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

 

[MT15]

Read up on Trump and the Mafia from his early days in NYC. He has rubbed elbows with them for decades - since at least the 1970’s.

 

[efil4]

I figured as much- Trump is purely transactional and any move is made on how it benefits him

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

The only thing that is stopping us from siding with the Axis of Evil is Congress.

Nah Rep Lieu, We are already there.

 

[Optimus Prime]

US and Ukraine agree to terms on natural resources and reconstruction deal, Ukrainian official says | CNN

President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington, DC in the coming days, after the United States and Ukraine agreed to terms on a deal over natural resources and reconstruction, according to a Ukrainian official.

www.cnn.com

 

[bird]

US and Ukraine agree to terms on natural resources and reconstruction deal, Ukrainian official says | CNN

President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington, DC in the coming days, after the United States and Ukraine agreed to terms on a deal over natural resources and reconstruction, according to a Ukrainian official.

www.cnn.com

That is freaking sad.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

That is freaking sad.

Is it? I haven't seen the terms yet... if it's a good trade in terms of reconstruction for certain rights, then that will be good. It's deliberately vague right now, but I haven't seen anything to indicate that it's good or bad.

 

[bird]

Is it? I haven't seen the terms yet... if it's a good trade in terms of reconstruction for certain rights, then that will be good. It's deliberately vague right now, but I haven't seen anything to indicate that it's good or bad.

Just playing the odds. If Trump is involved it likely sucks. But stranger things have happened.

 

[efil4]

Is it? I haven't seen the terms yet... if it's a good trade in terms of reconstruction for certain rights, then that will be good. It's deliberately vague right now, but I haven't seen anything to indicate that it's good or bad.

Agree.

Details will come out soon.

but lets be clear this isn't a cease fire deal. This is simplya mineral rights deal for post war Ukraine. This was a first step toward ending war.

Zelenskys role, once a rights deal was on table, was tasked with seeking the best possible terms. I suspect he worked it up to the point he saw no additional benefit of holding out. So I have to think he got best possible deal available.

And who is to say 4 years from now it gets amended into something more.

But war continues. This was first step.

 

[J-DONK]

This is ridiculous.

 

[Dragon]

This is ridiculous.

IF (when) Trump attack another country then he does not want to set a precedent.

Also EU just gave Ukraine a far better offer for a minerals deal that included security guaranties. It is going to be interesting to see how this all turns out

 

[efil4]

IF (when) Trump attack another country then he does not want to set a precedent.

Also EU just gave Ukraine a far better offer for a minerals deal that included security guaranties. It is going to be interesting to see how this all turns out

YESSS i had been waiting for EU to swoop in with better deal- WITH SECURITY guarantee!

HA - do you have link to that? Oh this is awesome ( if verified ) Trump got played.

Almost like a NFL FA fliriting with 2 teams- only to drive up his price and sign with best deal

OMG Trump got played

What would be even better- if EU "leaked" they offered a BETTER DEAL, so Zelensky has ammo to negotiate secuirty guarantees with US and put him in the cat bird seat for negotiations.

 

[efil4]

IF (when) Trump attack another country then he does not want to set a precedent.

Also EU just gave Ukraine a far better offer for a minerals deal that included security guaranties. It is going to be interesting to see how this all turns out

You post this

then i find this



not a coincidence.

 

[Dragon]

YESSS i had been waiting for EU to swoop in with better deal- WITH SECURITY guarantee!

HA - do you have link to that? Oh this is awesome ( if verified ) Trump got played.

Almost like a NFL FA fliriting with 2 teams- only to drive up his price and sign with best deal

OMG Trump got played

What would be even better- if EU "leaked" they offered a BETTER DEAL, so Zelensky has ammo to negotiate secuirty guarantees with US and put him in the cat bird seat for negotiations.

It is not quite clear what is going on. The EU has already offered Ukraine a security guarantie - that is not a part of a "mineral agreement"

But there is this

The European Commissioner for industrial strategy, Stephane Sejourne allegedly said he'd offered Kyiv an alternative to that proposed by the U.S. while on a visit to Ukraine to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Regnier confirmed that during his visit to Kyiv, Sejourne met with his Ukrainian counterparts. According to Regnier, Sejourne "reaffirmed the EU's commitment to implement the Memorandum of Understanding," but did not present any new proposals.

"As with all the EU critical raw materials partnerships that we have, this cooperation is not only about securing supply chains for the EU but also about fostering local value creation and capacity building in partner countries, ensuring mutual benefits," Regnier said.

https://kyivindependent.com/eu-offe...ite-trump-saying-us-version-close-to-signing/

 

[efil4]

It is not quite clear what is going on. The EU has already offered Ukraine a security guarantie - that is not a part of a "mineral agreement"

But there is this



https://kyivindependent.com/eu-offe...ite-trump-saying-us-version-close-to-signing/

and there is this

So now Trump is proclaiming Zelensky flying to DC Friday to sign - but again, sign an "agreement to agree" - its not a mineral deal its an agreement to have talks on a mineral deal and here are some of Ukraines starting points for ANY deal

in light of EU offer- pay attention to point #10

 

[efil4]

annnnnnnnnd Trump today.

 

[efil4]

Trump on a bender

 

[bird]

This is ridiculous.

Another Republican gutless turd.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Another European leader interrupts the lies being told by trump:

This clown is respected by no one outside of the US, they all see him for the idiot he is.