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I think it's time to start a separate thread on this theatre of absurdity.

There's been several waves of sanctions against Russia, none of which were well formulated or reasoned. Sanctions were imposed solely to hurt Russia, but the ones hurting are the EU and US businesses.

Some Polish representatives even went to the hypocritical step of calling Russian response of banning of some of the agricultural products as unfair, and threatening to complain to WTO.

Well. It seem counter-sanctions have not even started yet...

Putin asks government to develop countermeasures to Western sanctions
http://rt.com/news/178192-putin-sanctions-west-response/


More:
http://rt.com/business/177748-dobrolet-aeroflot-suspends-flights-crimea/
http://rt.com/business/178028-russia-eu-sanctions-dobrolet/
http://rt.com/business/177088-eu-sanctions-banks-sberbank/
http://rt.com/news/176832-eu-sanctions-russia-list/
http://rt.com/uk/178160-russia-sanctions-british-jobs/
http://rt.com/op-edge/178044-modern-diplomacy-logic-sanctions/
http://rt.com/op-edge/176984-sanctions-russia-ukraine-gaza-conflict/

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140805/191742842/Russian-Prime-Minister-Says-Budget-Plan-for-2015-Should-Reflect.html
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140805/191746150/Poland-to-Lose-700-Million-Due-to-Decrease-in-Exports-to-Russia.html
http://en.ria.ru/interview/20140804/191692763/Western-Sanctions-on-Russia-Aimed-at-Humiliating-Moscow--.html

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/743667 (Castro says US, Europe’s biggest mistake is underestimating Russian people)

While EU/US-backed Nazi government in Kiev continues ethnic cleansing/genocide of the Russian population in the East of the country, Russia itself is under economic attack from EU/US and is finally forced to reply in kind:

Putin bans agricultural imports from sanctioning countries for 1 year
http://rt.com/news/178484-putin-russia-sanctions-agriculture/

Putin signs decree on countermeasures to Western sanctions
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/743798

Russia’s retail chains to replace imported food products in 1-2 months
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/743813

...And will be switching to local suppliers
http://ria.ru/economy/20140806/1019047017.html

However, Canada continues undeterred:
Canada enlarges list of sanctions against Russia, Ukraine
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/743799

Canadians also put Kadyrov on the list of sanctions, presumably because Kadyrov sanctioned Obama.  ;D
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/06/sanctions/

Russia to ban all US agricultural products, EU fruit & vegetable imports - watchdog
http://rt.com/business/178540-russia-ban-us-poultry/

Economic warfare.

Does US import anything from Russia?

Space rocket engines?

In the meantime, EU says they may act "an-eye-for-an-eye" and close EU air space for Russian companies if Russia closes tarns-Siberian airspace for EU companies as a response to EU sanctions.

This actually makes it "an-eye-for-an-eye-for-an-eye". Does start to sound absurd already? There'll be more.
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2540143

now that our space exploration industry doesn't have to rely on russia, maybe it's going to spend some money on for R&D, or buy rockets from spacex at a significantly cheaper cost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DhU57CJzhU

Switzerland to enforce EU sanctions on Russia
http://rt.com/business/178144-switzerland-eu-sanctions-russia/


Same shit...


Neutrality, right. Time to move accounts to Hong-Kong. :)

Sanction wars rage on, and taking funny turns:

Russia published a list of goods prohibited for import:
http://itar-tass.com/politika/1365746?utm_medium=rss20
The list: http://government.ru/media/files/41d4f8cdfeeb731522d2.pdf

Russia closed its airspace for Ukrainian operators. Similar sanctions are prepared against EU and US operators:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/07/ukrair/

EU becomes frightened, and runs to the bully for help.

EU will protest the sanctions that it came under through WTO:
http://www.bfm.ru/news/268105

So, EU sanctioning Russia is perfectly ok, while Russia replying in kind is bad?

In the meantime, Belarus sees an opportunity and offers to replace the EU goods with Belorussian product:
http://ria.ru/economy/20140807/1019101308.html

This is very well, especially since Belorus is the last country in Europe that retained all of its agricultural and industrial potential and has not been robbed by WTO like other post-Soviet states, including Russia.

Medvedev promises protective measures (counter-sanctions) against Western heavy industries:
http://top.rbc.ru/economics/07/08/2014/941548.shtml

And against the backdrop of all this, Obama tells how effective sanctions are:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/07/obama/

Of course they are effective - for the US, in weakening Europe. Divide and conquer, eh?

The Europeans / Japanese / Australians are going to suffer and the Americans will be sitting back and watching the game. Russian exports can't be sanctioned, as it is mostly comprised of crude and gas. But the imports such as meat and fruits can be sourced from somewhere else. Only the European farmers are going to suffer loses.

http://vdmsti.ru/img/newsline/2014/08/06/31812791_news_bigpic.jpg

"Product of Fatherland"

Russia has ignored its agricultural sector for too long. Now it will take at least a decade to repair it, so that the production reaches the same level as in the Soviet times. And it helps that the fertile farmlands of Crimea are currently within the borders of Russia.  ;D

From where? From the farms on mars?
If the farmers in brazil or argentina will sell their products to russia now it means that the country to which they used to export is not getting anything and will buy from europe.

You can't produce out of the blue 5 billion worth of products it's not like in the oil industry where you can release a tap and that's all.

If beef is imported from Argentina / Brazil, then the ranchers there will expand their business, producing more meat from their ranches. There is plenty of barren land in South America, which can be converted to ranches.

Russia has today announced its own sanctions, mostly banning produce from US, EU and some other countries. I think they will be hit harder then Russia. This whole sanctions story was bound to fail. Look at Iran: sanctions have never stopped anyone from developing country's economy.

Sanctions did hurt Iran economically - it just didn't keep them from getting centrifuges.  Every radical group in that area would love to see an Islamic state with the bomb, so they did everything they could to smuggle stuff in.  Nobody is was enforcing the borders anyways, certainly not Russia who was Iran's biggest trade partner.

Perhaps a work-around is possible, let China buy, buy from China. It would cost more, but.. still possible?
Tugs in the government messing with the people as usual.
No idea why EU is funding ethnic cleansing in Ukraine, I thought they didn't like Nazis  ???

How long will that take?

Cows reach maturity after at least 9 moths but most at 12 , add this to the gestation period so it will take two years just to have ready the new cows to enlarge the herds. add the same period to start producing extra meat.

Of course , the farmers could buy those cows....from europe who will have plenty;).

The reason russia was importing food from europe was because it was cheaper the hike will be reflected in the people wallets.
Along with the 3% new sale tax that will be added next year.
And with the 6% yearly inflation.

EU farmers can, for a change, stop dumping their produce into the garbage abiding by various bureaucratic regulation, and instead sell it on internal market. Maybe something positive will come out of it for EU as well...

Mainly because the damned WTO membership and various international agreements were ensuring destruction of domestic production.

The country is at war now, and economic one, but still a war. Russians are notoriously resilient when threat comes from outside (once again).

Nothing good will come out of this.
Not for the eu not for russia.

Oh wait , let me rephrase this.
Nothing good will come out of this for normal russians or eu citizens.

https://twitter.com/bobrikovsn/status/496746818911612929/photo/1

"Waiting for sanctions"

Now what does it matter?

Sanctions > Russia stops exporting gas to us, EU and RU are both fucking themselves.

and russia will get a 20% cut in their gdp without the money from the gas and oil :) while the eu will try to get gas from somewhere else...
the eu still has a way out of it ,. russia not.

Because they never really leave a state of war.  When was the last time people in Russia didn't feel as if they're struggling?  Sure the rich middle class made out well in the last 20 years, but not many others.  It's hard to know sadness when you have never had the chance to experience happiness.

No. Right now, there are not enough gas tankers to carry that much gas from Qatar to the EU. Maybe in the near future that will be possible. But right now, EU won't be able to replace that much gas from elsewhere.

And regarding crude, only Saudi Arabia is having spare capacity to increase its oil production (that too by just 1.5 million barrels / day). Not enough to counter the Russian production (10.5 million barrels per day).

Why would it need to counter Russia production?
out of those 10.5 only 7-8 are exported and only 4.4 to Europe.
And no , there are many countries that can increase their oil production , including one in which you never set foot but you hate it like it was the devil :)

Think Russia is building a pipeline to China for oil and gas trade. If Europe slap a sanction on Russia, they will be other buyer lining up for cheap gas and oil.

The situation starts to remind of a school bully, who punches a new kid, only to discover that this kid know Karate, and so the bully runs to the teacher, screaming "unfair!".

Norway called the Russian countermeasures unfair, as Norway is poised to loose millions on exports
Finland called the countermeasures unfair as Finnish diary producer has to close its production in Russia, loosing millions.

And only USA threatens new sanctions against Russia for allegedly supporting freedom fighter in Novorossia (still not providing any evidence).
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2014/08/07/n_6377173.shtml

Maybe it's time other countries start sanctioning EU/US for their documented support of Nazi regime in Ukraine and genocide against 5 million Russian people (1.3 million on the run within Ukraine, over 700000 fled to Russia).

But no, UN security council blocked Russia's proposal to maintain seize-fire around Boeing crash site (absurdity again):
http://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1834160.html

What if the bully pulls out a sword ( i've especially not used gun to let you come back :)))
What if the big pharma groups stop the exports of drugs?

What where the numbers last year?

Besides.
"Alcohol imports from both the EU and the US will not be restricted."
Stopping to wonder why life expectancy for russian males is so low.

Sadly, you are right. Each time Russia enters a stretch of relative calm and prosperity, there comes a war (economic, military, diplomatic) or aggressive behaviour from the Big Game ringleaders. It was so before 1850s, 1914, 1980s, and now.

In another thread, hologram said, why Russia bothers with the outside world if they want to be isolationist. It was a response to my statement that Russia would like to be left alone for a change. But it's not the same. Russia wants to be left alone in its internal policies and treated as an equal partner, but not isolated.

Your comparison of Romania to Russia is slightly... disproportionate, don't you think?  ;)

As for pharma, Russia has a lot of own potential there. Only a few days ago Russian researchers announced start of clinical tests of their own vaccine against Ebola, for example.

Alcohol imports statement (and alcohol production in general) is worrying, I concede that.

As for pharma...

Anybody is recommended to try 100-200mg of Phenotropil in combination with 50mg of Nicotinic Acid twice per day. It dramatically improves attention control, physical stamina and provides additional tolerance against significant range of stress factors like cold weather or low levels of oxygen in the environment. Not banned in Russia yet, if you're not going to participate in Olympic sports.

Yatsenjuk presented figures, showing that Ukraine will lose 7 billion dollars by implementing sanctions against Russia:
http://www.bfm.ru/news/268327

The words "shooting", "spite" and "foot" come to mind...

Stocks in Russian food companies soar amid Western food ban
http://rt.com/business/178924-russia-food-ban-companies/

Who is hit hardest by Russia's trade ban?
http://rt.com/business/178888-russia-trade-ban-who-hurts/

An interesting analysis by Patrick L Young, an expert in global financial markets:
Sanctioning food: Fueling opportunity
http://rt.com/op-edge/178968-sanctioning-food-russia-opportunity-dangerous/

Predictions: Ukraine May Stop Russian Gas Transit to EU
http://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/predictions-ukraine-may-stop-rassian-gas-transit-to-eu/



I share the author's view on the following:

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-6piNKW1lI

http://rt.com/business/179332-poland-us-import-apples/

http://kolobok.us/smiles/light_skin/crazy.gif

Europe may not be able to stop buying all gas and energy products from europe but they do have other sources to cut back substantially. If europe were to cut back demand for russian oil by 1.5 million barrels per day that works out to ~ $150 million per day in less revenues. That is $4.5 billion per month and ~$54.75 billion per year. That is far from small change. Russia, like any other economy is not able to cut production on a "hair's" notice so they will initially have a glut of excess supply, forcing them to cut back more then they otherwise would have to, causing the demand for other products to fall, causing the same issue of excess supply.

When Ukraine said that they will sanction Russia by stopping Russian gas transit, Germany gave Kiev an order to not do that, in no uncertain terms.

Ukraine may block all transit from Russia in sanctions row - PM
http://rt.com/business/178988-russia-ukraine-gas-transit/

An Op-Edge with Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity:
‘Ukraine committing economic suicide by thinking to stop gas transit’
http://rt.com/op-edge/179388-ukraine-gas-transit-south-stream/


Ukraine has not backed off yet. They are stating conditions, on which they will continue transit of Russian gas:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/11/transit/
Seems like EU are going to feel on their skin what Russia had to deal with all those years.


