Russia invades Ukraine

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-reach-over-120000-troops-ukraines-border-week-ukraine-says-2021-04-20/

Russia will soon have more than 120,000 troops on Ukraine’s border, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, calling for new Western economic sanctions to deter Moscow from “further escalation”.

Washington and NATO have been alarmed by the large build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine and in Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Western officials say the concentration of forces is now larger than during that annexation. The figure given by Kuleba is higher than Ukraine’s previous estimate of 80,000 Russian troops, of which 50,000 were new deployments.

"Russian troops continue to arrive in close proximity to our borders in the northeast, in the east and in the south. In about a week, they are expected to reach a combined force of over 120,000 troops," Kuleba told an online news conference.

"This does not mean they will stop building up their forces at that number," Kuleba said, warning of what he said was Moscow's unpredictability although he said Ukraine did not want conflict with Russia.

"The cost of preventing Russia's further escalation will always be lower than the cost of stopping it and mitigating its consequences ... It is way more effective to clearly make Moscow understand that a new stage of aggression will have dire consequences for Russia, international isolation and painful economic sanctions."

Kuleba also called for Moscow to re-commit to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed forces have fought Ukrainian troops in a conflict that Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people since 2014.

Kyiv and Moscow have traded blame for a rise in casualties in the conflict in recent weeks. Kuleba said Russian snipers were killing Ukrainian soldiers to provoke Ukraine to counterattack.

Russia has said its troop build-up is a three-week snap military drill to test combat readiness in response to what it calls threatening behaviour from NATO. Moscow on Tuesday also accused the U.S. and NATO of "provocative activity" in the waters and airspace of the Black Sea.

Kuleba attended a video conference with EU foreign ministers and said he openly "called on colleagues to start considering a new round of sectoral sanctions against Russia".

He said he did not feel EU ministers were ready for such a move but he told them that individual sanctions on Russian officials were insufficient.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-orders-troops-back-base-after-buildup-near-ukraine-2021-04-22/

Russia announced on Thursday it was ordering troops back to base from the area near the border with Ukraine, apparently calling an end to a buildup of tens of thousands of soldiers that had alarmed the West.

The currencies of both Russia and Ukraine rose sharply after the announcement, signalling relief among investors just hours after Russia also ended war games in Crimea, the peninsula it occupied and annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

There was no immediate response from Western countries, but a pullout of the troops brought in on top of the permanent contingent was likely to be welcomed by countries that had been expressing alarm at the prospect of further Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian government in the region since 2014.

The Ukrainian president's spokeswoman said this month that Russia had more than 40,000 troops deployed on Ukraine's eastern border and over 40,000 in Crimea. Around 50,000 of them were new deployments, she said. Moscow has not provided any troop numbers. In a tweet, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine "welcomes any steps to decrease the military presence & deescalate the situation in Donbas (eastern Ukraine)", adding "Grateful to international partners for their support".

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had told Reuters Kyiv did not know whether Moscow intended to launch an attack or not, and said the West must make clear it would stand with Ukraine if Russia did so.

"So it can go in either direction now," Kuleba said. "And this is why the reaction of the West, the consolidated reaction of the West, is so important now, to prevent Putin ... from making that decision."

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said he had ordered troops involved in exercises to return to their bases by May 1, as they had completed what he called an "inspection" in the border area.

"I believe the objectives of the snap inspection have been fully achieved. The troops have demonstrated their ability to provide a credible defence for the country," Shoigu said. Military hardware was to be left at a training ground near the city of Voronezh, about six hours' drive from Ukraine, so that it could be used again later this year in another big scheduled exercise.

Hours earlier, Shoigu had attended manoeuvres in Crimea, which Moscow said involved 10,000 troops and more than 40 warships. Russia also announced it had arrested a Ukrainian man in Crimea as a spy.

The troop buildup near Ukraine was one of several issues that have raised tensions between Russia and the West.

Last week, the United States tightened sanctions on Russia over accusations that it had hacked computers and meddled in U.S. elections, and the Czech Republic accused Moscow of a role in deadly explosions at an arms dump in 2014.

Both countries expelled Russian diplomats, prompting angry denials and ***-for-tat expulsions by Moscow.

Western countries have also urged Russia to free jailed hunger-striking opposition figure Alexei Navalny, with Washington warning of "consequences" should he die in prison. Russia says the West should not interfere.

In a major speech on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin sounded a defiant note, warning Western countries not to cross unspecified "red lines". But Putin is also participating this week in a climate summit organised by U.S. President Joe Biden.

In Moscow, the Kremlin said Putin was aware of an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet to discuss the crisis.

"If the president considers it necessary, he will reply himself. I have nothing to say on that now," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-cannot-block-ukraines-nato-aspirations-us-secretary-defence-says-2021-10-19/

U.S. Secretary Of Defence Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday Russia was the obstacle to peace in eastern Ukraine and had no right to veto Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO.

During a visit to Kyiv, at a time when Russia's relations with the West are at post-Cold War lows, Austin said Ukraine must be able to decide its own foreign policy and warned Moscow to halt cyberattacks against the United States and its allies.

Ukrainian troops have been fighting Russian-backed forces in the eastern Donbass region in a conflict that began in 2014, soon after Russia seized the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine.

"Let's be clear, that Russia started this war and Russia is the obstacle to a peaceful resolution," Austin told a news briefing alongside Ukrainian Defence Minister Andrii Taran.

"So we again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea, to stop perpetuating the war in eastern Ukraine, to end its destabilising activities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine's borders, and to halt its persistent cyber attacks and other malign activities against the United States and our allies and partners."

Moscow denies having troops in eastern Ukraine or sending troops and military hardware to prop up two proxy separatist governments in Donbass. It blames Kyiv for the lack of progress towards peace and denies carrying out cyberattacks.

The United States has been Ukraine's most powerful backer since Russia's annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people.

But Ukraine has been frustrated by its slow progress towards NATO membership, especially after a border standoff with Russian troops this year. Washington has urged Kyiv to implement reforms in the defence sector to become eligible.

Russia said on Monday it was halting the activities of its diplomatic mission to NATO after the Western military alliance expelled eight Russians it accused of spying.

The Kremlin also warned last month that any expansion of NATO military infrastructure in Ukraine would cross one of President Vladimir Putin's "red lines".

Austin said "no third country has a veto over NATO's membership decisions."

"Ukraine, as you heard me say earlier, has a right to decide its own future foreign policy and we expect that they will be able to do that without any outside interference," he said.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-patrol-boats-sent-beef-up-ukrainian-navy-near-black-sea-2021-11-20/

A ship carrying two refitted former U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats designed to beef up the Ukrainian Navy transited the Dardanelles strait on Saturday days after Ukraine said it feared Russia might be preparing an attack on it.

The ship carrying the two Island-class patrol boats departed Baltimore for the Ukrainian port of Odessa on Nov. 8. Ukrainian sailors have already undergone extensive training on the vessels in the United States. Ukraine got two similar vessels in 2019.

The two new boats are part of a security package to Ukraine worth over $2.5 billion since 2014, the year when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and Russian-backed separatists seized a swath of eastern Ukraine, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv says.

The United States, Ukraine and NATO have accused Russia of threatening behaviour towards Kyiv in recent weeks alleging that it has built up its forces in proximity to Ukraine in an unusual way.

Russia says it has the right to move its troops anywhere it wants on its own territory and is not planning to attack anyone.

The Kremlin said in September that NATO would cross a Russian red line if it expanded its military infrastructure in Ukraine, and Moscow has since accused Ukraine and NATO of destabilising behaviour, including in the Black Sea.

Kyiv lost most of its Black Sea naval power after the annexation of Crimea when Russia seized much of its navy. It has since been trying to rebuild its navy with the help of NATO countries.

The U.S. State Department this summer approved the potential sale to Ukraine of up to 16 Mark VI patrol boats and equipment for an estimated $600 million.

Ukraine, which strives to become a NATO member, received a large consignment of U.S. ammunition earlier this year and Javelin anti-tank missiles, prompting criticism from Moscow which has said it has serious security concerns about the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO one day.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/kremlin-accuses-west-artificially-whipping-up-ukraine-tensions-2021-11-21/

The Kremlin on Sunday accused the West of artificially whipping up tensions around Ukraine with repeated statements suggesting Russia was poised to launch an attack on its neighbour and told Washington and its allies to stop a military build-up nearby.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday his country has real concerns, widely shared with partners in Europe, over Russian activities at the Ukrainian border, after Ukraine said it feared Russia might be preparing an attack.

U.S., NATO and Ukrainian officials have been making similar statements for nearly two weeks, referring to what they say are unusual Russian troop movements in the proximity of Ukraine.

Moscow has dismissed such suggestions as inflammatory and complained about what it says is increasing activity in the region by the NATO alliance.

In comments due to be broadcast later on Sunday on state TV, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "a provocation" in the area could not be ruled out given all the U.S. rhetoric.

"This hysteria is being artificially whipped up. We are being accused of some kind of unusual military activity on our territory by those who have brought in their armed forces from across the ocean. That is, the United States of America," Peskov said.

"It's not really logical or polite."

Peskov suggested Ukraine was probably looking for a way to solve its own problems by force.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 and Russian-backed separatists seized a swath of eastern Ukraine that same year.

Peskov said Russia wanted NATO to stop "concentrating a military fist" near Russia's own borders and to stop arming Ukraine with modern weapons.

The Kremlin said in September that NATO would cross a Russian red line if it expanded its military infrastructure in Ukraine.

A ship carrying two refitted former U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats designed to beef up the Ukrainian Navy transited the Dardanelles strait on Saturday.

Ukraine, which strives to become a NATO member, received a large consignment of U.S. ammunition earlier this year and Javelin anti-tank missiles, prompting criticism from Moscow.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-ukraine-both-step-up-military-alert-with-combat-drills-2021-11-24/

Russia staged military drills in the Black Sea, south of Ukraine, on Wednesday and said it needed to sharpen the combat-readiness of its conventional and nuclear forces because of heightened NATO activity near its borders.

Ukraine, which says it believes Russia may be preparing an invasion, held exercises of its own near the frontier with Belarus. read more An independent Russian investigative group posted photos and videos it said showed movements of tanks and other military vehicles in southern Russia in the past few days.

The increase of military activity on both sides follows weeks of rising tension that have raised the risk of war between the two ex-Soviet neighbours, even though Russia denies aggressive intent and Western intelligence sources have told Reuters they do not see any invasion as imminent.

Ukraine is not a NATO member but the United States and the alliance have signalled their backing for Kyiv in ways that Moscow considers provocative, including through warship manoeuvres this month in the Black Sea and a delivery of U.S. patrol boats to the Ukrainian navy.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told Reuters it would be "a grave mistake from Russia" to attack Ukraine.

