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

[raymondo]

Well done Malta. A gentle people, who don't deserve any Russians anywhere near their country.

And especially not a member of the Russian government at the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Council of Foreign Ministers.

Unfortunately Lavrov still attends...hope someone at least spills water in his face by accident

 

[raymondo]

I hope they do the right thing.

Yes, it would be nice . I'm sure Ukrainians are thinking: believe it when I see it.
Get well soon.

 

[GT49er]

Mintoff had wanted the UK to leave and they were going to, and began to. The only reason they were able to stay until 1979 was because a new agreement was struck for substantially increased payments. Mintoff was a clever operator. It's an interesting history. My Dad loved Malta and spoke of it often. But as I said, despite the shenanigans, it was always an island well disposed towards us.

Exactly - we left in a civilised way through agreement, and Malta remained in friendship in the Commonwealth, like most countries of the former British Empire. Britain sure knew how to create a mighty empire - but Britain also knew how and when to end it.

Unlike Russia, sadly.

 

[Eric the meek]

If unrest is going to kick off anywhere in Russia, my money is on this guy.
After having supported Putin for years to keep the Chechens in line, does he sense weakness in the command and control from Moscow?

As always, be alert to the possibility that this is yet another example of maskirovka, which we are seeing more of lately.

 

[Eric the meek]

 

[essbee1]

We're slowly getting there aren't we? The gradual decline and degradation of Russian society.

 

[Insel affe]

We're slowly getting there aren't we? The gradual decline and degradation of Russian society.

Slowly, is not good enough sadly, we need collapse sooner and definitely sooner than when Trump gets his feet under the desk in the white house.

 

[willalbion]

Slowly, is not good enough sadly, we need collapse sooner and definitely sooner than when Trump gets his feet under the desk in the white house.

feet under desk, nose in the trough

 

[schmunk]

Unfortunately Lavrov still attends...hope someone at least spills water in his face by accident

 

[Eric the meek]

Slowly, is not good enough sadly, we need collapse sooner and definitely sooner than when Trump gets his feet under the desk in the white house.

That would be the ideal.

During his campaigning, Trump said 'the killing must stop'. For the killing to stop, he will know he has to stop Russia, and not just temporarily.

It would be a monumental mistake to have watched Russia get weaker and weaker throughout the war, hire General Kellogg, crticise Biden for being too weak on Russia, now have the power and the opportunity to stop and cripple Russia, and then allow it to regroup and kill more people in a few years. I'm hopeful that he will have a way to achieve just that, probably outside of any peace deal.

 

[fly high]

Romania election: Frontrunner Calin Georgescu vows to end Ukraine aid

Calin Georgescu, who leads Romania's presidential race, tells the BBC he would end support for Ukraine if elected.

www.bbc.co.uk

Think we knew this was coming, will mean two pro-Russian/Putin countries or at least unwilling to support Ukraine, in the EU & NATO.

 

[GT49er]

That would be the ideal.

During his campaigning, Trump said 'the killing must stop'. For the killing to stop, he will know he has to stop Russia, and not just temporarily.

It would be a monumental mistake to have watched Russia get weaker and weaker throughout the war, hire General Kellogg, crticise Biden for being too weak on Russia, now have the power and the opportunity to stop and cripple Russia, and then allow it to regroup and kill more people in a few years. I'm hopeful that he will have a way to achieve just that, probably outside of any peace deal.

I'm not hopeful of anything that has the word 'Trump' written anywhere near it. His idea of peace is negotiating a surrender with no war-reparations for Ukraine, and all hunky-dory with his bezzie mate Putin.

 

[GT49er]

Romania election: Frontrunner Calin Georgescu vows to end Ukraine aid

Calin Georgescu, who leads Romania's presidential race, tells the BBC he would end support for Ukraine if elected.

www.bbc.co.uk

Think we knew this was coming, will mean two pro-Russian/Putin countries or at least unwilling to support Ukraine, in the EU & NATO.

Surely suspension, pending expulsion from the EU should be immediately on the table (maybe not NATO at this stage, because that might drive them further and faster towards Russia 'for protection'). The economic consequences for them being kicked out of the EU is a powerful incentive for them to see sense though.

 

[Eric the meek]

I'm not hopeful of anything that has the word 'Trump' written anywhere near it. His idea of peace is negotiating a surrender with no war-reparations for Ukraine, and all hunky-dory with his bezzie mate Putin.

I know what you mean. We will soon find out. But consider this. It may already be baked in the cake. He wants the US to produce more oil. To bring down the price of oil. He has said so. America furst.

A byproduct of low oil prices is that they will hurt Russia. They could make extracting the oil and transporting it to the customer, more expensive than the price Russia can sell it for. The fatal blow, not even inside the peace deal. Perhaps not even intentional...

I hold my hand up. My glass is usually half-full. But contrary to the received wisdom, I think Trump holds all the cards.

Now read this. Is it maskirovka? Or is it real? Does it come from the Kremlin?

 

[Eric the meek]

I see the ruble is back up to 1 US cent, up 4.48% on the day. It's also up 4.43% on the Yuan.

According to Mark Biernot, they are selling their reserves in Chinese Yuan, to finance purchases of ruble, to prop up the value of the ruble, because nobody else is buying it.

 

[Triggaaar]

I see the ruble is back up to 1 US cent, up 4.48% on the day. It's also up 4.43% on the Yuan.

According to Mark Biernot, they are selling their reserves in Chinese Yuan, to finance purchases of ruble, to prop up the value of the ruble, because nobody else is buying it.

If true, that would mean the claims that they're deliberately devaluing it were untrue. I imagine it's difficult to prop a falling currency indefinitely when the underlying cause remains.

 

[raymondo]

If unrest is going to kick off anywhere in Russia, my money is on this guy.
After having supported Putin for years to keep the Chechens in line, does he sense weakness in the command and control from Moscow?

As always, be alert to the possibility that this is yet another example of maskirovka, which we are seeing more of lately.

Maybe Chechnya will apply to join NATO soon

 

[Eric the meek]

If true, that would mean the claims that they're deliberately devaluing it were untrue. I imagine it's difficult to prop a falling currency indefinitely when the underlying cause remains.

Perhaps, but I would still keep an open mind on that one. That's still where I am on that. Not yet convinced but I remain open to the possibility. It was from Konstantin Samoilov, who is usually pretty reliable.

 

[Triggaaar]

Perhaps, but I would still keep an open mind on that one. That's still where I am on that. Not yet convinced but I remain open to the possibility. It was from Konstantin Samoilov, who is usually pretty reliable.

Yes I'm not going to jump to conclusions. But it's clear the Russian economy is doing badly and long may that continue. The West must keep the pressure on.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Romania election: Frontrunner Calin Georgescu vows to end Ukraine aid

Calin Georgescu, who leads Romania's presidential race, tells the BBC he would end support for Ukraine if elected.

www.bbc.co.uk

Think we knew this was coming, will mean two pro-Russian/Putin countries or at least unwilling to support Ukraine, in the EU & NATO.

That would be an unwelcome outcome, but I don’t think it’s a done deal yet - I think the Rumanian government is investigating interference in the election by another state - I wonder who that might be?