intelligence systems, satellite and drones. Add in a hugely motivated military.This is before they even get the better NATO equipment.
This is only going to end one way. Russia can't win. But they will end up utterly defeated.
What do you mean by an agreement? An agreement has to be political and Putin is not going to make any agreement that goes against his personal wishes. And Zelenskyy is not going to cede territory. So there cannot be agreement. That should be obvious.
Apparently the Russians have counter attacked at Lyman and retaken a few small settlements.
Ukraine are trying to encourage Russians to surrender.
Is this all a diversion to give the Russians time to withdraw, or are they actually trying to reinforce?
So the Ukrainan Nato application.
Deep sixed before it even leaves ukraine
Wordplay is irrelevant - I suspect you're feigning reasonability.
Read your own post, you've just illustrated how motivated the defending side actually is. The aggressors' motivation is not so justified.
Yes you got me there, point accepted. I'm not going to argue with you. No point. You posted a more convincing post than I.
I'm not being a smart ass, I need a kick in the arse now and again. When I'm put in my place I'll accept it 👍
Hopefully listening to the UN this evening, he'll have a good idea he's on his own.
You've conceded that I got a point across.
All those against the motion to condemn the annexations in Ukraine raise your hand .
Caution image contains an orc
Motion dead
Given Putin's rhetoric, I'm not sensing that he's in the mood for some kind of middling compromise, but if he were to have a change of heart and outline the following provisions
I could certainly see a way to negotiate around these types of provisions. Neither side gets all of what they want, but some of what they want, and that's called compromise. Sadly, the first lot of negotiations didn't seem as though there was much leeway for any of these. I don't know if Russia's mood has gotten any more amenable towards discussing any of them in good faith.
I hear you,I'm starting to learn more about the conflict. It was interesting listening to the UN this evening.
So you've observed he wants the Ukraine to join a Russian federation and accomplish more power.
Meanwhile the Ukraine has some of the most fertile lands in the world. It's starting to make sense now what's going on.
There's a hell of a lot of variables.
The biggest issue is the Russians won't lay down their arm's,the agreement Russia wants involved the Zelensky government surrendering to Russia for trials for crimes committed against Russians , the formation of a pro russian government, never Allowed to join the eu or Nato.
Then dispanding and disarming of the Ukrainan military and the allowing the permanent basing of Russian troops to protect Ukraine from foreign invaders.
This is the deal putin wants
Hopefully they will, but I feel a lot of posters aren't really interested in that kind of discussion.
It's easy to post here and do other posters thinking for them and come to all kinds of scenarios.
Asking questions isn't hard,or asking someone what do they mean or how did they come to a conclusion.
I'm telling you one thing, most of them wouldn't have it in them to go out in the rain for a few hours, let alone a hike in the rain during the winter.
No, but the Chinese in particular would make you a bit sick. Listened to some of the UN link Gatling posted, and their man at the UN security council was referring to the Ukraine "crisis", started blaming some nebulous "bloc confrontations" and "sanctions" (presumably on Russia) for escalating it further (and causing China "concern"). He also implied UN Security Council is biased and making the "crisis" worse. At least they seem to have jitters and second thoughts when it comes to backing Russia fully (never thought Russia/Putin would ever need it probably...edit: Ukraine was meant to be well defeated by now,Zelensky fled, dead, starring in a show trial/gulag-ed and new Putin puppets installed).
Very interesting question!
I'd have included a section on claiming the moon for Russia, and announced a mission to carve a huge hammer and sickle on to the face of it. Why not go all out? I'd also have more sense than to criticise the US for bombing Nazi Germany when I'm trying to justify myself though the (warped) lens of bombing "Nazi Ukraine". Maybe that line was supposed to sow some doubt and dissent in Germany, but I don't think it hit the mark. On that note, I don't think he mentioned Nazis in Ukraine at all today (or maybe I missed it), so it seems he's moved on from that being the main justification for the invasion.
But seriously, yeah, I guess a strongman leader doesn't have any choice but to double down on the strongman rhetoric. I am actually surprised that he didn't dwell more on the concept that any attack on the so-called annexed regions was an attack on Russia. He seems to be leaving it to his proxies to expressly say that and the consequent threats of nuclear retaliation or deterrent. So in a way he actually held back a bit. I think it's telling that despite the extreme ideological tone of his speech, there were no ultimatums. It really leaves us with business as usual, but with a sinister twist, rather than the immediate escalation on the ground that many were expecting.
That's what I'm saying. I think they should all lay down their arms and have a cease fire and come to an agreement.
I don't think an all out war would be favourable.
And all of that horribleness can be easily avoided by Putin's forces deciding to pack up and f*ck off back home to Russia. 👍️
So... 👏👏 Get going, lads.
Well you're using their fatalities to get a point across, your pathetic musings aren't that harmless either.
I love a good rant on board's.
Obviously you're on the side of eye for an eye. You cannot see the implications of war between East and West if it broke out.
I get it you haven't experienced war nor have you been on a battle field. It's not like a game of swinging dick's on board's.You're out there in the elements, your back is killing you, your knee's are sore you're lugging around a backpack and limited slugs . Your socks are sweaty for days, you stink. You're wet, probably pissed your pants a few times, your arse is sticky. You're back on the cigarettes.
Sitting for hours watching a location with binoculars, the things are getting foggy. You want to sleep but you have to stay up. You hear something in the distance. Not sure it's friendly or not.
You're **** into a hole and trying to balance yourself in the rain.
There's guys on both sides experiencing this while you post from your self imposed the oh I'm such a wise one here on board's.
Were you ever in a building where there's rats the size of a cat sniffing at your feet while trying to sleep. And it's something like what you'd see at a replica of an iron age settlement . And you've no other choice.
Coming home to your friends and they knowing you're shell shocked, and on edge.
No doubt you'll say I've been reading too much bravo 2 zero or something. But you were never there , and hopefully never will.
Canonfodder
Bolsonaro won't be around long more so would be harsh on the Brazilians.
Putin's former speechwriter reveals his mental state - N1 (n1info.com)
Round them up and throw them out.
But have they recognised this declaration of annexation as valid - that is the question. And a very different matter.
As a matter of interest, would you be in favour of the Republic annexing the six counties of NI and claiming them as ours?
Most people think of Vladimir Putin's background as a KGB agent and the number of opponents falling out of windows lately certainly speaks to that.
What most casual observers don't know is that Putin has a law degree where he specialized in international trade. Secondly, he earned a PhD in economics while writing his thesis on: "Strategic Planning of the Reproduction of the Mineral Resource Base of a Region under Conditions of the Formation of Market Relations"
...
"He sees Russia’s mineral resources as the only 'hard currency' that ensures not only the economic and political security but also the very survival of Russia. Mineral resources are the ultimate insurance for overcoming any crisis, and they represent a disaster contingency plan."
Another idea this Russian state stole from the Nazi's.
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://we.vanillicon.com/v2/e050b53be62f0ae2404c620976170938.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wc.vanillicon.com/v2/c635d680d76ce16e490d61f21d7a1353.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wa.vanillicon.com/v2/a605da6df673e065ac5a7e976411f425.svg)
