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€90bn is better than nothing but Russia should be the one paying for the destruction it has caused.
Some echoes of the unequal treaties Qing China was forced to sign with Russia. Sarah Paine the academic argues that Russia always posed as China's ally against Western colonialism, as cover for taking territory from it. Now it's in reverse at least economically. Putin also ceded many islands to China some years ago in a settlement of border disputes
Reports the WH unhappy about Ukraine's recent successes,
Looks like the deal to use frozen russian monies to fund Ukraine has fallen through.
https://www.euractiv.com/news/eu-fails-to-back-merz-von-der-leyens-ukraine-loan-plan/
EU leaders failed on Thursday to agree a plan to lend Ukraine billions of euros using immobilised Russian assets, dealing a blow to supporters of the scheme and handing Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever a major win.
At around 3am, European Council President António Costa said leaders would only agree a €90 billion loan to cover Kyiv’s short-term needs, while continuing to look at the so-called reparations loan that has been met by consistent opposition by Belgium.
So, has Europe/EU balked? To the delight of putin? Not a message of unity and strength? A show of weakness?
A decisive message needed to be sent, didnt happen. Will €90bn of "common borrowing" ( more EU debt ) be enough? Looks like Orban and co ( putin ) won?
Not sure if posted but the tanker hit I think it was yesterday has sunk
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mabxmjddqs2m
Russians in Kupyansk have been completely cut off from supplies. A small contingent of Russians -hidden in basements- is present in the center. It will take some time, but they will eventually give up, surrender or get killed. Just like the Kucheriv Yar pocket(s).
Is this a cauldron?
And should I be concerned?
That cannot be good news for Vlad.
And just like I predicted this is just the start. The Chinese aren't simply fueling this war quietly to stymie or keep Europe distracted, they want Russia to be brought to it's knees through it's own stupidity and when it's at it's weakest and it's completely in debt to them THEN they'll look at taking back Outer Manchuria along with those resources in the Russian Far east in return for giving the Russians Money to pay their debts. They'll get back all that "lost" territory they wanted without ever having to fire a shot.
Lol
The Kilo class sub Ukraine put out of action, happens to be the most modern of its type in the Orc fleet.
If what Wiles says is true, and I've no reason to doubt it, it certainly displays the extent of Trump's treachery. The publicity-seeking old fool, being led by the nose by the Big Man in Moscow, is actually the benign interpretation.
Spending amongst Russian shoppers is set to drop over the Christmas period as a post-invasion boom in the economy loses momentum. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine saw defence spending balloon and significant competition for workers amid a declining pool of labour fuelled by increased military recruitment.As a result, wages jumped sharply, allowing households across the country to spend more than they had historically been able to. However, as the war approaches its fourth anniversary, wage growth has stagnated, whilst demand in the labour market has stalled, leaving workers thinking twice before making purchases, according to the central bank report."Household behavior has become more frugal."Economic conditions have seen a decline in the number of people purchasing high-ticket, non-essential items, signifying a sharp decline following the boom of 2022.The report added: "More subdued consumption may indicate a gradual reduction in labor market overheating and more moderate expectations for future income dynamics."A dip in consumer habits has coincided with a steep drop in oil and gas revenues, something the Russian state relies on heavily to subsidise its defence spending and cover the cost of everyday spending.It is also an important means of allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.According to official figures, the country saw a fall of 34% in its oil and gas revenue year-over-year in November.
Spending amongst Russian shoppers is set to drop over the Christmas period as a post-invasion boom in the economy loses momentum. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine saw defence spending balloon and significant competition for workers amid a declining pool of labour fuelled by increased military recruitment.
As a result, wages jumped sharply, allowing households across the country to spend more than they had historically been able to. However, as the war approaches its fourth anniversary, wage growth has stagnated, whilst demand in the labour market has stalled, leaving workers thinking twice before making purchases, according to the central bank report."Household behavior has become more frugal."
Economic conditions have seen a decline in the number of people purchasing high-ticket, non-essential items, signifying a sharp decline following the boom of 2022.
The report added: "More subdued consumption may indicate a gradual reduction in labor market overheating and more moderate expectations for future income dynamics."
A dip in consumer habits has coincided with a steep drop in oil and gas revenues, something the Russian state relies on heavily to subsidise its defence spending and cover the cost of everyday spending.
It is also an important means of allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
According to official figures, the country saw a fall of 34% in its oil and gas revenue year-over-year in November.
Oh no, sounds like tax revenue might fall. I'd say that report is understating the impending difficulties by an order of magnitude. If demand in the labour market really has stalled, then it's only because companies are effectively bankrupt. Many other reports depict a critical shortage of labour, hence all the workers tricked in from Africa and brought in from N Korea to be worked to death.
Interesting sum up of putin's terrorist's progress in Ukraine from what I think is an Estonian publication:
https://news.err.ee/1609883903/defense-ministry-official-russia-has-taken-under-1-of-ukrainian-territory-in-2025
This is during a time that putin fan boys like Trump keep saying things like putin is winning.
Now it seems Russian media are saying there's 10,000 indians in Moscow looking for work because of the deal Putin signed with Modi.
What funny money are these dupes going to be paid with? And what are they really going to be doing in Moscow.
Well actually they are giving bits to China as is. China are getting laws changed in Russia to suit themselves. First the visa free entry to russia to Chinese and now the chinese are leasing land for 49 years and getting laws changed that prohibited local development by Russians to give it seems carte blanche to the chinese. Just because the kremlin are desperate for money and the chinese have it.
There's money problems in Russia. They be selling bits to China at this rate to get themselves out of the hole.
