Please use this thread to continue discussing the war in Ukraine.
All mod instructions from the previous thread remain in force here
Original thread:
Yes. Greta must have a word with the Ukrainians.
How do you think the Ukrainian population are going to cope with the onset of winter? The country's electricity generation has been seriously degraded with no chance of significant repair in advance of Winter. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/18/world/with-its-energy-network-nearly-destroyed-ukraine-already-fears-winter/
at least that’s a start but away, away, away,away, —————————-, off the mark!
It's becoming very expensive for the Kremlin, they've already had to hike taxes significantly to pay for it all, there could be a partial collapse of the military, they have a labour shortage due to the war, they are experiencing manpower issues (and are now e.g. looking to Africa for mercenaries), they are being impacted by the first batches of strikes on their energy infrastructure, there could be political issues
Russia is still potent, have a large war machine and can likely drag this out for a good bit longer, but keep in mind they have a GDP smaller than the state of Texas. Shell production is only just starting to get going in Europe and the US, Ukraine will start to receive F16's this summer, they have only just been allowed to use weapons to strike inside Russia, they have only just started to receive US aid after a lull.. none of these are magic game-changers, Ukraine is still in a difficult situation, but all of this is applying heavy pressure to Russia and it's military
**** me, is that the latest talking points. Ukraine should surrender to stop climate change?
And the ever looming threat of the Russians doing something very very bad involving the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.
Either intentionally or accidently.
lest we forget the Time person of the year in 2007
Putin is not a boy scout. He is not a democrat in any way that the West would define it. He is not a paragon of free speech. He stands, above all, for stability—stability before freedom, stability before choice, stability in a country that has hardly seen it for a hundred years. Whether he becomes more like the man for whom his grandfather prepared blinis—who himself was twice TIME's Person of the Year—or like Peter the Great, the historical figure he most admires; whether he proves to be a reformer or an autocrat who takes Russia back to an era of repression—this we will know only over the next decade. At significant cost to the principles and ideas that free nations prize, he has performed an extraordinary feat of leadership in imposing stability on a nation that has rarely known it and brought Russia back to the table of world power. For that reason, Vladimir Putin is TIME's 2007 Person of the Year.
champions league final 2008 Moscow
Winter Olympics 2014 Sochi
Now fast forward to 2024, millions emigrated - 100s of thousands dead or injured.
Foreign investment gone.
Inflation 17% interest rate 8-9%
Mincing about North Korea trying to find a new friend. Slow hand clap for Putins execution of a plan that was years in the making.
the other option <insert blah blah blah> , your concern for Russia now is touching , lets see how it works out
Well for all those eco conscious types Russia is burning through their soviet era stock so fast that they'll probably be heading to the front on bicycles soon, #sustainableinvasion
You assuming Russia just collapses? i'd go with 95% ukraine doing that if they are the choices.
Russia have assured us of a more carbon neutral invasion going forward.
1 tank = 1 tree
Producing the vast quantities of concrete that will be required to rebuild Ukraine will generate enormous amounts of CO2 as well.
Forgot no 4 ie all the Co2 being produced because of all the fires- buildings, forests, vehicles, etc.
there is ABSOLUTLY no mention in this thread app out the amount of CO2 being produced because of the war. Areas could be divided into :-
(1) explosion of bombs, missiles, etc
(2) fuel used in vehicles - airplanes, vehicles
(3) manufacturing of machinery, vehicles, missiles for use in the war
The other option was giving Russia free reign to complete the invasion. This would have resulted in larger scale genocide. On top of that, their military would have been left in a far stronger position without international backing for Ukraine. So Russia could easily have considered expanding beyond Ukraine. So what pray tell is the "middle ground" you have in mind?
Russia aren't coming out of this as a winner in any way btw. International position destroyed, huge amounts of oligarch's wealth taken, trade relationships destroyed and their army is decimated. Prior to the war they were viewed to have a pretty powerful military but that image has been decimated.
The lines didn't really change in WW1 for 4 years. Then one side collapsed.
Im not sure what you think the point is? all that matters is where you think the lines will be in 6 mths? 50% i'd say no significant change but there is a downside risk for Ukraine on the other hand I dont see the lines retaking Crimea or any such.
There is always a middle way, the main problem for Europe is it looks like it has backed a loser, cant be a positive for the long term serviceability of either NATO or the EU, one should worry about the "sheer fkn hubris" of it all
Yes making a video of supermarkets is such a normal thing for tourists to do and yet another normal day for putin's forces in Ukraine yesterday:
I'm sure you would say it looks like putin can cope with these losses without it being any sort of problem for his mighty empire and time is running out for Ukraine to make concessions….
The fact that in any discussions Russia engages in about peace or talk's or treatys' etc, top of the list of preconditions before talks can even begin is the " all sanctions must be lifted". For sure, Russia is feeling full effects of them, despite Putins best efforts to persuade the world that they are not having any effect
Yes.sure. But you are talking about the best parts of Moscow and St, Petersburg, where you have both, Travel the republics, and in these cities there's not much "Good"to balance out the bad parts.In other words, Moscow and St Petersburg are the best that Russia has to offer.
I was referring to Trump's "Republican" party and not formal alliances (yet).
As we are ,he is their ally but will not admit it as it might lose him the election.
Just the odd nod and a wink so far.
I think if he gets in he will want to carve up Europe btw him and his mates.
Wouldn't be unprecedented .
BREAKING: The U.S. "has made the difficult but necessary decision to reprioritize near-term planned deliveries of foreign military sales" to other countries of Patriot and NASAM missiles to go to Ukraine instead, per John Kirby
From Lara Seligman on X
You are confusing tactical cooperation (against the Taliban and Al Quaeda) with full strategic partnership. Not the same thing at all.
The USA was formally aligned with Russia in the aftermath of 9/11. In the run up to the invasion of Iraq Putin was in the US camp while China was in the French camp.
I wasn't referring to individuals. Even with Trump as President (God forbid), the USA would never be formally aligned with Russia.
I think China were OK with a war in Europe, but not so keen an a military arms build-up in their backyard.
Priority number one is to avoid a war or State collapse in NK, as they fear a stream of refugees. War becomes more likely with an emboldened NK.
This could be another blunder by Putin. Although desperate men tend not to think straight.
I'd say at this stage Putin will go where ever he can for aid. They're sending lads to the front now on scramblers and desert cross vehicles (golf buggies with motor engines) so it could be a case of asking former soviet allies for any extra bit of gear.
I don't know about N Korea but the Soviets played the Vietnamese off China after the Sino-Soviet war.
Leave Michael D out of this, he is now our president
Is that one reason Putin did it?(whatever it is he actually did)
An ally against China?
