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.
Twitter be like "Bring it on, freak."
Not that it makes a difference but I thought he was let go by RT the last week or two due to the sanctions?
Guarantees from Germany, economically collaborating with Ruskies from days of Schroeder & Angela.
This should be interesting.
Much much longer than Schröder or Merkel. We import Russian gas since the 1970s
Sure, not denying that, I'm talking about context of Nord Stream II which threatens Ukraine's energy security and weakens it's market for gas in that region of Europe.
Nord Stream was planned through the Baltic Sea because Ukraine acted like untrustworthy criminals. From a German perspective Nord Stream took the possibility from Ukraine to try to steal Russian gas intented for Germany (which they occasionally did when refusing to pay Gazprom a price for gas slowly approaching world market prices).
If you say that it threatens Ukraine's energy security, you actually mean taking away this power to threaten the German energy security.
And to be honest I still support the decision in the context of the time - Russia appeared to be much more trustworthy then Ukraine for us, so it made sense. Sadly in the meantime Ukraine moved closer to the West, while Russia lost their trustworthyness over time and especially with this war.
However this background might also explain why some in Germany are hesitant to fully support Ukraine, they were acting as a threat for our energy security.
Don't worry, Putin will liberate Germany from any gas insecurities now.
Yep, in the long run it was the wrong decision. Just shows how much geopolitics can change over the year and that you can take no alliances for granted forever.
Saw Steinmeier's words yesterday and there's some hope to actually steer clear from dealing with this unending cycle of Russia acting as they please in the end.
I don't know how or what can be done, but this could lead to serious jump of gas prices anyway. Somebody will have to control Putin and so far capable of that could be only China, but they really could be just an enabler to further atrocity.
So far, there's no winners in this war in pretty much every aspect, military or economically and it's depressing to say the least.
The BBC report:
"Czech TV has shown pictures of military equipment [tanks] on trains at a station in the town of Jihlava - reportedly heading to Ukraine.
On Tuesday the Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said that the Czech Republic was sending "essential military equipment" to Ukraine.
Speaking as Nato foreign ministers gathered in Brussels for talks on the conflict, the security alliance's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said he would not go into details of what kind of weapons allies were providing to Ukraine.
"But I can say that the totality of what allies are doing is significant and that includes also some heavier systems combined with lighter systems."
"Czech TV has shown pictures of military equipment [tanks] on trains at a station in the town of Jihlava - reportedly heading to Ukraine.
On Tuesday the Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said that the Czech Republic was sending "essential military equipment" to Ukraine.
Speaking as Nato foreign ministers gathered in Brussels for talks on the conflict, the security alliance's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said he would not go into details of what kind of weapons allies were providing to Ukraine.
"But I can say that the totality of what allies are doing is significant and that includes also some heavier systems combined with lighter systems."
Doesn't seem that fast tbf. You're the Pentagon, just pay the extra 12 quid a month and upgrade to Prime delivery.
Good.
Even without the supposed inflation, massive losses - equipment wise probably the complete ground forces of a several average sized countries combined.
That is pure propaganda bullshit sadly. Increasing numbers that look nice (like planes) to an extent that can't be backed up by independent checks, while totally ignoring other success (they definitely destroyed more than 76 fuel transporters by now)
It’s increasingly hard for Germany to spin this as them being anything other than the chief backers – again – of the latest genocide on European soil. For a country that has done so much to immeasurably restore its reputation over the last 75 years, the longer they continue to finance the Russian regime, the harsher history will judge them once again. Ukrainians are being massacred – with the funding coming from European heating and manufacturing bills. If cutting off Russian gas and oil is going to become a political imperative in the weeks and months to come, it needs to be done sooner rather than later.
I don’t get any pleasure from this; I’m a big Europhile and went to university to study German and German culture.
It's likely to be an exaggeration, I agree, but probably not by all that much.
For example, take the claimed (Ukrainian estimate) 18,600 Russians killed. The Pentagon estimates of Russians killed was in the range 7,000 - 15,000, and that was 3 weeks ago.
BTW, they claim to have destroyed 75 fuel tanks, not fuel transporters. The latter will be amongst the claimed 1,324 vehicles.
