Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Astounding how they make the same stupid mistakes again and again (the Russians in particular, but Ukraine also from time to time):

it all comes down to they think mad Vlad might actually use a nuke so they don’t want to upset him with a Ukraine victory…. They are playing for a draw

Turns out Western red lines are about as serious as Russian red lines and easily washed away, usually by blood.

We saw it in Syria and see it again now. Europe is a feeble entity with good intentions and insufficient action, and America pursues its own interest, which is weakening Russia more than helping Ukraine achieve victory.

Its mad that Trump blames zalensky for the Russian invasion. If he gets reelected then NATO is toast.

Well do you think then the points I made have no validity whatsoever? Because you quote me and then nothing about the actual quote…

I mean where is a discussion going to go unless we pick up on some points made by others? Whats the point of throwing 'what about that other thing over there' at people?

Well I will, dont worry, because clearly what you would call discussion is nothing of the sort. There may be a couple exceptions but mostly just lads outdoing each other on hating Russia and engaging in childish armchair strategist fables over the most dubious of sources. I mean who in their right mind would want to persistently engage with that?

I'll leave you to it so.

They weren't provoked. Ukraine went out of its way not to provoke Russia, by giving up strategic weapons under the Budapest agreement… only for Russia to turn around and repeatedly violate it. That is provocation and that is what was driving Ukraine towards NATO. Similarly Russia broke the Budapest Agreement by putting economic pressure on Ukraine when it was considering signing a non-military agreement with the EU. Another provocation by Russia.

The situation is entirely different. Russia already had a border with NATO without regard to Ukraine. And a Ukraine in NATO would be subject to the forces and weapons limitations agreed by NATO and Russia in the NATO Russia Founding Act.

Russia has denuded its forces along the NATO border, a border now expanded by the addition of Finland … proof positive they were not really concerned about a NATO invasion.

Your claims have no credibility, and just a rehash of demonstably false Russian propaganda and don't stand up to any scrutiny.

A Russian journalist was present at an army conscription centre providing residents with information of their rights. When an enlistment officer took umbrage and accused the journalist of beating him. He provided the court with a scratch and the court sentenced the journalist to three years of forced labour. The journalist said she was only there asking questions as her job. The newspaper editor and relatives were in court demanding her release.

Edit: read the comments under the article. Everyone except our little KGB friend who'd likely report it all straight away.

Please no discussion (there is Help Desk thread on that), but just noting the new CA rules that came into force recently as some people seem to have missed the notification:

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I don't remember any quid pro quo that eg Belarus must be neutral and independent…
Or any of the other "CSTO" members.

But apparently it is ok for Russia to dictate what Ukraine can and can't do.

'Look what you made me do' - the typical excuse of an abuser and Russia's excuse has the same validity as that of an abuser.

Russia has repeatedly acted in bad faith and broken agreement after agreement Budapest Agreement, invasion of Crimea, Donbas, Luhansk, repeated human rights violations but it's always someone else's fault.

Russia's own expansionist rhetoric contradicts it's own claims that it was in any way provoked. It acted on its own volition and ambition.

The expansionst rhetoric is for a domestic audience and for army morale, much like the 'spreading democracy' guff that accompanies Western military actions. People generally refuse to fight, die or even just pay for abstract geostrategic objectives. They need atavistic stories.

Good. No, it is not fun reading the same thing spewed out for the 1 millionth time about the Russian Bear being poked by NATO f.e.g. As we head towards 3 years after this imperialist landgrab started, I don't have the heart or energy to argue much any more. You decided to quote me here!

The unsubstantiated North Korea stuff (Russian military availing itself of N. Korean support troops for some reason) is looking more solid.

S. Korea are saying it now as well. I presume they keep a good eye on what N. Korea are up to, there's less reason for them to speculate in public than Ukraine so it is probably happening, and they may be spooked by it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vkqwe9wwdo

I suppose what is still unknown (yet) is if they will show up in large numbers fighting in Ukraine.

Interesting piece about how Ukraine bypassed US sanctions and turned to China for drones as the US version were glitchy and unrelible.

However, Ukraine has found ways to obtain tens of thousands of UAVs, as well as spare parts for them, from China. The military is using off-the-shelf Chinese drones, mostly made by SZ DJI Technology.

The WSJ reported that Ukraine has also developed a domestic drone industry that relies on Chinese components. Ukrainian factories produce hundreds of thousands of small, cheap UAVs that can carry explosives. In addition, it makes larger drones that can strike deep into Russian territory and reach Russian warships in the Black Sea.

https://www.uasvision.com/2024/04/12/american-drones-failed-to-turn-the-tide-in-ukraine/