asthfghl: (Слушам и не вярвам на очите си!)
[personal profile] asthfghl
As global tensions intensify, the geopolitical landscape is shifting dramatically. While China asserts itself with growing confidence, and global powers compete for influence, Trump is taking an active diplomatic approach toward Putin, aiming to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. Though talks have reportedly led to a proposed 30-day ceasefire and reduced strikes in the Black Sea, the broader implications suggest something more complex: a reordering of global power reminiscent of post-war summits like Yalta:

Trump's approach reflects a worldview in which powerful nations divide spheres of influence and avoid interfering in each other's regions. This realpolitik mindset raises concerns about the future of Ukraine and, by extension, Europe. If Ukraine's fate is decided without its input, it signals a troubling shift: Europe's autonomy and security could be negotiated away behind closed doors.

Read more... )
luzribeiro: (Default)
[personal profile] luzribeiro
The one thing Trump is so terrible for, is that he doesn't shy away from showing America's true face. It's the face that has been masterfully concealed all along but ha always been there, behind the facade. What's different now is that the guy at the helm just doesn't care about saving face, so he shows it as it is.

I'm sorry Ukraine, you were always going to be used as a pawn and cannon fodder in this game of geopolitics, and that's exactly what's happening:

Trump Opens Ukraine Peace Talks—Without Ukraine
"The position of Kyiv’s Western allies had long been that nothing about Ukraine be decided without Ukraine. Evidently, Trump envisions a very different framework for peace talks."

Let's face it, the war was between the US and Russia, with satellite states like the EU in tow. Zelensky has and had no authority in Ukraine, we all know Ukraine is under the US by every single instruction so let's stop pretending like something new just happened.
abomvubuso: (Groovy Kol)
[personal profile] abomvubuso

Through a barrage of the warnings that have been circulating in the media lately about a possible war with Russia within the next few years, the European member states of NATO have already begun laying the foundations for defensive military actions in case Russian troops ever set foot on the territory of the alliance.

"Russia is preparing for war with the West", Bruno Kahl said last month, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence service. But it is unlikely to be a large-scale attack on NATO territory, he added. Moscow could opt for a limited incursion or step up its hybrid warfare tactics to test the alliance's resolve.

NATO is trying to prepare for both scenarios: an all-out war, or the use of less obvious techniques designed to undermine internal stability in the alliance's more vulnerable member countries.

Read more... )
fridi: (Default)
[personal profile] fridi
Russia could attack NATO by end of decade, German intelligence chief warns

Read between the lines. This is what militaries and politicians say to encourage more to be spent on defense. Russia isn't in a position to take on even Italy by itself, nevermind NATO collectively.

Separate discussion, yeah Germany absolutely needs to be spending more on defense. Meeting the 2% of GDP minimum shouldn't be taking long to achieve, especially after relying on its allies for so long to carry the burden of defense.

Some 100 billion (which it hasn't even lived up to) one off special fund to try and right the ship is a great start but it is a yearly 2% at a minimum that will make a difference.
mahnmut: (Super cool story bro!)
[personal profile] mahnmut
Lol. As if we have anything to fear or concern ourselves with from a Navy that's so pathetic it's lost, and continues to lose, huge chunks of its fleet to an opponent without one. Embarrassing:

Russian warships will arrive in Havana next week, say Cuban officials citing ‘friendly relations’

Russian ships have to make it to Cuba first. They probably had to borrow money from China to pay for the fuel. A bit on the extreme side of caution but they should be safe from Ukrainian attacks there. ;-)

One more thing. Think we can expect Putin to do lots of things in his continuing efforts to get his little buddy re elected. Of course Republicans appreciate all of his efforts and will pay him back someday.
asthfghl: (Коста Баничаров)
[personal profile] asthfghl
The bombers from Moscow were fleeing to Ukraine, and the USA and Israel have pulled the strings of the Islamic State - these are some of the conspiracy theories that have been on the wires in the wake of the horrible terror act in Moscow the other day. Is anyone surprised that most of these have sprung from Putin's mouth itself?

https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2024-03-24/ty-article/.premium/putin-blames-ukraine-for-isis-massacre-in-moscow-many-putinists-blame-israel/0000018e-6d06-dfa8-a98e-6f0f8c8f0000

The fire in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow had not yet been extinguished when the first assumptions and even unconfirmed conclusions about the attack started appearing on the social networks. Some claimed Ukraine was behind the attack, and the supposed proof was that a minibus with Ukrainian license plates was found not far from the hall. Numerous social media pundits claimed the US was behind the attack, as the US embassy in Russia had warned of a possible terrorist attack (which Putin denied publicly, just to remind).

Read more... )
mahnmut: (Super cool story bro!)
[personal profile] mahnmut
That's quite inventive. Now they'll show'em! Mass mobilization of dolphins, whales and orcas is expected in the upcoming weeks!

Next up: well-trained flocks of sardines will penetrate behind enemy lines and organize sabotage operations against Ukrainian and NATO targets. No one is safe!

