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It’s funny how Belgium was more than happy to solely reap the benefits (interest) in holding those Russian assets, yet wants all of the EU to shoulder the burden if it goes tits up..
This is literally a mission in one of the Hitman games lmao, only it's a scientist and not a pilot.
You really need to stop spouting this stuff about how Belgium is blocking the money as if they're somehow pro-Russian.
Von der Leyden herself said that a plan to use the assets that Euroclear holds could 'hopefully' be legal, but you'd have to be insane to take an action like this based on 'hopefully'.
Also, Mertz and Von Der Leyden have come out recently saying that Belgium needs guarantees which has been the position of the Belgian government since this entire saga began, as usual they only seem to realise it much later.
As for De Wever's statement on how a Russian defeat wasn't desirable:
I explained this before. What he said was that a humiliation of Russia and a subsequent potential power struggle isn't desirable given they've got nukes. Sure, it could be nice to see given what they've been doing but when it comes to realpolitik the best option is to try and stop/defeat them but leave them with a way out.
There are still plenty of videos popping up on YouTube etc of supermarkets and dealerships in Moscow being rammed with western goods and car. Even spotted one with Guinness Zero.
As long as the middle class in large Russian cities are unaffected and can still get what they want during their weekly shop plus a sun holiday to Turkey then little will change in the mindset of Russians.
If we could convince China and India to stop buying their oil, their economy would collapse and the war would be over.
Alternatively target their shadow fleet.
The EU has agreed to stop buying Russian gas by 2027.
Orban will hopefully lose election in 2026 so their only ally in the EU will be Slovakia.
With the growth in renewables, I think oil prices will start to drop soon.
We're close to peak oil demand.
We just need to support Ukraine for a another couple of years and then Russia will have to pull out.
Their sovereign wealth fund will be gone by then.
I know that's usually the case for most countries, but does the same apply to Russia? Are they more easily able to replace airframes?
Also Russian pilots seem to be reduced to shoot and scoot inside their own borders recently. Do they need Manfred Von Richtofen levels of proficiency for that?
I know it's horrible to say, but the death of the pilots is better for Ukraine than the loss of the plane.
You just engaged with it.
Now where's my Russian propaganda that you're going to pitch as being an agnostic view?
Contrary to what the legions of Putin bots claim, it could take many years for Russia to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, so events could well be overtaken by what is happening in Russia. But it is difficult to say with certainty how this would unfold - Ukraine will just have to hunker down and keep doing what they are doing.
A Russian economic collapse is probably the only way this war will end. But it's very hard to know just how close (or far) we are to this scenario.
So much of what Putin has done to Russia is irreversible:
Russia analysts in the West have speculated that it is not impossible that the Russian economy could collapse, leaving Putin in a most perilous position. Very unclear though where this would leave Ukraine going forward or if it would help bring about an end to the war on not unfavourable terms for them.
Like something you'd see in a Naked Gun movie
Wow. That's one way to go.
The Russian economy not doing so great.
How very unfortunate
Despite many pro putin internet posts the numbers on the ground don't really point to a collapse of Ukrainian front lines and resistance to putin's terrorist state:
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-loses-1-of-its-prewar-male-population-1765143682.html
Reports a pro-Russian French banker at Euroclear has threatened its CEO over the frozen Russian assets. This banker flew to Russia 155 times for 'private reasons'.
He said in his videos he left after it started. Look on one hand I respect him being more honest and not giving positive opinions always. On the other hand it's hypocritical to say what Ukraine should change when he's part of one of their biggest problems. He could be working in a Ukrainian factory by Day or driving a truck and making his videos in the evening. Instead he's chilling playing videogames abroad as he bad mouths the Ukrainian government and military.
3 weeks to go lads. Will Povtrosk hold out until the new year?
I also see Orban is sweating about the next elections in April. Péter Magyar is the favourite. And he's seen as less hostile to Ukraine and less friendly to Russia.
Take a look at Madagascar.
Echoes of Rasputin. Reports Putin consults mystics for decisions like invading Ukraine.
Transnistria (breakaway region garrisoned by Russian troops since 1992) moving further away from Russia. Discreet talks with EU diplomats on guarantees for the local population if Russia abandons them. However, Russian drones still get intercepted in Moldova, which has increased defence spending 68% and receives aid from the EU Peace Fund. Video also explores potential scenarios where hostilities might resume there, either with Moldova, Ukraine or both.
On the American front, the next six months could be among the most dangerous for Ukraine but a terrible deal may become less likely thereafter. The MAGA project should lose steam next year as Trump’s incompetence and criminality become impossible for even many of his own supporters to ignore and he is forced to focus what’s left of his energy on domestic issues. Some Republicans may then start making noise about any surrender to Putin.
Let's hope it never comes to that and that it is the Russian resistance that crumbles.
(And that America does not torpedo economic sanctions on Russia to get its way)
Silicon Curtain calls Belgian PM Bart de Wever a "clown". Says if he doesnt speak Russia, he should maybe start learning it. De Wever said that a Russian defeat was not even desirable. Belgium is blocking the €90bn loan Ukraine needs to avoid running out of money next Summer, secured on Russian assets.
A joint effort from Norway and the UK will see a fleet of frigates commissioned which are designed to stave off hybrid warfare from Russian submarines, says editor of Defence Eye, Tim Ripley.
There is precedent for resistance. Ukrainian guerilla groups fought on into the mid-fifties against all the power and resources of the NKVD and the Soviet army.
Natural to assume he would not.Would be happy to use the annexation to further humiliate Europe.
If Russia takes Ukraine ,Ukraine will be totally humiliated and there will be exterminations.
There will be no real resistance (but they will have to rely on Quislings to keep the population in line)
It's easy to criticise someone else, especially when you don't know their personal circumstances.
From when you volunteer, get your few weeks basic training, it's entirely possible that you can get sent to the frontline. That means sitting in a trench, under mortar, artillery, drone fire and glide bombs in freezing and wet conditions. The whole thing looks like absolute hell on earth and even if I was 20 years younger, I really don't think I could hack it.
Why has he lifted some sanctions on Lukoil?
Reporting from Ukraine (RFU) channel on youtube complains of being demonetised. Is the WH exerting pressure on Google to censor pro Ukraine content, or is it Russian infiltration of the moderation?
Either way its a reminder that Europe needs its own tech giants. We are too dependent on US tech monopolies.
Wiki says he moved his family out of Ukraine in 2023, citing security concerns.
I don't blame him tbf.
