Putin and the West

[Cav]

So who's getting poisoned in the Belarus-situated Russia/Ukraine negotiations?

[StMarks]

So who's getting poisoned in the Belarus-situated Russia/Ukraine negotiations?

Opportunity for the Generals that Putin was briefing yesterday, to live-test one of their tactical low yield devices.?

Anyway, the global sanctions that are being announced may well start to impact on the Russian economy (will be interesting to see how the Moscow exchange is effected).
However, taking ^that isolationist effect to it's logical conclusion, what will happen in Europe if Russia shuts off the gas pipelines.??

[Cav]

What'll happen is I will have no heating except for a small electric heater. We'll all be sleeping in Benny's room.

[D41]

It seems that the UK doesn't buy much oil or gas from Russia at all......@1-in-20 barrels of each, or thereabouts.
Those pipelines that run through Ukraine supply a big chunk of the EU's natural gas, though.

[Monty]

I can't see this lasting much longer, morale doesn't look too good on the Russian side, seems like most of them thought they were on an exercise.

[Monty]

Stop the War coalition close to being able to blame Ukraine war on Tony Blair



https://newsthump.com/2022/02/28/stop-t ... gJVPqm0XPU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Kwacky]

Estimates say that 500,000 people have fled Ukraine so far.

Russia seems to be using the heavier stuff today. Now MLRS attacks and there's lots of footage of helicopters and aircraft.

In not sure that the troops we've seen are a totally accurate reflection of Russia's capability. They thought Ukraine would surrender. They know that the world is watching so decided to go lightly. Using old equipment and basic troops is a good way to test the Ukraine response

The Chechens on the ground worry me. They're nasty bastards.

[Monty]

It seems that the UK doesn't buy much oil or gas from Russia at all......@1-in-20 barrels of each, or thereabouts.
Those pipelines that run through Ukraine supply a big chunk of the EU's natural gas, though.

We're reliant on Norwegian gas, not Russian. But apparently, because of BREXIT Norway is now legally obliged to cut off gas supplies to the UK if the EU countries need to make up any shortfalls from Russia. You couldn't make this sh!t up.

[StMarks]

It seems that the UK doesn't buy much oil or gas from Russia at all......@1-in-20 barrels of each, or thereabouts.
Those pipelines that run through Ukraine supply a big chunk of the EU's natural gas, though.

We're reliant on Norwegian gas, not Russian. But apparently, because of BREXIT Norway is now legally obliged to cut off gas supplies to the UK if the EU countries need to make up any shortfalls from Russia. You couldn't make this sh!t up.

Fwiw I was taking this into account, which is why I specifically said

,,,,, what will happen in Europe if Russia shuts off the gas pipelines.??

Anyway, it seems most likely that, as Kwacky pointed out above:

,,,,I'm not sure that the troops we've seen are a totally accurate reflection of Russia's capability. They thought Ukraine would surrender. They know that the world is watching so decided to go lightly....

In analysing the current situation, we should bear in mind that Putin plays the long game and plans far-far ahead. Our leaders responses are simply reactive.
Ever seen a game of chess played between players of each of those^ approaches.?
Imho it seems rather improbable that he's failed to consider the possibility of this current situation.? My concern is that his parameters of "acceptable" are so far outside our expectations that we will be be responding all the way to an impasse.

[D41]

Unfortunately whenever I hear Putin's "long game" being touted as some sort visionary plan, I can't help but feel that it's another way of saying that nobody has any real idea about what Putin will do next.

[Tuffers]

Trump tweets that Putin is a genius.

[Jack]

E
In not sure that the troops we've seen are a totally accurate reflection of Russia's capability. They thought Ukraine would surrender. They know that the world is watching so decided to go lightly. Using old equipment and basic troops is a good way to test the Ukraine response

A lot of the troops I have seen are 18 and 19 yr old conscripts , many have surrendered on contact .
I expect things to change when the experienced front line troops go in .

[duke63]

[Cav]

E
In not sure that the troops we've seen are a totally accurate reflection of Russia's capability. They thought Ukraine would surrender. They know that the world is watching so decided to go lightly. Using old equipment and basic troops is a good way to test the Ukraine response

A lot of the troops I have seen are 18 and 19 yr old conscripts , many have surrendered on contact .
I expect things to change when the experienced front line troops go in .

Puppet soldiers?

[D41]

Old men start wars, young men fight them.

[Kwacky]

The one I know : "war is old men talking and young men dying".

[Kwacky]

Fair play. He's sent over hundreds of satellite dishes to Ukraine and they've already started arriving.

[kiwikrasher]

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2 ... otiations/

I don't know how well he's running the country day to day, but he definitely seems to be a hit with the majority of the country.

Comedian turned Country Leader, rather than Country Leader that is just a clown

[D41]

The one I know : "war is old men talking and young men dying".

That is apparently from Homer's "The Illiad" ......whatever that is??
A play or ulta-long & boring poem, probably.
Lots of variations on a similar theme out there, it seems.

[Cav]

Not that they actually show you but it is alleged there is a 40-mile convoy of Russian military just 15 miles from the capitol.

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-inva ... v-12554512