And a small footnote: Norway joined EU sanctions targeted to cripple Russian economy:
http://top.rbc.ru/politics/11/08/2014/942272.shtml

Sanctions bite-back: Bickering, EU infighting over Russia retaliation
http://rt.com/news/179348-russia-sanctions-europe-protests/


 ;D ;D

More:

China to start direct sales of fruit and vegetables to Russia
http://rt.com/business/179376-russia-china-fruit-vegetable/

Russian economy grows 0.8%, avoids technical recession
http://rt.com/business/179556-russia-economy-grows-second-quarter/

http://rt.com/business/179972-ecuador-russia-agriculture-ban/

Ecuador: We don’t need permission to trade with Russia

From:
http://en.ria.ru/business/20140214/187540087/Russias-Central-Bank-Sees-2014-Economic-Growth-at-15.html




to:

lol... I had predicted this earlier.

In any conflict between Russia and the West, it will be the Chinese who gain the most.

Earlier they were able to secure a favorable gas deal from Russia (Gazprom will sell gas to China at $380 per K Cu M, as compared to $700 for LNG and $400 for Russian gas to Germany). And now fruits and vegetables. Next will be meat. ;D

Some more sanctions fun:

Finland will not impose counter-counter-sanctions in reply to Russia's counter-sanctions blocking food imports:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/14/finland/

Switzerland is late to the playground and hardened its sanctioned against Russia:
http://www.bfm.ru/news/268943

Both Belarus and Kazakhstan will continue with European imports. Belarus previously promised to ensure that the prohibited goods will not enter Russian market through the country:
http://finance.rambler.ru/news/economics/149434011.html?utm_source=news&utm_content=finance&utm_medium=midcolup&utm_campaign=cross_promo
See, Trade Union is rather flexible.

Experts from Danish bank predict that EU will drop its sanctions and Russia will drop it counter-sanctions within three months:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/14/denmark/

And in USA, business comes first. Pentagon insists on buying Russian helicopters Mi-17B5 for a mission in Afghanistan, despite protests from the Congress:
http://ria.ru/world/20140814/1019957311.html

This is a bad sign. Belarus is part of the customs union. So European goods imported in Belarus can easily end up in Russia. That said, asking Lukashenko to enforce the sanctions would be a bit too much, as the Russians are not giving him anything in return.

It has already happened and ti will continue to be like that.


Weird that new zealand is not on the ban list so Australia will use it as a back door.

A pretty interesting situation is unfolding on the other side of the globe.
Japan is banning almost every week another product from china after the whole chicken meat scandal.

And the Japanese market is larger than the Russian one. So , can Europe secure a buyer for the extra products?

Latest news from Ukraine: they have finalised the list of sanctions against Russia.  ;D
http://www.bfm.ru/news/269001

President will have absolute power in naming sanctions against whoever he sees fit. Well, at least they excluded sanctioning mass media for saying "the wrong things".

They will ban the Russian banks and seize petrol pumps and such things run by the Russian companies. Beyond that what they are going to do? They don't have the balls to stop the gas supplies to the EU.

I think it's actually good. It shows that each country in the Trade Union can still pursue their individual foreign polices, so this potentially strengthens the trust in the Trade Union.

On the topic of sanctions and estrangement, Switzerland cancelled the planned for the end of September visit of the Speaker of the Russian Parliament to the country, in connection with the sanctions. The visit was connected to commemoration of 200 years since Switzerland and Russia established diplomatic relations, so this is rather ironic.

We can say to good-bye to Switzerland's neutrality as a thing of the past...

PS:

EU sanctons 'shooting oneself in the foot' - Hungary PM
http://rt.com/business/180564-eu-russia-sanctions-hungary/
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140815/192033400/EU-Shot-Itself-in-Foot-With-Russia-Sanctions--Hungarian-Prime.html


Russia Remains Finland’s Number One Trade Partner – Putin
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140815/192035896/Russia-Remains-Finlands-Number-One-Trade-Partner--Putin.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-15/russia-said-to-brace-for-price-growth-at-5-year-high-on-food-ban.html







Such wow , russian economy is going to the moon , dogecoin style

This may sound small on paper but can have a very large impact on the Russian economy. If the Russian economy is slowed enough then Russia will have trouble paying for it's War Machine.

Is this a joke? I'm asking because I have serious problem with choice... Which part of statement should I choose as a reason for laugh? Thank you.

If the Kiev junta Seize a few petrol pumps, then it is going to affect the Russian economy? IMO, the Russian economy wont be touched until there is an embargo imposed over Russian oil and gas.

The most amusing  thing that I find here, is all the Westerners that seemingly dream seeing Russian economy fail and Russia plunged into 1917-style chaos. What they don't realise, is that by doing so, they cut the branch that they are themselves sitting on (or digging their own grave).

Poland thinks about forbidding import of Russian coal (that currently covers 40% of the country's needs) as a counter-counter-sanction to Russian counter-sanctions to Polish and EU sanctions:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/16/coal/

Absurdity still reigns supreme.  ;D

Of course , nothing is hurting the russians. Except maybe for this.


Suppliers have raised prices for some fish by 20-36%, one of Russia's biggest retailers, X5 Retail Group, complained to Russia's government, the Kommersant business daily reported on Wednesday. Suppliers reported shortages and higher prices for fruit, retailers braced for milk prices to go up, and some meat suppliers were engaging in price speculation, Kommersant reported.

Russia's Central Bank warned last week that the sanctions are likely to increase an already rising inflation rate. Even so, Russia's government has pledged that prices will not go up as a result of the import ban, promising that the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service will check reports of suppliers raising prices.


Where have i see this move... i wonder where...oh...Venezuela
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=330687.0

Prominent nationalist commentators have ridiculed those complaining about the import ban as pampered middle-class consumers who have developed an elitist taste for foreign cheese and prosciutto.

Yup nemo , the current Russia is not like the URSS....nothing alike

Um, so it's Russia's fault that it's being brought to its knees as soon as it tries to lift its head and throw off the shackles? Nice logic.

WHAT???
Russia brought to its knees? But rt and itartass and ria all said that the west will crumple , they will get bankrupt , Russia won't feel even 1% of the sanctions.
And now we are talking about 8 percent inflation , 20% price increase , and the biggest company asking the government for a 42 billion bailout?

Which one of those above is true?

Ok, attempted brought to its knees. Happy? I am talking about the intent, not the end result, which will probably be the collapse of economy both in Russia and in EU, with USA being the only winner.

Collapse of the EU? Why? Because of the € 140 billion trade? Germany had $1.516 trillion exported in 2012.
Indeed probably the us will be the only winner as the EU won't get unscratched from this but collapse...

Please don't start with the swan song for the EU. People were and still are obsessed for centuries with this fall of the old continent and nothing happened.

2007 , 2009 , 2013 the eu was supposed to crumble , Greece and Spain also to get out of the union ... and what where the real results?
The union is as strong as it was before.
Only haters try desperately to find a real reason for it to break apart , thing they haven't found yet.

Don't count me as hater. I like the general idea of EU (while watching it from a country that voted twice against joining the EU), but I also see its flaws, which systemically remind of the flaws of USSR.

As you yourself pointed out to me with regard to your attitude towards Russia, criticizing does not mean hating.

I wasn't talking about you specifically but you did think and wrote that this might led the EU to ruin.
I don't think so and I doubt that even turning off all trades with russia might inflict such a serious damage to the union.

Time will tell if any of us is right but I do hope we won't have to pick a winner.

I hope not, too.

However, I do believe that EU stands to lose more if this kindergarten bantering of sanctions, counter-sanctions and counter-counter-sanctions continues. I would have given a different prognosis 6-7 years ago, when European economy was much stronger, but not now. Even though Russian economy saw only a moderate, if any, improvement, European economy has been on a steady downward trend. The problem is the same as in USSR, where there were only a few donor republics, with the rest living off of them. Once donor republic's excess capacity is used up, the system is in a dangerous state. In EU, such donor republics are Germany and France, and they are at the breaking point trying to sustain the union.

#1. Germany
#2. France
#3. UK
#4. Italy
#5. The Netherlands (in that order).

These republics are not doing that bad. But it is the Mediterranean republics who are suffering (Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal.etc). Money which previously went to these nations (from the donor nations) are being diverted to the New EU nations, such as Romania and Bulgaria.

How long will that take?

Cows reach maturity after at least 9 moths but most at 12 , add this to the gestation period so it will take two years just to have ready the new cows to enlarge the herds. add the same period to start producing extra meat.

Of course , the farmers could buy those cows....from europe who will have plenty;).

The reason russia was importing food from europe was because it was cheaper the hike will be reflected in the people wallets.
Along with the 3% new sale tax that will be added next year.
And with the 6% yearly inflation.

Medvedev says that he views positively the effect sanctions have on Russian economy:
http://top.rbc.ru/economics/18/08/2014/943536.shtml

Meanwhile, Russia discovered attempts at re-export from Belarus of the embargoed goods:
http://1prime.ru/consumer_markets/20140818/790308076.html

However, Trade Union countries can export to Russia processes goods, where the embargoed raw materials are used, so Belarus and Kazahstan stand potentially to win:
http://www.interfax.ru/business/391973


Why from Europe? Argentina has good stock, so do other non-hostile countries.


Primarily it was done because Russian domestic agriculture was systematically destroyed during the 90's (in Belarus, all the fields are used and in good condition), and US/Europe had a hand in it, pushing the Yeltsin government to trade more, produce less policy. A strong incentive is now needed to revive the agricultural sector.

I think the image at the bottom shows how good effects it has on the Russian economy.
http://pics.top.rbc.ru/top_pics/uniora/54/1408371907_0854.1600x535.jpeg

I read in all the news that the government is trying to monitor prices in Moscow , Crimea and a few major cities.
Apart from the fact that this along with a so called "reinforcement" resembles a your know what measures , is there a way to find out what where the prices at the beginning of the year and how they are trending now ?

I'll take a look....

Meanwhile, Poland complained to WTO about Russian counter-sanctions to Polish sanctions. Anyone sees hypocrisy here? Time for Russia to leave WTO.
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/19/poland/

My guess is that they are trending up, as they already did in the beginning of the year, so nothing new here:
http://ria.ru/economy/20140424/1005289913.html

The list of embargoed goods is still fine-tuned, it will hit hardest the "elite" part of the Moscow and St.Petersburg population, but they will also be making the most noise...

I think your best starting point would be:
http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_main/rosstat/en/main/
http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_main/rosstat/en/figures/finances/

---

American journal Foreign Affairs analysed the situation with US sanctions and came to the conclusion that it will negatively impact the countries of Asian-Pacific region, even if they don't join the US, which sent a number of envoys to various countries there to persuade them to join the sanctions:
http://itar-tass.com/ekonomika/1391344?utm_medium=rss20

Looks, like Europe is preparing for counter-counter-counter-countersanctions (calling them prophylactic - doublespeak again!). In EU parliament there was voiced a proposition to create sanctions that should "hit hard the Russian economy", and to that end exclude Russian rouble from exchanges in Europe, making it non-convertable. howver, this was voiced by the new vice-speaker Charneckij, who is from Poland, so it's to be expected:
http://ria.ru/economy/20140821/1020786176.html

Well, rouble was used on the national market to start with and didn't have much circulation in Europe (except for tourists exchanges, maybe). But with BRICS everything's changing as the BRICS countries will use national currencies in their international trade. With this, and the facts that Polish foreign policy towards Russia is largely dictated from London and Washington, everything falls into place.

^^^ At least now the EU supermarkets will be forced to cut down prices of their ultra-expensive food products. Most of the ordinary EU citizens will now be thanking Putin for making food more affordable.  ;D And at the same time, the farmers won't be affected, as they are compensated by the EU. Better still, the farmers in the non-EU nations such as Serbia will get good prices for their farm-products. A win-win situation for all.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

A large portion of EU agricultural production is reliant on government subsidies, by imposing sanctions the EU will have to either increase the subsidies or allow more producers to go out of business either way its not going to improve prices or the sustainability of producers.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp47DssZFgs

It seems that these guys weren't satisfied.

http://youtu.be/--FGUPobyNI

Dr. Alfons Proebstl 31 - Auch die Russen lieben ihre Kinder

I think not all field which will give sanction against Russia, maybe only military sanction or the others, the farmer in Russia is one of the best farmer in the world that can not be given sanction, culture, scientist, education, etc ...
Hopefully this sanction doesn't take effect to warefare of the country ...

And all the while we should not lose focus of why those sanctions were imposed:

Officially, because Russia will not invade Ukraine and stop the war there (how else can Russia stop a war in another country, when all diplomatic initiatives have systematically been blocked by EU/US):
See today's speech from Lavrov:
http://ria.ru/world/20140827/1021634114.html
http://rt.com/news/183136-west-russia-confrontation-lavrov/

In reality, it's because of BRICS and Russia not wanting to play the dollar game any more.

