Is Ukraine about to have a war?
If war starts it won’t be because Putin had a grand plan for the invasion of Ukraine, it will be because some field grade commander got stroppy and events spiralled out of control…..
I assume you don't wish for war but for sure there won't be WW3 over this unless some nutty lower rank commander does something entirely stupid.
These demands are entirely ridiculous and is at best worth ignoring. Putin is acting like a petulant child and starts demolishing his position with such childish crap. He must be in panic mode.
“This is fantasy geopolitics. Putin is living in the USSR past. If he wants to be taken seriously he must engage with the reality of the present which is that Nato has enlarged,” a European diplomat said…….
Last edited by henra; 19th Dec 2021 at 10:46.
Oh look, an ad of a hockey game from the 80's with CCCP jerseys.
Wait, no, it's an ad of a game being played today, 19th Dec 2021!
The Russians are now REALLY nostalgic of the USSR era.
And this is not just nostalgics, Putins interest is very much in ice hockey and now they've harnessed sports to their Great Russian propaganda purposes as well.
Wait, no, it's an ad of a game being played today, 19th Dec 2021!
The Russians are now REALLY nostalgic of the USSR era.
And this is not just nostalgics, Putins interest is very much in ice hockey and now they've harnessed sports to their Great Russian propaganda purposes as well.
The Soviet Union failed. So why do they dream to get it back?
Remembering that mr Putin stated in 2005 that the collapse of USSR was the greatest geopolitical catastrophy of the 20th century gives an idea. It's not that the communism never arrived or that the planned economy caused misery and the eventual collapse of the USSR. Those are irrelevant.
It's the idea that the USSR won the WW2 (not allies, the USSR did it from their point of view), the USSR went to space, the USSR was a feared global power, the USSR had the ultimate hockey team and so forth.
The collapse of the USSR was a relief to all the former soviet countries except for Russia. Putin couldn't care less for communism, but he wants to be remembered next to Stalin as the one who made Russia great again (Pun intended).
Btw, I am currently watching the game and they really are wearing those CCCP jerseys. And the Russian Army choir sang the national anthem, just like in the "good old days".
It's the idea that the USSR won the WW2 (not allies, the USSR did it from their point of view), the USSR went to space, the USSR was a feared global power, the USSR had the ultimate hockey team and so forth.
The collapse of the USSR was a relief to all the former soviet countries except for Russia. Putin couldn't care less for communism, but he wants to be remembered next to Stalin as the one who made Russia great again (Pun intended).
Btw, I am currently watching the game and they really are wearing those CCCP jerseys. And the Russian Army choir sang the national anthem, just like in the "good old days".
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
But in an interview with The Spectator, Mr Wallace said Ukraine “is not a member of Nato so it is highly unlikely that anyone is going to send troops into Ukraine to challenge Russia”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budape...ity_Assurances
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Ahh but quoting not part of NATO deflects people from picking up on the fact we do have a responsibility to them.
Regarding the Budapest memorandum; Belarus is offering to host Russian nukes.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-uk...be2f6139ef6f4b
To make it short, Putin wants to leave his mark in history but he realizes that his days in the leadership are coming to an end sooner than later (he is turning 70) so he has to act soon. He pushes the western world with Ukraine and demands something he can't achieve (NATO withdrawal from sovereign countries and a quaranteed circle of interest).
Who blinks first?
If NATO agrees, the entire treaty goes down the toilet.
If Putin backs up, he's losing his face and he will not become the modern day emperor of Russia so he is not standing down.
Both scenarios are scary to say the least.
Putin may well believe in MAD, but I'm not so sure of Lukashenka...
https://apnews.com/article/russia-uk...be2f6139ef6f4b
To make it short, Putin wants to leave his mark in history but he realizes that his days in the leadership are coming to an end sooner than later (he is turning 70) so he has to act soon. He pushes the western world with Ukraine and demands something he can't achieve (NATO withdrawal from sovereign countries and a quaranteed circle of interest).
Who blinks first?
If NATO agrees, the entire treaty goes down the toilet.
If Putin backs up, he's losing his face and he will not become the modern day emperor of Russia so he is not standing down.
Both scenarios are scary to say the least.
Putin may well believe in MAD, but I'm not so sure of Lukashenka...
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Press reports today that intelligence chiefs have advised the PM that Russia will invade Ukraine on Xmas Eve.
However, It has pointed out that 25th December is the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR, and we know how Putin feels about that and reclaiming the lost territories.
