Russian invasion of Ukraine

[last.caress]

Putin's got some ****ing neck on him (as well as that weirdly flat face that makes him look like an animated flan dish). He wants his Iron Curtain back; entire nations acting as a big fat buffer between NATO and Mother Russia. But he also wants to sling missiles right up against NATO's borders, so close that one or two stray over the fence. I might put an "accidental" toe over your border, mate, but you'd better not come within 200 miles of mine.

[vietnammer]

Hold your horses, says Biden

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... -in-poland

[the pink palermo]

Hold your horses, says Biden

Well, he would say that wouldn't he.

It's not in America's interests to be dragged directly into this war, and certainly not via a NATO member squealing. Meanwhile, Zelensky is desperate for NATO to engage, he knows they are the bigger winners from this conflict, yet it's Ukraine's citizens whose lives are being wrecked or lost.

What this incident will facilitate though is for Biden to get further funds released from Congress to arm Ukraine to a greater extent on the basis that even if this missile does turn out to have been from Ukraine, the justification will be that the only reason it was fired was due to an act of provocation from Russia.

The West really want a negotiated settlement, fearing a long, drawn-out conflict where the losses on each side are insufficient to bring about a negotiation.

The tactic will be to arm Ukraine to the teeth to accelerate the depletion of Russian capability, then persuade Zelensky to negotiate by withdrawing future support.

The USA will not give Ukraine enough weapons top step one foot inside Russia. They want Russia weak, not desperate. The hope is the Russian people will force their own regime change.

[vietnammer]

What this incident will facilitate though is for Biden to get further funds released from Congress to arm Ukraine to a greater extent on the basis that even if this missile does turn out to have been from Ukraine, the justification will be that the only reason it was fired was due to an act of provocation from Russia.

Agree with all you say except this. If it turns out that the incident was staged by Ukraine to draw in NATO or even just Poland, think it would have a detrimental effect on support for their cause.

The West really want a negotiated settlement, fearing a long, drawn-out conflict where the losses on each side are insufficient to bring about a negotiation.

The West really want the Russians to turn inward and bin Putin

[simon hammer]

Agree with all you say except this. If it turns out that the incident was staged by Ukraine to draw in NATO or even just Poland, think it would have a detrimental effect on support for their cause.

Which brings about the question: if it does indeed turn out that this was staged by Ukraine, then what else have they staged?

The first casualty of war is the truth.

[Plashet Grove Pete]

"Staged by Ukraine" seems to me to be a bit of a leap. It sounds as though it could just have been unintentional. And if it could have been unintentional by Ukraine, I guess it's also fair to say it could just as easily have been unintentional by Russia.

[the pink palermo]

^^^^^

Ukraine simply defending itself.

Russia chucks missiles at it near the border, deliberately, Ukraine has no choice but to try and shoot it down, and hey preston, once in a while they get it wrong.

[vietnammer]

hey preston, once in a while they get it wrong.

Is that deliberate? (sorry)

[the pink palermo]

I wish, I'm not that clever

[bonzosbeard]

So glad that was a non story this week

I bet the Russians thought we were about to start bombing them back.

[MB]

Excellent post PP and agree with your conclusions. The West want this done and dusted, but without escalating too far such as Ukraine boots on Russian soil. The war is already in Russia when you look at the attacks in Belgorod and I guess from their perspective Crimea as well. Even that probably makes the West twitchy.

100,000 dead on each side and no end is sight. What a waste of life. Cannot hope enough that someone sticks a couple in Putin's head sometimes soon though I understand there could be worse waiting in the wings.

[ArtieTheIron]

Thought I'd post in case anyone remembers me and was wondering... I'm still here, haven't been drafted (not yet, anyway) because I didn't serve. The reports about people getting sent to the frontline even if they'd never been in the army had me quite a bit shaken though. Nothing much has changed otherwise. Prices went up a bit again but I'm managing despite not getting nearly as much work as I used to before all this.

[Tenbury]

Best wishes, Artie, I reckon your a victim of this ridiculous conflict too.

[Billydinho]

Thought I'd post in case anyone remembers me and was wondering... I'm still here, haven't been drafted (not yet, anyway) because I didn't serve. The reports about people getting sent to the frontline even if they'd never been in the army had me quite a bit shaken though. Nothing much has changed otherwise. Prices went up a bit again but I'm managing despite not getting nearly as much work as I used to before all this.

What’s the general mood among Russians, Artie? Is Putin’s propaganda working or do people just want an end to it all and disagree with it?

[Hummer_I_mean_Hammer]

What’s the general mood among Russians, Artie? Is Putin’s propaganda working or do people just want an end to it all and disagree with it?

The FSB like this post.

[ArtieTheIron]

What’s the general mood among Russians, Artie? Is Putin’s propaganda working or do people just want an end to it all and disagree with it?

I honestly have no idea, most are probably still deceived by whatever they're being told in state media. I wouldn't expect any sort of uprising anytime soon, that's for sure... unless food prices skyrocket and/or the glorious leader snuffs it. Full mobilization might do the trick as well.

[old fart]

^^^^^

Ukraine simply defending itself.

Russia chucks missiles at it near the border, deliberately, Ukraine has no choice but to try and shoot it down, and hey preston, once in a while they get it wrong.

or Boris told Zelensky to fire a couple over the border blame it on the Russians and low and behold the UK is the need of a Churchillian style leader to fight WW3

[jastons]

or Boris told Zelensky to fire a couple over the border blame it on the Russians and low and behold the UK is the need of a Churchillian style leader to fight WW3

That's a stretch

[old fart]

That's a stretch

An Alvin

[MB]

What goes around comes around...