In either case, these sanctions against Russia are a de-juro declaration of war.

Ah, I see some sense from the Communist Party of Russian Federation:

Communists say Russia should throw off ‘strangling noose’ of WTO
http://rt.com/politics/182560-russia-communists-wto-quit/

Russian gas sector should not be sanctioned – EU energy chief
http://rt.com/business/183364-russian-gas-not-sanctioned/

Switzerland mirrors EU sanctions against Russia
http://rt.com/business/183296-switzerland-sanctions-russian-lenders/

Bye-bye Swiss cheese.

What irks me is why they talk about sanctions as a normal everyday stuff in the first place?

Deputy Economic Development Minister Alexei Vedev told a briefing on Tuesday that the ministry now saw inflation standing at 7-7.5 percent at the end of 2014, up from its previous forecast of 6 percent. It cited the impact of a ban on Western food imports that Russia introduced in retaliation for Western sanctions.

He added that a new tax on sales to be introduced next year would also add around 1 percent to the inflation rate.

The ministry left its 2014 gross domestic product growth forecast unchanged at 0.5 percent despite ministry officials having said several times in recent months that they may raise it.

But it halved its economic growth forecast for 2015 to 1 percent from 2 percent.

and then there is the magic number 37.2115....

http://cdn.rt.com/files/news/2c/e8/80/00/31.si.jpg
EU drafts new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, but ‘wants no confrontation’
http://rt.com/news/183944-eu-sanctions-ukraine-summit/


No they are not. Each time Russia comes with an initiative for peaceful resolution of Ukrainian internal conflict, that gets blocked in the UN by either USA or Lithuania.


As I said: Russia proposed that Kiev takes steps to a peaceful dialogue with the freedom fighters. Nixed by Kiev. Border control? and what are the OSCE observers are doing at the border all the time? Are they sugegstion building a wall? The border between Russia and Ukraine is as physical as the border between Belgium and Holland.

Some reader comments:

And

EU sanctions are emotional step instructed by US – Russian parliament speaker
http://rt.com/news/183936-naryshkin-ukraine-sanctions-reaction/

So the Russians want to ban flight over Siberia.  Good...


Add here the 200 millions it gets from those flight that will go to 0 and there we have it. Each russian will will have to pay this loss out of their pockets.;).

Sad thing is, these sanctions can be stopped almost instantly, if Russia simply denounces those who have illegally entered another country and are fighting a foreign military, stopped (not promised, but *stopped*) supplying military troops and hardware to those fighters, and stopped its obvious, massive, anti-Ukraine propaganda campaign. But of course that will never happen, as Russia sees no problems with their citizens "voluntarily" invading other countries and killing other people (troops or civilians), never admits it has done anything wrong, and is completely incapable of not lying, after doing it nonstop for the last 100 years.

There is an accurate comparison to the sanctions situation:

US and European sanctions against Russia can be compared to a terrorist (US/EU leaders) aboard on an airplane that stands firmly in the ground brandishing a grenade and demanding that the pilot (Russia) lands the plane, while the pilot tries to calmly tell the terrorist that the plane is already landed and there is no reason to kill everyone on board (Europe).

And a joke that I read recently:
- The West was saying that Russia is the gas station of Europe, but it turns out that it's Europe that is the farm of Russia.

And the latest development in sanctions yapping:

Australia imposes new round of sanctions against Russia
http://rt.com/business/184180-australia-new-sanctions-russia/


So, yeah, let Australia punish Crimeans for their democratic choice. Democracy has no place in the Western world and must be eradicated at all cost.

---

UK seeking to bar Russia from using SWIFT banking network – report
http://rt.com/business/183780-uk-eu-swift-ban/


Ah, the hand of London. Again.

---

Sanctions are of no concern at glittering 2014 Moscow car show
http://rt.com/business/183716-moscow-car-show-sanctions/

---

In other news:

Putin breaks ground on Russia-China gas pipeline, world's biggest
http://rt.com/business/184176-russia-china-gas-siberian-power/

Belgium* has agreed to impose new sanctions against Russia:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1409741500

I guess it has something to do with Putin urging the freedom fighters to move to peace talks and the Belgians* (with their London/Washington handlers) not wishing to have peace in Ukraine.

Italian business blames Belgium for destroying cooperation with Russia:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1409741026

*Following niothor's insistence on mixing Soviet Union with Russia, and calling all former SU citizens for Russians, I use the term Belgians for all EU citizens, while EU is henceforth known as just Belgium.

You know , there are lots of people who want the whole EU to resemble Belgium and to be called Belgians.
I will take it as a compliment ;)

And then there is the "the rudest word in the Universe"... ;)
We also call it here the most polluted country of EU.

PS: By the way, it's interesting that you took my remark to mean something derogatory, and responded defensively, whereas I mentioned it as an example of an unreasonable generalisations. Take an example: If, say, some Romanian higher-ups do something stupid, but later during the course of history Belgians are blamed for it, those Belgians might get offended. Also, for example, it is highly misleading to say that that for example Belgium borders Russia, just as it is misleading to say that Russia (meaning USSR) bordered Romania.

PSS: Besides, Belgians proper have approximately the same influence on the running of EU as Russians proper had on the running of USSR, i.e. - very little.

My point is: use consistently correct terminology, unless of course, your agenda is to demonise Russia and promote Russophbia, in which case carry on.

UK says new Russian sanctions could be lifted if ceasefire holds
http://rt.com/news/185344-uk-russia-sanctions-hammond/

It does still sound comical. The ceasefire holds between two other parties, yet Russia's "fate" depends on whether the US puppet in Kiev, known as Poroshenko will keep his word (judging by previous actions, the chance is not great).

Translating this conflict to a more personal level, if your neighbour and his wife are fighting, you can be arrested by the police and jailed for it.  ;D

And France has bent down too (at least at the political top):

From: http://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/predictions-coming-true-russia-pivots-to-asia-putin-goes-to-mongolia-and-opens-power-of-siberia-pipeline-to-china/

Overt aggression from USA against Russia continues:

Obama: We are readying new sanctions on Russia despite peace agreement in Ukraine
http://rt.com/usa/185460-obama-readying-sanctions-russia-peace/


Obviously Ukrainian state terrorists and the North-Atlantic Terrorist Organisation members are not bound to keep their promises and can violate them at any moment, just like they did during every previous peace initiative coming from the East..

And Russia even not a part in this conflict.

Still this is too good to be true for Russia. Wonder if Putin asked Obama to continue with sanctions so as to have a pretext to modernise Russia.

I incidentally watched Obama talking shit about Putin earlier today. It's nice he's trying to pretend he has a backbone.... would be nice if he had any kind of passion in uttering the words he reads from his prepared speech, no matter what he's saying. He drawled on... something like "uhhh, it's time we teach Russia there are consequences for your actions." ::) OTOH, Western media is making a joke of the Russian soldiers who were "taking a vacation and got lost, ending up over borders in Ukraine," which is probably justified. Both sides are pretty tiring to listen to, frankly. Would be nice if we could each attend to our own affairs and say and do absolutely nothing about anything outside our borders, given, last I checked, the USG claims ownership over the US and the Russian government claims ownership over Russia.

Is Obama genuinely concerned by a Putin-led NWO? Why not instead focus on being more friendly with Maduro? Closer to the mainland and there's much more the USG can offer Venezuela over the almost-entirely-self-sufficient Russia. Give them a couple $billion/year in "aid," offer generous trade agreements, and put the past behind, then quit worrying about Russia entirely. Venezuela will be a key player in the future, I'd guess.... very well-socialized, with generous education budget. They aren't the next China, but they have the resources we're so desperate for, and in good quantity.

ETA: I don't mean to suggest Venezuela is some grand partner, but they're small enough to be controlled - and if it takes massive bribes, who cares? It's an unfortunate people in a government which should be brought down, but it seems our best chance would be to co-opt with honesty and a respect toward its people which even Maduro is impressed by and takes as genuine. Venezuelan government treats their people and industry like shit. They tax them to death and threaten with nationalization. -So let's give them enough money to quit that authoritarian horseshit and build a positive relationship with major petro country on our own continent. If someone's concerned about Russia and the EU, it should be Russia and the EU. Ain't our problem and there's no reason for it to be. Russian economy, unlike their military, isn't that big, and we can match their exports with friends we can make to our South. I'm pretty sure democracy is spread more effectively by empowering people, not threatening to shoot and sanction them.

-And as an aside, the US already is an extremely major trade partner with Venezuela, so we really only lack the bribery and genuine concern for the people of Venezuela, I'd guess. What the Hell are we doing in Eurasia?

USG doesn't care about resources too much, they're able to buy it.

Idiotic attempts to keep unipolar world in order to prevent any possibility of competition.

But you yourself said that the Russians fighting in Ukraine are volunteers. So are there Russian volunteers fighting in Russia, and should Russia condemn their citizens for fighting another country's army, or not?


They are not punishing Crimeans, they are punishing Russia, whom Crimeans decided to side with. If Crimeans don't want to be sanctioned, they can easily democratically distance themselves from Russia and declare themselves as an independent state.

More and more of the world is catching on to Russian lies.

Lol... you are funny. The sanctions are not having any effects at all on Crimea. And no amount of blackmail tactics can get Crimeans to back the Kiev fascists. If you think that a few useless sanctions will take Crimea away from Russia, then you are delusional. Stop day dreaming and get used to the fact that Crimea is (irreversibly) a part of Russia.

Medvedev: If EU approves new sanctions (I think this will be counter-counter-sanctions), then Russia will be forced to reply asymmetrically and close its airspace (counter-counter-counter-sanctions):
http://www.aif.ru/money/economy/1332908
English: http://rt.com/business/185924-sanctions-eu-oil-airspace-medvedev/


http://rt.com/files/news/2d/64/40/00/siberia_flights.jpg

It comes in the wake of this:
http://rt.com/business/185504-gazprom-sanctions-eu-ban/


No chance. EU (read USA/UK) need death and destruction in the East of Ukraine. The more Russian people are killed there the better in the EU books.

Also, if Ukraine shuts off electricity to Crimea, then Russia will be forced to symmetrically shut off electricity deliveries to Ukraine.

And how much money will aerflot lose out of this ban?
No numbers?

Hmm , I remember writing about this...



And , even funnier for the untouchable Russian economy

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/medvedev-supports-huge-aid-package-for-sanctions-struck-rosneft/506586.html


From where.... National Welfare Fund? ;)

Then why did you guys say they are punishing Crimea?


The fact that there are no fascists in Kiev aside, I didn't say they must go back to Ukraine. Note the last part of my post: "they can easily democratically distance themselves from Russia and declare themselves as an independent state.


I wonder if that's the same as the 14 Soviet Republics used to be irreversible parts of Russia (which proved reversible once people living there have had enough).

So... if EU airliners ignore the airspace restrictions, Russia will do... what exactly? Shoot down civilian planes?

They will act according to the standard protocol defined by Chicago Convention (1944).

*Readreadreads* Ah, so the MH17 approach. OK (since when does Russia keep agreements and treaties?)

If a civilian airline does not get the permission to enter Russian airspace, then they will not risk the lives of civilians by forcibly entering it. Even if they are pressured by the European or American authorities I doubt they will take that risk. In case the flight is shot down, then the airline will be primarily responsible for the incident.

That's not quite right. A standard procedure includes three requests to change the course, and request about the current situation. In case of emergency situation, for example, nothing will happen to plane. Otherwise this plane could be intercepted and then detained for a proper investigation.

A closer look at the new sanctions tell me that the US / EU is primarily targeting the Russian gas flow to the EU / Asia. For example, the no.1 on the latest sanctions list is the natural gas producer Novatek, which was planning to set up a LNG plant. This LNG plant would have produced cheap gas suitable for transport to South Korea and Japan, thereby threatening the Qatari monopoly there.

BTW... it was comical to find the name of Ramzan Kadyrov in the EU sanctions list.  ;D

And in Russia people went: "Oh, look, more sanctions. That's because the US-backed Kiev broke the ceasefire, so US clearly needed to punish itself, and drag EU down in the process."  ;D

EU publishes Russia sanctions list: Energy, finance, defense targeted
http://rt.com/business/187184-eu-new-sanctions-published/

Meanwhile Rogozin has accused the West of starting the Second Cold War.
http://rusvesna.su/news/1410510564

And a parliamentarian of the German Bundestag accuses the German government and MSM in being provocative and illogical in relation to Russia:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1410510436

He said the German Parliament continues in its attempts to get answers from the Federal Government with regard to 3 questions: 1) Who shot at the protesters on Maidan; 29 Who burnt people alive in Odessa; 3) Who shot down MH-17.