Putin deploys combat dolphins to take on Ukrainian commandos: Trained animals are moved closer to the front line following spate of raids in Crimea


mahnmut: (Default)
[personal profile] mahnmut
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-war-russia-putin-sokolov-latest-b2419381.html

Get the friggin' F16s over to Ukraine pronto. More tanks, more heavy equipment. NOW is the time to kick Russia out of Ukraine before winter sets in. Once it does Ukrainian forces will be bogged down.

This is particularly valid especially if NKorea sends aid to Russia, Ukraine would need an overwhelming force to push the Ruskies out.

That said, the Russians where supposed to wrap this up in weeks. Now it's the other way around, question is when the Ukrainians will wrap it up themselves. Putin miscalculated the Ukrainians, and Western resolve.

Still a lot of work to be done.
fridi: (Default)
[personal profile] fridi
Medvedev is obviously the man Putin uses as a mouthpiece for his more bellicose threats. Which is kind of funny, given that Medvedev used to be seen as the 'dove' to Putin's 'hawk' in this relationship.

Putin pal's 'nuclear' threat of a '9/11-style attack' on eve of anniversary

If you knew anything about Russia, however, the Russians have never telegraphed their intentions. Whatever they say is merely rhetoric. It's when the're quiet that you have to worry.

Having said that, I would need to see an official translation by an impartial translator.
fridi: (Default)
[personal profile] fridi
Wow. Those Russkies don't waste their time. In Putin's Russia, you don't stage coup, the coup stages YOU!

'Ten killed' in private jet crash north of Moscow - Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin 'on passenger list'

If true, Putin is losing his touch. Back in his prime Prigozhin would have been killed within 24 hours of his rebellion. Never forget that this crazy lunatic made Putin look like a fucking fool marching almost all the way to Moscow.

The fact that it took Putin this long to kill him makes him look like even more of a washed up joke.

The guy must have been an idiot... With the war criminal Putin reputation, and he was flying near Moscow??

Ruzzian #1: "We can't push Prigozhin out window. He never in tall building."
Ruzzian #2: "I have idea, comrade. What if window is on plane, and missile hits window?"

I'm reading that the #2 guy over the wagner group was also killed. Going to be interesting to see what happens with the fighters scattered all over the place. I suspect they have more respect for the guys just killed than Putin.
asthfghl: (Слушам и не вярвам на очите си!)
[personal profile] asthfghl
Ever since this war started, someone has been convincing me that the Russians are right, because look what the Americans did in Iraq. After all, Israel has been holding some occupied territories for a long time, and we, you see, are not being outraged enough.

The problem is that this past is not without problems for me either. I resented the Second Gulf War, which for me was a curious hybrid between sheer stupidity and crime. I spoke back then against our inclusion in the infamous "Coalition of the willing", which we did without a second thought contrary to the much wiser France and Germany, who warned us against it at the time.

And yet, can we compare that war with the present one? Did the US make Iraq its 51st state? Did Bush Jr. then declare that such a country does not exist because, for example, the homeland of the Mesopotamians is there and the Arabs should emigrate if possible?

Read more... )
nairiporter: (Default)
[personal profile] nairiporter
What a contrast. Just a few days ago, at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russian President Putin was in excellent spirits and radiated stability, i.e. - the economy is solid, the Ukrainian counteroffensive is faltering, Russia will win the war it started. His main message was, everything is under control.

A week later, this same Putin made a video address and stone-facedly accused the founder of the private military company "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin of "treason", although he did not call him by name. From Rostov-on-Don and from other Russian cities footage began to arrive, the likes of which the public had not seen since the Chechen war, and since Moscow since 1993 - armored vehicles on the streets ready to be used against its citizens. The seemingly stable system had begun to falter.

Read more... )
kiaa: (Default)
[personal profile] kiaa
...What about his people.

Lukashenko in Hospital After Meeting With Putin, Opposition Leader Says

Lukashenko meets with Putin, then a few hours later ends up hospitalized in critical condition. What an amazing coincidence. Sounds like he drank the polonium tea.

Meanwhile, Russia has moved more troops into Belarus for another "training exercise" like they did in the lead-up to the Ukraine War. If Lukashenko dies, it could trigger an uprising, and it looks like Putin has been planning for that and plans on crushing any Belarussian resistance movements. The upside is that it diverts Russian attention from Ukraine at precisely the moment that Ukraine is about to launch a counteroffensive.

You’d think that Lukashenko knows enough to pass on the refreshments...
mahnmut: (Default)
[personal profile] mahnmut
Final holdout Turkey has given approval and Finland is set to join NATO. I feel sure some of our pro-Putin posters assured us this wouldn't happen.

Well done Vladimir Putin. Having started a war claiming it was about stopping NATO expansion he has succeeded in driving a nation that had been neutral since WW2 and is known for being fiercly independent into the arms of NATO. It is not that many years ago that only 18% of Finns wanted to join NATO, now that figure is closer to 90% and it is all down to Vlad and his stalled invasion.