Estonian Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas said the European Union must make it clear to Russia that there would be a high price to pay if it acted against Ukraine, urging the EU to quickly agree on how to deter Moscow.

In Wednesday's exercises in the Black Sea, Russian fighter planes and ships practiced repelling air attacks on naval bases and responding with air strikes, Interfax reported.

Separately, the news agency quoted Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying the need for Russia to further develop its armed forces was dictated by "the complicated military and political conditions in the world and the growing activity of NATO countries near Russia's borders".

He said raising the armed forces' capabilities, supporting the combat preparedness of nuclear forces and strengthening the potential of non-nuclear deterrence are among the priorities.

Shoigu complained on Tuesday that U.S. bombers had rehearsed a nuclear strike on Russia from two different directions earlier this month, and that the planes had come too close to the Russian border. The Pentagon said these drills adhered to international protocols.

Ukraine, which has tilted towards the West since a popular uprising ousted a pro-Russian president in 2014, on Wednesday held what it called a "special operation" at the border with Belarus, including drone exercises and military drills for anti-tank and airborne units.

It has deployed 8,500 extra troops to its boundary with Belarus, saying it fears being drawn into a migrant crisis which has seen the European Union accuse Minsk of flying in people from the Middle East and pushing them to enter neighbouring Poland. Belarus denies fomenting the crisis. Kyiv also worries that the border with Belarus, a close Russian ally, could be used by Moscow to stage a military assault.

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence told the Military Times outlet last weekend that Russia had more than 92,000 troops massed around Ukraine's borders and was preparing for an attack by the end of January or beginning of February.

Moscow has dismissed such suggestions as inflammatory, said it was not threatening anyone and defended its right to deploy its troops as it wished.

The Conflict Intelligence Team, an independent Russian investigative group, posted video and photos on its website showing movements of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and howitzers this month near Voronezh, about 190 km (120 miles) from the Ukrainian border, and a new concentration of army vehicles at a training ground to the south of the city.

It also posted what it said was video evidence of military trains carrying infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers in the past two days to Valuyki, 23 km from the Ukrainian border.

The group said Russian troops had been arriving as well in Crimea, the peninsula seized by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.

It said its assessment was that Russian troops would be ready for potential operations inside Ukraine no earlier than the start of next year.

Intelligence sources, diplomats and analysts have told Reuters that Moscow may be using the escalation as part of a wider strategy to exert pressure in Europe, including by backing Belarus in the migrant crisis and parlaying its influence as the continent's top gas supplier into pressure for quick regulatory approval of its new Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany.

"It feels... more like another piece of coercive leverage that the Russians are heaping onto this strategic situation in Eastern Europe," said Samir Puri, senior fellow in hybrid warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"It may well have value in that alone, rather than having to be followed through with a full-scale invasion which would be politically disastrous for Putin."

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-information-about-december-coup-attempt-with-russian-involvement-2021-11-26/

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday said Ukraine had uncovered a plot to overthrow his government next week, involving individuals from Russia caught on tape talking about roping Ukraine's richest businessman into backing a coup.

The Kremlin denied any role in any coup plot, and the businessman called the president's account an "absolute lie." Zelenskiy himself gave few details and stopped short of saying whether he believed the Kremlin was behind the plot.

But the accusation raised the temperature at a time when Kyiv and its Western allies have already accused Moscow of massing troops near the Ukrainian border for a possible assault, a suggestion Moscow dismisses as false and alarmist.

Speaking at an hours-long news conference, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained audio recordings of the plotters talking about involving business magnate Rinat Akhmetov into joining their coup.

"We have challenges not only from the Russian Federation and possible escalation - we have big internal challenges. I received information that a coup d'etat will take place in our country on Dec. 1-2," Zelenskiy said.

Akhmetov said in a statement: "The information made public by Volodymyr Zelenskiy about attempts to draw me into some kind of coup is an absolute lie. I am outraged by the spread of this lie, no matter what the president's motives are."

"As a Ukrainian citizen, the country's biggest investor, taxpayer, and employer, I will continue to defend a free Ukraine, a free economy, democracy, and freedom of speech."

Ukraine's sovereign dollar bonds tumbled to their lowest level in more than a year on Friday and the cost of insuring exposure to the country's debt soared amid rising security concerns.

Zelenskiy did not give full details of the coup plot. Asked explicitly whether he thought the Kremlin was involved, he said: "I'm sorry, I can't talk about it."

But he also spoke at length at the news conference of a threat of Russian military escalation, and said Ukraine would be ready for it.

"We are in full control of our borders and are fully prepared for any escalation," Zelenskiy said.

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence told the Military Times outlet last week that Russia had more than 92,000 troops massed around Ukraine's borders and was preparing for an attack by the end of January or beginning of February.

Ukraine, which wants to join the NATO military alliance, has blamed Moscow for supporting separatists in a conflict in its east since 2014. It received a large consignment of U.S. ammunition and Javelin missiles earlier this year, prompting criticism from Russia.

U.S. officials were in touch with Ukraine to get additional information on the plot, said Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried.

Ministers from NATO member states, including U.S. top diplomat Antony Blinken, would also meet Ukrainian officials during a summit in Latvia next week, Donfried told reporters in a telephone briefing.

Zelenskiy also said his chief of staff Andriy Yermak would soon be contacting representatives of Russia about the standoff between the two countries. Separately, Yermak said he would be contacting senior Kremlin official Dmitry Kozak.

Russia has said it suspects Ukraine of wanting to recapture separatist-controlled territory by force. Zelenskiy said Ukraine had no such plans and added that Russia's rhetoric opposing Ukraine's bid to join NATO was a worrying signal.

A former actor who once played a fictional president in a popular sitcom, the 43-year-old Zelenskiy came to power by a landslide in 2019 promising to end the war in eastern Ukraine, which Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people.

But after a lull in fighting and confidence-building measures including prisoner swaps, tensions with Russia rose this year. President Vladimir Putin said the West was taking his "red lines" about NATO expansion too lightly.

At his news conference, Zelenskiy said he wanted the prisoner swaps to resume. He called on Russia to state explicitly that it would not launch a new attack on Ukraine.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/russia-spy-chief-says-ukraine-invasion-plan-malicious-us-propaganda-2021-11-27/

Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine and suggestions to the contrary are malicious U.S. propaganda, Moscow's foreign intelligence chief said on Saturday.

U.S., NATO and Ukrainian officials have raised the alarm in recent weeks over what they say are unusual Russian troop movements near the border with Ukraine, suggesting that Moscow may be poised to launch an attack.

Russia has repeatedly said it is free to move its troops on its own territory and that such movements should not be a cause for concern.

"I need to reassure everyone. Nothing like this is going to happen," Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's foreign intelligence agency, said in an interview broadcast on state television, referring to comments on Russia's alleged invasion plans.

"Everything that is happening around this topic right now is of course malicious propaganda by the U.S. State Department."

Naryshkin spoke a day after the State Department's top U.S. diplomat for European affairs said all options were on the table in how to respond to Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine's border and that NATO would decide on the next move after consultations next week.

While U.S. officials have voiced concerns about a possible Russian attack on Ukraine, Moscow has accused Washington, Kyiv and NATO of provocative and irresponsible behaviour near its borders.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-unveils-security-guarantees-says-western-response-not-encouraging-2021-12-17/

Russia said on Friday it wanted a legally binding guarantee that NATO would give up any military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine, part of a wish list of security guarantees it wants to negotiate with the West.

Moscow for the first time laid out in detail demands that it says are essential for lowering tensions in Europe and defusing a crisis over Ukraine, which Western countries have accused Russia of sizing up for a potential invasion after building up troops near the border. Russia has denied planning an invasion.

The demands contain elements - such as an effective Russian veto on NATO membership for Ukraine - that the West has already ruled out.

Others would imply the removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe and the withdrawal of multinational NATO battalions from Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that were once in the Soviet Union.

In Washington, a senior administration official said the United States was prepared to discuss the proposals but added: "That said, there are some things in those documents that the Russians know are unacceptable."

The official said Washington would respond some time next week with more concrete proposals on the format of any talks.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Washington would talk to its allies. "We will not compromise the key principles on which European security is built, including that all countries have the right to decide their own future and foreign policy, free from outside interference," she said.

NATO diplomats told Reuters that Russia cannot have a veto on further alliance expansion and NATO has the right to decide its own military posture.

"Russia is not a member of NATO and doesn't decide on matters related to NATO," Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lukasz Jasina said.

Some Western political analysts suggested Russia was knowingly presenting unrealistic demands which it knew would not be met to provide a diplomatic distraction while maintaining military pressure on Ukraine.

"Something is very wrong with this picture, the pol(itical) side appears to be a smokescreen," Michael Kofman, a Russia specialist at Virginia-based research organization CNA, wrote on Twitter.

Sam Greene, professor of Russian politics at King's College London, said President Vladimir Putin was "drawing a line around the post-Soviet space and planting a 'keep out' sign".

"It's not meant to be a treaty: it's a declaration," he said. "But that doesn’t necessarily mean this is a prelude to war. It’s a justification for keeping Moscow’s hair-trigger stance, in order to keep Washington and others off balance."

Presenting Moscow's demands, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia and the West must start from a clean sheet in rebuilding relations.

"The line pursued by the United States and NATO over recent years to aggressively escalate the security situation is absolutely unacceptable and extremely dangerous," he told reporters.

Ryabkov said Russia was not willing to put up with the current situation any longer, and urged Washington to come up with a constructive response fast.

He said Russia was ready to start talks as soon as Saturday, with Geneva a possible venue, but Russian news agency TASS quoted him as saying later that Moscow was extremely disappointed by the signals coming from Washington and NATO.

Moscow handed over its proposals to the United States this week as tensions rose over the Russian troop build-up near Ukraine.

It says it is responding to what it sees as threats to its own security from Ukraine's increasingly close relations with NATO and aspirations to become an alliance member, even though there is no imminent prospect of Kyiv being allowed to join.

The Russian proposals were set out in two documents - a draft agreement with NATO countries and a draft treaty with the United States, both published by the foreign ministry.

The first, among other points, would require Russia and NATO not to deploy additional troops and weapons outside the countries where they were in May 1997 - before the accession to NATO of any of the former communist states in East Europe that for decades were dominated by Moscow. It would mean NATO abandoning any military activities in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The treaty with the United States would prevent Moscow and Washington from deploying nuclear weapons outside their national territories. That would mean an end to NATO's so-called nuclear-sharing arrangements, where European NATO members provide aircraft capable of delivering U.S. nuclear weapons.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moscow-considering-nato-proposal-hold-talks-jan-12-tass-2021-12-26/

Russia has received a NATO proposal to commence talks on Moscow's security concerns on Jan. 12 and is considering it, TASS news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying on Sunday.