Read in a user comment:

Difference this time is that nobody actually has to go into it. It just got put in the corner and told it can't play with the rest of the kids in the world.

The difference is that in 1812 Russia was allied with Prussia ,Austria and England
In 1942 was fighting Germany with the help of England and USA.

Now its allies are North Korea and Belarus. ;).

Also , they forget about the 200 years they payed tribute to the golden horde;). Or the destruction left by Crimean Tatars, the Swedish conquest and polish occupation.

Have you forget about the Ottoman rule in Romania? Romania was under Muslim rule for many centuries and many of the ethnic Romanians were taken away to Turkey as Janissaries and other type of slaves. Even the USA was under British rule before they got independence. So what is the point in mentioning about the golden horde, which was completely destroyed by the Russians in 1480?

Whataboutism at the max

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

And have you forgot about the 5000 years the Looney Tunes demanded tribute from your country ?

The point is that the Russian propaganda machine only tells about the times when they where victorious , not about their defeats.

Pure curiosity , is there somebody that can post the prices for fresh (not refrigerated) salmon in their countries ?
I'm sure Nemo can give some hint to Norway or Russia prices but the rest?

Picking some at the market yesterday I have a feeling we pay the most.
I paid around 15 euros per kilo at Auchan yesterday.

Fresh as in swimming in an aquarium at the store? Or fresh as in refrigerated, but never frozen?

lol... shareholders of Western oil companies can forget about their dividends for the next 2-3 years. Billions of USD in investment now in jeopardy.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/09/13/3567216/new-sanctions-loophole-exxonmobil-russia-arctic/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/956062-new-russia-sanctions-hit-western-oil-giants/

Share prices of companies such as Exxon Mobil has been declining for many days now.  ;D

That's fine.
Sanctions are good.
The world should condemn Russian for it's invasion vs. Ukraine.
Perhaps kick out Russia from the U.N and from SWIFT and from the Open-Source community.
Stop all business with Russian companies at all levels.

Putler must be jailed.
Russian fascists (Rascists) must be killed / driven out from Ukraine !
Long live Freedom ! Long live Ukraine !

OK... now what should we do with the United States, which has invaded the following nations ever since the World War 2?

1949 Greece
1952 Cuba
1953 Iran
1953 British Guyana
1954 Guatemala
1955 South Vietnam
1957 Haiti
1958 Laos
1960 South Korea
1960 Laos
1960 Ecuador.
1963 Dominican Republic
1963 South Vietnam
1963 Honduras
1963 Guatemala
1963 Ecuador.
1964 Brazil
1964 Bolivia
1965 Zaire.
1966 Ghana
1967 Greece
1970 Cambodia
1970 Bolivia
1972 El Salvador
1973 Chile
1979 South Korea (Pro-USA government wanted)
1980 Liberia
1982 Chad
1983 Grenada
1987 Fiji
1989 Panama
1992-95 Bosnia
1993 Russia
1999 Serbia
2001 Afghanistan
2002 Venezuela
2003 Iraq
2004 Haiti
2009 Honduras
2011 Libya
2011 Tunisia
2013 Egypt
2014 Ukraine

Don't tell me that people in every nook and corner of the world want the United States to invade their country, to spread the love of capitalism and democracy (as someone replied to me here).

I don't think U.S. should invade other countries and stay there. Also in Ukraine there was no invasion, just a few agents/ stooges/spies.
However Russia tries to steal "Freedom of speech" from Ukrainian people, which won't fly.

Freedom of speech is top priority. Then goes email/web/Bitcoin Freedom.
Russia aims to steal ALL freedom.

Serbia 1999 former SRJ

Oh god... how could I miss that? The United States Air Force bombing the orphanages and old-age homes in Serbia, to bring the joys of capitalism and press freedom to the people of Serbia. I have edited my post.

Also, I need to add the 1992-1995 US intervention in Bosnia, where they bombed the Serbian villages. (Operation Sharp Guard in 1992-93, Operation Deny Flight in 1994, and Operation Deliberate Force in 1995).

Also the Bosnian intervention reminds me of these heroics by Hillary Clinton:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I23fjRN-PGc


Added.

Russian Federation 1993

Hyper-presidential constitution has been "adopted" (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=760339.msg8650547#msg8650547) at 12 December 1993 by Yeltsin. This set of legislative backdoors was written with the "help" from his "advisers".

P.S. Re-posting accidentally removed message.

Nor frozen, only refrigerated.
I've never seen really fresh salmon (living) in markets around here.

They have also helped the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Croatia

Believe it or not, many (maybe close to half) of Americans would actually be happy about that  ;D

Maybe some day you will be able to explain what those US bases and invasions have to do with Russia invading countries and Ukraine?

$11 per pound, or about $5 per kilo at my local grocery

That doesn't make sense as a pound is half a kg.

And since we're talking sanctions and salmon...
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/murmansk-fish-factory-challenges-russia-s-food-ban/506748.html


1120 happy unemployed Russians who might had a chance and 280 who will go unemployed. :). I bet they all shout "heil putin" in the morning.

The difference is that the Americans have invaded dozens of nations, for their natural resources (especially crude oil and natural gas). But apart from the Kiev propaganda, there is no proof that Russia has ever invaded another nation ever since it became independent in 1991. Even if the Russians invade Ukraine, what will they gain? Millions of malnourished elderly people who live off $10 per month pensions?

The difference is that you're a broken whataboutism machine
Every time something bad is said about Russia you start about the others...

Russia is invading Ukraine...but the americans invaded Iraq..
The difference is that Americans go home after the war , Russians stay there and claim that is their historical land.

Americans going home? Where? As far as I can see, they are still in Germany and Japan. WW2 was finished almost 70 years ago.. and the American troops are still there. The German gold reserve is still kept by the Americans and they have rejected the requests to repatriate them. If you want recent examples, then these is the case of Afghanistan.

Now talking about Ukraine, Putin has never claimed that Ukraine is historical Russian land and that country should be annexed to Russia. But it should be remembered that Russian is spoken by more people than any other language in Ukraine.

The difference is that Germans agree with the deployment of US troops on their territory.
In fact more and more countries in the EU demand the presence of allied troops. ;).

Btw , aren't you the one that was crying for the west to arm the kurds?
Ironic , isn't it.

I don't know from where you are getting your information from. Even the heavily pro-US sources like Rasmussen agree that the majority of the Germans are opposed to the stationing of US troops in Europe.

http://nsnbc.me/2014/04/04/majority-germans-nato-troops-eastern-europe-german-neutrality/


I know that people in some of the Eastern block nations such as Poland, Romania, Latvia.etc want the US troops on their soil. But Germans are too intelligent to fall in to the trap.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/25/us-germany-nato-east-idUSKBN0F00S120140625

Dr. Christof Lehmann is the founder and editor of nsnbc. He is a psychologist and independent political consultant on conflict and conflict resolution and a wide range of other political issues. His work with traumatized victims of conflict has led him to also pursue the work as political consultant. He is a lifelong activist for peace and justice, human rights, Palestinians rights to self-determination in Palestine, and he is working on the establishment of international institutions for the prosecution of all war crimes, also those committed by privileged nations. On 28 August 2011 he started his blog nsnbc, appalled by misrepresentations of the aggression against Libya and Syria. In March 2013 he turned nsnbc into a daily, independent, international on-line newspaper.

Indeed , such trustworthy anal ist.

Sorry, backwards math. $23 per kilo.


Problem is, these people had nothing to do with Putin's actions, and aren't really responsible. So they lose their jobs while Putin keeps the $150 billion he stole. And this harm coming from outside has a chance of making them feel attacked by and start heating outsiders, as much as them hating Putin for putting their country in that situation.

OK, so there is a "difference" between Russian and US invasions... But what do US invasions, that are different, have to do with Russia invading other countries and Ukraine? Did Russia decide that, although this is a bad thing, since US does it, it's OK?


Billions of dollars worth of gas, and being able to continue to be a government-owned monopoly with the only source of gas for Europe? (You know, communist stuff)

Billions of dollars of gas from where? From the farting neo-Nazis of the Right Sector?

As far as I know, Ukraine imports almost 100% of its gas from Russia (Gazprom). Many of the heavy industries in Ukraine are heavily dependent on the Russian gas. The only Ukrainian resources which are of any use are the coal deposits and the agricultural fields. Both are of no use to Russia, as it is a net exporter of coal and cereal.

Love how you twist every bit of information just to suit your needs.

A month ago you were claiming that all this war was for the american companies to extract shale gas in Ukraine and now out of the blue there is no more shale gas in Ukraine.

How about you make your mind?

Save Russia from such allies - with them you don't need enemies. Austrians didn't meet up with the Russian Army after Kutuzov's march over the Alps to face Napoleon. That was when Paul I dropepd the Austria/British alliance and started negotiations about an alliance with Napoleon. So Paul I got murdered by the British-financed traitors.

In 1940s USA were supplying outdated and rotten military food rations to Soviet Union as "help". My grandmother almost died during WWII (and had her liver destroyed for the rest of her life), not as a result of German bombings, but from the American "help".

And England was an ally in most wars with the aim of dragging Russia into said wars. WWI could have been avoided altogether if not the the English "help".

Let's imagine ww2 in which Germany is allied with Us , Uk  and France against Russia.
Do you think Stalingrad or Leningrad would have happened? Be honest :).

Either that, or all the crap that's been coming out of Russia and its supporter's mouths :D

But, seriously, "Ukraine has an estimated 42 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of technically recoverable shale gas reserves" (http://consortiumnews.com/2014/04/24/beneath-the-ukraine-crisis-shale-gas/). At an average of $10 per 1000 cubic feet, that's about $420 billion worth.


Yes, that's because this gas was discovered just recently, and Ukraine was only planning to start mining it. "On Nov. 5, 2013 (just a few weeks before the Maidan demonstrations began in Kiev), Chevron signed a 50-year agreement with the Ukrainian government to develop oil and gas in Ukraine." But then Russia decided that wasn't a good idea, and invaded with one of the reasons being to protect their own gas interests. Under the tried and true guise of "our people are being discriminated against in that country we have nothing to do with!"

UK,US and France didn't help until 6 June 1944, when they realized that the Soviet Union would win.

Save Russia from such allies +1000000

Yeah, that's true... Just like the only reason Japan gave up was because they were worried that USSR would invade them from the other side, and only used the nuclear bomb attack as an excuse for why they are giving up. They recognized (correctly) that USA is the MUCH lesser of the two evils to be invaded by.

Well, well, well, do we have more sanctions here? Norway decided to join the new round of EU sanctions against Russia of the 12th of September. My, oh my, and I was starting to wonder why I saw more of the export-packaged Norwegian salmon in the Norwegian shops...
http://itar-tass.com/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1461634?utm_medium=rss20

In the meantime Japan considers to recall the visit invitation to the Russian President, after USA insisted it must do so:
http://www.tvc.ru/news/show/id/50885

Meanwhile Poroshenko still hasn't fulfilled his main election promise: to sell his conditory factory in case of victory:
http://ria.ru/world/20140923/1025259203.html
Coupled with him continuing to do as Obama and USA orders and murdering Ukrainian people, it is logical that Russia should be hit by sanctions. Clear as the day. If your neighbour rapes your wife, it's you who should go to prison.

It's pretty silly that you're still denying that Russia had anything to do with the fight in Eastern Ukraine, or that it annexed Crimea, despite overwhelming evidence.

no evidences. do not fool yourself  ;)

You should repeat that a few more times. Lenin says if you do that, it will become true.

