Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (8 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

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Don't blame Trump for this. Blame the American people.

ABSOLUTELY!!!

 

[MT15]

I think we all know the answer to this question:

 

[Lapaz]

i said it here previously,

a deal has been agreed to by Trump and Putin.

The last piece was getting Zelensky to fall in line. He refuses, which puts Trumps plans naked, for all to see.

I suspect the strongarming will ramp up- i think he will soon announce no new weapons/aid pacakges for Ukraine here soon.

IF that happens, then we know the end game. Ukraine capitulation or nothing.

Soon the defense industry of other Western countries will benefit from arming Ukraine, and US defense contractors will pitch a fit. The effect will be to strengthen the rest of the world, thereby making us weaker. Everything Trump does weakens us. It is part of Putin’s master plan. Ultimately Putin hopes the US will become an ally against Western democracies and freedom. I don’t know if Republicans will capitulate. The good thing is that Russia is weak and has gotten much weaker throughout the war. They aren’t the powerhouse that Germany was. If we remain neutral, we’ll lose, but if the other Western nations increase their support, and strike a deal for the rare earths, Russia and MAGA will fail.

 

[MT15]

I really, really hope that the EU steps up and makes the US inconsequential in this.

 

[MT15]

 

[efil4]

Zelensky was in a vipers den

This is Brian Glenn from Fox News.

 

[MT15]

Truer words have never been spoken

 

[Lapaz]

I really, really hope that the EU steps up and makes the US inconsequential in this.

Even if the US had people in Ukraine working to extract resources, nothing would stop Russia from honoring those agreements to keep the US at bay, so it is false that that defacto gives Ukraine security. Ukraine should make rare earth deals with their true allies that offer security guarantees, not the US that won’t commit to come to their aid if invaded.

 

[Incumbent]

Only on the outside. I'm actually dying on the inside. Like slowly being crushed and nothing can be done to stop it

I feel that.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I think we all know the answer to this question:

 

[Huntn]

Holy shirt, Whitehouse meeting with Zelensky devolves into shouting match. “He’s not welcome back today.” Self described pro negotiator, blows it.
It seems like the victim didn’t like being choked by a Bully and having a malignant object shoved down his throat. Excuse them if they object. And Vance, dipshirt Jr. Disaster… a premeditated ambush. I’m sick to my stomach.

 

[RobF]

Welp

Welp indeed. Think the key phrase is this one:

"because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations"

He's negotiating peace with Russia. Who invaded Ukraine. A "big advantage" in that context means being in a position to concede less to Russia, the invaders. Trump is essentially saying that Ukraine isn't willing to surrender as much to Russia as he, Trump, wants him to.

 

[MT15]

 

[efil4]

Welp indeed. Think the key phrase is this one:

"because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations"

He's negotiating peace with Russia. Who invaded Ukraine. A "big advantage" in that context means being in a position to concede less to Russia, the invaders. Trump is essentially saying that Ukraine isn't willing to surrender as much to Russia as he, Trump, wants him to.

spot on

 

[MT15]

I was sure when I heard Vance and Trump make those ridiculous statements about Zelensky not ever saying thanks that they were lying.

 

[MT15]

Rubio seeing if he can be even more embarrassing than Trump and Vance.

 

[Incumbent]

I hope other nations can step up in a big way. I’m so ashamed of my country.

State Department terminates U.S. support of Ukraine energy grid restoration

The USAID initiative had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in helping Ukraine's energy grid recover from attacks from Russia.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[efil4]

I hope other nations can step up in a big way. I’m so ashamed of my country.

State Department terminates U.S. support of Ukraine energy grid restoration

The USAID initiative had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in helping Ukraine's energy grid recover from attacks from Russia.

www.nbcnews.com

and so it begins....

I suspect the strongarming will ramp up- i think he will soon announce no new weapons/aid pacakges for Ukraine here soon.

IF that happens, then we know the end game. Ukraine capitulation or nothing.