Russia, which has unnerved the West with a troop buildup near Ukraine, last week unveiled a wish list of security proposals it wants to negotiate, including a promise NATO would give up any military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine.

"We have already received this (NATO) offer, and we are considering it," TASS quoted the foreign ministry as saying.

The United States and Ukraine say Russia may be preparing an invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour. Russia denies that and says it is Ukraine's growing relationship with NATO that has caused the standoff to escalate. It has compared it to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when the world came to the brink of nuclear war.

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia wanted to avoid conflict but needed an "immediate" response from the United States and its allies to its demands for security guarantees. Moscow has said it expects talks with U.S. officials on the subject to start in January in Geneva.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has said some of Russia's security proposals are obviously unacceptable, but that Washington will respond with more concrete ideas on the format of any talks.

The Kremlin's demands contain elements - such as an effective Russian veto on future NATO membership for Ukraine - that the West has already ruled out.

Others would imply the removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe and the withdrawal of multinational NATO battalions from Poland and from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that were once in the Soviet Union.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-head-convenes-council-with-russia-jan-12-2022-01-04/

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has scheduled a special meeting of allied ambassadors and top Russian officials for next week as both sides seek dialogue to prevent open conflict over Ukraine, a NATO official said on Tuesday.

Alarmed by Russia's military build-up along Ukraine's border, the Western military alliance has been seeking a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council for months but the forum seemed in jeopardy after an espionage dispute in October.

The meeting of the council, a format used for dialogue since 2002, will take place in Brussels on Jan. 12 after U.S. and Russian officials hold security talks on Jan. 10 in Geneva.

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, flew to Ukraine on Tuesday for a two-day trip to show support for Kyiv, which aspires to join the bloc and NATO.

In preparation for next week's diplomacy, NATO foreign ministers will hold a video conference on Friday at 1300 GMT, chaired by Stoltenberg, the alliance said in a statement.

Moscow wants guarantees that NATO will halt its eastward expansion and end military cooperation with Ukraine and Georgia, which have territorial disputes with Russia.

Moscow also denies U.S. assertions that it is planning an invasion of Ukraine and accuses Kyiv of building up its own forces in the east of the country.

"Any dialogue with Russia would have to proceed on the basis of reciprocity, address NATO's concerns about Russia's actions... and take place in consultation with NATO's European partners," the NATO official said of the Jan. 12 meeting.

Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson, confirmed that Russian officials will attend the NATO-Russia Council meeting in Brussels.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and other senior Russian officials are expected to attend the Brussels talks, after meeting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Geneva.

On Jan. 13, talks will continue in the broader format of the Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which includes the United States and its NATO allies, as well as Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

The EU's Borrell, who was central to the bloc's strategy of increased sanctions on top Russian officials in 2021, believes "the EU cannot be a neutral spectator in the negotiations if Russia really wants to discuss Europe's security architecture", according to an EU spokesperson.

The European Union sees Ukraine as a "strategic partner", the spokesperson said.

Borrell, accompanied by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, will visit Ukraine's contact line with Russian-backed separatist rebels during his visit. EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss their next steps later in January.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/expect-worst-ukraine-hit-by-cyberattack-russia-moves-more-troops-2022-01-14/

The United States said it feared Russia was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine if diplomacy fails to meet its objectives, after a massive cyberattack splashed Ukrainian government websites with a warning to "be afraid and expect the worst".

Moscow dismissed such warnings, though it has amassed more than 100,000 troops on its neighbour's frontiers and on Friday released pictures of more of its forces on the move. The cyberattack unfolded hours after security talks wrapped up on Thursday with no breakthrough between Moscow and Western allies.

Ukraine said its president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, had proposed a three-way meeting with the leaders of Russia and the United States. Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said the "life and death" of his country hung in the balance.

White House press secretaryJen Psakitold reporters the United States was concerned that Russia was preparing for the possibility of a new military assault on a country it invaded in 2014.

"As part of its plans, Russia is laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for invasion, including through sabotage activities and information operations, by accusing Ukraine of preparing an imminent attack against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine," Psaki said.

A U.S. officialsaid the United States had information that indicated Russia had already positioned a group of operatives to conduct "a false-flag operation" in eastern Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed such reports as based on "unfounded" information, TASS news agency reported.

Russia denies plans to attack Ukraine but says it could take unspecified military action unless its demands - including a promise by the NATO alliance never to admit Kyiv - are met.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia hoped security talks with the United States would resume but that this would depend on Washington's response to Moscow's proposals.

"We categorically will not accept the appearance of NATO right on our borders, especially so given the current course of the Ukrainian leadership," he said.

Asked what Moscow meant by threatening this week to take "military-technical action" if talks fail, Lavrov said: "Measures to deploy military hardware, that is obvious. When we take decisions with military hardware we understand what we mean and what we are preparing for."

Russian Defence Ministry footage released by RIA news agency showed armoured vehicles and other military hardware being loaded onto trains in Russia's far east, in what Moscow called an inspection drill to practice long-range deployments.

"This is likely cover for the units being moved towards Ukraine," said Rob Lee, a military analyst and a fellow at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Ukrainian officials were investigating the cyberattack, which they said hit around 70 internet sites of government bodies including the security and defence council.

Though they avoided directly accusing Moscow, Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters that Russia had been behind similar strikes in the past.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said it was not yet clear who was responsible. "We are in touch with the Ukrainians and have offered our support," the spokesperson said.

Russia did not comment, but has previously denied being behind cyberattacks, including against Ukraine.

"Ukrainian! All your personal data was uploaded to the public network. All data on the computer is destroyed, it is impossible to restore it," said a message visible on hacked government websites, written in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish.

"All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect the worst. This is for your past, present and future."

The message was peppered with references that echoed long-running Russian state allegations, rejected by Kyiv, that Ukraine is in thrall to far-right nationalist groups.

The Ukrainian government said it had restored most of the affected sites and no personal data had been stolen.

NATO responded by announcing that it would sign a new agreement within days with Kyiv on closer cooperation in cyber defence, including giving Ukraine access to the Western military alliance's system for sharing information on malicious software.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that NATO cyber experts were already working with the Ukrainian authorities to respond to the attack.

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the EU's political and security committee and cyber units would meet to see how to help Kyiv.

"I can't blame anybody as I have no proof, but we can imagine," he said.

On the streets of Ukraine, there was growing resignation to the prospect of renewed fighting. Kyiv resident Ruslan Kavatsyuk, 39, said he saw the cyberattack as a "positive", since it would stiffen the resolve of the Ukrainian public.

"It reminds us that we live during military times, that Russia is an enemy who will kill us physically," he said.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/exclusive-us-talks-energy-firms-over-eu-gas-supply-case-russia-ukraine-conflict-2022-01-15/

The U.S. government has held talks with several international energy companies on contingency plans for supplying natural gas to Europe if conflict between Russia and Ukraine disrupts Russian supplies, two U.S. officials and two industry sources told Reuters on Friday.

The United States is concerned Russia is preparing for the possibility of a new military assault on the country it invaded in 2014. Russia denies it plans to attack Ukraine. The European Union depends on Russia for around a third of its gas supplies, and U.S. sanctions over any conflict could disrupt that supply.

Any interruptions to Russia's gas supply to Europe would exacerbate an energy crisis caused by a shortage of the fuel. Record power prices have driven up consumer energy bills as well as business costs and sparked protests in some countries.

State Department officials approached the companies to ask where additional supplies might come from if they were needed, two industry sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The companies told the U.S. government officials that global gas supplies are tight and that there is little gas available to substitute large volumes from Russia, the industry sources said.

The State Department's discussions with energy companies were led by senior advisor for energy security Amos Hochstein, a senior U.S. State Department official said, also speaking on condition of anonymity. The State Department did not ask the companies to increase output, the official added.

"We've discussed a range of contingencies and we've talked about all that we're doing with our nation state partners and allies," the source said.

"We've done this with the European Commission, but we've also done it with energy companies. It's accurate to say that we've spoken to them about our concerns and spoken to them about a range of contingencies, but there wasn't any sort of ask when it comes to production."

As well as asking companies what capacity they had to raise supplies, U.S. officials also asked whether companies had the capacity to increase exports and postpone field maintenance if necessary, the sources said.

It was unclear which companies U.S. officials contacted. Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips and Exxon declined to comment when asked if they had been contacted. Chevron Corp, Total , Equinor and Qatar Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A second industry source said his company was asked whether it had the ability to postpone maintenance at gas fields if necessary.

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council would not comment on U.S. discussions with energy companies, but confirmed contingency planning was underway.

"Assessing potential spillovers and exploring ways to reduce those spillovers is good governance and standard practice," the spokesperson said.

"Any details in this regard that make their way to the public only demonstrate the extensive detail and seriousness with which we are discussing and are prepared to impose significant measures with our allies and partners."

Moscow has alarmed the West by massing troops near Ukraine in the past two months, following its seizure of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and its backing of separatists fighting Kyiv troops in eastern Ukraine.

Biden has previously told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a new Russian move on Ukraine would draw sanctions and an increased U.S. presence in Europe.

Russia denies planning to attack Ukraine and says it has the right to move its troops on its own soil as it likes.

"The United States promised to have Europe's back if there is an energy shortage due to conflict or sanctions," the second industry source said.

"Amos is going to big LNG producing companies and countries like Qatar to see if they can help the United States," he added, referring to Hochstein.

If pipeline supplies from Russia to Europe are reduced, European buyers would need to seek cargoes of superchilled gas to compensate.

U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are set to soar this year to make it the world's top LNG supplier. Europe competes for LNG supplies from suppliers such as the United States and Qatar with top consumers China and Japan, which also face an energy crunch.

 

[Maher96]

Britain is supplying Ukraine with short-range anti-tank missiles for self-defence after Russia amassed about 100,000 troops on its border, the defence secretary said.

Ben Wallace told MPs a small team of British troops would also be sent to Ukraine to provide training.
He said there was "legitimate and real cause for concern" the Russian troops could be used for an invasion.
Russia denies any invasion plans and accuses the West of aggression.
Dozens of British troops have been in Ukraine since 2015 to help train their armed forces, and the UK has also made a commitment to help rebuild Ukraine's navy following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014.
But Mr Wallace said the UK would be providing extra help with security in the light of Russia's "increasingly threatening behaviour".

The first batch of light anti-armour weapons was sent on Monday, although the defence secretary did not specify the type.

