Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (19 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

 

[coldseat]

Who ever would have thought, the US is Russia's birch. Thanks, Trump!

 

[SamAndreas]

So did Leon Musk.

 

[DaveXA]

Wonder if they realize Ukraine currently holds a bit of territory in Russia. Think Poots will agree to that trade? Lol.

 

[efil4]

Wonder if they realize Ukraine currently holds a bit of territory in Russia. Think Poots will agree to that trade? Lol.

if that article is accurate, and im Ukraine, im about to go on the offensive in Kursk and expand deeper, or Bryansk and Belgorod.

im really in a wait n see mode. I dont think anyone knows just yet and im holding out that folks have told him how important Ukraine is.

But we know how self-serving Trump is, so it may come down to who can do more.

 

[Bigdaddysaints]

You don’t purchase something you already own. He’s in the driver’s seat now already.

i worded that wrong. i should have left out the just..

that woud be a clear sign that he just purchased the US presidency..

 

[Bigdaddysaints]

if that article is accurate, and im Ukraine, im about to go on the offensive in Kursk and expand deeper, or Bryansk and Belgorod.

im really in a wait n see mode. I dont think anyone knows just yet and im holding out that folks have told him how important Ukraine is.

But we know how self-serving Trump is, so it may come down to who can do more.

can you imagine Zelinsky reading that after he just kissed Trumps arse?
he probably already threw up in his own mouth after he said that..
But let's be honest. Putin and Kim Jong Un joining forces is like a dream come true for Trump.
If this is true, Trump is gonna alienate us from Europes leaders.

 

[efil4]

can you imagine Zelinsky reading that after he just kissed Trumps arse?
he probably already threw up in his own mouth after he said that..
But let's be honest. Putin and Kim Jong Un joining forces is like a dream come true for Trump.
If this is true, Trump is gonna alienate us from Europes leaders.

I think Zelensky isn't as "green around the gills" any longer. He has had to politic all across the world, so I'm sure he playing the game (with his recent comments).

 

[faceman]

I wonder how this is going to play out.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[Lapaz]

Concerns from Maralago?! Isn’t Congress supposed to be independent?!

 

[fooferdoggie]

Concerns from Maralago?! Isn’t Congress supposed to be independent?!

well, thats going to change. I wonder if there will be any Democrats on anything anymore.?

 

[superchuck500]

well, thats going to change. I wonder if there will be any Democrats on anything anymore.?

That wasn't a democrat - it was the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee. And the Speaker pulled him from the spot because Trump told him to.

 

[MT15]

It should concern everyone that the Speaker is a complete toady to Trump, but I will bet we hear nothing out of supposed conservatives about it. And it will have the intended effect - any other committee chairs who are not inclined to give blanket allegiance to Trump will just hunker down and not say anything when he does unethical and immoral things.

The GOP is full of cowardly worms.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[bird]

Odd that Little Marco says China is our biggest threat yet these azzhats keep playing right into the hands of autocrats.

 

[superchuck500]

Literally just giving away concessions before negotiating - this is why having low achievers in high places is just so stupid.

 

[efil4]

Literally just giving away concessions before negotiating - this is why having low achievers in high places is just so stupid.

This was all preordained prior to the election.

This is also why i had gotten into so many back n forths with Ukraine supporters who also supported Trump.

It was back channel dealings since Oct and more detailed ones post 11/5. Trump and spokespeople tell the public one thing, but behind the scenes, the opposite.

Kellog was doing the rounds on TV espousing what the US policy "will most likely be" and here we have first glimpses of what it actually is and its on polar opposite sides of the spectrum.

Trump will continue to do all he can to appease Putin.

 

[efil4]

I sincerely hope that Europe takes the lead here, tells Trump et al we are no longer going to support your bases, buy your weapons and lets them wallow for a bit.

im just done with this dolt.

We are going backwards in relationships at just below warp speed at this point.

We are claiming Gaza to turn into a "resort"
We are claiming Greenland from Denmark
We are pressing Canada to be 51st State
We threatened Panama over the Canal
And we are about to leave Ukraine in a very untenable negotiating position

This is all within 3 weeks of Trump sworn in.

Cant imagine what the next 3.11 years will look like.