Is Ukraine about to have a war?
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It is called pathetic. I served in HM forces for 30 years so please do not insult my intelligence with such trite comments. As I have mentioned before, my wife is Russian so I know a thing or two about how they think.
When Gordon Brown was Prime Minister he refused to give a penny in budget increase to the Armed Forces. When questioned in Parliament about it, he said 'I have nothing but respect for our Armed Forces'. The next day, a letter was published in the Daily Telegraph from an astute lady who simply said 'Precisely'. This is where e are now - paper threats and pretty lights,
It is an insult to the intelligence of Ukranians, many of whom are going to die soon, to say that a few light bulbs are meaningful in any way. The West has been shown for the paper tiger that it is and I am absolutely disgusted. We are watching innocent people being slaughtered on our doorstep and we could stop it, but we won't, because they did not join our club, and Russian money is too important to our governments (Hence the refusal to deny them SWIFT).
History will judge us as the very worst of humanity - insulated, cowardly and self-serving. We could stop this slaughter of innocents, but we are not. That is a simple fact.
We deserve the judgement and condemnation that history will attach to us - we watched naked aggression being visited on innocent people, whilst being more powerful than the aggressor, and looked the other way. We cited rules and articles as people died. We moved football matches and cancelled a car race as cities burned.
We deserve the contempt of the world to follow the one we have so comprehensively abandoned.
When Gordon Brown was Prime Minister he refused to give a penny in budget increase to the Armed Forces. When questioned in Parliament about it, he said 'I have nothing but respect for our Armed Forces'. The next day, a letter was published in the Daily Telegraph from an astute lady who simply said 'Precisely'. This is where e are now - paper threats and pretty lights,
It is an insult to the intelligence of Ukranians, many of whom are going to die soon, to say that a few light bulbs are meaningful in any way. The West has been shown for the paper tiger that it is and I am absolutely disgusted. We are watching innocent people being slaughtered on our doorstep and we could stop it, but we won't, because they did not join our club, and Russian money is too important to our governments (Hence the refusal to deny them SWIFT).
History will judge us as the very worst of humanity - insulated, cowardly and self-serving. We could stop this slaughter of innocents, but we are not. That is a simple fact.
We deserve the judgement and condemnation that history will attach to us - we watched naked aggression being visited on innocent people, whilst being more powerful than the aggressor, and looked the other way. We cited rules and articles as people died. We moved football matches and cancelled a car race as cities burned.
We deserve the contempt of the world to follow the one we have so comprehensively abandoned.
plus 1 totally agree.
Who is 'we?' The UK takes just under 3% of its Gas supplies from Russia, not 3% of our entire energy consumption, just of gas. Swift is a private Belgian company and is vital for the payment by states like Germany and Italy for their russian energy supplies. To just turn Swift off to Russia would mean instant energy shortages for these and many other nations. It takes time to prepare for such action and make preparations for alternatives. And yes, these are very strict and global sanctions. Unprecedented and I believe unexpected.
Sorry if Mr German and Mrs Italian may have a cold house for a few days, but a sovereign European country has been invaded. Frankly I am utterly shocked at germanys response. I would have thought with their history they would be leading the charge to sanction Russia.
Sanctioning Putin and Larov means squat. Their money is not in their names. Especially Putins billions he has siphoned off the state. His oligarchs are his banking system. Complete isolation of the country. No money in or out, no people in or out and no goods in or out. That would 100% solve this problem. With an ultimatum that this will not be reversed while Putin is in power would ensure his speedy demise.
Money talks, and Russia is very loud. The oligarchs hold the true power in Russia, but Putin plays them off against each other. If something were to happen to make them all, even for a moment trust one another he is done for. You take away their money, influence, and power in the west and they will turn faster than a top.
Ukraine claiming to have downed a Russian Il-76
From The Telegraph, 25th Feb 2022
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-ne...o-kyiv-latest/
JAS
From The Telegraph, 25th Feb 2022
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-ne...o-kyiv-latest/
JAS
I wonder if any of them were able to parachute out?
