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

 

[Lapaz]

Also, Zelensky is scheduled to address US Congress tomorrow. If Bobert and Green heckle him during his speech tomorrow, someone there better kick them in the nuts.

And please, CNN/Fox, don't give either of those idiots air time.

Are you referring to Marjorie Taylor Green's nuts? I wish she had nuts to kick!

 

[efil4]

Inside Putin’s circle — the real Russian elite

As the west focuses on oligarchs, a far smaller group has its grip on true power in Moscow. Who are the siloviki — and what motivates them?

www.ft.com

Get to the middle part of that read- and you will see just why Trump is so enamored with Putin/Russia.

I said in 2016 that his supporters connect because they see themselves in Trump- but not really themselves, but the hope, dreams and aspirations of success. Many Russians ALREADY have that thought- that their leaders project the wealth and luxury that IS Russia. And they are fine with simply being "perceived" that way even living in oppression and borderline poverty. Just the mere perception is good enough for them.

That is a Trump supporter in a nutshell and you can clearly see the connections Trump was/is attempting.

 

[samiam5211]

I bet Putin is wishing he’d kept that “reset” button Hillary gave them a few years back.

 

[DaveXA]

Are you referring to Marjorie Taylor Green's nuts? I wish she had nuts to kick!

Oh she's nuts alright.

 

[MT15]

 

[bdb13]

foxnews.com/v/6297548418001/?playlist_id=5528578293001#sp=show-clips

Anybody able to get this to play? It's on Fox News.com and it's Tucker's pro Russian propaganda from two weeks prior to the bombing.

I can't get it to play, sent it to my dad and he said he can't get it to play either. But other videos I've selected have played just fine.

Edit: the site keeps converting it to just the video.. which is not playing for me, if you put 'video.' in front of the link I posted there it should pull it up on Fox News' site.

 

[nolaspe]

Lol, wut?

 

[MT15]

All I can see is a black box, no video is apparent.

 

[MT15]

There is no method to their madness…..

Lol, wut?

 

[BullSheetBuddha]

how about Chancellor Palputine ?

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Lol, wut?

Stupid people believe stupid things.

 

[DaveXA]

There is no method to their madness…..

More like there's a madness to their method.

 

[efil4]

Lol, wut?

Whisky Tango Foxtrot on that dudes head?

Is he some sort of "legionnaire" ? ?

 

[insidejob]

Lol, wut?

Dude has all the hats in the world to choose from and that's what he chooses to wear on television? Jeez...and, btw, Mr. Stupid Hat Guy, it's President Biden, not "Joe."

 

[UriUT]

This may be a start. I believe it’s ukraines long term interest to demand pre 2014 boundaries. 1. This allows great economic potential as those boundaries secures a vast natural gas reserves. 2. Those same reserves un cuffs europes dependency to Russia. The only way to accomplish this task however with their current military capability is time. Time for russia s economy to atrophy. Time for the fumes to dissipate from russia military might. The risk however is more civilian casualties and the rapid destruction of their infrastructures. The other is the west attention span; both how they can stomach the economic damage to their own economies and their interest in ukraines struggles. Without this demand (pre 2014 boundaries) I cannot see how Ukraine will build a strong enough military to deter Russia in the future without key alliances. As we ve seen, this is already a Herculean task vis a vis nato. Yes it is true that Ukraine s military has been beyond expectation. But let’s remember that Russia has been spectacularly incompetent..due to putins hubris and their systemic failures. And let’s not also ignore that Ukraine has lost territory and have basically waged a defensive campaign to wear out russia s military. And never trust Russia s security guarantees. Zelensky have already laid out the obvious that nato cannot accept them in the immediate future. In addition, some nato countries have exposures and cannot be completely trusted. Ukraine cannot wait for putin s regime to fall. I’m going out on a limb to say it ain’t happening. Because of that Ukraine will face future threats. They must rely on their own abilities, as they are now. Who knows if trump or de Santis will be president.

 

[UriUT]

I don’t see the oligarchs doing anything either. The Russian population is dramatically supportive.

 

[MT15]

As long as Ukraine can join the EU, wouldn’t that help them out? I agree, I would like to see Ukraine regain at least some of the territory Putin grabbed from them before. Otherwise, it doesn’t seem like Putin will have given up enough for his aggression against an independent country.

 

[UriUT]

As long as Ukraine can join the EU, wouldn’t that help them out? I agree, I would like to see Ukraine regain at least some of the territory Putin grabbed from them before. Otherwise, it doesn’t seem like Putin will have given up enough for his aggression against an independent country.

I believe there are some language in the eu agreement that have security guarantees, but I’m not completely sure. I would not bet on it if I am Ukraine.