"Ukraine has every right to defend its borders and this new package of aid further enhances its ability to do so," he told MPs.

"Let me be clear: this support is for short-range and clearly defensive weapon capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia; they are to use in self-defence."
He said there is "a package of international sanctions ready to go" if Russia should take any "destabilising action" in Ukraine.
Any invasion would be viewed as an "occupation" which "could lead to a huge loss of life on all sides", the defence secretary said.

He said: "We wish to be friends with the Russian people as we have been for hundreds of years. And there is a world in which we can establish a mutually beneficial relationship with Russia.
"I still remain hopeful that diplomacy will prevail. It is President Putin's choice whether to choose diplomacy and dialogue, or conflict and the consequences."

Conflict between Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainian military has continued since 2014, although a shaky ceasefire is in place.

Western and Ukrainian intelligence services have suggested an invasion or incursion could happen some time in early 2022, after Russian forces amassed on the border.

Meanwhile, Russia has accused Nato countries of "pumping" Ukraine with weapons and said the US is stoking tensions in the region.
Its main demand is to stop any expansion of Nato to the east, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov saying after recent talks that it is "absolutely mandatory to ensure that Ukraine never, ever becomes a member of Nato".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60033012

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uss-blinken-visit-ukraine-following-russia-talks-2022-01-18/

U.S. President Joe Biden's top diplomat will visit Kyiv this week after talks with Russia ended in a stalemate last week amid concerns in the United States and other Western nations that Moscow is preparing to again invade Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

Blinken then heads to Berlin to meet German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, followed by a meeting with the Transatlantic Quad, the department said in a statement, referring to a format that involves the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

Blinken will "discuss recent diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including Allies’ and partners’ readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia," it said.

Biden has warned of severe economic consequences for Moscow if Russia, which has massed troops near Ukraine's borders, invades its neighbor. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2014, has denied any plans for a fresh attack but has made several demands and said it could take unspecified military action unless the West agrees to them.

Multi-lateral talks last week ended without an agreement.

Ahead of his trip, Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday and urged de-escalation, the department said in a separate statement.

Lavrov separately said Moscow would welcome U.S. diplomatic efforts and reiterated Russian accusations that Ukraine was "sabotaging" agreements aimed at ending the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Germany's Baerbock, in Moscow for talks with her counterpart, on Tuesday said her country was ready to pay a high economic price to defend its fundamental values in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. read more

Kyiv has sought weapons from Western nations to shore up its defense. On Monday, Britain said it had begun supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to help it defend itself.

 

[Maher96]

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Russia could attack Ukraine "on very short notice" and warned again of tough sanctions if it did.

He was speaking on a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after months of tension over a Russian military build-up near Ukraine's borders.

Stressing the US's close ties with Ukraine, Mr Blinken vowed "relentless" diplomacy to stop Russian aggression.

Moscow has denied any plans to attack or invade.

Russia has made a raft of demands to Western governments, including that Ukraine should never join Nato and that the defensive alliance's military activities should be limited in member states including Poland.

Talks between the West and Russia last week failed to reach a breakthrough, with some of Moscow's demands rejected as non-starters.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 after the overthrow of a pro-Russian government in Ukraine. It has supported pro-Russian rebels who control parts of eastern Ukraine after they fought a bloody war with government forces.

There are fears that the conflict, which cost at least 13,000 lives and caused at least two million people to flee their homes, may reignite, with the Russian military openly intervening.

Mr Blinken said Russia had built up troops near Ukraine's borders with "no provocation, no reason".

"We know that there are plans in place to increase that force even more on very short notice, and that gives President [Vladimir] Putin the capacity, also on very short notice, to take further aggressive action against Ukraine," he said.

He accused Russia of trying to weaken Ukraine's diplomatic institutions and divide Ukrainian society "using everything from election interference to disinformation to cyber attacks".

He pledged "relentless diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed aggression and to promote dialogue and peace", and repeated a warning of tough sanctions against Russia in the event of an invasion.

Mr Blinken will meet his Russian counterpart in Geneva on Friday, after talks with European allies in Berlin.

A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. So on a day when the White House warned that a Russian attack on Ukraine could come "at any point", American Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew almost 8,000km to appear in front of cameras with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterate the close ties between the two nations.

He cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin that there would be severe consequences if he opted for military action and promised continued defensive and financial support for the Ukrainian government.

Given evidence of a Russian disinformation campaign to convince Ukrainians that the US is abandoning the Eastern European nation - drawing comparisons to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan - such a show of support was particularly welcomed by senior Ukrainian officials.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Kyiv, everyday life is continuing as normal. Pedestrians waved and took photographs of Mr Blinken's motorcade as it passed along ice-encrusted streets. There is no sense of panic or undue concern even amid headlines of Russian troops amassing along the nation's borders.

Time may tell whether this is mass denial or a sense of steely resolve for the challenges that lie ahead.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who led recent negotiations with the US in Geneva, said his country did not "intend to take any aggressive actions".

"We will not strike, attack or invade Ukraine," he said at a meeting on Moscow.

He said the US could not force Moscow to move its troops away from the Ukrainian border. "They are on our territory and we won't be making any changes to their movement because of external pressure," he added.

Mr Ryabkov also called on Washington to stop its military support for Ukraine, which he said posed a direct threat to Russian security.

Mr Blinken's visit to Kyiv was described as a bid to "reinforce the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", before talks in Berlin on Thursday with German, French and British counterparts.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who visited Moscow on Tuesday, has warned that any further military escalation "would carry a high price for the Russian regime - economic, political and strategic".

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has urged Western governments to impose immediate sanctions on Moscow.

Speaking to the BBC's HardTalk programme, he warned that a Russian invasion of the country could lead to bloodshed and a refugee crisis for Europe.

A consignment of light anti-tank missiles arrived in Kyiv from the UK on Tuesday as British ministers urged Moscow to reflect on the brink of a potential conflict in which thousands could die.

In an essay published this week, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace accused Russia of using Nato as a "strawman" to justify an invasion of Ukraine, accusing President Putin of being motivated by "ethnonationalism".

BBC

 

[MenInG]

US President Joe Biden has said he thinks his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will "move in" on Ukraine, but does not want "full-blown war".

Asked at a news conference about the threat of a Russian invasion, he said: "My guess is he will move in, he has to do something."

But he warned that the Russian leader would pay a "serious and dear price" for "testing" the West.

Moscow denies planning to attack or invade but has built up its forces.

It is estimated to have about 100,000 troops close to Ukraine's borders.

White House officials later issued a statement clarifying the US position, after some reporters at the news conference questioned Mr Biden about whether the US would allow a small incursion into Ukraine following his comments.


In a statement issued on Wednesday night, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: "If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that's a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies."

Russia has made a raft of demands to Western governments, including that Ukraine should never join Nato and that the defensive alliance's military activities should be limited in member states including Poland.

Talks between the West and Russia last week failed to reach a breakthrough, with some of Moscow's demands rejected as non-starters.

Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine?
Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 after the overthrow of a pro-Russian government in Ukraine. It has supported pro-Russian rebels who control parts of eastern Ukraine in a bloody war with government forces.

There are fears that the conflict, which has cost at least 13,000 lives and caused at least two million people to flee their homes, may reignite, with the Russian military openly intervening.

Putin will 'test the West'

Asked for his views on Mr Putin's intentions, Mr Biden said: "Do I think he'll test the West? Test the United States and Nato as significantly as he can? Yes, I think he will but I think he'll pay a serious and dear price for it."

"He's never seen sanctions like the ones I promised will be imposed if he moves," Mr Biden said, adding that the exact level of punishment would depend on the scale of any invasion.

Asked how concerned he was about the possibility of a conflict in Ukraine sucking in neighbouring Nato states, he said: "The only war that is worse than one that's intended is when it's unintended and what I'm concerned about is that this could get out of hand.

"I am hoping that Vladimir Putin understands that he is, short of a full-blown nuclear war, he is not in a very good position to dominate the world. And so I don't think he thinks that, but it is a concern."

He also said it was "very important" Nato allies stay on the same page in the face of a potential Russian attack.

Mr Biden said that the US remains open for discussions with Russia and that a summit with Mr Putin is still a "possibility."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday, after a visit to Ukraine and talks with European allies in Berlin.

Speaking in Kyiv, Mr Blinken said Russia could attack Ukraine "on very short notice" and warned again of tough sanctions if it did.

BBC

 

[James]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60077776

<b>Ukraine tension: Urgent US-Russia talks in Geneva as invasion fears grow.</b>

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are to hold talks in Geneva later amid mounting fears that Russia could be about to invade Ukraine.

On Thursday Mr Blinken warned Moscow of grave consequences if any of its forces crossed the border.

Russia has 100,000 troops at the border, but denies planning to invade.

President Vladimir Putin has issued demands to the West, including that Ukraine be stopped from joining Nato.

He wants the Western defensive alliance to abandon military exercises and stop sending weapons to eastern Europe, which Moscow sees as its backyard.

Russia seized and annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine in 2014.

Ever since, Ukraine's military has been locked in a war with Russian-backed rebels in areas near the border.

The conflict has claimed 14,000 lives and caused at least two million people to flee their homes.

The summit between the top US and Russian diplomats follows moves by Mr Blinken to secure US allies' backing for sanctions against Moscow.

After discussions in Berlin with British, French and German officials on Thursday, Mr Blinken said allowing a Russian incursion into Ukraine would "drag us all back to a much more dangerous and unstable time, when this continent, and this city, were divided in two... with the threat of all-out war hanging over everyone's heads".

State Department officials have said that Mr Blinken will seek to offer Mr Lavrov a "diplomatic off-ramp" to ease tensions.

His comments came after US President Joe Biden on Wednesday predicted that Russia "will move in" on Ukraine and warned of a "disaster for Russia".

But he also appeared to suggest that a "minor incursion" could attract a weaker response from the US and its allies.

The message provoked a rebuke from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who tweeted: "There are no minor incursions. Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones."

Speaking alongside Mr Blinken, Germany's new Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pledged immediate action against any Russian invasion and did not rule out imposing measures that "could have economic consequences for ourselves".

The UK's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has also called on Mr Putin to "desist and step back from Ukraine before he makes a massive strategic mistake" that would lead to terrible loss of life.

In a speech on Friday in Sydney, she urged Western powers to "step up" and warned that autocratic nations were being "emboldened in a way we haven't seen since the cold war".

Earlier this week, Britain announced it was supplying Ukraine with extra troops for training and defensive weapons.

Mr Biden is facing increasing calls from across the US political spectrum to take pre-emptive action against Russia.

Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has called for "sanctions against Putin now", while the Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has urged administration officials to begin "a massive airlift of … lethal weapons" to Ukrainian forces.

