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

[raymondo]

The usual bullshit from Putin...and Trump. The war is just an irritation for Trump because he really wants MONUMENTAL TRADE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE US, UKRAINE WILL BENEFIT TOO...
so he orders Zelenskiy to start negotiations. Zelenskiy tried last Thursday

 

[raymondo]

Having said that, if Putin is stalling for time (which we know is what he is doing), then what does he think is going to happen that will change things on the military and economic fronts? I confess I'm struggling with this one....

Maybe 100,000 troops on their way from North Korea

 

[Bodian]

A ceasefire is possible if 'relevant agreements are reached' (Russia) or 'conditions are negotiated' (Trump). Which basically means that Russia will state their conditions for the ceasefire agreement as being 'not joining NATO, no defence development, ceding of territory, etc' as those are the conditions they have consistently stated. Ukraine cannot agree to these 'conditions' or 'agreements' - so talks will break down. Trump will blame Zelensky - because Trump will say he has done everything he can and has brought Russia to the table.

Wasn't the meeting recently the start of discussions for negotiating a ceasefire? Trump hasn't got Putin to say he himself will take part in any discussions - so absolutely nothing has actually changed has it?

 

[raymondo]

Do you want to enter a race to see who can make the most effective threats?

Perhaps it is something to do with a sense of doing the right thing. Retaining the moral upper ground, trying to tame him by persuasion and not command. And maybe a belief in the human spirit - that ordinary Russians must and will rise up and control their own destiny.

I think we should carry on the way we have done. Manage Trump carefully, showing consistency, integrity and unity in Europe. And crank up the sanctions. The ghost fleet shows that they do work, not that they don't. Of course, as the options for Putin narrow, expect unpredictability, threat, and danger. Putin has survived for 25 years through fear. He doesn't know how to work any other way.

I agree. But Ukraine's and Europe's moral high ground is sooooo much higher than Russia's that I reckon it could drop few notches.

 

[Eric the meek]

A ceasefire is possible if 'relevant agreements are reached' (Russia) or 'conditions are negotiated' (Trump). Which basically means that Russia will state their conditions for the ceasefire agreement as being 'not joining NATO, no defence development, ceding of territory, etc' as those are the conditions they have consistently stated. Ukraine cannot agree to these 'conditions' or 'agreements' - so talks will break down. Trump will blame Zelensky - because Trump will say he has done everything he can and has brought Russia to the table.

Wasn't the meeting recently the start of discussions for negotiating a ceasefire? Trump hasn't got Putin to say he himself will take part in any discussions - so absolutely nothing has actually changed has it?

No. Absolutely nothing has changed.

That was also the conclusion that Steve Rosenberg reached in his BBC report.

But the tone and the spirit of the conversation was excellent though......

 

[peterward]

No. Absolutely nothing has changed.

That was also the conclusion that Steve Rosenberg reached in his BBC report.

But the tone and the spirit of the conversation was excellent though......

Krasnov is doing his masters bidding.

 

[raymondo]

Krasnov is doing his masters bidding.

Daily, astonishingly, consistently...yes he is. Huge blame coming Zelenskiy's way when negotiations breakdown.
Lindsey Graham could be wondering why he even bothered...I hope his time won't have been wasted

 

[raymondo]

Detailed article on fibre optic drones, their development and range. Russian innovation must not be underestimated, but Ukraine is catching up.

As Russia’s fiber optic drones flood the battlefield, Ukraine is racing to catch up

Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. Every year, as the way war is fought constantly evolves on the battlefields of Ukraine, the visuals of the fighting on the ground...

kyivindependent.com

 

[raymondo]

 

[Eric the meek]

This is so important. Wean Europe off all Russian oil and gas products. And impose the harshest of secondary sanctions on nations who still flout the primary sanctions.

It won't stop Russian belligerence in the future, but it will act as a brake on their imperial ambitions. Starve Russia of its war chest.

 

[raymondo]

This is so important. Wean Europe off all Russian oil and gas products. And impose the harshest of secondary sanctions on nations who still flout the primary sanctions.

It won't stop Russian belligerence in the future, but it will act as a brake on their imperial ambitions. Starve Russia of its war chest.

He's right isn't he. I know countries are trying to keep a balance with their local issues, but all could probably squeeze Russia more here.

 

[raymondo]

I think it's a shame Wallace isn't in a more influential role. Was the US that vetoed the possibility of Wallace heading NATO ...hmmm

 

[peterward]

I think it's a shame Wallace isn't in a more influential role. Was the US that vetoed the possibility of Wallace heading NATO ...hmmm

He's the one Tory who was truly excellent in office.

 

[fly high]

He's the one Tory who was truly excellent in office.

Reported in the telegraph Macron was also against him, no way the French would let a Brit hold the position however good they were. Typical bigotry.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Reported in the telegraph Macron was also against him, no way the French would let a Brit hold the position however good they were. Typical bigotry.

To be fair, the impression given by this article in the BBC is that quite a few people/countries were against him having the job, for whatever reasons.

Ben Wallace says he will not be next Nato chief

The defence secretary says the US wants the current head, Jens Stoltenberg, to stay on.

www.bbc.co.uk

Although the stated French objection that the Secretary General should be from the EU makes less sense given the incumbent (at the time) was Norwegian.

 

[peterward]

To be fair, the impression given by this article in the BBC is that quite a few people/countries were against him having the job, for whatever reasons.

Ben Wallace says he will not be next Nato chief

The defence secretary says the US wants the current head, Jens Stoltenberg, to stay on.

www.bbc.co.uk

Although the stated French objection that the Secretary General should be from the EU makes less sense given the incumbent (at the time) was Norwegian.

Because he's a no BS straight talker.

He's not really a politician, and isn't skilled in the PR presentation, company man, never actually answer a tough question.

Rutte is very much that stereotypical politician.

 

[raymondo]

He's the one Tory who was truly excellent in office.

I never had to think which party he was in, because he was just logical and sensible.

 

[raymondo]

Reported in the telegraph Macron was also against him, no way the French would let a Brit hold the position however good they were. Typical bigotry.

I think the French were just angling for better fishing rights

 

[Eric the meek]

 

[raymondo]

Do we have news on the nature of the target?