You mean "overwhelming evidence" like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KGCYVobkLE

http://kolobok.us/smiles/light_skin/crazy.gif http://kolobok.us/smiles/icq/rofl.gif

China is on the friends-list:
http://rt.com/politics/189944-sanctions-china-russia-ukraine/

Nah, more like this

 "Armed men seize Crimea parliament". The Guardian. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
"BBC News - Russian parliament approves troop deployment in Ukraine". bbc.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Office of the Spokesperson (13 April 2014). "Evidence of Russian Support for Destabilization of Ukraine". Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
Russian Military Forces Come Into Chonhar Village, Kherson Region. Ukrainian News, 8 March 2014
[1]
"The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
"US: Photos show Russia fired into Ukraine - Videos - CBS News". cbsnews.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b "Putin admits Russian forces were deployed to Crimea", Reuters, 17 April 2014, "We had to take unavoidable steps so that events did not develop as they are currently developing in southeast Ukraine. ... Of course our troops stood behind Crimea's self-defence forces."
"Ukraine Puts Troops on High Alert, Threatening War", The New York Times, 2 March 2014
"Putin admits unmarked soldiers in Ukraine were Russian; optimistic about Geneva talks". Public Broadcasting Service.
Дopoги в Кpым пepeкpыли блoкпocтaми, кoтopыe oxpaняeт Бepкyт и вoopyжeнныe люди в кaмyфляжe
^ Jump up to: a b "Crimea Checkpoints Raise Secession Fears". The Wall Street Journal. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Пoд Apмянcк cтянyлиcь cилoвики из "Бepкyтa"". armyansk.info (in Russian). 27 February 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
Ukraine revolt was anti-constitutional coup, Putin says CBC. Retrieved 4 March 2014
Steven Lee Myers; Alison Smale (13 March 2014). "Russian Troops Mass at Border With Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
Shipman, Tim. "Ukraine to hold joint military exercises with U.S. and Britain after announcing troop withdrawal from Crimea | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
Juergen Baetz; John-Thor Dahlburg (16 April 2014). "NATO increases military moves to counter Russia". The Star (Canada) (Brussels). Associated Press. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
Nicolas Miletitch; Dmitry Zaks (15 April 2014). "Ukraine pushes tanks toward flashpoint separatist city". The Daily Star (Lebanon). Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
"Ukraine crisis: 'Russia has launched a great war'". BBC) (London). 2 September 2014.
Network writers, agencies (27 February 2014). "Russian troop invasion encircles Crimea's capital as Ukraine PM declares the nation to be on 'brink of disaster'". News.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: in Crimea – not just soldiers from units of Black Sea Fleet. Ukrayinska Pravda. 4 March 2014
In Crimea, Russian soldiers are not only part of the Black Sea Fleet, says the General Staff of AF of Ukraine. Interfax-Ukraine. 4 March 2014
"Дeпyтaт: Пcкoвcкиe дecaнтники пepeбpoшeны нa Укpaинy (Deputy: Pskov paratroopers deployed to Ukraine)" (in Russian). PLN-Pskov. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
"B CHБO пoдтвepдили зaxвaт cилaми ATO 2 БMД Пcкoвcкoй дивизии (Capture by ATO of 2 BMD from Pskov division confirmed in the National Security Council)" (in Russian). Interfax-Ukraine. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
"Russian Airborne Forces Reportedly Captured In Ukraine". The Interpreter. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c "B Джaнкoe нaxoдятcя вoйcкa Чeчeнcкoй Pecпyблики (In Jankoi there are armies of the Chechen Republic)" (in Russian). IPC-Dzhankoy. 5 March 2014.
"Russia redeploys ships of Baltic and Northern fleets to Sevastopol, violates agreement with Ukraine". Ukrinform. 3 March 2014.
"Зpoблeнo в Кpeмлi: фaльшивкa пpo тe, щo yбитий yкpaїнcький oфiцep п'яним нaпaв нa pociян (Made in the Kremlin: fake that killed Ukrainian officer attacked by drunken Russians)" (in Ukrainian). Ukrinform. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
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594 killed by 13 August, [2] and 789 killed by 29 August, [3] making a total of 195 dead since the first reported Russian deaths in the area
Russian marine kills Ukraine navy officer in Crimea, says ministry
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Channel 4 news 28 August 2014
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^ Jump up to: a b gazeta.pl August 28 (in Polish)
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[8]
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buzzfeed 14 September 2014 journalist hospitalized violent street attack
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Terrorists for Ukraine trained in Rostov-on-Don, Parubiy says| Ukrinform
B Xapькoвe зaдepжaли cнaйпepa двyx чeчeнcкиx кaмпaний : Hoвocти УHИAH
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^ Jump up to: a b c Jennings, Gareth (23 April 2014). "France sends Rafale fighters to Poland". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (London). Retrieved 24 April 2014.
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Sorry to disappoint, but there is no evidence in your copy&paste. Once a liar always a liar. If you checked my link then you know what I mean... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6fvluajeEw

Miloš Zeman gives a speech about senselessness of sanctions at Rhodos Forum 2014.

While reading some of the older jokes in Russian, I came across this prophetic one from the end of June:


 ;D

Re-posted the above here as it's more relevant to this thread.

A reader comment:

http://qha.com.ua/western-diplomats-may-be-banned-from-entering-crimea-aksyonov-132389en.html

"Rotenberg Law" proposal is under review in the parliament... Basically it allows confiscation of property in response to the sanctions.

http://politicalhotwire.com/current-events/111730-rotenbergs-law.html

Yes, in clear ... all the friends of Poutine will get some cash $$ paid by ??? All poor russian citizen ...

Let's recall ...
Poutine / Medvedev always told => money is not problem, we are a great country ... we do not care about all others country !

We will take crimea at any price ... yes at any price ... paid by ? Haha all russians citizen ! Russia’s finance minister announced that part of the State Pension Fund would be invested in infrastructure projects in Crimea—including a $4.3 billion bridge over the Kerch Strait to link the peninsula to Russia proper—and the Duma voted to allow the National Welfare Fund to cover losses at the state-owned VEB bank sustained as a result of the Sochi Olympics.

Then came new decree to tap the National Wealth Fund by giving roughly $9 billion each to two state institutions, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the state nuclear corporation Rosatom, to spend on projects ranging from roads to railways and nuclear power stations, both inside and outside Russia.

... Is this finished ? Of course not ...

Poutine will continue to give citizen money to all his best friends :-)

The Russian parliament moved a step closer on Wednesday to adopting a law that would allow for foreign assets inside the country to be seized and for the state to pay compensation for the loss of property due to Western sanctions.

=> Ok they can do it ... all what they will get is finally ... all non russian will remove the money from russia ... does russia think they can live by selling potatoes ?

Russia's parliament gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would grant compensation to individuals hit by Western sanctions, a move that the usually compliant opposition criticized as a Kremlin attempt to buy the loyalty of the elite.

.... in clear in russia better to be a friend of Poutine LoL

Nope, paid by property of foreign investors  ;)

http://rt.com/business/195556-russia-china-currency-swap/

regulations and sanctions will only burden the farmers there, the people who livelihoods as farmers will be difficult to develop as a result of the sanctions, once again this is an example of that, the war would only sacrifice the little people and innocent children , may conflict and end this war quickly ... Hopefully ...  :P

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000319924&play=1

PM Dmitry Medvedev claims that President Barack Obama suffers from the "mental aberration". He also said that sanctions is "unconstructive and stupid position which has no purpose except trying to show how cool we are and how we can punish somebody"

http://cs619318.vk.me/v619318250/7390/zWCiCGgq7wU.jpg

 :D

http://stanislavs.org/the-french-mistral-slapstick-comedy-sovereignty-lost/

The French “Mistral” Slapstick Comedy – Sovereignty Lost

France has become a sad sight. The once proud and independent state that dared defy Great Britain and send navy help to the colony of GB that unconstitutionally self-proclaimed independence to later become the United States (by the way, this right the USA now denies other regions seeking democratic self-determination), has now turned into a helpless pushover, suffering from the very state that they helped create.

First France will probably never see its gold again, that was sent for “safe-keeping” to the US.

Second France was robbed for billions of dollars on some trumped up charges against its leading bank BNP.

And now, the saga of Mistrals.

Russia does not really need these helicopter carriers. They are best suited for invading small coastal states, missions largely performed by the USA. This does not fit Russian military doctrine. Mistrals were ordered when Serdjukov was the Minister of Defence. His level of corruption reached quite high levels, and this project is just one of many that did not have Russian defence interests at heart, but Serdjukov’s own pocket.

France has been under huge pressure by NATO/US and EU (through the US trojan horse – Poland) to not deliver on its contracts. NATO/US went as far as saying that they will buy Mistrals instead, but it’s not that easy – Mistrals are built to Russian military specifications and standards and will not work with NATO. Moreover, they are stuffed with Russian high-tech communications and equipment from the very early stages of construction. Should France not deliver the ships, they’d still be required to return the equipment, and that would basically mean cutting up the ships, after which they’ll be little more than scrap metal.

So France has become the butt of the jokes and the laughing stock of the world for its handling of the situation. First they’ll deliver, then they won’t, then they’ll wait a little, then they won’t again, then they’ll deliver, but later, and so on. Each time France was close to delivery, like in a classical Punch and Judy show, Poland (as Mr. Punch) would pull a big stick and slap France for thinking it’s a sovereign state. I agree with Mr. Lavrov’s assessment that France does not behave as a sovereign state would. It has become a lapdog, a vassal.

And so, the comedy is close to it’s end – Russia prepares to sue France and to get its money and equipment back. Russia actually wins from such course of action.

NATO/EU/US continue to push France and its shipbuilding into the abyss, for who will trust France to build something for them after this? EU has already killed shipbuilding in Greece and, before that, in Poland, which during the Soviet times was the leading shipbuilder in Easter Europe, even taking orders from Great Britain. Now Polish docks stay silent. Maybe it’s a Polish form of revenge?

So far France seems to be slated to become a loser.

PS: Joseph Baiden, during his visit to Kiev (to observe the results of his handiwork and to appoint the proxy Ukrainian "government") said that France is on the right track in handling this case. Applying the axiom that whenever the USA praises you, you are doing something wrong for your country and something right for the USA, then France should definitely start panicking.

http://coub.com/view/43d66

Lavrov voiced today the true aim of the Western sanctions: to displace the Russian government.
It is openly declared by the US/EU leaders that "sanctions must be formed so that they destroy Russian economy and create public uprisings".
As we all know, Ukraine is just an excuse and cannon fodder in getting at Russia.

As I wrote earlier, Russia is best served if France does not deliver. Today France said that they will not deliver. Good. Russia can stand to gain between 1.5 to 20 billion Euro in damages.
http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/11/25/716998.html
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/11/25/mistral1/

Meanwhile in Germany we see a similar situation. Merkel screams about the need to impose new sanctions
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/11/25/sanctions/
While the 6000+ German companies that had exports or cooperation with Russia are reporting economic losses, potential loss of workplaces, worsening unemployment in the country and loss of Russian market to the German companies in the post-sanctions world as Russia now finds replacement partners.

Looks like Hollande and Merkel are driving their countries to ruin, sitting on the American leash.

European Europhobic leaders continue to shoot Europe in the foot to please their American masters.

Now it concerns the South Stream. The window of opportunity for Europe is closing.

Russian energy minister Uljukaev made an interesting statement today, saying that Russia will not be inconvenienced of EU decides not to build South Stream. It was primarily conceived to ensure Europe (Southern Europe, actually, as Northern Europe already has North Stream) against transit insecurity (meaning Ukraine). He said that if Europe decides that they don't need such security, it's their decision, but should any transit problems arise in the third-party countries, it will also be solely EU's responsibility.

What he didn't mention is thousands of work places that will be lost in EU in construction and, later, maintenance of the pipeline, as well as lost transt revenue for the countries that will host South Stream.

Needless to say that Hungary, Serbia and Austria are all for building the pipeline, but it seems that the Northern states don't like the additional freedom that might give those states.

Interestingly, governments of Hungary, Czechia, Serbia have held an independent policy, putting their countries' interests first. As the result they seem to be prepped for colour revolution now. Two Czech ministers received packages with strong poison, while Czech media received threats.

PS: This is good. French minister of defence crept to Poland to report to the Polish minister of defence about the decision not to deliver Mistrals. Napoleon is turning in his grave.  ;D

Bullshit ... you forget to explain that for some extroardinary option ... like WAR or any escalation ... they can cancel the contract .... 2 cents propaganda ... as ever ! Funny ...
Cool Russian can buy poor products in china & India ... and eat poisonned product ......
Russian want to close all ... ok let's go ... and it will do only one thing ... push European to stop to buy Gaz & Petrol from Russia ... and Russia will go back to eat potatoes and welcome back to ticket / Communist era !

Hoo but not for Poutine & friends ... only the 60% of poor russian living , addicted to vodka .... enjoy !

So ... true, in Russia only around 500.000 people are dying every year for alchool dissease ... and of course they are number one for suicides ...

So suicides, alchool, syntetic drugs ... what a nice country with social aid ... so nice !

And the South Stream window of opportunity has closed for Europe.

Russia announced today that the project is closed and will not be re-opened.

A new pipeline will instead be built to Turkey, and from there, possibly, to Greece. Interestingly, payments between Turkey and Russia will be done in national currencies, bypassing petrodollar.  8)

Observing the Western reaction to Russia pulling the plug on the South Stream is amusing.

The only ones celebrating are the USA, who called Russian move a step in the right direction of depoliticising gas supplies (read: USA will continue to be able to hold the EU by the balls for a little longer)

Southern EU countries range from saddened to bewildered. They didn't expect Russia to display so much self-assuredness after all the pushing from Brussels. In Bulgaria the blame game has started and the government is taking the hit. EU said that Bulgaria will not be compensated by the EU for the loss of revenue (estimated to have been about $400 million).

In total EU loses about €2 billion by not building South Stream, and throws itself at the mercy of Ukraine, which, as we know, is governed from Washington.

