Russia-Ukraine War

[ShockingButTrue]

Putin is embracing a world war. He already has missles aimed at London.

It's obvious he was all in from the start. The US intelligence apparatus (up to the commander), running hog wild all over Ukraine, has accused Russia of fixing a Presidential election for 5+ years to the American public.

It seems diplomacy is the last resort, if then.

[N Crestway]

Putin is embracing a world war. He already has missles aimed at London.

Putin is threatening nuclear war to rattle the West. Russia has probably always had missiles aimed at London...the only difference now is that some of them maybe hypersonic tactical nukes. A more likely NATO target is Warsaw because at this point they seem to be far the most likely European/ NATO military to go all out to build a bigger Army and air force, and the most likely to support the Ukraine with arms. In a sense, a Warsaw missile strike would also be directed at German political opinion because the Germans and the Scholz government seem to back down somewhat every time Putin does his nuclear saber rattling. Germany is by far the most critical European country to have on board in an eventual Russian-NATO war.

[MoValley John]

This is weird. Is NATO going to go in and crush Russia, let them take Ukraine, or just run a proxy war until Putin dies?

Putin is embracing a world war. He already has missles aimed at London.

[wufan]

After Russia attack a Ukraine mall, a agreement (probably not related) between Finland, Sweden and Turkey is finalized to allow expansion of NATO.

This is weird. Is NATO going to go in and crush Russia, let them take Ukraine, or just run a proxy war until Putin dies?

[SB Shock]

After Russia attack a Ukraine mall, a agreement (probably not related) between Finland, Sweden and Turkey is finalized to allow expansion of NATO.

[SubGod22]

https://www.kansas.com/news/business...718.html]Eagle - Ukrainians cheer nation's EU candidacy amid wartime woes[/url]

I have to admit, I heard the talk of NATO membership, but don't recall seeing anything about EU membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the decision of EU leaders as vindication of his nation's four-month fight against Russia's aggression and said he was determined to ensure Ukraine retained the ability to decide if it belonged in Europe or under Moscow's influence.

“This war began just when Ukraine declared its right to freedom. To its choice of its future. We saw it in the European Union," Zelenskyy told the nation in a televised address late Thursday. “That is why this decision of the EU is so important, motivates us and shows all this is needed not only by us."

[1972Shocker]

India Buying Up Cheap Sanctioned Russian Oil and Selling it to US and EU at Huge Profits

https://ussanews.com/2022/06/03/india-buying-up-cheap-sanctioned-russian-oil-and-selling-it-to-us-and-eu-at-huge-profits/

India is buying up cheap sanctioned Russian oil, refining it, then selling it to the US and EU for huge profits, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.The US has reluctantly given India permission to buy Russian oil because India has threatened to ditch their alliance with America and ally with Communist China if the US dares to sanction them.

While Americans and Europeans are being forced to pay record prices for gas as “the cost of standing up for freedom,” the free nation of India is buying oil from Russia for a whopping $35 off a barrel and selling it back to us in a hilarious arbitrage scheme.

[SB Shock]

The early Ukrainian success has perhaps caused the media in the West to discount the sheer Russian advantage in numbers and equipment. At the moment Russia is militarily getting the upper hand in the Donbas presenting the real threat of encirclement for some Ukrainian forces. They are simply overwhelming the Ukrainian Donbas forces with their troop numbers and their advantage in rockets, artillery, tanks, and air power. Also more verification that they are not only using cluster bombs but also thermobaric weapons.

Social media has given somewhat of a warped view of the ongoing battles. The King of Battle (artillery) is ruling the battlefield. The Russians don't have enough infantrymen, but they have much superior numbers of artillery and shells. They are making very slow progress in the Donbas, but it is progress.

Personally beginning to believe that there is still a lack of resolve behind all the NATO and EU rhetoric about supporting the Ukraine... buy into Zelensky's disgust with the NATO powers, particularly Germany.

