Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (2 Viewers)

[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

 

[bird]

Glenn was talking about the Economist article and you linked to a different article. Are you confused?

Is The Economist under the control of Putin?

You said it's just smoke in mirrors due to its government spending. Check out the headline of The Economist:

Vladimir Putin spends big - and sends Russia's economy soaring.

How long can the party last

You act like Putin's spending wasn't in the headline.

What factors are in GDP?

 

[efil4]

It's a tire fire according to who?


International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) witnessed thick dark smoke coming from the north-western area of the plant, after hearing multiple explosions throughout the evening. The team was informed that an alleged drone attack on one of the plant’s cooling towers took place today. There is no impact on nuclear safety, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed.

The IAEA team reported hearing an explosion today at the same time the ZNPP informed them that a drone had allegedly struck one of the plant's two cooling towers.

In order to ascertain the extent and possible cause of this event, the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) is requesting immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage.

ZNPP has two cooling towers located at the northern side of the cooling pond, outside of the ZNPP perimeter. Cooling towers are used during power operation of the plant. Their damage does not directly impact the safety of the six units in shutdown. However, any kind of fire on the site or in its vicinity represents a risk of spreading the fire also to facilities essential for safety.

Update 242 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine | IAEA

www.iaea.org

IAEA requested immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage.

Where is the access? This happened over 24 hrs ago- why arent the Russians allowing IAEA folks, who are ON SITE, access to the cooling tower area?

 

[MT15]

Russian talking points, laundered through friendly sources. That’s all he has got.

 

[efil4]

Russian talking points, laundered through friendly sources. That’s all he has got.

which is why he has been relatively quiet since last week- his russian talking points got upended with UAF invading Kursk Oblast and having wild success in doing so.

Captured more territory in 6 days than Russia captured in last 3 months in the Donetsk region.

 

[SaintForLife]

Reading comprehension is TRULY not your strong suit. NO ONE is calling it a literal "tire Fire". Go back read @Nebaghead post again and this time, take your time.

4 people in this thread said or posted something that said it was a tire fire.

Who reported that originally?

 

[SaintForLife]

IAEA requested immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage.

Where is the access? This happened over 24 hrs ago- why arent the Russians allowing IAEA folks, who are ON SITE, access to the cooling tower area?

Who was the first to report it was a tire fire? Zelensky?

 

[bird]

Who was the first to report it was a tire fire? Zelensky?

Aw, all concerned for your Russian buddy?

 

[CoolBrees]

So many of the pronouncements by the war supporters have turned out to be wrong.



You can go back to 2022 and even 2023 when the standard DC war fanatics were all pronouncing with their usual tone of unearned authority that the Russian economy and currency would collapse.

Western war propagandists virtually always lie. Almost nothing is less reliable.

Did you read the article? Of course you didn't.

If you did, you would know that the growth was supported by two things -

1) Deficit spending of greater than 2% above their GDP - which is huge for them - causing massive inflation.

2) Raising interest rates from 7.5% to 18% which attracts foreign investment (read: China and India) and shielding the average person from the affects of that inflation by the deficit spending in reason 1.

Oh and your article ends with this great bit I though you would like:

"How long can the party last? Mr Putin’s attempts to blunt interest-rate rises will lead inflation to rise higher, and last longer, than it would have otherwise. At some point, people may get angry about the rising cost of living. He also cannot run budget deficits for ever. At current rates, Russia’s financial reserves will be exhausted in five years or so; meanwhile, the government faces high borrowing costs. But for now, Mr Putin has a war to win. And so the party goes on "

 

[efil4]

Who was the first to report it was a tire fire? Zelensky?

i posted it ...you saw it.

nope not Zelensky.

Again, where is the access for IAEA personnel?

Exactly what i thought...crickets.

Greenwald sure does know his audience.

 

[Bigdaddysaints]

someone isn't happy Ukraine is having some success. smh...

 

[efil4]

Mearsheimer on the current state of the Ukraine war and where it goes.

this is the Russian army Mearsheimer was gloating about

 

[SaintForLife]

i posted it ...you saw it.

nope not Zelensky.

Again, where is the access for IAEA personnel?

Exactly what i thought...crickets.

Greenwald sure does know his audience.

It was Zelensky.

 

[bird]

It was Zelensky.

Link it.

 

[SaintForLife]

Link it.

Actually Zelensky said fire and didn't say tire. The only people that have said it was from tires are random people on X. I don't see any reporter stating it was a tire fire.

 

[bird]

Actually Zelensky said fire and didn't say tire. The only people that have said it was from tires are random people on X. I don't see any reporter stating it was a tire fire.

Link it.

 

[efil4]

Actually Zelensky said fire and didn't say tire. The only people that have said it was from tires are random people on X. I don't see any reporter stating it was a tire fire.

Lol. You were so certain it was Zelensky, you answered just "Zelensky"

And it wasnt.
doh...

 

[efil4]

Well well well...looks like IAEA made a walk thru (limited as Russians still declined access to the exact spot of fire origin ...imagine that)

No drone, no ash, no residue found to support Ukrainian drone strike.( nor tires).

Sooooo...only one side controls the plant, and it's not Ukraine.

Furthermore, it was found to have started 30 ft up INSIDE the cooling tower.

Maybe wanna send this to you pal Greenwald.

Update 243 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine | IAEA

www.iaea.org

 

[MT15]

Well well well...looks like IAEA made a walk thru (limited as Russians still declined access to the exact spot of fire origin ...imagine that)

No drone, no ash, no residue found to support Ukrainian drone strike.( nor tires).

Sooooo...only one side controls the plant, and it's not Ukraine.

Furthermore, it was found to have started 30 ft up INSIDE the cooling tower.

Maybe wanna send this to you pal Greenwald.

Update 243 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine | IAEA

www.iaea.org

Everybody except the cult knows GG is a liar and Putin mouthpiece. He really made a heel turn, yet some cannot recognize it. Bitter cynical man who couldn’t even meet editorial standards on a website he founded. Think about that, lol.