Italian gas energy company stocks are down, Serbs are furious that that were cheated out of prosperity by EU: whole settlements started to be built on the promise of South Stream incomes. So Serbia is now even more likely to choose not to join EU.

Austria is saddened by the losses incurred.

All in the name of "Energy Security" of EU, as touted from Brussels.

The winners are: Turkey, which will have a new pipeline of the same dimension as South Stream, and Greece, which can become another entry way for Russian gas, once it becomes painfully apparent that Europe needs it.

And as for Russia: it just shrugs its shoulders.

Obama made a nice speech today, saying that he is satisfied with sanctions against Europe... sorry, Russia. He did say that sanctions are hitting Europe, though. :) He also said that USA will continue hitting Russia with sanctions until it "changes its course". The excuse of Ukraine was not mention at all.

Watched the interview with Miller today. South Stream is definitely dead. No amount of EU commission convening will revive it.
Miller said that it was the absence of permission from Bulgaria to build on its soil and in its territorial waters that was the final straw. The previous 5 months of EUs saying NO didn't help either.

Once the pipeline to the Greek border is done, EU can decide if they want to buy Russian gas through Turkey.

Oh, and Miller said that Ukraine becomes completely irrelevant as a transit hub with the current plan. Russia will of course sell gas to Ukrain, but it will not have the headache of possible failing transit deliveries.

---

The comedy club continues:
Polish deputy suggests giving Mistrals to Ukraine.  ;D ;D ;D
http://www.forbes.ru/news/275109-polskii-deputat-predlozhil-frantsii-peredat-mistrali-ukraine
I take it, it'll be a nice free present. I wonder if this Polish deputy will be paying from his pocket

And again Washington blathers about conditions for lifting sanctions against Russia (please don't - Russia needs those sanctions to grow in strength!). One of the conditions is pulling of Russian military from East Ukraine, which is impossible to do since there is no Russia military there in the first place. So the rest of Obama's speech is moot. He basically said that sanctions won't be lifted.

http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2014/12/08/n_6723689.shtml

Oh, and what about old British APC that Kiev is expected to get delivered. Shouldn't Washington impose sanctions against Britain for that hostile move?

So, Russia seems to be collapsing: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-08/russia-pain-spreads-to-stock-and-bond-markets-as-ruble-plunges.html


And OPEC is helping along, by deciding on Nov. 27 to maintain oil output levels, worsening the outlook in the already bear market in oil. Add to this more idiocy coming out of Russia itself, such as more planned currency controls, plans to ban and heavily fine anything Bitcoin related, and the ridiculously stupid law forcing all online services to store information on Russians only on servers located in Russia by January 1st, which practically none of the international online businesses can comply with, and that place is pretty much going to hell.


By the way, regarding that last part, since bitcointalk.org servers are NOT stored in Russia, does this mean that all you Russians will have to be banned and blocked from this forum to avoid any legal trouble for the forum owners?

And so it happens. Today Obama questioned the necessity of further sanctions against Russia and nixed US implementing new rounds without EU.

Damage is done I guess.

Two interesting events happened rather unnoticed yesterday, almost as footnotes:

1. US' Ministry of Financed made a somewhat boastful, if damning statement that the two-front attack on Russia is successful. The first front being economical with sanctions and an artificially depressed oil price; the second front is political with destabilisation of Ukraine and creation of a hot spot on Russian border.

2. EU has lifted sanctions and released frozen funds of Yanukovich and his sons, as well as a dozen of Ukrainian officials from before the February coup d'etat happened. The reason given: sanctions were illegal and EU feared that they'd be overturned in court, as it happened with Iranian and Syrian officials.

It is worth noting, that sanctions against Ukrainian officials were never the main goal - they were a springboard to implement sanctions against Russia, which are, by the way, illegal as well under WTO agreements.

Psaki is still psakiing. She called upon the world to stop all trade relations with Russia. Fat chance. USA sounds more desperate than ever.
http://top.rbc.ru/politics/13/12/2014/548b9a1a2ae596497e3c9db9

Pushkov replied that this utterment sounds completely absurd.

I think EU shouldn't put sanctions against Russia,
it's hurting too much European companies and shutting out a huge market with
great potential. This whole us versus them thing is so dumb. We should keep
trading each other so everyone can get richer and peace maintained.

About geopolitics I think NATO has been expanding too rapidly and too far east,
and nobody listened Russians (they had many trade deals with Ukraine) when
Ukraine tried to join EU in 2013. And Putin should stop using tanks in Ukraine
as tools of domestic politics if you understand what I mean.

I don't know if the oil price is manipulation or not but US doesn't have
any right to choose who or which kind of government or leader Russia has.
Putin doesn't have right to bully it's neighbors by sending troops or
shutting off gas supply if they do something he doesn't like.

US should recognize Russia as dominant regional power of Eastern Europe
and Russia should stop it's military operations in Ukraine.

Wait, which sanctions are you talking about?
As far as I am aware, it's Russian sanctions against the EU. The Russian policy is to prevent EU exporters from selling their meat and fruit products to Russia. Is the Russian media saying something different?

I remember that Russia imposed sanctions against EU pork products back in 2013, making up some story about some rare disease: African swine flu or something similar. That was planned aggression by Russia, even before any of that Maidan stuff happened.

You want to eat infected meat, go ahead your decision

 ::)

You Russians are so brainwashed. You are trained to be ultra-sceptical of the "evil West", yet you swallow your own country's lies like naive babies.

because they are served with vodka? and anyway, every Russians know that once the wall of the smog of war is on the horizon all lies will fold, until then let them believe in their power, they let us drink :)... but be aware, if the flow of vodka is stopped, better mypmf who ever you may be, where ever you may come from...

Sweden: Russian RUST Bucket Nearly Collides With Passenger Plane (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/13/sweden-russia-plane-collide_n_6320094.html)

Oops! Wasn't Sweden until recently sympathetic to the Russian-choreographed aggression?

Didn't the pilot's mum ever tell him not to drink the wiper fluid?

LOL  ::)

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

1984 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four)

Well, I'd say that it's better to be a brainwashed person rather than a regular dumbass like you, an automatic entity without any traces of intelligence. I regret to inform you that your Turing test isn't going well... It's just like having a talk with AWK macro.

EU cannot cope with "South Stream" going South, literally, so now they threaten Turkey that it will not be allowed... to join EU. Funny, that, according to some experts, EU is on the verge of desintegration should the Greece crisis go any further. The new gas pipeline through Greece may actually save EU, so EU by the current threat is continuing to shoot itself in the foot.

http://ria.ru/world/20141214/1038200824.html

USA's list of countries in need of a colour revolution, countries that look out for their own interests is growing: Hungary, Finland, Tchekkia, Sebia, Austria, Turkey, China, India, Brazil...

Oh, and it's already happening in Turkey, what a coincidence:
http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/12/15/720372.html

Meanwhile, in France, Russian Navy Infantry (equivalent to Navy Seals in US) have been stationed on the completed Mistral "Vladivostok" to prevent sabotage. Possibly after some of the Russian equipment got stolen from he ship earlier.

Kaboom!

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/16/russia-has-lost-economic-war-with-west-rouble-currency
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/16/russia-ruble-collapse_n_6333546.html


What was that you guys were saying about Germany's GDP being very small?

Reading this as if it was coming from Russian "Pravda," as in "reading between the lines," does this mean that Russia is planning to invade Hungary, Finland, Tchekkia, Sebia, Austria, Turkey, China, India, and Brazil?

It's Serbia and is already invaded by US nato

Ignorance is strength

Don't mind him. Rassah is another one, who is hopelessly stuck in the 1950's in USSR. For him the time does not move forward. I feel sorry for him...

---

Obama signed the law that gives him right to impose new sanctions against Russia. The offensive continues. Interestingly, one of the scenarios is that USA may impose sanctions on Russia (a state) if Gazprom (a private company) does not deliver enough gas at good enough price to NATO members.
It's as if Russia imposed sanctions on USA for Ford not delivering discounted cars to Kazakhstan.  ::)

No need to feel sorry for such people. They have a function too, and this function is extremely important. Removal of some unneeded genes from humanity's gene pool is necessary for our development. They should be proud of the fact they have achieved sufficient trust for implementation of this role in the real life.  :)

France will not be delivering Mistrals,as announced by F.Hollande today (Russian sailors left France yesterday). And it looks like France is wanting to make a run with the money, citing Minsk agreement as a reason to not pay Russia back the invested money and the €10 billion of penalties. To remind: Minsk agreement is between the terroristic forces of Kiev and the resistance of Novorossia. Russia was a broker and is not a party in the agreement.

http://lenta.ru/news/2014/12/19/hollande/
http://ria.ru/world/20141219/1039209188.html

Mistrals are now a glorified heap of scrap metal - no equipment even to navigate in the open seas. And all specs are Russian, so they are not suitable for NATO:

http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/12/16/720617.html

---

By the way, sanctions... what sanctions?

US Company to Buy Rocket Engines from Russia worth $1bn
http://russia-insider.com/en/2014/12/17/1957

The fuck are you talking about? I wasn't even alive in 1950's, and I only lived in USSR in the 80's. Do you mean that I'm stuck in thinking that Russia is acting like 1950's USSR, when it's really not?


 ;D ::)


That deal may still be denied by US Congress, the engines they do buy will be severely underpriced due to ruble collapse, and $1bn is nothing compared to the $40bn Russia is losing from sanctions this year.

Paul Craig Roberts – Russia To Unleash Ultimate Black Swan Against The West
http://kingworldnews.com/paul-craig-roberts-russia-unleash-ultimate-black-swan-west/

USA sanctions against Cuba have 50 years history  now, who will know what will be with sanctions against Russia

Cuba is a small country. The USA was not bothered by such a small market being excluded. Russia is way different.

Alexandr Gelyevich Dugin (Russian: Aлeкcáндp Гéльeвич Дýгин, Moscow, 7th January 1962) is a Russian philosopher and political scientist known for his fascist views.[3][4][5][6][7] He has two PhDs (Sociology and Philosophy) from NGMA University in Rostov Oblast and is known for his Fourth Political Theory and the Theory of the Multipolar World. He has close ties with the Kremlin and the Russian military,[8] serving as an advisor to State Duma speaker (and key member of the ruling United Russia party) Sergei Naryshkin.[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Dugin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Dugin)

The Foundations of Geopolitics: The Geopolitical Future of Russia is a geopolitical book by Alexander Dugin. The book has had a large influence within the Russian military, police, and statist foreign policy elites[1] and is used as a textbook in the General Staff Academy of Russian military.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics)

The book declares that "the battle for the world rule of [ethnic] Russians" has not ended and Russia remains "the staging area of a new anti-bourgeois, anti-American revolution." The Eurasian Empire will be constructed "on the fundamental principle of the common enemy: the rejection of Atlanticism, strategic control of the USA, and the refusal to allow liberal values to dominate us."[1]

Military operations play relatively little role. The textbook believes in a sophisticated program of subversion, destabilization, and disinformation spearheaded by the Russian special services. The operations should be assisted by a tough, hard-headed utilization of Russia's gas, oil, and natural resources to bully and pressure other countries.[1]

The book states that "the maximum task [of the future] is the 'Finlandization' of all of Europe".

[1] as said by someone John B. Dunlop, whoever he is. I couldn't find any other references to show his supposed influence.

And his political view that "Russian political elite is heterogeneous and riddled with spy networks of Western countries that are sabotaging the positive initiatives of top management. Dugin believes his main opponents are pro-Western liberals and radical nationalists, who promote xenophobia, accusing both in playing into the hands of Russia's competitors." Which I don't see as not to be too far from truth.

In some views Dugin does go too far...

You make it sound as if he is the only and the most influential advisor. There are a wide spectrum of advisors in the Russian government, including the neo-liberals. It's a matter of getting all the opinions before reaching a decision, rather than only the ones that you'd like to hear...

And a note about nationalism. It is discussed in Russia. Nationalism is good, when it unites a nation without affecting others. French have a strong national pride, so do the British, so do the Russians. It is when nationalism turns militant and targets other nationalities (as is the case in Ukraine), when it becomes dangerous and detrimental for the country itself.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11305146/The-week-the-dam-broke-in-Russia-and-ended-Putins-dreams.html


Guess no investing in rubbles or buying cars and property. Russia better come out with those black swans they have been threatening soon! Of course...


... but we all know Putin won't do that:


which is funny, because that's PRECISELY what is being done to Russia. Russia is allowed to exist all sovereign, on it's own, without anyone pressuring it in any way. But also without anyone collaborating in any way. And it looks like Russia, alone on its own, is falling.

