[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)

[raymondo]

Meanwhile, potentially excellent and very important news for the future of Europe (this feels like the right thread for that!).

Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds to benefit her party. The live reporting indicates she will be barred from running for public office.

It’s not yet confirmed how long for or when this will begin, but could well include the next presidential election in 2027…

Edit: It takes effect immediately

Musk is really not happy

 

[raymondo]

Link in the post is broken, so here’s a working one:

Joint Declaration by the Foreign Ministers of the Weimar +

Joint Declaration by the Foreign Ministers of United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in Madrid on 31 March 2025.

www.gov.uk

Thanks for that post .
Very comprehensive, and it's good to see it didn't mention the US even once! NATO a couple of times, euro-atlantic alliance once I think, but the US?...nah not a mention

 

[Sirnormangall]

Thanks for that post .
Very comprehensive, and it's good to see it didn't mention the US even once! NATO a couple of times, euro-atlantic alliance once I think, but the US?...nah not a mention

Will be interesting to hear Trump’s response to it ( I think we can already guess Putin’s). Would like to see other countries endorse it eg other EU, Turkey, Canada

 

[SouthSaxon]

Musk is really not happy

Good. f*** him.

 

[Sirnormangall]

The Russians stating its a bad day for European democracy

You just couldn't make it up!!

Yep, Russia knows a lot about democracy. They’ll be telling us next how to run fair elections

 

[Scappa]

Musk is really not happy

 

[Scappa]

Putin orders that a further 160,000 conscripts aged 18-30 be called up for the meat grinder

Putin to conscript 160,000 more Russians for war with Ukraine

Ukraine warned the Kremlin is preparing for a massive new military offensive.

www.politico.eu

 

[raymondo]

Russian Central Bank chief, Nabiullina, announces that they will/may take the unpopular step of 'freezing' household bank deposits - as Denys says 'freezing' sounds less draconian than 'taking' but in Russia it's the same.
- Russian economy desperate then
- Many more war funds for Russia now
- Denys thinks street protests very unlikely because of the police control and fear factors.

8 minutes into video. It's not clear to me if this HAS been enacted yet.

 

[raymondo]

Putin orders that a further 160,000 conscripts aged 18-30 be called up for the meat grinder

Putin to conscript 160,000 more Russians for war with Ukraine

Ukraine warned the Kremlin is preparing for a massive new military offensive.

www.politico.eu

I read yesterday that there is surprisingly little backlash from the women/babushkas, unlike their war with Afghanistan. Seems that the 'theme' is that 'they are mainly prisoners or guys just doing it for the money '.

I expect that most or all will be taken from the ethnic groups in the far provinces. They are being slowly decimated while Moscow and St P stay protected and party - a win-win for Putin.

 

[raymondo]

 

[raymondo]

It's official, Trump respects the Ukrainian sovereignty and leadership(at least yesterday he did), soooo f*CK off Musk and Vance.

 

[fly high]

It's official, Trump respects the Ukrainian sovereignty and leadership(at least yesterday he did), soooo f*CK off Musk and Vance.

Sounds good but not holding my breath that Trump will go ahead with any extra sanctions. If Europe is saying they could imposed stiffer sanction you have to question why the f*** were these not imposed before now & with Putin's delaying tactics & ridicules demands just do it.

 

[raymondo]

Sounds good but not holding my breath that Trump will go ahead with any extra sanctions. If Europe is saying they could imposed stiffer sanction you have to question why the f*** were these not imposed before now & with Putin's delaying tactics & ridicules demands just do it.

Exactly. I don't know if Europe's 'stiffer sanctions ' are to do with the oil that we still buy (maybe through 3rd parties?). I guess we like to hold something in reserve as a threat .

 

[Eric the meek]

This post was wrongly posted on the Iceland volcano thread. My social media secretary has since been fired.

 

[fly high]

This post was wrongly posted on the Iceland volcano thread. My social media secretary has since been fired.

By which time he will have completely f***ed up the US.

 

[peterward]

This post was wrongly posted on the Iceland volcano thread. My social media secretary has since been fired.

Phew....... I'm glad you only fired her and she didn't accidently fall from a 16th floor balcony.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

This post was wrongly posted on the Iceland volcano thread. My social media secretary has since been fired.

Is that Trumps equivalent of ‘to spend more time with his family’?

 

[GoldstoneVintage]

Phew....... I'm glad you only fired her and she didn't accidently fall from a 16th floor balcony.

Do you know Eric's former social media secretary or is this an assumption?

I only ask because I often make these kind of slips and would like to know if it's not only me!

 

[Triggaaar]

This post was wrongly posted on the Iceland volcano thread. My social media secretary has since been fired.

Was this expected? (Musk that is, not the secretary)

 

[peterward]

Do you know Eric's former social media secretary or is this an assumption?

I only ask because I often make these kind of slips and would like to know if it's not only me!

do you know, after I wrote that, I actually thought.... I bet someone will make that very assetion!

of course they may be male or female, i've never known a male one personally, but accept my attempt at humour did go for the statistically most likely option (80% v 20%).