Russia's border with NATO just got a LOT longer and the strategically important Kola Penninsula can be more easily disrupted in the event of conflict and the maritime approaches to Leningrad will be even more vulnerable. Oops! Bit of an own goal there.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65132527

Hopefully once Turkey's election is over Sweden will join Finland and further strengthen NATO. Maybe Ukraine will get some nice Grippen fighters to mark the occasion.
nairiporter: (anime_1)
[personal profile] nairiporter
Russia deports thousands of Ukrainian children. Investigators say that's a war crime
https://www.npr.org/2023/02/14/1156500561/russia-ukraine-children-deportation-possible-war-crime-report

Russia’s open effort to adopt Ukrainian children and bring them up as Russian is already well underway. Russia claims these kids don't have parents or guardians to look after them, or that they can't be reached. But a joint research by European investigating journalist has found otherwise: in fact Russian officials have deported Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories without consent, lied to them that they weren't wanted by their parents, used them for propaganda, and given them Russian families and citizenship.

Of course, as could be expected Russia portrays its adoption of Ukrainian children as an act of generosity that gives new homes and medical resources to helpless minors. Russian state media shows local officials hugging and kissing them and handing them Russian passports. It's all birds and roses.

Then why didn't they ask the families of the children for consent to have them adopted in Russia? Instead, they told families the children were going to "summer camp" and would be returned. That was a lie. Putin literally kidnapped these children as another tactic in his war against Ukrainians.

This sounds dangerously close to what the Nazis did to Polish children during World War II. It was worse then because the children taken were considered to be exceptions to the Nazis' views on race and were completely disconnected from their homeland and lied to about their origin. Of course, those children were never returned. But this is close enough to touch a nerve.

This is evil, whichever way you look at it.
kiaa: (soundkitteh)
[personal profile] kiaa
I know this isn't supposed to be funny, and maybe in a way it isn't - while these are Ukraine-war related memes, they say a ton of truths.



Read more... )
luzribeiro: (Default)
[personal profile] luzribeiro
"Former President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed the U.S. decision to send top-of-the-line tanks to Ukraine, calling the effort to repel the Russian invasion a “crazy war.”

In the latest criticism of aid to Ukraine, Trump echoed the Russian talking point that sending the Abrams M1 tanks amount to an escalation that could lead to nuclear war."


LINK

Not that Trump and Logic could ever coexist in the same sentence, but really. I don't get his logic here, if any? Let's end this crazy war by... I don't know, stopping sending military aid for Ukraine? How does that work? Did he mean we should just let Ukraine roll over and be enslaved by Russia? Is that what he undestands by achieving peace fast? How is he sure appeasing Putin by giving him Ukraine will make him stop from invading other countries?

Just. Does. Not. Compute.

Let's keep in mind Putin is the single individual on the planet whom Trump has never criticized or insulted. Even more, Trump will not allow an accusation or insult to Putin go unanswered. He always defends or deflects when it comes to Putin. It is obvious Putin has something on Trump. The only question is what is it? Actually here's a poll. What do you think is the reason for Trump's stance on this?

a) Putin has something on Trump
b) Trump loves dictators and wishes he could have been one
c) Trump has been experiencing senescence for some time now
d) all of the above
fridi: (Default)
[personal profile] fridi
"War is organized chaos," these words belongt o one of the deputy commanders to Gen. Eisenhower after the Normandy landing in 1944. Now I'd say the battlefield in Ukraine is a good example of this rule. One of the most striking features of the current war is how ill-prepared the Russian military has been. No Plan B in case things don't go according to plan. The other thing that sticks out is how slow the Russian military has been to make adjustments and adapt.

This, according to an analysis published by the Royal Joint Services Institute, a leading British defense think tank. Those analysts cooperate with the General Staff of Ukraine in preparing operational analyses for the Ukrainians and therefore are privy to details, some of which are still classified:

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/library/library-blog/posts/think-tank-reports-on-the-invasion-of-ukraine/

Read more... )
fridi: (Default)
[personal profile] fridi
In light of the crushing failures of the Russian army on the front in Ukraine over the past month, the Kremlin has again decided to change tactics. Russia is no longer trying to seize Ukrainian territories, but to destroy civilian infrastructure. Formally, the occasion is the so-called "terror act" on the Crimean Bridge, which took place on October 8.

However, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, as early as October 2 and 3, Russian troops received instructions to prepare massive missile strikes on Ukraine's civil infrastructure. The military units of the Russian strategic and long-range aviation had been ordered to prepare for the launch of massive missile attacks well in advance. Among the main targets were critical civil infrastructure and central areas of densely populated Ukrainian cities.

Read more... )
abomvubuso: (Johnny Bravo)
[personal profile] abomvubuso
Czech Republic starting work on critical infdastructure to support the takeover of Kaliningrad:



Now if you could explain to those Russkies why beer is preferable to vodka.

Credits & Style Info

Talk Politics.

A place to discuss politics without egomaniacal mods


MONTHLY TOPIC:

The Rule of Power

DAILY QUOTE:
"Clearly, the penguins have finally gone too far. First they take our hearts, now they’re tanking the global economy one smug waddle at a time. Expect fish sanctions by Friday."

April 2025

M T W T F S S
  1 23 4 56
78910 111213
14 15 1617 18 1920
21222324252627
282930