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That's an absurd statement. Their need to to buy Russian energy supplies does not make them supporters of genocide. And your attempt - using the word "again" - to draw parallels with Hitler's genocide is especially repugnant.
Sorry, are you comparing this to the Nazis perpetrating the Holocaust? Or are you thinking of some other genocide?
Switzerland’s President talking to the useless regime ‘ruling’ Belarus.
It takes years to change gas suppliers and not even Ukraine itself is blocking the pipelines running through it.
We aren't depending on bypassing Ukraine, we get our Russian gas delivered through Ukraine. Which is astonishing, but it is a fact. Ukraine could stop these and force Europe not to finance Russia by buying their gas, but not even they are doing that.
Come back to complain once we are solely depending on Nord Stream
It’s hardly original thought at this stage. Parliamentarians in the EU and senior politicians across many EU states have said as much that they are acutely aware between the direct relationship of their energy payments and what it is funding Russia to do in Ukraine. Giving billions to Russia is giving billions to funding genocide, regardless of whether you try and justify it as a necessary evil to keep Oma’s house warm.
I don’t envy the predicament that countries that are heavily dependent on Russian energy find themselves in. There’s no easy answer. There’s only bad choices. Right now, Ukrainians are getting the lion’s share of the pain though. As it stands, we essentially have two countries as outliers providing the greatest resistance to the heaviest sanctions in the EU. Hungary, because of the close political relationship between far-right autocrats, and Germany because of a disastrous energy policy where they are far too dependent on funding a genocidal regime to heat their homes and fuel industry.
If this war carries on for months or even years to come, and Germany especially – as well as other European countries – continues to pour sums of money into Russia, which far exceeds the lethal and humanitarian aid they give to Ukraine, then history will judge them terribly. It will completely sully Germany’s post WWII reputation.
As Ukraine war enters new phase, can western arms turn the tide?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ters-new-phase-can-western-arms-turn-the-tide
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ters-new-phase-can-western-arms-turn-the-tide
I’m amazed myself there’s not been insurgent action on the gas pipelines coming out of Ukraine! I assume they have vulnerabilities.It takes years to change gas suppliers and not even Ukraine itself is blocking the pipelines running through it.
We aren't depending on bypassing Ukraine, we get our Russian gas delivered through Ukraine. Which is astonishing, but it is a fact. Ukraine could stop these and force Europe not to finance Russia by buying their gas, but not even they are doing that.
Come back to complain once we are solely depending on Nord Stream
I presume the Ukrainian government wouldn’t do it, because as well as turning off gas to Europe, it would also turn off goodwill flowing in the other direction. A fair chunk of the EU was only too prepared for Russia to rout Ukraine and move on with the new norm. Ukraine was acutely aware of many European leaders assuming Ukraine was a lost cause should Russia have chosen to invade.
At the current rate of destruction, and with so much military equipment inside Ukraine or close to it borders, Putin might struggle to find enough military hardware for the country’s traditional Victory Day parade on 9 May.
Mind you, the parade could provide a perfect opportunity for multiple long-range missile strikes by Ukraine.
That would be sight to behold: vehicles exploding as they pass in front of Putin's viewing platform. We can only dream.
Mind you, the parade could provide a perfect opportunity for multiple long-range missile strikes by Ukraine.
That would be sight to behold: vehicles exploding as they pass in front of Putin's viewing platform. We can only dream.
The BBC reports:
"Finland has responded to Russia's war in Ukraine by announcing a €2.2bn (£1.8bn) increase in funding over the next four years. The extra money will pay for hundreds of extra professional soldiers, better border security and weapons including missiles and ammunition.
Finland has a 1,340km (830-mile) border with Russia and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted increasing support for joining the West's defensive military alliance Nato.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin said at the weekend that the war meant that Finns had to "seriously mull over our own stance and approach to military alignment" and decide carefully but quickly during the course of this spring.
Finnish Chief of Defence Timo Kivinen says Russia's invasion has underscored Finland's need to have rapid operational readiness, regardless of the Nato membership debate, and investment in the military will start immediately.