On Thursday the US also warned that Russian intelligence officers have been recruiting current and former Ukrainian government officials to step in as a provisional government and cooperate with an occupying Russian force in the event of an invasion.

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two current Ukrainian members of parliament and two former government officials accused of being part of the plot.

"Russia has directed its intelligence services to recruit current and former Ukrainian government officials to prepare to take over the government of Ukraine and to control Ukraine's critical infrastructure with an occupying Russian force," a Treasury Department spokesperson said.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Mr Biden is facing increasing calls from across the US political spectrum to take pre-emptive action against Russia.

I wish USA/Russia were neighbors so the fat 'Murican warmongers could fulfill their war fantasy.

Russia is not Iraq or Afghanistan.

I hope the EU do not buy in typical Anglo warmongering. Last thing the world needs is another useless war.

PS: Russians are thinking of installing nukes in Cuba / Venezuela

 

[Robert]

I wish USA/Russia were neighbors so the fat 'Murican warmongers could fulfill their war fantasy.

Russia is not Iraq or Afghanistan.

I hope the EU do not buy in typical Anglo warmongering. Last thing the world needs is another useless war.

PS: Russians are thinking of installing nukes in Cuba / Venezuela

Putin’s tanks are closer to the EU than the “Anglos”. I think EU should have its own military command independent of NATO. Take the USA out of the equation.

 

[Technics 1210]

Putin’s tanks are closer to the EU than the “Anglos”. I think EU should have its own military command independent of NATO. Take the USA out of the equation.

Amreeka had a hissy fit when Russia parked its nukes in Cuba as a reaction to Amreeka parking its nukes in Turkey.

How you fail to see the West goading its ‘enemy’ by parking weapons close to the border is beyond me.

West has always been the aggressor.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Amreeka had a hissy fit when Russia parked its nukes in Cuba as a reaction to Amreeka parking its nukes in Turkey.

How you fail to see the West goading its ‘enemy’ by parking weapons close to the border is beyond me.

West has always been the aggressor.

Its shocking the hypocrisy. Biden stated a troop build up within Russian borders is a threat to US. lol

Russia should be careful, Nato which is nothing short of a terrorist entity is trying goad a war between Russia and Ukraine. They are also doing this with China on the other side.

What is idiotic is the UK trying to flex its muscles. ITs best we stay out of this, we will be obliterated by Russia within minutes.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Putin should call Sleepy Joe's bluff. I don't think America will be able to do much to damage Russia, perhaps they will place some sanctions and then remove them later

If Putin strikes and America does nothing then their already dented image will take another knock.

The ball is firmly in Vlads court and the Yanks are barely even in the game.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Remember Putin has spanked America already in Georgia. The Georgian PM cried on TV saying that this was America's war too, but Washington was silent.

He then pulled a blinder in the ME and chased the American/Saudi groups away leaving Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon in Iranian control.

 

[Technics 1210]

Its shocking the hypocrisy. Biden stated a troop build up within Russian borders is a threat to US. lol

Russia should be careful, Nato which is nothing short of a terrorist entity is trying goad a war between Russia and Ukraine. They are also doing this with China on the other side.

What is idiotic is the UK trying to flex its muscles. ITs best we stay out of this, we will be obliterated by Russia within minutes.

NATO is Amreeka’s pistol whipping boy club.

Anyone who believes USA cares about Europe is naive and deluded. Europe is simply the slave of Amreeka when it comes to the dirty work. A proxy. All it took was Trump to say pay more, and NATO members of Europe bricked it. Amreeka doesn’t care, it never did. Sitting on the other side of the ocean, their concern is more towards the proximity between Alaska and Russia, than war mongering Europe and Ukraine. (remember, USA didn’t want to be involved in WW1 & 2, until the Zionists intervened). The league of nations was **** on by USA, then put came the UN.

Anyone who has faith in NATO is delusional and brainwashed.

 

[Technics 1210]

Putin should call Sleepy Joe's bluff. I don't think America will be able to do much to damage Russia, perhaps they will place some sanctions and then remove them later

If Putin strikes and America does nothing then their already dented image will take another knock.

The ball is firmly in Vlads court and the Yanks are barely even in the game.

Sleepy Joe cannot string a coherent sentence and this guy is the leader of the free world?

Biden is the guy who is the commander in chief of the world’s biggest military?

I pity the generation who fell for the post WW2 propaganda.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Putin’s tanks are closer to the EU than the “Anglos”. I think EU should have its own military command independent of NATO. Take the USA out of the equation.

"Anglos" are literally screaming for war here. See media and their "political spectrum" literally asking for "preemptive strikes"

 

[Robert]

"Anglos" are literally screaming for war here. See media and their "political spectrum" literally asking for "preemptive strikes"

They actually want war with Russia? Dear God.

 

[Robert]

Putin should call Sleepy Joe's bluff. I don't think America will be able to do much to damage Russia, perhaps they will place some sanctions and then remove them later

If Putin strikes and America does nothing then their already dented image will take another knock.

The ball is firmly in Vlads court and the Yanks are barely even in the game.

You want a sovereign nation to be invaded and conquered by a foreign power?

How are you different to Bush and Blair?

 

[Technics 1210]

The West cannot accept nor live with the fact Russia has risen from the ashes since the collapse of USSR. Cold hard fact.

Every country the West has waged war on, be it South American countries, Middle East countries, bespoke regions - none of them have risen and challenged the West unlike Russia - this is why Putin is hated by the West and admired everywhere else.

Pathetic.

 

[Technics 1210]

You want a sovereign nation to be invaded and conquered by a foreign power?

How are you different to Bush and Blair?

You have never advocated war crime charges for Bush or Blair, you cite ‘process’, but never a personal opinion, yet when it comes to Putin, all gloves are off.

 

[Robert]

Its shocking the hypocrisy. Biden stated a troop build up within Russian borders is a threat to US. lol

Russia should be careful, Nato which is nothing short of a terrorist entity is trying goad a war between Russia and Ukraine. They are also doing this with China on the other side.

What is idiotic is the UK trying to flex its muscles. ITs best we stay out of this, we will be obliterated by Russia within minutes.

Let’s thing about this reasonably.

UK is not flexing. We are sending Ukraine weapons, to defend herself from invasion.

Putin is backing himself into a corner here because he has made such a troop buildup on Ukraine’s border that he will easily lose face in the Kremlin if he does not invade.

But NATO states don’t have to fight Russia with weapons. They can excise the cancer in Russia’s brain by freezing assets stolen from the Russian people by the oligarchs and hidden in Western banks on Putin’s behalf. Hit Putin in his pocket.

 

[Robert]

You have never advocated war crime charges for Bush or Blair, you cite ‘process’, but never a personal opinion, yet when it comes to Putin, all gloves are off.

Question is addressed to [MENTION=51465]DeadlyVenom[/MENTION].

 

[Technics 1210]

Question is addressed to [MENTION=51465]DeadlyVenom[/MENTION].

I know, my point is your question has no credibility since Blair and Bush waged an illegal war on a sovereign nation so why ask when you believe Bush and Blair shouldn’t face repercussions?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Let’s thing about this reasonably.

UK is not flexing. We are sending Ukraine weapons, to defend herself from invasion.

Why? Since when Did the UK become Officer Dibble?

Putin is backing himself into a corner here because he has made such a troop buildup on Ukraine’s border that he will easily lose face in the Kremlin if he does not invade.

Kremlin and Putin dont want to invade.

But NATO states don’t have to fight Russia with weapons. They can excise the cancer in Russia’s brain by freezing assets stolen from the Russian people by the oligarchs and hidden in Western banks on Putin’s behalf. Hit Putin in his pocket.

Russia is used to such sanctions now, they have little effect on Russia foriegn policy.

 

[Technics 1210]

Why? Since when Did the UK become Officer Dibble?



Kremlin and Putin dont want to invade.



Russia is used to such sanctions now, they have little effect on Russia foriegn policy.

Abromovich showed the UK, home office banned him, then he flew to Isreal, gained Israeli citizenship, and entered the UK with ease. So much for controlling Russian oligarchs!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

You want a sovereign nation to be invaded and conquered by a foreign power?

How are you different to Bush and Blair?

What I actually want is the UK to detangle ourself from US pressure and try to foster closer peaceful ties with Russia.

Russia has put up with steady western encroachment into adjacent countries which
is threatening its security and the security of the wider region.

 

[Technics 1210]

Hahahahahaha. US to foster peace? Pull the other one! When Trump was in talks with North Korea, when Trump was in talks with Iran, it was the liberals and democrats who had a problem! Said people do not want peace, because they’ve been brainwashed for decades! Peace is war according to them!

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Ukraine is Russia and they will take it back one way or another. NATO can't do anything about it.

 

[James]

Hahahahahaha. US to foster peace?

You may have slightly misread [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]’s post because I think he agrees with you on the US; he wrote that the UK would have to distance itself from the US in order to be a part of a new peace.

 

[Technics 1210]

You may have slightly misread [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]’s post because I think he agrees with you on the US; he wrote that the UK would have to distance itself from the US in order to be a part of a new peace.

You mean DeadlyVenom's post (to which I was responding to).

Trump initiated dialogue with North Korea, Russia, and Iran but was heavily criticised by liberals and democrats in the West.

Anyway how can anyone want the UK to distance itself from USA and support NATO at the same time?

 

[James]

Trump initiated dialogue with North Korea, Russia, and Iran but was heavily criticised by liberals and democrats in the West.

Trump is underrated on foreign policy, he at least attempted to unlock what the West has long seen as the “black box” of Russia-China-Iran-North Korea. Without dialogue between geopolitical rivals (one might say opponents) there can be no real progress.

 

[Robert]

Why? Since when Did the UK become Officer Dibble?

Kremlin and Putin dont want to invade.

Russia is used to such sanctions now, they have little effect on Russia foriegn policy.

Why is UK sending weapons? Because Ukraine is West-leaning, and because we can buy gas from them instead of from Russia, as Germany is doing now. The Russian oligarchs won’t want their money supply cut, hence the current threat of invasion. Grab Ukraine’s gas and they can stay hyper rich.

Putin has already invaded, taking Crimea in 2014. He has 100K troops massed on the border. Obviously a prelude to further invasion. Why else would they be there?

I didn’t mention sanctions on the Russian people, I mentioned Putin, who is the world’s richest man, and the other Russian oligarchs who are under his sway. Hit them in their pockets with more Magnitsky Acts, and the Kremlin will change tack.

 

[MenInG]

Russia's defence minister has accepted an invitation to meet his UK counterpart Ben Wallace amid fears that an invasion of Ukraine is "imminent".

