Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (1 Viewer)

[superchuck500]

Russia continues to mass assets within range of Ukraine - though the official explanations are that they are for various exercises. United States intelligence has noted that Russian operatives in Ukraine could launch 'false flag' operations as a predicate to invasion. The West has pressed for negotiations and on Friday in Geneva, the US Sec. State Blinken will meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Certainly the Russian movements evidence some plan - but what is it? Some analysts believe that Putin's grand scheme involves securing Western commitments that NATO would never expand beyond its current composition. Whether that means action in Ukraine or merely the movement of pieces on the chess board remains to be seen.

VIENNA — No one expected much progress from this past week’s diplomatic marathon to defuse the security crisis Russia has ignited in Eastern Europe by surrounding Ukraine on three sides with 100,000 troops and then, by the White House’s accounting, sending in saboteurs to create a pretext for invasion.

But as the Biden administration and NATO conduct tabletop simulations about how the next few months could unfold, they are increasingly wary of another set of options for President Vladimir V. Putin, steps that are more far-reaching than simply rolling his troops and armor over Ukraine’s border.

Mr. Putin wants to extend Russia’s sphere of influence to Eastern Europe and secure written commitments that NATO will never again enlarge. If he is frustrated in reaching that goal, some of his aides suggested on the sidelines of the negotiations last week, then he would pursue Russia’s security interests with results that would be felt acutely in Europe and the United States.

There were hints, never quite spelled out, that nuclear weapons could be shifted to places — perhaps not far from the United States coastline — that would reduce warning times after a launch to as little as five minutes, potentially igniting a confrontation with echoes of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Russia Issues Subtle Threats More Far-Reaching Than a Ukraine Invasion

If the West fails to meet its security demands, Moscow could take measures like placing nuclear missiles close to the U.S. coastline, Russian officials have hinted.

www.nytimes.com

Blinken Will Meet With Russia as U.S. Pushes for More Diplomacy

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will meet with Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia in Geneva on Friday as the United States warns that Russia could soon attack Ukraine.

www.nytimes.com

How to think about war in Ukraine

Start with the Ukrainians

snyder.substack.com

 

[efil4]

There is a fantastic documentary on Netflix- Turning Point: Bomb to Cold War.

Highly suggest watching from Ep 5 to 9. ( 80s thru current ) to get a better understanding of what really happened to Russia post 1991. I agree with sentiment that the US did NOT do enough post Soviet/Communist regime to support Russia economically as it transitioned out of communism into fledgling free enterprise.
This period of utter poverty shaped Russian views on the West til this day. Opened the door for oligarchs and ultimately Putin to step in to "restore" the Russkie Mir.

 

[bird]

Wait a sec. Are you saying that Russia was never operating in good faith?

I am stunned. Stunned, I tell you.

Or not.

 

[zztop]

In regards to that power station Russia recently destroyed

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-ran-out-missiles-stop-russian-strike-ruining-power-station-2024-04-16/

 

[MT15]

This should be a gift article. I hope. Seems to fit here.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/17/russia-foreign-policy-us-weaken/

 

[efil4]

Rep. MTG introduced amendments to the Ukraine bill last night.

I wish this was a joke. This is from a SITTING US Congresswoman. Think about that as you read the four amendments she has proposed.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: Members who vote for Ukraine aid have to join army

Greene has proposed an amendment to the Ukraine aid bill seeking to require anyone who votes in favor to be required to "conscript in the Ukrainian military."

www.newsweek.com

 

[DaveXA]

Rep. MTG introduced amendments to the Ukraine bill last night.

I wish this was a joke. This is from a SITTING US Congresswoman. Think about that as you read the four amendments she has proposed.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: Members who vote for Ukraine aid have to join army

Greene has proposed an amendment to the Ukraine aid bill seeking to require anyone who votes in favor to be required to "conscript in the Ukrainian military."

www.newsweek.com

She's a forking clown show. Has zero business being in Congress. But then, this says a lot about the state of the Republican party.

 

[bird]

Rep. MTG introduced amendments to the Ukraine bill last night.

I wish this was a joke. This is from a SITTING US Congresswoman. Think about that as you read the four amendments she has proposed.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: Members who vote for Ukraine aid have to join army

Greene has proposed an amendment to the Ukraine aid bill seeking to require anyone who votes in favor to be required to "conscript in the Ukrainian military."

www.newsweek.com

Perhaps an amendment should be put forth requiring that those refusing to support Ukraine must serve in the Russian army.

 

[DaveXA]

Perhaps an amendment should be put forth requiring that those refusing to support Ukraine must serve in the Russian army.

Lmao, good answer.

 

[Lapaz]

Perhaps an amendment should be put forth requiring that those refusing to support Ukraine must serve in the Russian army.

Perhaps the amendment should be if you vote against Ukraine support, then they must reveal all of their dark money contributions. Let’s find the Russian dark money trail.

 

[bird]

Perhaps the amendment should be if you vote against Ukraine support, then they must reveal all of their dark money contributions. Let’s find the Russian dark money trail.

Works for me. The NRA was one such example.

 

[zztop]

hmm

Ukraine is heading for defeat

The West’s failure to send weapons to Kyiv is putting Putin on course for victory.

www.politico.eu

 

[efil4]

hmm

Ukraine is heading for defeat

The West’s failure to send weapons to Kyiv is putting Putin on course for victory.

www.politico.eu

the alarm bells have been ringing since Jan 2024. This is nothing that we all didnt already know.

The more pressing question is why our resolve seemingly fell off a cliff. The inaction in Congress specifically. That should warrant an inquiry at the least.

 

[DaveXA]

the alarm bells have been ringing since Jan 2024. This is nothing that we all didnt already know.

The more pressing question is why our resolve seemingly fell off a cliff. The inaction in Congress specifically. That should warrant an inquiry at the least.

House Republicans...that is all. They're an absolute sheet show.

 

[DaveXA]

I'm just gonna say, the numbers are not looking good for Biden right now. The Democrats are a pathetic excuse of a party. They have no balls and are going to blow this election. The only hope I have is if they can take the majorities in the House and Senate as a counterbalance to Trump.

And yes, I know it's a long election season and a lot can happen, but Trump is leading Biden in Michigan by all accounts, a state that was solidly Biden in the last election. That's a terrible sign.

 

[zztop]

And yes, I know it's a long election season and a lot can happen, but Trump is leading Biden in Michigan by all accounts, a state that was solidly Biden in the last election. That's a terrible sign.

Yes, some of us were worried about Michigan in the IDF rampage tour topic. I'm about 98% sure that Michigan is lost. The only thing would be if RFK can somehow pull more votes away from trup, vs the ones Biden has lost there.

 

[efil4]

 

[DaveXA]

I suspect the R no votes were opposed to Ukraine support and the Democrats no votes were opposed to Israel support.

 

[RebSaint]

I think I'm on same one...Turning Point?

Basically the full history of the fall of Soviet Union.

Yes. But to clarify: The documentary covers the relationship between Nuclear weapons and the Cold War, not just the end of the Cold War itself.