And this is just sad:


The curtain (iron?) is being pulled back, to reveal that the great and prosperous Russia isn't really all it has been claiming to be.

Sanctions is good. It will make russian people think.

Volatile Russia could be bad news for everyone

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/11305686/Volatile-Russia-could-be-bad-news-for-everyone.html

No it will make Putin expand his aggression to maintain power  :)

So, according to you, this is the desired outcome for the USA that started those sanctions after they turned Ukraine into a basket case? Truly wise politicians are sitting in Washington...  ::)

---

That's what Paul Craig Roberts and other clear-thinking economists in US and EU had been saying all along. Pity that EU' politicians are, as a Russian saying goes, "sawing over the branch that they are sitting on".

The conclusion of that article is the best (in bold):

Just as usual, it seems that you have no idea what you're talking about.  :)

1. It will make EU people to think, and give them a reason to overthrow their parasitic governments... Shortly after getting significant economic damages... In fact these sanctions are targeted against EU, because EU losses are far worse than Russia's.

2.  Of course we're thinking now, but not as it was expected by Obama & his masters. Current thoughts are driven by Alexander Nevsky's statement: "Whoever comes to us with a sword, from a sword will perish". You know, the most of us didn't paid too much attention to U.S. But now we're beginning to think that your government is a cancer of humanity which should be eliminated in a violent manner. Say thank you to Obama for this.

P.S. And learn to think for yourself finally... Otherwise you should change the name of account to some more suitable, because you can't justify use of current nickname.

I guess Liliputin is a fucking idiot then. USA allegedly starts something in Ukraine, Russia falls for it, going in guns blazing, and ends up in a trap, where everyone in the west hates them, China is wary of them, and their economy is in the shitter. What an idiot they have elected.


LOL! Are you claiming that the Euro will collapse more than 50, and Europe's GDP can be as low as -4% next year?  ;D

Unlike Russia, Europe has an economy, and a tech sector.



That's funny, because US did not come to Russia with a sword. US didn't come to Russia with anything at all. Not a single US tank, jet, or soldier came anywhere near Russia. All US did was get a bunch of countries to shun Russia for being a bully, and not play with it any more, and Russia got so upset that no one wants to play with it that it's throwing tantrums and falling apart. And you guys are falling for it, thinking US is some big aggressor, and an evil enemy attacking poor Russia.

Swiss hotels are losing about 30% of their income due to Russian tourists not turning up this winter:
http://ria.ru/economy/20141229/1040783542.html

Where did the Russian Alpine tourists go? Remember the successful Winter Olympics in Sochi and how the Western naysayers were predicting doom and desolation for Sochi after the games are over? Well, the hotels of Sochi, which were enough to host people from all over the world, are fully-booked for the winter, and the resorts are in full swing.

Other countries are also suffering losses as Russian tourists decide to spend vacations domestically:
http://www.vz.ru/society/2014/12/22/721586.html

A Russian saying comes to mind: "Don't dig a hole for someone else: you'll fall into it yourself."

Loss from tourism in Russia, in the mean time, is 20% to 40%.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/russia/11069901/Russian-aggression-deters-tourists.html

Also consider that Russian tourists in russia will be spending rubles, while foreign tourists would have been spending much needed euros and dollars.

And Sochi? You mean this Sochi?

http://weburbanist.com/2014/09/09/post-olympic-abandonment-sochi-already-on-the-road-to-ruin/

I do wish them luck, though I can't find anything about that place being a hot destination right now. I don't even know if some of the hotels are finished being built yet (they were still under construction during the Olympics).


Plus I wouldn't bet that a lot of that "Russian tourists are deciding to spend vacations domestically" is because russians are boycotting other countries. It's more likely because they are broke due to the fall of the ruble and drop in economy and employment. A Russian saying comes to mind: what is the relationship between dollars, pounds, and rubles? A pound of rubles is worth a dollar.

Funny talk from Berlin:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/international/2015/01/150105_germany_warns_against_new_russian_sanctions

Apparently they don't want to impose new sanctions as it would allegedly "lead to chaos in Russia". Nice bit of projecting of own problems. Russia is doing just fine and is asking to be sanctioned a bit more to improve its domestic standing.  :P

The End Game is Underway!

http://www.silverdoctors.com/jim-willie-the-end-game-is-underway/

Can't wait! Though they have been promising this for 20+ years now... How will Russia handle this? Are they so low they can't go any lower?

As expected, EU is having trouble. Germany is going to ask Russia to relent on its counter-sanctions, prohibiting imports of EU foods:
http://lenta.ru/news/2015/01/11/embargo/

Good day my main concern is i need 10 different google voice number that will have my usa no# different state i will provide the email and indicate the state i want each email moreso do you accept ppefectmoney ?let me know your mode of payment  each ggvoice number reply to my email thank you

Last year Latvia banned 3 Russian singers (one of them is Ukrainian: Kobzon) from attending the musical festival "New Wave" because of their standpoint on the reunification of Crimea with Russia.

This year "New Wave" will be conducted in Sochi, instead of Jurmala:

http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2015/01/12/n_6816269.shtml

And Latvia will loose €17 million because of their own foolishness.

http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2015/01/12/n_6816269.shtml

By the way, when Yatsenjuk equated Nazi Ukraine to Nazi Germany, painting both as natural allies, the official German response to it: everyone has the right to their own opinion:
http://ria.ru/world/20150112/1042238993.html

So, yes, hypocrisy as the primary European value.

The secondary European value is Nazism, the spectre of which walks across Europe now.

Latvia asked for funds from EU to step up their anti-Russian propaganda, while a representative of "Latvian "Future Institute" called to kill all non-sitizens in Latvia (people who were born there, but are denied citizenship - there are about 300.000 of those, another Human Right "European value"):

http://lenta.ru/news/2015/01/12/latvia/

---

And only Nazi-Ukraine and their USA backers have not understood that sanctions are not affecting Russia.

USA's man in Kiev, Poroshenko, says that sanctions against Russia work and demands that they be prolonged. Good for Russia.
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2015/01/12/n_6816561.shtml
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2014/09/18/n_6490301.shtml

---

Oh, and the comedy club of the rating agencies:
Fitch downgrade will have 'limited' effect on Russia
http://rt.com/business/221791-fitch-russia-limited-effect/

Someone is desperate here to pull a rating stunt in denial of the obvious contradiction.

Notice in the following quote, how the reality is expected to follow the rating, and not the other way around, the rating being a gauge of reality:


However:

I wrote about Latvia and "New Wave" moving out of Jurmala in the post above. Now the "Screaming Kivin" - the musical version of the popular humoristic game KVN is also moving out, and a humour show is expected to follow. Jurmala will again turn into a sleepy village, like many other villages on the BAltic coast of Latvia. The only reason Jurmala became popular in the first place, was because Latvia was a very popular place, like travelling to the West, in the USSR times, so many of the Soviet pop-stars bought property there and acted as a magnet. Oh, the irony.

Also, I wrote that Latvia asked EU for more money for anti-Russian propaganda. I thought that was in the connection with the above, but it seems the reason is quite different:

http://www.rg.ru/2015/01/13/latviya.html

---

Meanwhile in France:

Russia may break contract with France if no Mistral delivery in January — source
http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/771110

For the moment, Russia is the winner in global geopolitical struggle

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/commentary/the-moment-russia-the-winner-the-global-geopolitical-struggle

Unfortunately, Russia is still owned by Rothschild's Central Bank of Russia.

You speak about ..Sochi .. has yes the delirious games with buildings done by non paid people ... like a real communist country ?


Of course this article comes from the same website you posted early ...

http://www.eutimes.net/2013/08/putin-orders-massive-strike-against-saudi-arabia-if-west-attacks-syria/

Hey ..what Poutine fear chechen ?? I thought he was the REAL MASTER of Russia and nothing could happend to this big country ...

There is a strong anti-GMO movement, saying that Russia has enough fertile land to grow large crops without any GMO boosts. Several Medvedev-period laws that gave preference to Western GMO products on Russian market are being repelled.

---

More on sanctions circus:

European parliament urges European Council to impose new sanctions on Russia
http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771340

It's again the same old "let's impose sanctions because we want to impose sanctions".
How else to explain the "if no progress is made in the Ukrainian crisis settlement", when Nazis in Kiev stepped up shelling of Donbass and prepare for a full out genocide offensive.

And the following 7 countries want nothing to do with it:

Seven EU countries support lifting sanctions on Russia — source
http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771324

Everything was fine until that US?..#onkey took office!

New Sanctions  ;D

So, yet another tangible reason to move on from Apple to some alternative Open Source platform.  ;D

Well, if they'll extend their sanctions to all Russia then I won't miss them. :D

if that was me I would totally fuck apple over.

Kiev (and we know that Kiev is just a dummy extension of US StateDep) asks EU to extend the conditions for lifting sanctions against Russia with one more clause: that Russia should compensate (the imaginary) losses to Ukraine. We should remember that Ukraine got for free all the infrastracture and industry from the Soviet Union, the inheritance that they managed to royally squander. And a quote: "there can't be any illusions about normalising the situation in Ukraine by the means of constructive cooperation with Russia"

http://lenta.ru/news/2015/01/19/sanctions/

Of course: it's not Russia that plunged Ukraine into chaos, but US/EU, Russia is not a part in the conflict, but an observer at best and a victim at worst. However many sanctions are imposed on it, Russia cannot do anything about the murderous Nazi regime that was installed in Kiev by USA and EU, shot of raising the Russian flag over the Kiev equivalent of Reichstag.

Its is incredible how Europe is going along for the ride with the US and they are being led into financial ruin.
Perhaps the fight isn't between the US and Russia. Perhaps the US and Russia are working together to separate Europe.
Then each side will take a few counties under them. Food for thought?

I doubt that. The Occam's razor and simple observations say that all EU tops are bought or blackmailed by US.

Oh, and here is the mother of all sanctions: Hypocrisy and huge lies, made to look like truth:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2015-0011+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

Want to add to my comment above:
Only a year ago Europe (and by it I mean EU and Russia, as both are Europe) was enjoying a relatively peaceful and prosperous cooperation, which was beneficial for all. Guess who has the most to gain my throwing a spanner into the gears?

---

From the EU resolution:


So, EU welcome the French decision to shoot itself in the foot, and it urges other member states to demonstrate that the contracts with EU are not worth the paper they are written on. French shipbuilding industry now follows the fate of the renowned Polish and Greek shipbuilders - into oblivion.

Oh, and we already got a taste of how EU honours the contracts: Holland still sits on the Scythian gold from Crimean museums, which which it had individual lease contracts, and which it neglects to observe.

---

Fun bit of reading:

http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/01/19/trolling-russia-israel-shamir/

I don't doubt this for one minute. Watch the media over the next few weeks and the West will try to link the terrorists in France with Russia.

That won't surprise me. There was already something in the news about Russia-related terrorists being arrested in Paris...

---

Ukrainian offensive in Donbass makes sanctions against Russia ‘immoral’ – Duma chief
http://rt.com/politics/224407-sanctions-immoral-russia-naryshkin/

---

From
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-21/obama-s-state-of-the-union-foreign-policy-translated


 ;D

Another good read:

Opinion: Perhaps you missed it: We’re at war with Russia
But nobody has explained what our vital interest is in Ukraine
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/perhaps-you-missed-it-were-at-war-with-russia-2015-01-20?siteid=yhoof2

A similar angle, but with Bitcoin flavour, in this article:

“Bitcoin is a Victim of Disinflation” – What’s the US Dollar a Victim of?
https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/whats-the-us-dollar-a-victim-of/

Europe is only doing what Obama says because Germany is being blackmailed!
Remember the whole spy scandal with the US spying on Germany. Well they must have got some
juicy info from the Germans that can't be leaked. So Germany does what the US says and sanctions Russia for nothing or
the US will spill the beans!

America and Europe have been close ever since ww2

the u.s is waiting for iran to get nukes so that the coalition forces can invade a country with actual wmds this time.

that's actually pretty funny but yeah they could but it wouldn't be as credible.

That's pretty funny but in all seriousness if Russia doesn't get invaded iran will unless some unseen event happens.

Google joined the sanctions.

So Google joins the anti-democratic movement of the West and steals money to boot. Confirming the Western values!

Anti-democratic movement ... do we need to show you video how has been the crimea voting ... when each voter was checked by army man to see the vote ...  ;D

Pot calling the kettle black ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5HChDXVSc

The economic war continues. S&P lowers Russia's rating to junk BB+

Quite a funny move, further undermining what reputation S&P might have had, given the following:

Russia increases gold purchases by 123%
http://rt.com/business/227755-russia-record-gold-purchase/

Russia continues with counter-sanctions against the West's illegal (according to WTO) sanctions.

