Plenty of holes in this argument. Yes Russia has oil and gas and it is a tremendous advantage for Russia. But how much Chinese capital is tied up in Russia, a country with an economy the size of Italy as compared to the USA? Why would China be motivated to get involved in a regional conflict outside of their sphere? Grain Shipments? And yes, no doubt China could crank out some serious munitions, but you are leaving out a key fact. Those munitions would be the WW2 "dumb" kind that you fire 1,000 shells to hit one target, if lucky. China, lags far behind the West in intelligent munitions that are making a difference in this conflict. China's "chip" integration into military hardware is currently far behind NATO's Mfg. capabilities.
In sum, Washington’s military strategy to weaken, isolate, or even destroy Russia is a colossal failure and the failure puts Washington’s proxy war with Russia on a truly dangerous path. To press on, undeterred in the face of Ukraine’s descent into oblivion, ignores three metastasizing threats: 1. Persistently high inflation and rising interest ratesthat signal economic weakness. (The first American bank failure since 2020 is a reminder of U.S. financial fragility.) 2. The threat to stability and prosperity inside European societies already reeling from several waves of unwanted refugees/migrants. 3. The threat of a wider European war. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-gathering-storm/
Probably the best write up on the war I’ve read to date. Very detailed, reasoned, supported by fact: Ron DeSantis Is Right About Ukraine — The Atlantic
seems like the treasury may be running on low. wonder if this is why Putin summoned his big 12 group of richest oligarchs for a meeting last week. Bet there is an assessment being levied. Can't think that soldiers checks bouncing is going to help on the popular front though. Russian soldiers stop receiving salaries: complaints coming from all over Russia (msn.com) Instead of the promised 195,000 roubles [approx. USD$2,530 - ed.] per month, their accounts receive much smaller amounts. Judging by the stories of the Russian servicemen themselves and their relatives, frequent problems with payments began in January, but at the same time, individual cases of withholding and non-payment of salaries, allowances and social benefits have been reported at least since November 2022. It is noted that both conscripts and volunteer and contract soldiers face this problem. Since the beginning of March, dozens of messages about the non-payment have been posted in groups devoted to payments to conscripts on the Russian social network VKontakte. In the comments, the authors of the complaints are often told that the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation officially transfers salaries from the 10th to the 20th of each month and that delays may be related to the transfer of the serviceman himself to another unit. In these cases, some admit that they received payments later. Others publish payslips from the personal online accounts of servicemen on the website of the Ministry of Defence, in which there are zeros in place of payments.
Looks like the sanctions do appear to be working. This may explain why Russian soldiers are less than enthusiastic about their spring offensive. Risk their life and not even get paid? While fielding second-rate military hardware? While their families can't afford to eat and pay the bills?
Being pro Russian, what are your thoughts when they bomb civilian structures? Russia Launches Attacks Across Ukraine, Killing Seven in School Dormitory
Russia firing multi-million dollar precision missiles at school dormitories. You people are unbelievable.
The war is essentially a stalemate (tie) at this point. However, one side is about to receive tanks in the coming months that are advanced beyond the other side's ability to comprehend, while the other side is digging deeper and deeper into its historical collection of outdated, outmoded, and useless tanks to keep something on the field of battle. Russia is producing 20 tanks a month while losing 150 tanks a month, and that is BEFORE the western tanks even show up. Russia's only hope is that Ukraine loses so many men before the new tanks arrive that they cannot continue the fight. And the only way to make that happen is to sacrifice 5-10 times as many Russian soldiers as Ukraine does in places like Bakhmut and Vuhledar. Russian soldiers, as the experienced ones die off and are replaced by untrained conscripts, are less and less likely to develop the courage to go into battle to sacrifice themselves.
Putin's 12: The Russian Oligarchs Summoned to Kremlin (newsweek.com) President Vladimir Putin last week summoned some of the country's richest and most powerful oligarchs to Moscow to urge them to put patriotism ahead of profits, as unprecedented Western sanctions imperil the fortunes and financial networks that for years have given the Kremlin a back door into the West. "A responsible entrepreneur is a real citizen of Russia, of his country, a citizen who understands and acts in its interests," Putin told the meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). "He does not hide assets offshore, but registers companies here, in our country, and does not become dependent on foreign authorities." Russia's economy has proved more resilient in the short term than Western officials hoped, shrinking by only 2.1 percent in 2022 despite the avalanche of measures seeking to isolate Moscow. But a ballooning budget deficit—in part due to falling fossil fuel export profits—raises the danger of long-term economic malaise for Russia. ................ "The President has always emphasized that membership in the RSPP is voluntary. At the same time, representatives of large businesses adopt a responsible position, provide jobs and pay great attention to social support for employees."
I’m not having to reassure myself with several posts a day. Discounting a major power like Russia with Chinese aid at their disposal seems like a rather fool’s errand. If the Russian forces collapse, then great, but that you have to reassure yourself every day of this outcome is not exactly projecting confidence.
US spooked a bit. Doesn’t want to get into a shooting war with Russia. No s***, Sherlock ... US Moves Drone Flight Paths Further From Crimea On Russian Threats Of "Countermeasures" | ZeroHedge
The US killed upwards of two-million civilians in Vietnam. Multitudes of children became orphans. The US kidnapped, deported and indoctrinated them ... er, flew them to the US where many were adopted.