It's not just this one article but there's lots of others and this is in a war time footing where journalists can be labelled foreign agents and put in jail if they put unfavourable media out about dear leader and the country.
The Olkhon ferry is under threat. The district head announced that the ferry to the Lake Baikal island of Olkhon will stop running on December 16 due to the regional company's 36 million ruble debt. He fears rising social tensions, as people have not had time to stock up on food and medicine. However, the Angara region government denied the service suspension. The status of the debt remains unknown, but the shipping company, which notified the mayor of the debt, says it has reached an agreement with regional authorities.
Edit: more
Kuzbass owes 8.6 billion rubles for school repairs and utility bills. "Things are so difficult in the region that we currently have outstanding debts for already built schools, completed school overhauls, and landscaping projects. Our outstanding debt alone, which we're already past due, amounts to 4 billion rubles. We owe heat, water, and electricity [to utility companies], and by the end of the year, we project we'll owe 4.6 billion rubles," TASS quotes Governor Ilya Seredyuk as saying.
Well past time to be considering the US is an ally, to either Ukraine or Europe:
….
Rather ironic, given the initial invasion was partially framed around the Russian Naval base in Crimea.
No need to use sea drones now, all it would take is a few missiles to permenantly destroy them and theres nowhere for them to run to if they do. Even if they don't if they're blocked in port they're effectively disabled as a military asset in the near future at least.
Nice article on Ukraine's domestic weapons production beyond drones:
This submarine and the Mig31 that was destroyed reduces Russia's options when it comes to launching missiles at Ukraine.
The rest of the fleet currently blockaded in port probably further degrades that ability at least temporarily.
A lot of illogical statements are for domestic consumption only. They'll mention the West stealing their money and other dastardly deeds, while obviously not mentioning anything Russia does. This works when you control the media and are an authoritarian state.
The problem is that some idiots in place like Ireland think "oh yeah, great point" or "why don't the Ukrainians want peace?", sigh
if Ru - central bank- thinks that it has the ‘right’ to sue for financial losses for monies held overseas have others such as the following also have the ‘right’ to sue Russia for losses due to the SMO that Russia started and is continuing
(1) the damage caused to Ukr infrastructure eg electrical installations, railway system , schools , hospitals, private accommodation, power supply facilities, shipping docks, etc, etc.netc, etc.
(2) for physical and psychological injuries caused
(3) loss of income eg personal , company and export income
(4) removal of mines , land restoration for agricultural purposes
(5)loss of assets conficistaced in Russia eg aeroplanes
(6) loss of income / reduced asset value due to foreign businesses operation out of Russia some of this due to ‘fire brigade’ sales
If no court is in a position to handle any/some of the above then could a special court be set up by affected countries to handle same. Was this done with the Nuremburg Tribunal to handle the Nazi atrocities? some of the above could be done by a ‘class actions’
The value of what Ru could sue for re its money in the banks in Europe would PALE into Insignificance compared to the sum of the above six points
The Absolute fcuking brass neck on them…..
They stole about 400 aircraft from the west, (including about 118 Irish planes), so they get to keep them, but we must give them their money back…
Thet can Get FCUKED>
Mig31 is a great hit. These jets fire hyper sonics at Ukraine. Hopefully they reach a point where Russia movies it's air assets out of Crimea.
It's an empty threat. Russian courts have zero jurisdiction in the EU.
It's the very same reason western companies who have had their assets seized in Russia have not bothered trying to seek damages from the Russians as EU courts have no jurisdiction in Russia.
It's a similar situation to Missouri and China sueing and counter sueing each other over COVID.
I would be curious if Ukraine brought a case in the EU seeking damages from Russia, could the compensation be paid from the seized assets.
I do like a good photograph, even better when it's of an Orc oil tanker on fire:
Port of Rostov after a drone strike.
as funds for Ukraine run out russia threatens action to recover its frozen funds and profits on them as well ...... given that the EU has been giving the interest to Ukraine the last few years who is going to pay ??
"Russia warns it will 'recover damages' on its assets with 'lost profits' on frozen assets
Meanwhile, and the timing is not accidental I think, Russia’s central bank has just made it very clear what it thinks about the discussions in Brussels.
In a short press statement right on cue, it said that “in connection with the ongoing attempts … to illegaly seize and use” its assets, it just wanted to warn everyone that would take legal actions to “recover damages from European banks in a Russian arbitration court,” demanding not just the value of “illegally withheld assets,” but also “lost profits.” Gaurdian UK
A nice few hits
some serious discussions today about funds for ukraine - this from Poland:
"Polish independence could be under threat if Ukraine is forced to capitulate, Poland's Tusk warns
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has just popped out to brief Polish journalists briefly on the conversations so far, starkly warning them about the stakes of today’s talks.
He told them that the leaders are engaged “in a very difficult process” of trying to come to an agreement, with a group of more critical countries “theoretically most at risk from some sort of retaliatory or financial action from Russia,” primarily Belgium, asking for clear guarantees and safeguards. He says they are looking for ways to make all countries comfortable with what’s being proposed.
But Tusk starkly set out what’s at stake in today’s talks, as he tells reporters that “Polish independence would be under threat if it turns out that as a consequence of poor decisions or a lack of action from Europe, Ukraine war forced to surrender.”
“I want this to finally sink in for everyone – not just for our colleagues here in Europe, but for everyone in Poland as well – that when we talk about the necessity of supporting Ukraine using these Russian funds, it is because we know full well that Ukrainian independence pushes the risk of aggression or war away from Polish borders. Conversely, the fall of Ukraine as a result of this war would mean a direct threat to Poland,” he says." (Guardian UK)