If you want to set your watches the flag of the USSR was lowered outside the Kremlin on 25th December 1991 and replaced by the Russian flag at 7:32pm as Gorbachev left for the last time…..
However, It has pointed out that 25th December is the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR, and we know how Putin feels about that and reclaiming the lost territories.
If you want to set your watches the flag of the USSR was lowered outside the Kremlin on 25th December 1991 and replaced by the Russian flag at 7:32pm as Gorbachev left for the last time…..
Press reports today that intelligence chiefs have advised the PM that Russia will invade Ukraine on Xmas Eve.
However, It has pointed out that 25th December is the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR, and we know how Putin feels about that and reclaiming the lost territories.
If you want to set your watches the flag of the USSR was lowered outside the Kremlin on 25th December 1991 and replaced by the Russian flag at 7:32pm as Gorbachev left for the last time…..
However, It has pointed out that 25th December is the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR, and we know how Putin feels about that and reclaiming the lost territories.
If you want to set your watches the flag of the USSR was lowered outside the Kremlin on 25th December 1991 and replaced by the Russian flag at 7:32pm as Gorbachev left for the last time…..
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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The news the other night had poignant times in history and 30 years ago in 1991 the USSR was dissolved, I wonder if this is his anniversary move, he does seem to be playing on anniversaries of the collapse of the Soviet Union..
The Soviet flag was lowered on the 25th and Russia emerged on the 26th
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissol...e_Soviet_Union
The Soviet flag was lowered on the 25th and Russia emerged on the 26th
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissol...e_Soviet_Union
Last edited by NutLoose; 20th Dec 2021 at 20:49.
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I still cannot believe in this age we are about to stand by and let this happen again as we did at the beginning of the Cold War.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...ions-k82hw50rz
Russia wants ‘urgent’ answer to demands over Nato withdrawal amid Ukraine tensions
The Kremlin has threatened an escalation of tensions with western countries if Nato does not meet its demand to withdraw forces from member states in eastern and central Europe, with Russian state media warning viewers that the two powers could go to war.
“Russia has placed the US in a zugzwang,” a presenter on the Rossiya 1 channel said, referring to the chess term that means whatever move a player makes, it will be to their disadvantage.
“The United States must sign off on its hegemony; its hegemony is over. Either they step back voluntarily or we’ll make them do it by force. And Russia makes no guarantees about the survival of Ukraine, especially as a sovereign state. Maybe we really are on the eve of war with Nato.”
Russia issued proposals on “security guarantees” for Moscow last week that also called on Nato to halt its eastward expansion into eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine.
The White House said it would discuss the Russian proposals with its European allies but also emphasised that Moscow could not be allowed to interfere in the foreign policy decisions of sovereign states. The Kremlin said today that it had yet to receive a “substantive” reply from Nato.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said that any delay in negotiations would “fuel” tensions that have spiralled in recent months over a Russian military build-up near Ukraine’s eastern borders…..
“We need this [answer] urgently,” Ryabkov, 61, said. “The situation is very difficult, very acute, and there is the tendency towards further complications.”….
Russia wants ‘urgent’ answer to demands over Nato withdrawal amid Ukraine tensions
The Kremlin has threatened an escalation of tensions with western countries if Nato does not meet its demand to withdraw forces from member states in eastern and central Europe, with Russian state media warning viewers that the two powers could go to war.
“Russia has placed the US in a zugzwang,” a presenter on the Rossiya 1 channel said, referring to the chess term that means whatever move a player makes, it will be to their disadvantage.
“The United States must sign off on its hegemony; its hegemony is over. Either they step back voluntarily or we’ll make them do it by force. And Russia makes no guarantees about the survival of Ukraine, especially as a sovereign state. Maybe we really are on the eve of war with Nato.”
Russia issued proposals on “security guarantees” for Moscow last week that also called on Nato to halt its eastward expansion into eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine.
The White House said it would discuss the Russian proposals with its European allies but also emphasised that Moscow could not be allowed to interfere in the foreign policy decisions of sovereign states. The Kremlin said today that it had yet to receive a “substantive” reply from Nato.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said that any delay in negotiations would “fuel” tensions that have spiralled in recent months over a Russian military build-up near Ukraine’s eastern borders…..
“We need this [answer] urgently,” Ryabkov, 61, said. “The situation is very difficult, very acute, and there is the tendency towards further complications.”….
