No additional border with Russia. That is what counts. They are used to sharing US/NATO borders with their army. You might understand that is preferable for them.
Of course Russia likes to have ‘allies’ ringing their border so they have depth of defence, but wanting to use your neighbours as an unwilling buffer (human shield) against their will doesn’t really contistitute ‘legitimate security concerns’ justifying invasion, does it?
Specifically it means that Gazprombank in Luxembourg is SWIFTing like never before and will continue to do so!
As far as I remember (little and/or hardly) a. not expanding NATO was a US assurance in the 2+4 negotiations (broken) b. when it did expand Russia wanted to join (declined) c. you can't join NATO if you are at war/in an armed conflict (tough luck for Georgia etc have a look at the list who's next). So I guess yes it does justify an invasion. The US has used 'legitimate security concerns' as a justification for invasions/occupations multiple times. That is what you do as an imperialist country.
www.independent.co.uk
That lady is one of Klaus Schwab's children of the corn. Fake as fuck. If you see her in that exchange with the video, when she turns to the journalists, you can see she's acting and grandstanding. Why we need such bad actors in such a serious time, is mind boggling. It's like they can't keep the gobshittery turned up enough and they have to be insidiously inserted into everything.Ukrainian woman berates Boris Johnson for not doing more ‘as children take hit’
‘You are not coming to Lviv because you are afraid!’ the woman said
"You are afraid because NATO is not willing to defend. Because NATO is afraid of World War III, but it is already started. And the Ukrainian children who are there [are] taking the hit."
"You are talking about more sanctions, prime minister, but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned. He's in London, his children are not in the bombardments, his children are there in London."
www.bbc.com
The Azov battalion are indeed Neo-Nazi ultra-nationalist filth, but they only managed to get 2% in the last election and didn't get any seats. Remember that lunatic who kept storming into press meetings back in 2014 with his Kalashnikov demanding representation, they just shot him dead in the end, as he was an utter embarrassment.
They can't sell their oil either, including with heavy discounts. Of course, we'll still be buying the Russian gas here in Europe even if he starts nuking us.
I've been playing a lot of piano music these past evenings, from Bill Evans, Monty Alexander to Ryuichi Sakamato and beyond. Also been playing the Bukky Leo version of William Onyeabor's Atomic Bomb. But you might be on a winner there with bossa-nova playing humanity out at the end of times.
www.bbc.com
The situation if fluid and I will give an update tomorrow. The fight is on several fronts, some are in the equivalent of reserved occupations and as the brother-in-law is needed to train the next generation of those working on LNG ships - which we're going to need desperately in Europe - he's best located on that front line here.What is a thermobaric or vacuum bomb?
What is a thermobaric or vacuum bomb, and why is Russia using them in the war in Ukraine?
This one?
I thought he was almost 60? Ex pats are trying to get into the country to fight.
bariweiss.substack.com
Isn't that a nice tradition. Didn't Stalin continue to supply Hitler with tons of shit way after he was attacked? I think I remember something like that.
warontherocks.com
www.rollingstone.com
Correct, they were transporting iron ore and raw materials, but also it was a two way deal, they were getting military and other technologies from Germany right up until Barbarossa commenced.Isn't that a nice tradition. Didn't Stalin continue to supply Hitler with tons of shit way after he was attacked? I think I remember something like that.
I found this article very interesting because I knew approx. nothing about how their supply chain works:
Feeding the Bear: A Closer Look at Russian Army Logistics and the Fait Accompli
Editor's note: Don't miss our comprehensive guide to Russia's war against Ukraine. Russia’s military buildup along the border with Ukraine has
That's good news indeed. All the superyachts on the way to the Seychelles and Maldives, I would seize on the high seas, or make it very clear, if they ever come out of those territorial waters ever again they will be seized. Rendering them next to worthless.Germany, Hungary, Poland, the EU … good to see a lot of Europe finding their balls.
Russian Oligarch's Superyacht Reportedly Seized in Germany
A superyacht owned by Russian oligarch facing sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine was seized Wednesday by German authorities.
www.freightwaves.com
www.thetimes.co.uk
www.bbc.com
www.ukrinform.ru
www.bbc.com
www.bbc.com
It's anyone's guess.Ukraine: How might the war end? Five scenarios
What are some of the possible scenarios that politicians and military planners are examining?
For those who have ADD like me:
Short war
Long protracted war
European war
Diplomatic settlement
Putin is toppled
www.thetimes.co.uk
It's anyone's guess.
Merkel's legacy dethrowned:
Merkel’s legacy is in ruins, and a good thing too
Angela Merkel’s monument, the embodiment of her calamitous tenure as chancellor, lies in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 2 was the pipeline that was going to deliver fresh supplies of gas from Russia to Germany. How appropriate then that it went bust yesterday. The Swiss-based firm owned by Gazprom, the
Calm down Rambo, we don't want to be kicking WWIII off do we.Ukraine: Why has Russia's 64km convoy near Kyiv stopped moving?
Russian forces advancing on the Ukrainian capital appear to have stalled, US and UK officials say.
"Could the convoy be destroyed?
Ukraine does have some air capability, and has been used powerful Turkish-made drones to destroy other Russian convoys. But according to Gen Barrons, Kyiv simply does not have the military force necessary to destroy a column of this size."
But NATO does? Is this the pivotal moment and the Russians fold and go home? Or at least enact a ceasefire over their gains.
Merkel has delivered us into the jaws of the crocodile. Unfit for active duty in that role.
That's not quite what is being asked, they're being asked to participate against an evil tyrant which West Germany did quite successfully during the Cold War. I see no difference here.
www.freightwaves.com
It's Ukrainians doing that, who are full to the brim, of toxic masculinity.