The British defence secretary offered earlier this week to hold talks with Sergei Shoigu in London to discuss mutual security concerns, against heightened tensions with the Kremlin over its former Soviet neighbour.

 

[Robert]

What I actually want is the UK to detangle ourself from US pressure and try to foster closer peaceful ties with Russia.

Russia has put up with steady western encroachment into adjacent countries which
is threatening its security and the security of the wider region.

Fair enough.

I would prefer UK's future to be with Europe and not the "Anglosphere" which is dominated by the USA. It would mean that the EU / EFTA /UK would have to build up her military as we are far to reliant on the USA which is going to become more and more unreliable in the following years. I think it will turn inwards on itself.

Though I would counter your point about "Western encroachment" - there is a reason the Baltic states have joined NATO. They are scared of the Bear and want protection. Latvian soldiers - the Forest Brothers, they called themselves - carried out decades of guerilla warfare against Soviet rule.

 

[Robert]

You may have slightly misread [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]’s post because I think he agrees with you on the US; he wrote that the UK would have to distance itself from the US in order to be a part of a new peace.

I'm used to being misread here [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

 

[Robert]

Ukraine is Russia and they will take it back one way or another. NATO can't do anything about it.

Tell that to the Ukrainians.

They were subsumed by the Golden Horde, then made part of Poland-Lithuania, then fell to the Crimean Khanate, then were overrun by USSR after the Ukraine-Soviet War of 1919.

Now they want to govern themselves. Premier Victor Yanukovich set up an association deal with the EU. Putin doesn't like that.

 

[Technics 1210]

Robert, you are not looking at the bigger picture. Russia is not after Ukraine, or wants a land grab, you are mistaken and this is down to believing the NATO/USA propaganda.

Nord Stream pipeline. Heard of it? It's a new gas pipeline which was meant to open last year - between Russia and Germany, but Germany refuses to open their end.

They only way to force Germany is to disrupt supplies via Ukraine - this is what Putin wants. He doesn't even have to to start all out war, a small incursion and NATO enter, gas line closes, Germany toast and arm twisted to open the new gas pipeline. All of this through winter. Russia makes money either way. Or to put it another way, checkmate.

 

[Technics 1210]

I'm used to being misread here [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

Ok, simple question which has been asked many times before. Should UK build bridges with Russia, China, and Iran through political and economic trade? And if yes how would this be feasible while UK is a member of NATO?

 

[James]

Fair enough.

I would prefer UK's future to be with Europe and not the "Anglosphere" which is dominated by the USA. It would mean that the EU / EFTA /UK would have to build up her military as we are far to reliant on the USA which is going to become more and more unreliable in the following years. I think it will turn inwards on itself.

Though I would counter your point about "Western encroachment" - there is a reason the Baltic states have joined NATO. They are scared of the Bear and want protection. Latvian soldiers - the Forest Brothers, they called themselves - carried out decades of guerilla warfare against Soviet rule.

Imo we are in a good position as an independent nation at the moment. If we were still in the EU then we would end up being a part of the proposed EU Army.

 

[Robert]

Imo we are in a good position as an independent nation at the moment. If we were still in the EU then we would end up being a part of the proposed EU Army.

I don't think an EU military command has been proposed. No way will France surrender control of her nukes to Brussels. There is talk of closer integration between national armed forces, and perhaps an attack-on-one-is-attack-on-all doctrine like NATO, which I think is desirable.

 

[Robert]

Ok, simple question which has been asked many times before. Should UK build bridges with Russia, China, and Iran through political and economic trade? And if yes how would this be feasible while UK is a member of NATO?

Sure, contingent on them being good international citizens, on shared values. The three states you mention are not democracies.

We were getting on fine with Yeltsin, but then Putin began re-arming, restarted Cold War military and propaganda destabilising operations, and is on an expansionist track.

 

[Robert]

Robert, you are not looking at the bigger picture. Russia is not after Ukraine, or wants a land grab, you are mistaken and this is down to believing the NATO/USA propaganda.

Nord Stream pipeline. Heard of it? It's a new gas pipeline which was meant to open last year - between Russia and Germany, but Germany refuses to open their end.

They only way to force Germany is to disrupt supplies via Ukraine - this is what Putin wants. He doesn't even have to to start all out war, a small incursion and NATO enter, gas line closes, Germany toast and arm twisted to open the new gas pipeline. All of this through winter. Russia makes money either way. Or to put it another way, checkmate.

Yes, I know about NordStream. Germany does not trust Putin so is using Ukraine, which is more cooperative, for gas supplies. So Putin grabs the Ukrainian gas facilities - land-grab by any other name. Just as Haliburton execs benefited from Iraq War One.

 

[Technics 1210]

Sure, contingent on them being good international citizens, on shared values. The three states you mention are not democracies.

We were getting on fine with Yeltsin, but then Putin began re-arming, restarted Cold War military and propaganda destabilising operations, and is on an expansionist track.

Why contingent on them? Why doesn't the West aim at being good citizens? And so what if the 3 countries are not democracies? Economical Trade trade doesn't depend on whether 2 countries share democratic values; UK and China is a good example, UK and Saudi Arabia is another example. Plus UK has a long history of supporting dictatorships too.

Who made the West the beacon of civilisations? Why should the East bow to Western values and not the other way round?

Getting on with Yeltsin? Ahh yes as the USSR was collapsing. Putin began arming when Eastern Communist block joined the EU and NATO started parking weapons in said regions.

The West has always been the agressor and you want concessions before building bridges?

You haven't addressed the point of NATO in my question, I can only assume you still would want to be a member of NATO, meaning you would always want USA to be involved; which is why UK can never be independent in determining its future.

 

[Realromeo]

Ukraine is Russia and they will take it back one way or another. NATO can't do anything about it.

Pakistan is India's. See how silly it sounds?

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

They actually want war with Russia? Dear God.

Anglos and their Zionists all around the world want this war. The EU and its people do not want this war. At least, that's how I see it. Hopefully, I am wrong and AUKUS are the peace bringers in disguise.

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I am a very radical Roman Catholic. I’m believing in God & I believe in Christianity & there we have a Christian country even Putin, he’s an atheist but it doesn't matter. Having this big country on our side...", German Navy Chief in Delhi</p>— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1484832550124408846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: German Navy Chief calls Putin- Ukraine comments in Delhi as "clear mistake"; Says "misjudged" the situation. <a href="https://t.co/CyRnPQjj4p">https://t.co/CyRnPQjj4p</a> <a href="https://t.co/nmKQ3fj3Co">pic.twitter.com/nmKQ3fj3Co</a></p>— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1484885627300503558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Does Russia really wants a small tiny strip of Ukraine soil? Or integrate in the country, no this is nonsense..Putin is probably puting pressure, cz he knows he can do it & it splits the EU..but what he really wants is high level respect", says German Navy Chief in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/qDeqQp408X">https://t.co/qDeqQp408X</a> <a href="https://t.co/MICZ0O7U78">pic.twitter.com/MICZ0O7U78</a></p>— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1484608264142987268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

---

Source of above tweets is Indian so maybe it is just propaganda attempt.

 

[Technics 1210]

Remember folks, after WW2 with Nazi defeat, the West needed a new bogeyman, a new threat where West could not only control society through fear, but have the opportunity to spread war - ladies and gentlemen - Russia/USSR, the nation that helped the West win WW1 and WW2.

 

[Robert]

Anglos and their Zionists all around the world want this war.

Oh, don’t be daft. Last time there was a direct confrontation, WW3 nearly resulted. The RAF nuclear bombers were on the runways, running their engines. Nobody wants the end of civilisation.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Ok, simple question which has been asked many times before. Should UK build bridges with Russia, China, and Iran through political and economic trade? And if yes how would this be feasible while UK is a member of NATO?

Turkey has managed it.

Germany isn't as vocal as we are about Russia.

It may not be possible to build bridges but we could certaintly have better ties while remaining within NATO. Riding on the coattails of the USA is not the only way.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

You mean DeadlyVenom's post (to which I was responding to).

Trump initiated dialogue with North Korea, Russia, and Iran but was heavily criticised by liberals and democrats in the West.

Anyway how can anyone want the UK to distance itself from USA and support NATO at the same time?

Trump was a sham. His dance with Kim Jong was all optics and failed badly. It gave Kim a tremendous boost at home but achieved nothing tangible. It was one of the most bizarrely managed pieces of political theatre in modern times.

With regards to Iran, he assasinated their top general and the only 'peace' he made was with Arab counties and zionists - at the expense of the Palestinians and the holy city of Jerusalem.

Despite the claims of Trump fans he was as big as a disaster as any American before him and sleepy joe has taken the mantle and is continuing the legacy.

Although I think he did initiate conversations with Russia but Putin ran rings around him as usual. Trump managed to convince himef that he and Putin were both equals and strongmen. Quite laughable.

 

[Technics 1210]

Anglos and their Zionists all around the world want this war. The EU and its people do not want this war. At least, that's how I see it. Hopefully, I am wrong and AUKUS are the peace bringers in disguise.

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I am a very radical Roman Catholic. I’m believing in God & I believe in Christianity & there we have a Christian country even Putin, he’s an atheist but it doesn't matter. Having this big country on our side...", German Navy Chief in Delhi</p>— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1484832550124408846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: German Navy Chief calls Putin- Ukraine comments in Delhi as "clear mistake"; Says "misjudged" the situation. <a href="https://t.co/CyRnPQjj4p">https://t.co/CyRnPQjj4p</a> <a href="https://t.co/nmKQ3fj3Co">pic.twitter.com/nmKQ3fj3Co</a></p>— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1484885627300503558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Does Russia really wants a small tiny strip of Ukraine soil? Or integrate in the country, no this is nonsense..Putin is probably puting pressure, cz he knows he can do it & it splits the EU..but what he really wants is high level respect", says German Navy Chief in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/qDeqQp408X">https://t.co/qDeqQp408X</a> <a href="https://t.co/MICZ0O7U78">pic.twitter.com/MICZ0O7U78</a></p>— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1484608264142987268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

---

Source of above tweets is Indian so maybe it is just propaganda attempt.

Correct, what people fail to realise is Zionists were responsible for WW1 and WW2. This is a documented fact. Once they gained Israel, they are now hell bent on destroying what is around Isreal using Amreeka and NATO as a tool of war.

 

[Technics 1210]

Turkey has managed it.

Germany isn't as vocal as we are about Russia.

It may not be possible to build bridges but we could certaintly have better ties while remaining within NATO. Riding on the coattails of the USA is not the only way.

The first step is To dump the USD. Turkey, China, Russia are doing it.

Iraq, and Libya did it.