I agree. U.S. wanted Germany to send anti-tank missiles to Ukraine that uses Israeli technology. Germany probably agreed to it because they knew Israel would reject it. Israel did veto it. They vetoed it because they are worried about angering Russia and Russia start harming Israeili security interests in Syria. Israel also doesn't trust the U.S. The U.S. leaked this week that Israel was involved in the assignation of a Iranian Colonel who was organizing assassinations of various targets through Europe including a U.S. General.

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israe...uld-harm-trust

A leak to The New York Times about the assassination of a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps infuriated Israeli officials, with a parliament committee warning on Thursday that leaks could damage US-Israeli cooperation.

NATO just wants to punish Russia, but they don't want to go far enough where they risk being drawn into the conflict. I think they believe that time is on their side and that either

a. Economic Sanctions finally start having an impact on Russia (most estimates I have seen is this won't be until August/September)

b. Or Putin is removed from power and somebody comes to replace him who wants to normalize relations with the West (this is a big if in my opinion).

This is big roll of the dice in IMO. Either way, Russia is going to come out of this with more territory which they will be able to claim at least a small victory.

[N Crestway]

The early Ukrainian success has perhaps caused the media in the West to discount the sheer Russian advantage in numbers and equipment. At the moment Russia is militarily getting the upper hand in the Donbas presenting the real threat of encirclement for some Ukrainian forces. They are simply overwhelming the Ukrainian Donbas forces with their troop numbers and their advantage in rockets, artillery, tanks, and air power. Also more verification that they are not only using cluster bombs but also thermobaric weapons.

Personally beginning to believe that there is still a lack of resolve behind all the NATO and EU rhetoric about supporting the Ukraine... buy into Zelensky's disgust with the NATO powers, particularly Germany.

[Shockm]

https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia...ar-failures-uk

The War is getting worse for Russia. Hmm "Cover-ups and scapegoating". That sounds like Biden's blaming everything on Trump, Putin, etc.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense claimed "a culture of cover-ups and scapegoating" has plagued Russia’s military and security sectors.

"Many officials involved in the invasion of Ukraine will likely be increasingly distracted by efforts to avoid personal culpability for Russia’s operational setbacks," the ministry said.

Officials believe these organizational issues will put additional strain on Russia’s "centralized model of command and control" and will prompt military officials to defer decisions to those higher in the ranks.

"It will be difficult for Russia to regain initiative under these conditions," the ministry concluded.

Reports have increasingly surfaced that Moscow is laying the blame for its failures in Ukraine on its top officials, including army general Valery Gerasimov, who serves as the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

[N Crestway]

Turkey controls the Dardanelles...critical in this war. Erdogan in a bargaining position to get whatever he wants from NATO sorry to say.

[WuDrWu]

We’ll say no to love.

[SB Shock]

They haven't vetoed it yet.

I don't know what else you would say they are doing

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned that Turkey will continue to block NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, citing security concerns.

“We told related friends that we will say no to Finnish and Swedish entry to NATO. We will continue in our path,” Erdogan said.

[ABC]

Turkey has already vetoed it.

It is just all theater.

Everybody (including the Russians) knew Turkey would veto. That probably why both countries applied - they didn't really want to join NATO and occur the financial requirement, but were able to send a symbolic message to Putin.

They haven't vetoed it yet. I think things will get resolved. A fair question is whether NATO should have Turkey as a member.

Even if Russia had the stomach to escalate, I don't think they have the military capability.

[SB Shock]

Just saw where Sweden and Finland have officially applied for NATO membership, which could potentially create more issues in the region along the western borders of Russia.

Biden has state the the US will support their addition. Acceptance requires unanimous support from my understanding.

Meanwhile, Ukraine still fights an invasion.

Does Russia have the stomach to escalate things further?

Turkey has already vetoed it.

It is just all theater.

Everybody (including the Russians) knew Turkey would veto. That probably why both countries applied - they didn't really want to join NATO and occur the financial requirement, but were able to send a symbolic message to Putin.