Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[mapuc]

< I had hopes I would be wrong when I wrote

"It wouldn't surprise me if NATO agree on some of Russia's terms."

Markus

[Catfish]

re Skybird all good and well and understandable. Never underestimate Russia and Putin's ideas of making Rusia great again (ahem), however what he has said and written up to now is more reasonable than anything i heard of NATO or the US.
Look at this chart and tell me what you see.

https://crp-infotec.de/wp-content/up...er-aktuell.gif

Getting Ukraine into NATO would be a bit too much, don't you think so? Be realistic, the eastward expansion is a reality.

Of course we have the german wonder weapon Mrs Baerbock as a foreign minister, maybe some hope Putin laughs himself to death when they meet

[Skybird]

Last year, on three different opportunities I think the Finnish government let it known that they could join NATO under certain circumstances.


It was clear to me at least that with "circumstances" they meant that if Russia starts to apply too threatening pressure up there and Finland starts to feel seriously threatened.



I am not certain whether memory fools me there or not, but I seem to recall that Sweden has indicated something similiar as well. The Swedish and Finish neutrality maybe is no longer carved in stone if "case X" turns out to become real.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Last year, on three different opportunities I think the Finnish government let it known that they could join NATO under certain circumstances.


It was clear to me at least that with "circumstances" they meant that if Russia starts to apply too threatening pressure up there and Finland starts to feel seriously threatened.



I am not certain whether memory fools me there or not, but I seem to recall that Sweden has indicated something similiar as well. The Swedish and Finish neutrality maybe is no longer carved in stone if "case X" turns out to become real.

You are so right Sir

The Finnish president’s traditional new year’s speech normally goes unnoticed outside his own country. But this year, Sauli Niinistö’s remarks led the Financial Times to run a story headlined “Finland insists on its right to join NATO in defiance of Russia”.

https://ecfr.eu/article/between-russ...gnty-equality/

The Swedish government has set up a committee to examine the pros and cons of NATO membership. This happened in the spring of 2018.
Haven't heard anything from it since then.

Markus

[mapuc]

Seems like Putin has taken the first victory in the meeting with USA

(Translated Danish article)

Today, Russia and the United States meet to discuss Ukraine - but Putin has already taken the first victory step

https://www-dr-dk.translate.goog/nyh...en&_x_tr_hl=da

Markus

[Rockstar]

The Taliban were just equipped with modern weapons in Afghanistan. NATO wants to place missiles in Ukraine. And ‘somebody’ just destabilized the hell out of Kazakhstan.

Putin has a lot to contend with but taking a victory lap isn’t one of them.

[mapuc]

Here's Putins view on this

From TASS

NEW YORK, January 10. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said Russia wants to resurrect the Soviet Union by gaining more influence over the former member states.

https://tass.com/politics/1385397

Markus

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Here's Putins view on this

From TASS



https://tass.com/politics/1385397

Markus

To clarify what you quoted above is Blinken’s view.


Below is Putin’s view from your linked article.

Putin said in June that restoration of the Soviet Union made no sense and would be impossible and unadvisable due to certain demographic, social and ethnic issues.

IMO it’s those same demographic, social and ethnic issues which Putin says makes it impossible to resurrect the Soviet Union, NATO is using to put pressure on Putin.

[mapuc]

^ I stand corrected.

Got a bad feeling about this.

Edit
I think I understand why Blinken/NATO think Putin will re-establish Soviet.
One of Putins steadfast demands is that NATO shall leave Eastern Europe-Leave Poland, Estonia, Letland and so on.
End edit

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Could also lead to the EU bonding together in a military sense out of pure self need.

[mapuc]

US intelligence indicates Russia preparing operation to justify invasion of Ukraine

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/14/p...lag/index.html

Markus

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mapuc

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/14/p...lag/index.html

Markus

Crimean deception games 2.0 . This time maybe little blue men, for a change? And a massive cyber campaign in the Ukraine - and further West...?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Crimean deception games 2.0 . This time maybe little blue men, for a change? And a massive cyber campaign in the Ukraine - and further West...?

BBC take of the above.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59998988

[mapuc]

Got the feeling that it's not a question about if, but a question about when

Markus

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Got the feeling that it's not a question about if, but a question about when

Markus

Biden has already unwisely stated he would not resort to using overt military action. On the other hand having amassed 100,000 troops at the border ,conducting daily live fire exercise it appears the Russians have not taken anything off the table.

What ever Russia is up too, after Biden’s statements, they’re probably thinking they can get away with it ‘again’. Because at the end of the day, the Russians have a significant quantity of oil and gas, and there are many people who want to buy it and who see sanctions on Russia, which would drive up the price of those consumables, as being not good for their national interests, even if it’s at the expense of Ukraine.