Ukraine just ousted a puppet Russian govt in 2014. They have sort of oscillated between periods of self governance and Russian autocratic influence. I guess we can basically exchange “corruption” with the Russian influence.
Those who are better at this than me help me out but I can't link CNN live stuff. Apparently there's video of one of Ukraine's former presidents out on the street, gun in hand. The optics will keep showing Ukrainians fighting til their last breath it seems and Russia claiming that it's there to liberate the people/de-Nazify them is just another load of you know what.
Haven't seen this yet, but couple rushed to get married amid bombs and air raid sirens. Another poignant photo... Ukrainian couple who married amid attacks: 'We just wanted to be together' - CNN Edited to add link to article.
Yes the Ukraine has been issue ever since the USSR collapsed. Some of the population wished to remain with Russia and some did not. As for Putin and Russian influence on the Ukraine that has remained a contention ever since the collapse.
Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry warns that Finland and Sweden “should not protect their national security by threatening the national security of others” and that there will be “political consequences and military consequences” if they seek accession to NATO. You can find video link on Twitter (blue check accounts) but most seem to have a profanity in the tweet, so not linking for now.
Too many are looking for that 15 sec solution to a problem that has been moving forward strategically for 20 years. Look at the map and see who aligns with who. There are no easy solutions. India wants land, china wants land, Russia wants land, Iran wants land……….
It is well-known that Stockholm and Helsinki are independent territories in need of peace-keeping Russian tanks in, say, 5 or 6 years.
How about this one: Cyber War Example 2007, Israeli Air Force bombs Syrian location where North Koreans were helping Syria build a nuclear bomb facility. The night before, Israel took over Syria’s air defense systems. At the time of the bombing run, when F-15 Eagles and F-16 Falcons were bombing the site, on Syrian radar was exactly what Israel had put there the night before…A picture of…nothing…empty skies. Israel had compromised the Syrian air defense system and placed a logic-bomb in the system to go off at a certain time, the exact time they would be attacking.
Not just symbolic--I mean today, China and Russia's interests align; there could easily come a day where Russia is all alone, even China wouldn't have an interest in vetoing for their benefit. (Though in truth, it's still very 'pie in the sky'. I just like the thinking...).
This begs the question of how much of the hacks on US companies and govt operations have similar logic bombs in place
International Space Station: Russia's space agency warns US sanctions could 'destroy' cooperation - CNNPolitics "If you block cooperation with us, who will save the International Space Station (ISS) from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or...Europe?" Rogozin said. "There is also the possibility of a 500-ton structure falling on India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect? The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?" Well THAT'S not a threat
So in theory if the hackers disrupted THAT particular system, it may have disrupted their plans. That is a solid example. I still think the hacktivists will most likely not interfere, provided they stick to more “nuisance” type stuff, vandalism against govt sites, trying to steal Russian data, exposing bank accounts, etc. If they go more directly at military hardware, that is obviously a different can of worms.
Seriously they need to run & join. Had Ukraine been part of NATO they wouldn't be facing the Russians alone. And without the history of instability/corruption that some point to as an issue with Ukraine, this should be fast tracked.
There are Russian cosmonauts up there, too, so he's basically saying he'd kill...oops, allow the deaths of their own to make a point (think 2 Russians, 2 Americans, 1 European). Oh and threatening it to fall into India. That'll go over real well over there, not that it seems they care. Maybe they sold the Russians an extended warranty on it.
While we can certainly find many criticisms of US foreign policy in the region and mishandling things, it doesn't actually help deal with what is afoot right now. There is no reasonable, valid justification for his invading Ukraine.