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Reading stories and viewing videos of a “lone Mig-29” at treetop level over Kyiv, getting the moniker the “ghost of Kyiv”. Single source so far, but according to reports he’s an ace on the first day.
Su-35 Su-35
Su-27
Mig-29M
Su-25 Su-25
If it’s true, Godspeed. And here’s hoping he lives to tell the tale.
If it’s true, Godspeed. And here’s hoping he lives to tell the tale.
I'm afraid I have to agree with Nutloose et al. Europe has lost sight of its guiding principles and lost its nerve. A disgrace indeed; whatever happened to "Ich bin ein Berliner? There is a difference between doing what's "sensible" and what is right.
Russia Issues Ominous Warning to Finland, Sweden Should They Join NATO Gerrard Kaonga
Russia Issues Ominous Warning to Finland, Sweden Should They Join NATO (msn.com)Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has said that Moscow would have to respond if Sweden and Finland intended to join NATO.
Maria Zakharova held a press conference on Friday and reflected on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the intentions of Russia going forward.
A clip of her speech has begun to go viral on social media as she appears to issue a threat aimed at Sweden and Finland, saying it would have "serious military-political repercussions." The video has amassed
"Finland and Sweden should not base their security damaging the security of other countries," Zakharova said during the press conference.
"Clearly [the] accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO, which is first and foremost a military alliance, would have serious military-political repercussions that would demand a response from our country," she said.
This comes after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the country was receiving support from both nations.
"Discussed with [Finnish President Sauli Niinistö] countering the aggressor. Informed about our defense, insidious shelling of Kyiv,"
on Friday.
"Grateful to [Finland] for allocating $50 million [in] aid. It's an effective contribution to the anti-war coalition. We keep working. We need to increase sanction and [Ukraine] defense support."
"Sweden provides military, technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Grateful to [Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson] for her effective support.
"Building an anti-Putin coalition together."
The Twitter pages of the Finnish president and Swedish prime minister condemned Russia after hearing the news of the invasion of Ukraine.
"I strongly condemn the military measures Russia has started in Ukraine," Niinistö wrote in
"Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order.
"We feel deep compassion towards Ukraine and are seeking ways to increase our support to Ukraine."
On Thursday, Andersson's Twitter page issued a similar statement and highlighted the importance of other European leaders responding robustly.
"Sweden condemns in the strongest terms Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine," it said
"Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order. It will be met by a united and robust response in solidarity with Ukraine. Russia alone is responsible for human suffering."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made an appeal to Ukrainian soldiers, less than 48 hours after invading the country.
During a televised broadcast on Friday, Putin said it would be easier to come to an agreement without a "gang of junkies and neo-Nazis." These insults were aimed at the government in Kyiv, which he claimed had taken the people of Ukraine hostage.
He elaborated on this and insisted that the Ukrainian army should not be allowed to "use your children, your wives and old people as human shields."
Update 1/24/22, 11:56 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include tweets from the Swedish prime minister and Finnish president, as well as comments from Vladimir Putin.
Maria Zakharova held a press conference on Friday and reflected on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the intentions of Russia going forward.
A clip of her speech has begun to go viral on social media as she appears to issue a threat aimed at Sweden and Finland, saying it would have "serious military-political repercussions." The video has amassed
"Finland and Sweden should not base their security damaging the security of other countries," Zakharova said during the press conference.
"Clearly [the] accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO, which is first and foremost a military alliance, would have serious military-political repercussions that would demand a response from our country," she said.
This comes after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the country was receiving support from both nations.
"Discussed with [Finnish President Sauli Niinistö] countering the aggressor. Informed about our defense, insidious shelling of Kyiv,"
"Grateful to [Finland] for allocating $50 million [in] aid. It's an effective contribution to the anti-war coalition. We keep working. We need to increase sanction and [Ukraine] defense support."
"Building an anti-Putin coalition together."
The Twitter pages of the Finnish president and Swedish prime minister condemned Russia after hearing the news of the invasion of Ukraine.