Finland already takes part in Nato exercises but a YLE opinion poll last month suggested 62% of Finns backed full membership. That's a dramatic shift as until the invasion, opinion polls indicated Finns were opposed to joining."
"Finland has responded to Russia's war in Ukraine by announcing a €2.2bn (£1.8bn) increase in funding over the next four years. The extra money will pay for hundreds of extra professional soldiers, better border security and weapons including missiles and ammunition.
Finland has a 1,340km (830-mile) border with Russia and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted increasing support for joining the West's defensive military alliance Nato.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin said at the weekend that the war meant that Finns had to "seriously mull over our own stance and approach to military alignment" and decide carefully but quickly during the course of this spring.
Finnish Chief of Defence Timo Kivinen says Russia's invasion has underscored Finland's need to have rapid operational readiness, regardless of the Nato membership debate, and investment in the military will start immediately.
Finland already takes part in Nato exercises but a YLE opinion poll last month suggested 62% of Finns backed full membership. That's a dramatic shift as until the invasion, opinion polls indicated Finns were opposed to joining."
Just read this
Jonathan D.T. Ward, a global consultant on U.S.-China relations, said in a Tuesday Fox Business interview that he believes China is preparing for a war with the U.S. as well as its neighboring Asian countries.
Ward is the author of “China’s Vision of Victory” and leads the U.S.-China relations consulting firm Atlas Organization. He began the interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo by noting a recent call between Chinese and Ukrainian diplomats. Ward assessed China is “playing both sides” and “trying to keep up an appearance of being a good actor” for its European trade partners, all while being a “fervent supporter of Moscow.”
Ward said a major component of China’s long-term strategy is to increasingly partner with Russia, and he sees that as a critical piece of how China prepares for a potential war with other Asian countries or the U.S.
“China is preparing for war with the United States and Asia, and if and when that happens, they want Russia as their partner on that date,” Ward said. “You know, this is a joint idea of taking down the U.S.-led order. I mean, they’ve been absolutely clear about that in their communications and, you know, being able to work together, building their military relationship and having that underlying economic relationship in which China absolutely has the upper hand and therefore a great deal of leverage over Russia, but they have a shared joint ideological enterprise.”
Jonathan D.T. Ward, a global consultant on U.S.-China relations, said in a Tuesday Fox Business interview that he believes China is preparing for a war with the U.S. as well as its neighboring Asian countries.
Ward is the author of “China’s Vision of Victory” and leads the U.S.-China relations consulting firm Atlas Organization. He began the interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo by noting a recent call between Chinese and Ukrainian diplomats. Ward assessed China is “playing both sides” and “trying to keep up an appearance of being a good actor” for its European trade partners, all while being a “fervent supporter of Moscow.”
Ward said a major component of China’s long-term strategy is to increasingly partner with Russia, and he sees that as a critical piece of how China prepares for a potential war with other Asian countries or the U.S.
“China is preparing for war with the United States and Asia, and if and when that happens, they want Russia as their partner on that date,” Ward said. “You know, this is a joint idea of taking down the U.S.-led order. I mean, they’ve been absolutely clear about that in their communications and, you know, being able to work together, building their military relationship and having that underlying economic relationship in which China absolutely has the upper hand and therefore a great deal of leverage over Russia, but they have a shared joint ideological enterprise.”
Russia may well revert to horses and bayonets for their parade on May 9 at this rate. Yep, I had to bring that Barack Obama joke for the topic.
There is a strong argument for Pacific nations to create a regional equivalent to NATO. I only hope that enough people in Asia are waking up to that reality.
There is a strong argument for Pacific nations to create a regional equivalent to NATO. I only hope that enough people in Asia are waking up to that reality.
And yet it has no comparison in the slightest to the Nazis murdering 6 million Jews and millions of other civilians, plus directly and indirectly causing the deaths of many millions more.
China is militarily unable to even take Taiwan, far less simultaneously wage war against the U.S and several Asian countries. Moreover, its economy is hugely tied in with global trade ... a trade that would collapse overnight with the advent of such a war.