 

[Technics 1210]

Trump was a sham. His dance with Kim Jong was all optics and failed badly. It gave Kim a tremendous boost at home but achieved nothing tangible. It was one of the most bizarrely managed pieces of political theatre in modern times.

With regards to Iran, he assasinated their top general and the only 'peace' he made was with Arab counties and zionists - at the expense of the Palestinians and the holy city of Jerusalem.

Despite the claims of Trump fans he was as big as a disaster as any American before him and sleepy joe has taken the mantle and is continuing the legacy.

Although I think he did initiate conversations with Russia but Putin ran rings around him as usual. Trump managed to convince himef that he and Putin were both equals and strongmen. Quite laughable.

Trump at least made the moves unlike any other US President; sure for the optics, but perception is reality.

He failed because no one in the West backed him. They were too busy trying to debunk his Presidency.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Oh, don’t be daft. Last time there was a direct confrontation, WW3 nearly resulted. The RAF nuclear bombers were on the runways, running their engines. Nobody wants the end of civilisation.

Precisely. Nobody but peoples* who benefit from wars, want the WW3. Let's just hope they do not get it.

*Bible belt NRA weapon industry rednecks and child killer Zionists. See their actions and don't listen to their words.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Correct, what people fail to realise is Zionists were responsible for WW1 and WW2. This is a documented fact. Once they gained Israel, they are now hell bent on destroying what is around Isreal using Amreeka and NATO as a tool of war.

I hope the EU stays away from this ever increasing mess.

This won't be like Iraq "oops, our intelligence was wrong" or Afghanistan.

Russians have enough resources and firepower to destroy everything.

As far as Zionists are concerned, they financed Hitler and the allies. So don't be surprised if they finance the "Anglo AUKUS" and Putin at the same time. Win-win scenario for them.

China, Pak and India should also stay away from taking sides.

 

[Robert]

I hope the EU stays away from this ever increasing mess.

This won't be like Iraq "oops, our intelligence was wrong" or Afghanistan.

Russians have enough resources and firepower to destroy everything.

As far as Zionists are concerned, they financed Hitler and the allies. So don't be surprised if they finance the "Anglo AUKUS" and Putin at the same time. Win-win scenario for them.

China, Pak and India should also stay away from taking sides.

Please, please stop repeating this poison.

 

[Robert]

Precisely. Nobody but peoples* who benefit from wars, want the WW3. Let's just hope they do not get it.

*Bible belt NRA weapon industry rednecks and child killer Zionists. See their actions and don't listen to their words.

The people who benefit from wars will not benefit from WW3, because they will be turned into wall-shadows like everyone else.

 

[Robert]

Remember folks, after WW2 with Nazi defeat, the West needed a new bogeyman, a new threat where West could not only control society through fear, but have the opportunity to spread war - ladies and gentlemen - Russia/USSR, the nation that helped the West win WW1 and WW2.

Yes and no.

USA was born from Puritanism and sees the world in black and white terms. There is a good guy and a bad guy. They are obviously the good guy because everyone thinks that. So someone else has to be the bad guy. They have to find an external bad guy as the alternative is civil war and they had a ruinous one already. They have used the British, then the Mexicans, then Native Americans, then Germans, then Russians, then Islamists as the bad guy.

Europeans are more flexible of thought.

In 1947 an Iron Curtain fell across the border of Western Europe and the nations seized by the Soviets at the end of WW2. This curtain was placed there not by the West but by Stalin. Europe didn’t invent the Russians as an enemy. As Western Europe was building liberal democratic institutions and laying the foundation, as the West built the rules-based order (UN, GATT, IMF, World Bank) the Soviets imposed the opposite on their people - totalitarianism- and threatened to upset all that liberal gain that brought freedom and prosperity to Europe, by putting sixty thousand tanks on the East German border.

So we Europeans didn’t make the Soviets our enemy, they made themselves our enemy.

Things were improving after the USSR imploded. But now Putin has restarted Cold War and is nibbling off territory in land-grabs. The only light I can see is that he is pushing 70 now and won’t be around forever. Hopefully his successors in the Kremlin will be more reasonable and we can look forward to international cooperation.

 

[James]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60095459

Bit of an unusual move from the British intelligence services is this…

<b>Russia-Ukraine tensions: UK warns of plot to install pro-Moscow ally</b>

The UK has accused President Putin of plotting to install a pro-Moscow figure to lead Ukraine's government.

The Foreign Office took the unusual step of naming former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential Kremlin candidate.

Russia has moved 100,000 troops near to its border with Ukraine but denies it is planning an invasion.

UK ministers have warned that the Russian government will face serious consequences if there is an incursion.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.

"Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy."

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that the Foreign Office was "circulating disinformation" and urged it to "cease these provocative activities" and "stop spreading nonsense".

Russia has seized Ukrainian territory before, when it annexed Crimea in 2014, after the country overthrew their pro-Russian president.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said there was "a very serious risk" of another invasion but there would be "severe economic consequences", including sanctions, if Russia took that step.

However, he told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme it was "extremely unlikely" British troops would be sent to defend Ukraine, adding that the country was not a Nato ally.

Asked if the threat of sanctions would be enough to deter Russia from invading, Mr Raab said Vladimir Putin would also be worried about getting "bogged down in Ukraine" and ending up "with another Chechnya", where there was several years of conflict in the 1990s.

He added that Russia "needs to live up to the basic tenets of international law and invading another country is not one of those".

Russia has denied it is planning any attack but Mr Putin has issued demands to the West, including that Ukraine be prevented from joining the Nato military alliance.

He also wants Nato to abandon military exercises and stop sending weapons to eastern Europe, seeing this as a direct threat to Russia's security.

Mr Murayev, a media owner, lost his seat in the Ukrainian parliament when his party failed to secure 5% of the vote in the 2019 elections.

Responding to the claim that he was a potential Kremlin candidate to lead Ukraine, he told the Observer newspaper that the Foreign Office "seems confused".

"It isn't very logical. I'm banned from Russia. Not only that but money from my father's firm there has been confiscated," Mr Murayev said.
But Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, said he believed Russia was trying to install a pro-Moscow leader.

"It's not the first time they're trying to do so," he told Sky News's Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme.

The Foreign Office also named four other Ukrainian politicians who it said maintained links with the Russian intelligence services.
It said some of the individuals had been in contact with Russian intelligence officers working on an invasion plan.

They include Mykola Azarov, who served as prime minister under the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was overthrown in 2014.

Mr Azarov then fled to Russia where he established what was widely seen as a puppet government-in-exile.

He has been the subject of international sanctions and an Interpol "red notice" issued at the request of the Ukrainian government, for charges including embezzlement and misappropriation.

Also named is Volodymyr Sivkovych, the former deputy head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, who was this week made the subject of US sanctions for allegedly working with Russian intelligence.

The others are Serhiy Arbuzov and Andriy Kluyev, who both served as deputy prime minister under Mr Yanukovych.

Mr Prystaiko said the question was not whether Russia would invade Ukraine but whether it would be a "full-scale invasion" or something smaller, adding that Russia had already been in Crimea for almost eight years.

The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK said his country was "prepared to fight" but that it was "not that well equipped" for a prolonged conflict with Russia.

On Saturday, a US shipment of around 90 tonnes of "lethal aid" arrived in Ukraine, including ammunition for "front line defenders".

Dozens of British troops have been in Ukraine since 2015 to help train their armed forces, and the UK has also made a commitment to help rebuild Ukraine's navy following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Earlier this week, the UK announced it was sending defence weapons and extra troops for training.

Russia's president has long claimed that the US broke a guarantee it made in 1990 that Nato would not expand further east. "They simply deceived us!" he said at a news conference last month.

Interpretations differ over what exactly was promised to the then-Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. But it is clear that Mr Putin believes the guarantee was made.

Since then, several central and eastern European countries, which used to be part of the Soviet Union or its sphere of influence, have joined Nato.

Four of them - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have borders with Russia.

Russia argues that this expansion, and the presence of Nato troops and military equipment near its borders, is a direct threat to its security.

The country seized and annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine in 2014 after Ukrainians overthrew their pro-Russian president.

Ever since, Ukraine's military has been locked in a war with Russian-backed rebels in areas of the east near Russia's borders.

There are fears that the conflict, which has claimed 14,000 lives and caused at least two million people to flee their homes, may reignite and that Russia's military will cross the border.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Please, please stop repeating this poison.

This is a historical fact. And for the umpteenth time: the Jews who were murdered by Nazis had more in common with average Palestinian or Sirian immigrant of 2022 than an elite Zionist usurer banker of 600s, 1200s or 2000s.

Of course, modern Zionist has very successfully pimped* Holocaust and deaths of innocents to justify their barbarism.

*Can you imagine a bigger insult to unfortunate victims of Holocaust than this? If only those who were massacred in Auschwitz could wake from their slumber for a day and see what's being done in their name... Who would they side with, the coward Zionist sniper or preteens playing football on the beach?

Don't you worry tho, in the next cycle, a 100 years from now, which will probably be Chinese, the history will be rewritten and they will teach about this in Universities.

--

Whenever someone in USA wants to start a political career they need Zionist lobby's blessing. Saw a very detailed documentary on the topic a few years ago. Zionists don't even care if you are left/right etc. as long as you don't say a word against their agenda and foreign policy

I don't know how things work in the pirate island (UK) or the genocide island (Australia). But I can imagine the lobby would work in a similar manner

Now a few companies and their prostitute media are selling us yet another war which can potentially end lives of everyone you know... don't be daft and at least try to see the bigger picture.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

German navy chief Schönbach resigns over comments on Putin, Crimea

Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach stepped down as the head of the German navy after publicly saying Crimea was lost to Ukraine and that Vladimir Putin "probably" deserved respect.

....

Schönbach said Russia's actions in Ukraine needed to be addressed, but added that "the Crimea Peninsula is gone: It will never come back — this is a fact."

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/german-navy-chief-schönbach-resigns-over-comments-on-putin-crimea/a-60525709

Yet another step closer to a major world conflict.

This is a loud message to all EU military personnel: "stay in line and follow our agenda or ...".

I guess EU is still a lapdog of the AUKUS. Pathetic.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Germany rejects arms deliveries to Ukraine, but will send field hospital

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said Berlin wants to "de-escalate" tensions and that supplying weapons would "not be helpful." Germany's move comes as other Western powers have pledged arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Germany's defense minister has said that sending arms to Ukraine would not be helpful in defusing the current situation as fears of a Russian invasion continue to mount.

In an interview published Saturday, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper there is consensus in the German government when it comes to barring the supply of weapons to Kyiv.