"I strongly condemn the military measures Russia has started in Ukraine," Niinistö wrote in
"Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order.
"We feel deep compassion towards Ukraine and are seeking ways to increase our support to Ukraine."
On Thursday, Andersson's Twitter page issued a similar statement and highlighted the importance of other European leaders responding robustly.
"Sweden condemns in the strongest terms Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine," it said
"Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order. It will be met by a united and robust response in solidarity with Ukraine. Russia alone is responsible for human suffering."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made an appeal to Ukrainian soldiers, less than 48 hours after invading the country.
During a televised broadcast on Friday, Putin said it would be easier to come to an agreement without a "gang of junkies and neo-Nazis." These insults were aimed at the government in Kyiv, which he claimed had taken the people of Ukraine hostage.
He elaborated on this and insisted that the Ukrainian army should not be allowed to "use your children, your wives and old people as human shields."
Update 1/24/22, 11:56 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include tweets from the Swedish prime minister and Finnish president, as well as comments from Vladimir Putin.
America has a legacy of courageous action to defend its freedom and that of its allies. It is time to act with courage no less than that being demonstrated by Ukrainians right now. It is time for American and NATO countries to show the strength this decades-old alliance. I do not mean that we should step into the conflict militarily, but we should all we can to make sure the leadership of Russia will never sleep well again. They should be looking over their shoulders in fear for the remainder of their lives.
On SWIFT - Biden appeared pretty irritated when asked about banning Russia from it.
Reading between the lines - I got the sense the US would love to - but the EU - in particular Germany is dead against it.
If that happens, can't pay for your Russian gas to heat the apartment in Barvaria, nein?
I can just imagine the lobbyists lining up in Brussels, and the quiet but firm conversations about what will happen to donations to all those political campaigns were the Russians to be locked out of SWIFT.
Agree with the posters above.
I'd kick them out of SWIFT and also sanction all of their oil and gas exports.
The prospect of serious short-term discomfort and economic pain pales into insignificance compared with the long term implications.
Huge recession, job losses and stagflation now?
Or fight with NATO in a year or two when he decides he's going into Poland or another NATO state?
As Xi simultaneously decides to annex Taiwan, knowing full well the US can't fight two wars at once.
But in recent times, have politicians been able to think beyond the next electoral cycle?
Reading between the lines - I got the sense the US would love to - but the EU - in particular Germany is dead against it.
If that happens, can't pay for your Russian gas to heat the apartment in Barvaria, nein?
I can just imagine the lobbyists lining up in Brussels, and the quiet but firm conversations about what will happen to donations to all those political campaigns were the Russians to be locked out of SWIFT.
Agree with the posters above.
I'd kick them out of SWIFT and also sanction all of their oil and gas exports.
The prospect of serious short-term discomfort and economic pain pales into insignificance compared with the long term implications.
Huge recession, job losses and stagflation now?
Or fight with NATO in a year or two when he decides he's going into Poland or another NATO state?
As Xi simultaneously decides to annex Taiwan, knowing full well the US can't fight two wars at once.
But in recent times, have politicians been able to think beyond the next electoral cycle?
It is called pathetic. I served in HM forces for 30 years so please do not insult my intelligence with such trite comments. As I have mentioned before, my wife is Russian so I know a thing or two about how they think.
When Gordon Brown was Prime Minister he refused to give a penny in budget increase to the Armed Forces. When questioned in Parliament about it, he said 'I have nothing but respect for our Armed Forces'. The next day, a letter was published in the Daily Telegraph from an astute lady who simply said 'Precisely'. This is where e are now - paper threats and pretty lights,
It is an insult to the intelligence of Ukranians, many of whom are going to die soon, to say that a few light bulbs are meaningful in any way. The West has been shown for the paper tiger that it is and I am absolutely disgusted. We are watching innocent people being slaughtered on our doorstep and we could stop it, but we won't, because they did not join our club, and Russian money is too important to our governments (Hence the refusal to deny them SWIFT).
History will judge us as the very worst of humanity - insulated, cowardly and self-serving. We could stop this slaughter of innocents, but we are not. That is a simple fact.
