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

 

[efil4]

So now US has given Ukraine til today to respond. Obviously, if Ukraine rejects this, the story writes itself - that Ukraine does not seek peace.

 

[faceman]

So now US has given Ukraine til today to respond. Obviously, if Ukraine rejects this, the story writes itself - that Ukraine does not seek peace.

Trump needs a 38OZ mantle upside his noggin,. I cant believe i just typed this

 

[bird]

So now US has given Ukraine til today to respond. Obviously, if Ukraine rejects this, the story writes itself - that Ukraine does not seek peace.

Geez, I don’t need to see Trump performing public oral ministrations on Putin.

What a piece of schlitz.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

So now US has given Ukraine til today to respond. Obviously, if Ukraine rejects this, the story writes itself - that Ukraine does not seek peace.

Under Republican leadership, The United States is now a Russian client state.

Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea | CNN

President Donald Trump slammed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday for his comments that Ukraine wouldn’t recognize Russian control of Crimea, calling the remarks “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia.”

edition.cnn.com

 

[bird]

Under Republican leadership, The United States is now a Russian client state.

Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea | CNN

President Donald Trump slammed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday for his comments that Ukraine wouldn’t recognize Russian control of Crimea, calling the remarks “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia.”

edition.cnn.com

If Trump is going to polish Putin’s “equipment” he should at least do it in private.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Something, something Russia hoax...

 

[bird]

Something, something Russia hoax...

Would like to say I am shocked. Would like to but I can’t.

 

[Optimus Prime]

If Trump’s hatred of Zelensky feels personal, that’s because it is

As the US president lashes out at the Ukrainian leader once again, it can sometimes feel as though personal hostility is clouding his judgement. Sam Kiley examines a long-held grudge against Zelensky – and how it may be getting in the way of defending democracy against tyranny

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

Trump says Russia made ‘pretty big concession’ to peace by not seizing all Ukraine

President tells reporters he has his ‘own deadline’ for reaching a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow – but insists he is putting ‘a lot of pressure’ on Russia

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

President Donald Trump campaigned for the presidency on ending Russia’s war in Ukraineon “day one,” but now appears to have backpedaled on the bold claim and said it was made “in jest.”

Trump repeatedly boasted throughout his presidential campaign and after his White House victory that he could end the war in “24 hours.”

Three months into Trump’s presidency, Russia is still bombing Ukraine. In a sit-down interview with TIME published Friday, he was quizzed about the comments.

“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point,” Trump told the outlet. “And you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news...Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended.”……….

Trump campaigned on ending Ukraine war on Day 1. Now he said it was in ‘jest’

President Donald Trump repeatedly boasted throughout his presidential campaign and after his White House victory that he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine in ‘24 hours’

www.independent.co.uk