War in Ukraine

I do think trump is benefitting a lot from the mental health issues in our country.

 

I’m doubtful on the EU as well, given the inevitable constraints on the economy the current front lines place on Ukraine. I think the EU talk was wishful thinking with the idea Ukraine would retake all of their land or most of it. But that never came to pass. In fact, if we’re being honest, the EU and NATO ascension talk was somewhat of a carrot being dangled to Ukraine. “Hey if your soldiers fight and push these bastards back to the Russian border, you will be rewarded.” That hasn’t happened and thus the idea doesn’t look as appealing to the EU countries.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree then. I think EU is pretty much a done deal. There's really no way forward without that. Which is what started this in the first place (Putin playing the jilted lover role) as they were never getting into NATO and weren't really invited. Putin knew that too, but used the reckless rhetoric of people like Nuland as his casus belli.

 

Ukraine will have to demonstrate they are economically viable before the EU will grant them membership. And they will have to demonstrate they have rooted out a lot of corruption that pre-existed this war in Ukraine. The EU doesn't want to add a liability. Corruption is as much a concern as the economy as a whole. As for NATO, they've been batting around the idea of Ukraine ascension for years, so while perhaps technically "not invited", the writing was on the wall. As well it being a stated goal of the new government in Kyiv to join NATO. I think Putin is a schmuck, but it's more than a "jilted lover role." The Russian government is very paranoid in general, a holdover from the Soviet days. They truly do believe losing Ukraine to NATO is an existential threat, whether they are right or wrong. It's not mere jealousy.

 

The EU already understands the challenges Ukraine faces. Further, it's the only way out of this other than complete capitulation to Putin, which isn't happening. Like I've said in other responses, this is simply a waiting game. Russia has 10 years left to do crap like this and then the young men dry up. Hold the line. Bleed them dry. Everyone in the west - outside of Commie MAGA hacks - is on board with this. Oh, and it is more than Jilted Lover syndrome (though that plays a strong role with fragile egos like Putin's). I call it 19th Century Mentality Syndrome. To get down to the nuts and bolts of this, only a complete idiot (or self-serving douchebag like Putin) would see NATO as an invasion threat. Now, a threat to you doing to your neighbors what you've done for 400 years? Yes. But a threat to invade Russia? GTFOH! Nobody wants to invade and occupy that piece of shit country. Your resources are all we want and we're willing to just pay for those.

 

"Waiting out" a country that possesses the largest number of nuclear warheads and spans 11 time zones is probably not a solid strategy. Especially given Russia's vast natural resources. All we have accomplished is assimilating them with China much quicker and creating a natural axis for a new world war by doing so. We're not winning a game of chess with these moves. And that is not only a view shared by MAGA voters. Plenty of people on the left have said as much. Putin has demonstrated he can literally buy troops and the West doesn't want to put boots on the ground themselves. There will have to a compromise and Russia holds the upper hand with the territory they've secured.

 

Good. Better for birds of the same dirty feather to flock together. Got a really winning team there with N. Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Hell, hearing Serbia is back in the mix. Woo Hoo! So much winning!!! Saving my popcorn for the inevitable when they all go swishing down the shit tube.

Every one of those countries outside of the Islamic hellholes (which will never have the tech) is in a demographic death spiral. I love our chances here. We've got at least 30 years before we have to worry about that. One thing you can thank Millennials for.

Ironic too that he's allowed the CCP to bitch him the way he always feared the West would. I can't believe I used to think this guy was smart. Nah, like his buddy Hitler, just lucky. Bluffed a few good hands early and started to believe his own hype. His hero Peter the Great would be ashamed at the state he will leave Russia in.

 

Just go back from vacationing in a former Russian province, now known as Alaska.

To my great surprise, the Ukraine thread has slipped to the second page.

Of course I’m being facetious. I know why.

 

Looks like Ukraine can't help but continue to shoot down Russian aircraft. They just shot down their second Su-25 Frogfoot jet in Donetsk in the last month with a Manpads system. Someone ring the factory and tell them to send another one, and then call the pilot training assembly line to send a new flunky, also.

Dramatic footage appears to show a Ukrainian missile taking out a Russian Su-25 jet

 

The Brits join in the harassment of the Russian air force, or what's left of it. British Typhoons flew over the Black Sea toward Russia and turned away at the last moment, as Russia was forced to send an Su-27 jet to intercept. Looks like the west is giving Russia the same treatment that China has been giving Taiwan, wearing down the air force responding to feints. Already, Russia has been worn down enough that they only sent up one fighter jet instead of two. Apparently that's all they can afford.

This may be a buildup for a massive attack by Ukraine's F-16's. Wouldn't that be interesting?

Russia scrambles fighter jets to escort RAF Typhoons over Black Sea

 

More from the Brits: they believe that for Russia to capture four oblasts completely, they would lose about 1.8 million troops at the rate they are going, and it would take Russia about five years.

Russia would lose up to 1.8 million troops and take 5 years to capture the 4 Ukrainian regions it wants: UK army chief

 

Curious how the CCP is bitching Putin? Is that your retort to sanctions not working? Now demographics is our go to? No boots. Sanctions inept. Yeah, demographics! That'll be their undoing. So much bravado for something so unnecessary.

 

Go look up Power of Siberia and who has to pay for it, while still selling the energy at a discount. So much winning it hurts!

 

and they aren't happy about it. hope they stay away from things where gravity exists like windows and stairs..wait, isn't that how Mrs Trump II died? fall down the stairs?

CEO of Rosneft isn't a small office to be making such public proclamations

Russia's business elites signal they are tired of propping up the wartime economy (msn.com)

Several influential individuals have come out to publicly challenge the Russian central bank's signal that it's likely to hike interest rates on Friday.

Russia's key interest rate already stands at 16%. Analysts polled by Reuters expected the central bank to hike it to 18% on Friday afternoon — the highest since April 2022, when it hit 20% amid economic turmoil following the invasion of Ukraine.

Igor Sechin, the CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft, pointed to China's recent interest rate cuts, saying Russia should take cues from its neighbor, TASS, a state news agency, reported on Tuesday. "We hope for similar steps for Russian prime borrowers from the Bank of Russia," said Sechin, according to a Reuters translation.

It wasn't the first time Sechin complained about high rates. Just last month, he griped that they are holding back borrowing and stifling business activities.

 

warning, stay on the ground floor

Vladimir Putin vows 'retribution' against his enemies in chilling new warning (msn.com)

Vladimir Putin vowed "retribution" to anyone who tried to divide the people of Russia and reaffirm the unity in his country's authoritative power.

"Those who try to intimidate people, to split our society, to play on religious or national feelings will never succeed," Putin said in a video message posted by the Kremlin. "Inevitable and just retribution awaits them," he added.

 

Sanctions on Russia, the dearth of working age men in the country, and Putin spending all the country's money on weapons have led to severe failures of the country's infrastructure. Russians in the south are starting to protest the lack of water and electricity in their city. Russia is concerned that the city does not have enough balconies, and may divert utility money into balcony installations to resolve the problem. Russians are being told to remain calm so they can receive their balcony.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/20/europe/russia-krasnodar-protest-power-cuts-intl/index.html

 

Wow, who does that sound like?

 

I was going to say that Putin succeeded in Russia by playing on national feelings. But then I remembered that he had much more success by killing people (and sometimes the killings result in people being intimidated). He may want to have his table lengthened by a few more yards.

 

Russia has 5% GDP growth so.far this year. Minim as long deficut of 0.5% of spending
The sanctions have boosted the Russian economy. Chemgator"s plan to degrade Russia nor working