Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Oh here we go again. I don't know which rumour has been posted more in the last 7 months: that Putin has untreatable cancer or Belarus is about to enter the war. Can we just stop posting these crap links?

Russian agencies attack key IT systems in Montenegro

Montenegro: Russian diplomats expelled amid spying suspicions

Russia trying the Ukrainise stuff on them wasn't well received, and it's still ongoing, even as of two days ago.

That list seems to be rubbish. Canada is onside as well.

Ukrainian military in Torske, east to Lyman, next stop Lysychansk, Lysychansk is a city in the Sievierodonetsk 

Russian troops keep getting encircled and pushed back/retreat etc…..is it not a sign that they are just gearing up For a massive new phase involving chemical/biological and nuclear type weapons in retaliation……putin is capable of anything as he has shown time and time again

Stupid question... I've enjoyed reading the updates from the guys who know what they're talking about (special mention to greenpilot) for keeping us all in the loop. But how do things actually happen on the ground, realistically.

When Ukraine liberate a town, what's the process? Are they traveling in convoy, inching forward and attacking from range while the Russians retreat? Do they attack from various arteries and roads into a town? Are they crossing countryside, farm and field in formation?

We hear a lot about movements and front lines but I wonder how it is working in reality?

Like I said, stupid question maybe

Yeh, you're right. It's way off topic. 👍️

😂😂

Fair enough

9 states (10 now I think) can support the application all they want, but, there's a difference between several states supporting and all states consenting to change their own rules and invite Ukraine to join.

And yes of course rules can indeed be changed (like for any organisation, group, Government etc), but it will require consensus from all NATO states, that simply is not going to happen.

Why would that be nonsense? It makes perfect sense not to allow a state join when there is a dispute! Why risk dragging the entire NATO into a conflict which when it started was involving a non NATO state?

If Russian troops invaded Lapland indeed it wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) affect Finland's application because they are now at the invitee stage and past the initial application stage, the Study deals with the steps before becoming invitees.

Yes they could get in if they solve the problem (as well as any other issues there may be) - as in resolve the territorial dispute, a "sans the 4 republics" solution would never be accepted (and I very much doubt Ukraine would even consider such application in the first place) by NATO, it isn't a viable "solution" to allow membership.

Good thread on Russia's Constitution Court approval of the annexations:-

Yes just like the attack on Kyiv was a feint, the Russians are just retreating until Steiner counterattacks and Putin's wonderweapons are ready for a devastating counter-strike.

How could they, when they know that they and their family and everything they've ever known will be vaporised, if it happens.

I think you're getting caught up on the "rules" around membership, which the members can change at their whim.

IF NATO feel they can have Ukraine as a member without russia being able to retaliate against it or go no further, I've no doubt it will happen, they may neglect putting boots on the ground in Ukraine, or maybe just East Ukraine, but russia has shown it's weakness in this conflict, NATO will be emboldened by it.

You only have to look at the drip feed of more advanced weaponry making it into Ukrainian hands as an example, what they are getting now would have been absolutely unthinkable back in January, russia have been shown to be a 1 trick pony with their responses (i.e. vague nuclear threats) and are in a very fragile state similar to the end of the USSR (conscription could end up being the straw), they will find it hard to navigate out of it unless the battle on the ground changes significantly.

The main danger is a trump like idiot getting into power in the US and rolling over for putin again, but that seems unlikely, even for the GOP.

Thanks for that. This seems to have been a reaction by Russia to Montenegro applying for membership in the first place. I wonder why is it that Montenegro took that first step....

Ok. I had a look at the wikipedia page of the country. So it seems that it was an initiative of the President, Milo Đukanović, who set out goals to join both NATO and the EU as a way of pivoting the country toward the west. The NATO plan "divided the country" especially since NATO had bombed Montenegro itself in 1999 leading to the deaths of 500 people. It linked to the following Guardian article as well that discusses the NATO ascension and the alleged coup attempt:

Interesting tidbit in there is that NATO were keen to have Montenegro join as they would then control the Mediterranean coastline from Gibraltar to Syria (you could extend that even further and say they control it from Syria to Kaliningrad)

Well I wouldn't expect you to have a problem with dumb, sensationalist, unfounded rumours being posted for the 400th time given the standard of your own contributions, but some of us would rather people posted either reliable sources for news or none at all.