We deserve the judgement and condemnation that history will attach to us - we watched naked aggression being visited on innocent people, whilst being more powerful than the aggressor, and looked the other way. We cited rules and articles as people died. We moved football matches and cancelled a car race as cities burned.
We deserve the contempt of the world to follow the one we have so comprehensively abandoned.
When Gordon Brown was Prime Minister he refused to give a penny in budget increase to the Armed Forces. When questioned in Parliament about it, he said 'I have nothing but respect for our Armed Forces'. The next day, a letter was published in the Daily Telegraph from an astute lady who simply said 'Precisely'. This is where e are now - paper threats and pretty lights,
It is an insult to the intelligence of Ukranians, many of whom are going to die soon, to say that a few light bulbs are meaningful in any way. The West has been shown for the paper tiger that it is and I am absolutely disgusted. We are watching innocent people being slaughtered on our doorstep and we could stop it, but we won't, because they did not join our club, and Russian money is too important to our governments (Hence the refusal to deny them SWIFT).
History will judge us as the very worst of humanity - insulated, cowardly and self-serving. We could stop this slaughter of innocents, but we are not. That is a simple fact.
We deserve the judgement and condemnation that history will attach to us - we watched naked aggression being visited on innocent people, whilst being more powerful than the aggressor, and looked the other way. We cited rules and articles as people died. We moved football matches and cancelled a car race as cities burned.
We deserve the contempt of the world to follow the one we have so comprehensively abandoned.
Boy do you have some issues!
You served in HM forces for 30 years? Wow! Go you. I flew the F-4 Phantom for two front line tours, but that is no reflection on my intelligence any more than your three decades in is! You know "a thing or two about how Russians think " because your wife is Russian? Your little quote about Gordon Brown is total nonsense and simply not true. You appear to want us to commit nuclear suicide, I think that history would condemn us for that far more than it will for what "we" are doing over Ukraine. You may not have noticed but "the world" is doing exactly what we are doing.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.defensenews.com/global/e...heir-defenses/
On day two of Putin’s war, NATO members continue beefing up their defenses
…Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday afternoon, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, acknowledged Ukrainian forces have been using Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles supplied by allies.
“We are using them actively and very effectively,” she said, adding that Ukraine is requesting more, “working very closely” with U.S. and other allies….
….Sweden, Finland and top European Union leaders attended a NATO meeting of leaders on Friday afternoon…
Russia’s actions are pushing Finland closer to NATO membership than ever before, said Alexander Stubb, who served as Finland’s prime minister from 2014 to 2015.
“Our security has been partially based on an option to join. At this rate we have no other option but to join,” he posted on Twitter. “Finland’s accession would strengthen the alliance and help keep Northern Europe stable.”……
On day two of Putin’s war, NATO members continue beefing up their defenses
…Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday afternoon, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, acknowledged Ukrainian forces have been using Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles supplied by allies.
“We are using them actively and very effectively,” she said, adding that Ukraine is requesting more, “working very closely” with U.S. and other allies….
….Sweden, Finland and top European Union leaders attended a NATO meeting of leaders on Friday afternoon…
Russia’s actions are pushing Finland closer to NATO membership than ever before, said Alexander Stubb, who served as Finland’s prime minister from 2014 to 2015.
“Our security has been partially based on an option to join. At this rate we have no other option but to join,” he posted on Twitter. “Finland’s accession would strengthen the alliance and help keep Northern Europe stable.”……
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b2022567.html
Britain fails to set up refugee route as thousands flee Ukraine after Russian invasion
Ireland leading by example
Britain fails to set up refugee route as thousands flee Ukraine after Russian invasion
Ireland leading by example
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Russian logistics/supply lines getting stretched already….
As has suggested before, those resisting should ignore the armour and let it pass - then hammer the trucks and fuel bowsers in the columns behind them.
As has suggested before, those resisting should ignore the armour and let it pass - then hammer the trucks and fuel bowsers in the columns behind them.
That is a segment from video game called Digital Combat Simulator