I don't think the way Russian conducted this operation fits to the idea that Putin is that indifferent to using nukes. He clearly fears the West and the NATO, that much is obvious. I believe it is much more likely that he just thinks of a new Soviet empire than about world domination. Nukes are just contrary to his goals as they are to ours.
Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I don't think the way Russian conducted this operation fits to the idea that Putin is that indifferent to using nukes. He clearly fears the West and the NATO, that much is obvious. I believe it is much more likely that he just thinks of a new Soviet empire than about world domination. Nukes are just contrary to his goals as they are to ours.
Is Crimea the only/main reason why Ukraine aren’t already part of NATO?
Yeah, the settlement could be anything really. Maybe he even gets to keep some part of Ukraine while fighting insurgents for years.
Unfortunately, democracy. And also Putin's effective campaign to compromise and/or idiotise Anglo-Saxon nations.
People are too short-sighted and politicians in the West know it. Huge inflation was already here and if you cut off the blood of the Putin regime, oil and gas, you'll see huge increases in prices on top of what's already here. Biden is already under pressure and things won't look rosier for leaders in Europe.
Now this is not coincidence, Putin knows all this. And unfortunately, this somewhat confirms his worldview that democracy breeds weak countries. Until last week, his whole strategy was working up until last week and the main reason is that he can afford not to care, Western leaders cannot because they are always being judged.
Europe may have decided to change course but it doesn't mean it'll happen quickly.
Exactly what I was thinking. Looks like the sanctions are getting to him and the russian economy and for the first time, he's pleading !
As you read this, the US is importing 700,000 barrels of Russian oil per day.
Next week, the Biden admin sits down with Russian counterparts to remove sanctions form Iran and give them an absurd Nuke deal.
Let that sink in.
how? Through a charity where fortunes are spent on admin and staffing and then there was oxfam and what their staff were up to abroad. How much of your donations gets to make any real difference is hard to tell. No apparently they are not taking any cut.
Let me guess, you’ve read a study that was done by Putin’s sociological institution. That really tells you everything you need to know.
Sure he wants to avoid nukes because he wants. To live as much as anyone else but just like Ukraine, does he believe the world is ready to end itself over a different non nuclear nation even iff they're NATO? If not, there's little stopping him from doing to them what he's doing to Ukraine and cry 'nukes' if there's retaliation or worse still, actually use a small one to show he means business. My point is, NATO or not, is Latvia really worth ending the world for to the US just because they're NATO?
Cheers, i hadn't seen any major updates on the news but this thread is very good at breaking any news quicker than a lot of places so wondered if i'd missed anything.
I'm still confused what Putin thinks will happen once he 'controls' Ukraine after battering it with artillery + missiles and forcing the entire population against him? Anyone?
The whole nation is going to be ravaged. It'll be a wasteland.
I guess look at how civilian rights and free-speech is being cut in Russia right now as a bit of a guide.
Take control, instate a puppet government, oppress the public into submission, instil utter fear in the government, and rig elections. It's basically the dictator's handbook to running a country.
And what is that? Propaganda works! Everywhere. Just look at how far US Republicans have come during just one term for Trump. In Europe you can see his influence as well, most notably in Brexit. And those are free democracies, where he started out with the mainstream against him and without the tools of a dictatorship available to him.
Now imagine what it must be like in Russia, where he has had a relatively free hand for decades.
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with no deal in place Iran are more likely to build nuclear capabilities I think is the logic.
My best guess is that if Russian nukes some NATO country, there is going to be a small retaliation, a bit of tit for tat. Likely not nuking Moscow, but nuking some random Russian base, and putting deterrent forces in the highest alert, using the backchannels to tell Russian generals in no uncertain terms that the next time is going to be a full retaliation.
And then either someone puts Putin down, or we have a nuclear Holocaust.
Not retaliating with nukes if you get nuked makes no sense.
Could be a Ukrainian tactic to seed doubts within the Russian security services. If it's real that elements within the FSB helped...then that's interesting to say the least.
To be honest Stoltenberg is saying things in public which he is supposed to say. However, the main question is to what extent NATO have helped the Ukraine with arms.
Then they would retaliate, whatever the outcome. No way Russia would be allowed to vaporize lets say Vilnius without a proportionate response.
I even think that Russian direct intervention on some non-Nato countries would provoke Nato to strike back. While Nato won't go to war for the Ukraine, I'm not so sure about EU members Finland and Sweden.
This is interesting - can @harms chime in here - is this about how it is?
Appreciate your clarification.
I was born in USSR, am native Russian speaker, but not Russian by nationality. Let me give you an example. US ambassador in my country gives a speech in local language when he congratulates citizens on some national hoilidays. The Russian ambassador gives a similar speech in Russian. An absolute majority of Russian people never learnt languages of the ex-USSR republics, despite having born and lived there for 2-3 generations.
China standing with Vlad…
I agree but the 'you' here would be say Latvia, not the US, UK etc. What you're saying is more probable btw but I do think there's a possibility of it going the other route and Putin may take the world up on that question if the cnut doesn't die soon.
Hope so because it's been pathetic to see what's happened at Ukraine. More importantly, I hope Putin believes this
Risk worth taking though. Otherwise, next time he sees a bad dream it is going to be London or Washington.
Pulling matches because there will be support for Ukraine on show
EPL clubs are going to show support over Ukraine, so China not televising those matches.
More like China killing off any modicum of protest based on anything before it gets to China.
This is why they're much, much more dangerous than Russia. More money, more people and actual competence in evil studies.
Two separate issues: the PL no longer wants to broadcast in Russia, and separately China won't broadcast the PL whilst there is a big focus on paying respect to Ukraine before matches.
What I got from it was him saying that it's not so stomach churning being used in the middle East..... Take from that what you will
So Nato saying going to discuss a no fly zone in Ukraine today, but we already know this can't happen unless Nato are prepared to kill Russian troops and destroy Russian planes etc
It's just crazy.
Do we really believe that even if attacked, Putin would seriously launch a Nuclear war?
He will just carrying on evading other nations just by waving his Nuke banner each time.
Nato are prepared to launch nuclear war if they attack a nato country but not if its Ukraine.
Doesn't sound realistic either.
It's just crazy.
Do we really believe that even if attacked, Putin would seriously launch a Nuclear war?
He will just carrying on evading other nations just by waving his Nuke banner each time.
Nato are prepared to launch nuclear war if they attack a nato country but not if its Ukraine.
Doesn't sound realistic either.
Concerning at the very least
We are still yeh to pull Anastasia off of Disney+
I'm not sure that would be wise. I could see a full scale air attack going for every known missile launching site in Russia. Probably the biggest air attack in history. If it required putting special forces in to disable facilities then so be it. The problem would be the Nuclear Subs.
I think the intention would be to try and limit the amount of sites they could launch more Nukes from. Rather than us simply trading one Nuke with another.
Why?
Just means the rest of the world gets to wake up and see how these countries act to murder.
As i say, people will read into it what they want, from my perspective it was suggesting that the bombs being used on civilians in a European capital is slightly different (and more relatable) then being used on caves in Afghanistan against potential terrorist threats, which really for a western reporter living/working in Europe it is!
Certainly doesn't make it racist, also doesn't mean that using bombs of such destruction is right in any situation, but there you go.