"We are standing on Kyiv's side. We have to do everything to de-escalate. Currently, arms deliveries would not be helpful in this respect; there is agreement on this in the German government," Lambrecht told the paper.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a news conference on Friday that in recent years, "Germany has not supported the export of lethal weapons."

The decision comes despite appeals from Kyiv to provide armaments.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-rejec...raine-but-will-send-field-hospital/a-60523137

Meanwhile the AUKUS are adding fuel to the fire by sending weapons and aggressively pushing for the war. And the same time they have audacity to say "we do not war". Dear God, indeed.

Ex-US soldiers (read 'Murican mercenaries' with alleged neo-Nazi links arrive at Ukrainian front line

The soldiers of fortune shared pics and footage of them sporting combat gear at Ukrainian army positions ( )

Source: https://www.rt.com/russia/546847-former-us-servicemen-ukraine-frontline/

 

[Robert]

Meanwhile the AUKUS are adding fuel to the fire by sending weapons and aggressively pushing for the war. And the same time they have audacity to say "we do not war". Dear God, indeed.

AUKUS? Australia has nothing to do with it. They are not NATO members. Nobody is pushing for war. But some NATO states are equipping Ukraine to defend herself from invasion. Make a potential invasion cost so much that Putin will rethink. This is what deterrence means. Military weakness invites war, not military strength.

Germany cannot deploy troops overseas in combat roles according to their post-WW2 constitution.

 

[Technics 1210]

Yes and no.

USA was born from Puritanism and sees the world in black and white terms. There is a good guy and a bad guy. They are obviously the good guy because everyone thinks that. So someone else has to be the bad guy. They have to find an external bad guy as the alternative is civil war and they had a ruinous one already. They have used the British, then the Mexicans, then Native Americans, then Germans, then Russians, then Islamists as the bad guy.

Europeans are more flexible of thought.

In 1947 an Iron Curtain fell across the border of Western Europe and the nations seized by the Soviets at the end of WW2. This curtain was placed there not by the West but by Stalin. Europe didn’t invent the Russians as an enemy. As Western Europe was building liberal democratic institutions and laying the foundation, as the West built the rules-based order (UN, GATT, IMF, World Bank) the Soviets imposed the opposite on their people - totalitarianism- and threatened to upset all that liberal gain that brought freedom and prosperity to Europe, by putting sixty thousand tanks on the East German border.

So we Europeans didn’t make the Soviets our enemy, they made themselves our enemy.

Things were improving after the USSR imploded. But now Putin has restarted Cold War and is nibbling off territory in land-grabs. The only light I can see is that he is pushing 70 now and won’t be around forever. Hopefully his successors in the Kremlin will be more reasonable and we can look forward to international cooperation.

The iron curtain (which was more of a political boundary) was setup by USSR not on the basis they wanted war, or to create animosity, but on the basis they didn’t want any more wars with the West, so separated themselves from the Western states that were responsible for WW2 which resulted in millions of Russian lives lost.

Makes sense, USSR helped the West in a war that was their (West) own making, sacrificed millions, and then did want anything to do with the West once the war was over.

 

[Technics 1210]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60095459

Bit of an unusual move from the British intelligence services is this…

<b>Russia-Ukraine tensions: UK warns of plot to install pro-Moscow ally</b>

The UK has accused President Putin of plotting to install a pro-Moscow figure to lead Ukraine's government.

The Foreign Office took the unusual step of naming former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential Kremlin candidate.

Russia has moved 100,000 troops near to its border with Ukraine but denies it is planning an invasion.

UK ministers have warned that the Russian government will face serious consequences if there is an incursion.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.

"Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy."

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that the Foreign Office was "circulating disinformation" and urged it to "cease these provocative activities" and "stop spreading nonsense".

Russia has seized Ukrainian territory before, when it annexed Crimea in 2014, after the country overthrew their pro-Russian president.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said there was "a very serious risk" of another invasion but there would be "severe economic consequences", including sanctions, if Russia took that step.

However, he told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme it was "extremely unlikely" British troops would be sent to defend Ukraine, adding that the country was not a Nato ally.

Asked if the threat of sanctions would be enough to deter Russia from invading, Mr Raab said Vladimir Putin would also be worried about getting "bogged down in Ukraine" and ending up "with another Chechnya", where there was several years of conflict in the 1990s.

He added that Russia "needs to live up to the basic tenets of international law and invading another country is not one of those".

Russia has denied it is planning any attack but Mr Putin has issued demands to the West, including that Ukraine be prevented from joining the Nato military alliance.

He also wants Nato to abandon military exercises and stop sending weapons to eastern Europe, seeing this as a direct threat to Russia's security.

Mr Murayev, a media owner, lost his seat in the Ukrainian parliament when his party failed to secure 5% of the vote in the 2019 elections.

Responding to the claim that he was a potential Kremlin candidate to lead Ukraine, he told the Observer newspaper that the Foreign Office "seems confused".

"It isn't very logical. I'm banned from Russia. Not only that but money from my father's firm there has been confiscated," Mr Murayev said.
But Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, said he believed Russia was trying to install a pro-Moscow leader.

"It's not the first time they're trying to do so," he told Sky News's Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme.

The Foreign Office also named four other Ukrainian politicians who it said maintained links with the Russian intelligence services.
It said some of the individuals had been in contact with Russian intelligence officers working on an invasion plan.

They include Mykola Azarov, who served as prime minister under the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was overthrown in 2014.

Mr Azarov then fled to Russia where he established what was widely seen as a puppet government-in-exile.

He has been the subject of international sanctions and an Interpol "red notice" issued at the request of the Ukrainian government, for charges including embezzlement and misappropriation.

Also named is Volodymyr Sivkovych, the former deputy head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, who was this week made the subject of US sanctions for allegedly working with Russian intelligence.

The others are Serhiy Arbuzov and Andriy Kluyev, who both served as deputy prime minister under Mr Yanukovych.

Mr Prystaiko said the question was not whether Russia would invade Ukraine but whether it would be a "full-scale invasion" or something smaller, adding that Russia had already been in Crimea for almost eight years.

The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK said his country was "prepared to fight" but that it was "not that well equipped" for a prolonged conflict with Russia.

On Saturday, a US shipment of around 90 tonnes of "lethal aid" arrived in Ukraine, including ammunition for "front line defenders".

Dozens of British troops have been in Ukraine since 2015 to help train their armed forces, and the UK has also made a commitment to help rebuild Ukraine's navy following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Earlier this week, the UK announced it was sending defence weapons and extra troops for training.

Russia's president has long claimed that the US broke a guarantee it made in 1990 that Nato would not expand further east. "They simply deceived us!" he said at a news conference last month.

Interpretations differ over what exactly was promised to the then-Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. But it is clear that Mr Putin believes the guarantee was made.

Since then, several central and eastern European countries, which used to be part of the Soviet Union or its sphere of influence, have joined Nato.

Four of them - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have borders with Russia.

Russia argues that this expansion, and the presence of Nato troops and military equipment near its borders, is a direct threat to its security.

The country seized and annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine in 2014 after Ukrainians overthrew their pro-Russian president.

Ever since, Ukraine's military has been locked in a war with Russian-backed rebels in areas of the east near Russia's borders.

There are fears that the conflict, which has claimed 14,000 lives and caused at least two million people to flee their homes, may reignite and that Russia's military will cross the border.

The West should stop crying and stop accusing of Russia of spreading misinformation and destabilising countries when the West is renowned for doing the same and more-so, regime change. We’ve seen it in South America, Middle East, and the East. Brits should also pipe down, we all know how the government used misinformation when it came to the Iraq war.

As for pro-Russian leaders, HA to the HE to the HO - we can see puppet governments installed by the West in South Africa, and ME is a sight to see, and I mean a site to see.

Until the West can accuse Russia of something the West has never indulged in, their cries will fall on deaf ears.

 

[Robert]

The iron curtain (which was more of a political boundary) was setup by USSR not on the basis they wanted war, or to create animosity, but on the basis they didn’t want any more wars with the West, so separated themselves from the Western states that were responsible for WW2 which resulted in millions of Russian lives lost.

it was because they didn't want the people of Eastern Europe whom they had conquered (East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Albania) seeing how much freer folk in the West were and then rebelling against Soviet tyranny.

It was a political boundary, but also an actual 4300 mile wall, some brick and the rest razor wire and guard towers. Remember the section of it in Berlin getting pulled down?

 

[Robert]

This is a historical fact.

It's a lie. Seeing decent young people taken in by it breaks my heart.

Some German Jews were allowed to leave the Nazi state if they forfeited all their goods to the state. Some of them went to Palestine. That's not supporting Hitler, that's getting out while you still have your life.

 

[Technics 1210]

It's a lie. Seeing decent young people taken in by it breaks my heart.

Some German Jews were allowed to leave the Nazi state if they forfeited all their goods to the state. Some of them went to Palestine. That's not supporting Hitler, that's getting out while you still have your life.

It's not a lie.

Nazis and Zionists were working hand in hand. Putting aside the Harvana agreement, a currency was issued with both Star of David and Nazi Swatsika

https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn517746

If this isn't Zionism supporting Nazism then I do not know what is. Remember Zionism is a political endeavour, just like Nazism.

 

[Technics 1210]

it was because they didn't want the people of Eastern Europe whom they had conquered (East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Albania) seeing how much freer folk in the West were and then rebelling against Soviet tyranny.

It was a political boundary, but also an actual 4300 mile wall, some brick and the rest razor wire and guard towers. Remember the section of it in Berlin getting pulled down?

This is a Western interpretation. USSR proclaimed the boundaries between WW2 agressors and the East.

Isreal has built walls today. USA too, to protect themselves - or that's their excuse. You ok with said walls? But when USSR did it it was inticing division and war?

The West feared USSR, not because of size, not because USSR were instrumental in helping the western allies win the world wars, but because Amreeka feared USSR would become a superpower with nukes. Thus the West fed the lie that communist USSR was the enemy followed by the West parking nukes in Turkey and thus goading USSR when all the while USSR was protecting itself, just like USA and Isreal do today. What did USSR ever do to the UK or USA? Don't be saying European lives were a concern given Yugoslavia. The rest is history.

 

[Technics 1210]

Isn’t is strange, the heart breaks for Jews, but not for others who have suffered from genocide and persecution till this day? No heart break for Bosnian Muslims, no heart break for Palestinians, no heartbreak for Armenians, no heartbreak Cambodians, no heartbreak for Rwandans, and so on.

I guess there was no indoctrination at school, or propaganda by Zionists controlled MSM in the West. In the West we are taught the life of a Jew is worth more than others. This is a cold hard fact. Time to stand up to the lies.

Still the Russians are the enemies, the Jews are above all else. The Western narrative in a nutshell.