This time, the prohibition is extended to construction and building machines. The countries of the Eurasian Union, are, understandably, not affected. :)
http://www.vestifinance.ru/articles/52792?iddd

Biden shows his true colours once again:

Biden says Europeans questioning Russia sanctions 'inappropriate, annoying' – Spiegel
http://rt.com/news/230143-biden-sanctions-europe-russia/


Couple of great reader comments:


:)

It looks like now the US may try to escape their escalating war through the excuse that the EU will not support war in Europe.

Yes, that may indeed be a face-saving way out.

and then bashar could be get the nobel peace price and be named general secretary of the un.

A few precautions about the suitcases, then.

"you have set foot on the American Continent, I hope you enjoy the show, be aware some part are so dark than even the light doesn't dare to venture." a very good advice that wasn't listen to a long time ago... how could they understand... the few that did were impressive and shared much.

At least the EU is not behaving like an offshore extension of the US.

Interesting infographics here:
http://tass.ru/en/infographics/7239
http://photocdn2.itar-tass.com/width/750_7d39028b/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20140808/1055865.png


Oh, and Cyprus is not happy:
http://tass.ru/en/world/779613

And the ratings war continues:
Moody’s lowers rating of 5 Russian companies, including Transneft
http://tass.ru/en/economy/779678

Moody’s rating agency downgrades 12 Russian banks
http://tass.ru/en/economy/779641

And while the jackals are yapping, Russia continues to do what it does best: quietly rebuilding relations and diplomatic bridges:

Putin’s New Ally: Pope Francis
https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/putins-new-ally-pope-francis/


Putin and Erdogan Troll EU at Baku’s First European Games
https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/putin-and-erdogan-troll-eu-at-bakus-first-european-games/


And all the while, Russia is counting the factories/productions it had to open to replace the imports, and rolling its eyes at the losses Europe is incurring upon itself with those self-destructive sanctions...

:)

From Merkel's diary:

http://31.media.tumblr.com/109166db698c88b223a38230e442d909/tumblr_mxtojf3YII1r18rt4o1_500.jpg

Have you been living in the hole all the last year?
Crimea returned home as a result of a democratic process (unlike the dictatorial way it was torn away from Russia by Hrushov). Just like Novorossia (dating back to Peter the Great), Crimea (dating back to Catherine the great) was never a part of Ukraine (which dates back to Lenin). To forcefully "restore" Crimea is equivalent to ignoring the will of 2.5 million people, ignoring democracy and subjecting people to subjugation and destruction. What you suggest is enticing genocide.

And, yes, choreographed - the legitimate government was replaced as a result of a violent coup d'etat in February last year and with full support (admitted by Vicky "here are the cookies" Nudelman) of the USA.

Of course, do not waste the time with Nemo1024 is just paid to troll pro-kremlin propaganda .... only US/Europe Bashing ...  ;D

And for sure he will deny that -> When crowds of people, under the orders of commanders in armored, transport vehicles, and with heavy weapons, are on the territory of another country, crossing the border, it is in my opinion invasion

Russian beleive the lie of Poutine and then they are proud of it ... what to think about ?

Does i am proud when my president act badly , no -> but i have democratic way of voting for change ....

In russia, not only they are proud of lie of their president ... but as well .... all others competitors are either killed .... haa no more news about the so called "chechen" who killed boris nemtsov.

You are doing the wrong historical parallel. The correct one, is the reunification of Southern Denmark with Denmark after 60 years under German rule, as a result of a peaceful referendum.
Your parallel of Germany's annexation of Poland, is more appropriate to the year's earlier annexation of Chechoslovakia by Poland and Germany with the blessing of GB and USA.
(By the way, when mentioning "Prussia", I hope you see the linguistic roots - it means "flat Russia" ;))

Now, the case of Crimea, apart of being a closed historical event, is also a very simple one.

All you need to do is to answer one question: Which of the two historical events do you endorse:
1) 19th of February 1954, Krushov seeking to gain favour of the tops of the Ukrainian Communist Party, in a voluntaristic dictatorial move, breaking the constitution of the USSR and the legislation of RSFSR, and in opposition to the popular opinion of the residents of Crimea, transfers the peninsular from the jurisdiction of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and into Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

2) 11th of March 2014, after a violent coup d'etat in Ukraine, having been threatened for life by the new ultra-nationalist powers, Crimean population decides, as the result of a democratic referendum and in accordance to the international law (UN's charter on self-determination of peoples), to secede Ukraine and reunite with their historical motherland.

USA and EU, apparently being Communist dictatorships, judging by their actions, are backing event #1. Russia, being a democratic state observing international law, supported case #2. What is your stance?


And yes, Russia is a victim. Has been for the the last century of attacks on it, starting with 1914, when it was drawn into WWI (Nikolai II was a fool for allowing himself to fall into a trap and be drawn into somebody else's war, something, 100 later Putin tries to avoid so as not to repeat the history), continuing with coup d'etat of 1917, when large chunks of Russian land were bitten off it, going on to WWII, through various intra-Soviet nibbles at Russian lands - like Crimea, and culminating in 1990, when Russia was all but broken down.

http://rt.com/business/266527-medvedev-asia-sanctions-business/

I think that russian counter-sanctions should be extended without taking any EU actions into account. No actual changes would be required. Just set some random expiration date from the distant future, e.g. 28 August 2199. :D

Crimeans are Russians. They are not joining "them". They were coming home. If you home is burning, you don't simply walk away (well, maybe you do), you stick together with your family and try to extinguish the flames.

And you clearly have no grasp of Russians, of what it means to be Russian, of what it means to stick together and defend your land. That's why there is still such a large country called Russia, despite 600 years of the West's mighty efforts to destroy it, and despite further 300 years of Tatar-Mongol occupation before that.

American sanctions against the Russians of Crimea are peanuts, compared to what Russians had to endure:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sevastopol_(1854-55) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sevastopol_(1854%E2%80%9355))
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sevastopol_(1941-42) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sevastopol_(1941%E2%80%9342))
http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=214

EDIT: The residents of Sevastopol were only half-joking, when they said that the third and longest Siege of Sevastopol lasted from 1992 till 2014. Crimea has nothing good to look back from the period of the rule of the foreign Ukrainian regime. Plundering of the peninsula, forced Ukrainisation, crumbling houses, closed factories, struggling agriculture, closed Yalta film studio...

EDIT 2: One shouldn't view the events of 2014, when Crimea reunited with Russia as a separate a event - it was a predestined and logical conclusion to a prolonged process, a fight that lasted for 60 years ever since Khrushov made that despotical decision and the head of the Crimean branch of the Russian Communist Party tried to protest against it.

And Belarus is not stepping away, despite your wishful thinking and despite what Cartoon News Network is asking you to believe...

Oh, and you avoided the question of which of the two historical events that you endorse.
Clearly, judging from you responses, you'd have nothing against it, if Obama would for example make a personal present to California in the form of Hawaii... Never mind what Hawaiins would think about such a triviality.

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Brilliant quote!


Someone above said something about BRICS falling apart. More wishful thinking.  ::)

Great. The sanctions should be there permanently. At least it is helping the Russian domestic agricultural sector to rebound. In the initial few years, there will be problems such as inflation and lack of supply to meet the demand. But if the sanctions remain in place, Russia will attain self-sufficiency in agricultural products within 2-3 years time.

The upside down- theatre of absurdity, called sanctions, continues its show.

It looks like the open season on Russian property abroad has been opened. Using Yukos case as an excuse (when Khodorkovskij and Co stole billions of dollars from Russia and avoided taxes for billions more and then sued Russia for damages and got endorsed by Europe), Belgium, France and Austria froze Russian state accounts. Russian Foreign Ministry calls it for unprecedented violation of international law.

http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2015/06/18/n_7300721.shtml?osas
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/2015/06/17/6845321.shtml
http://tass.ru/politika/2053573

Moscow summons Belgian envoy over seizure of state assets, threatens retaliation
http://rt.com/business/267964-yukos-belgium-state-assets/

France freezes Russian state assets, Moscow plans to appeal
http://rt.com/news/268024-vtb-accounts-france-frozen/


So, guys, and girls, it's official. STOP PAYING YOUR TAXES NOW! It's the new European norm. You don't pay your taxes, and you can demand a few grand in compensation from the state.  ::)

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USA State Senate will be sending $300 million worth of war equipment to Ukraine to keep the Civil War there going,...
http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/2054262

...and at the same time threatens with more sanctions on Russia for not being a party in the internal US-aided Ukrainian conflict:
http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/2054357

EU will impose new sanctions against Russia on the 21st of June - the day before the commemorative date when Nazi Germany attacked USSR. Symbolic.
http://lenta.ru/news/2015/06/18/sanctions1/

And EcoFin, the unelected EU's economical body will prolong sanctions against Crimeans for taking democracy too literally from the 19th of June without discussing the matter:
http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/2054399?osas

Meanwhile, German experts came to the conclusion, that sanctions have strengthened Russian economy.

So, thank you, Obama and Co. More of the same, please. :)

This is just an unwanted provocation. If the Western nations are confiscating Russian property abroad, then Russia should retaliate by nationalizing the Western assets in Russia. Western corporations such as Shell, Exxon, Eni and Total are having tens of billions of USD worth of investment in Russia. If these idiots want war, then give them war.

Already practicing this approach in the Republic of Crimea ;)

http://tass.ru/en/russia/734890

That is a good approach but it is not clear whether the Russian banks will be affected by this measure or not. I have read somewhere that Ukrainians have taken out loans worth as much as $25 billion from the Russian banks. If Russia nationalize the properties of the Ukrainian oligarchs, then Ukraine will refuse to pay back the loans to Russian banks.

Great! sanctions continue to be working as designed by US. :)

Bigger and faster: Russia unveils designs to replace marooned Mistrals
http://rt.com/news/268504-mistral-replacement-avalance-lavina/

EU is timing the prolongation of sanctions (in itself an act of war) against Russia with the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, when 74 USSR was attacked by Nazi Germany.
http://tass.ru/politika/2061548
Russia will continue to apply the tit-for-tat principal, prolonging its own sanctions against EU.

One can only guess if such timing is intentional and symbolic of another military aggression to come from the West.

Stealing of Russian assets continues.

France freezes accounts worth millions of Euro, citing the "Magnitskij" case. Magnitskij was arrested on charges of tax avoidance in Russia, and died in prison while awaiting investigation in 2009. In 2012 USA imposed an Act of Magnitskij, prohibiting 24 people, who investigated and arrested Magnitskij from entering USA:
http://www.forbes.ru/news/292343-frantsiya-zamorozila-scheta-na-milliony-evro-po-delu-magnitskogo
(Looks like tax avoiders and traitors like Magnitskij, Hodorkivskij, Nemcov, Berezovskij, Gusinskij are in high regard in the West. \Must have something to do with European Values [tm])

I agree with you, this is purely west choreographed, there were fears of the Russian economy going into recession from early 2014 - mainly as a result of the falling oil prices, the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine and the subsequent capital flight. However, the 2014 GDP growth remained positive at 0.6%.

Lada wrote another good article, putting the recent seizures of Russian state assets into historical perspective:

Russian Asset Seizure in Belgium and France: Does It Mean War?
https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/russian-asset-seizure-in-belgium-and-france-does-it-mean-war/

My question is whether it is possible to seize assets of private companies based in France and Belgium, in retaliation to the seizure of assets belonging to the Russian state companies. For example, can Russia seize the properties of the French oil company Total, as a response to the seizure of Rosneft assets in France? (Rosneft is government owned, while Total is a private company).

In the meantime, the USA has shown its hand in dealing with the Yokos charade. The US embassy in Russia delivered a note - no, not about declaration of war, but close - they sue Russia and demand to see it in court, demanding acknowledgement of the unrecognised by RF Hague court decision of paying $50 billion of "compensation"  to the Yukos' thieves and tax evaders.

Most notably, while the news were first published today, the note was delivered... on the fateful day, the 22nd of June - on the very same day, when once, in 1941 another ambassador delivered another note, which declared the start of aggression against USSR.

http://www.forbes.ru/news/293047-ssha-vruchili-rossii-povestku-v-sud-po-delu-o-50-mlrd-v-polzu-yukosa

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Oh, and HA!

Putin’s Gambit: Germany To Replace Ukraine as Russian Gas Transiter
https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/putins-gambit-germany-to-replace-ukraine-as-russian-gas-transiter


 :D

I wrote before that it feels like an open season on Russian values/assets/capital. Everyone has a feeling that Russia owes them a lot, while denying vehemently that Russia herself has a lot of claims for compensations for what was done to it over the previous century alone.

Now, Georgia joined the pack og hyaenas, demanding from Russia over €70 million as a moral compensation "for deportation of its citizens" in 2006:
http://www.vz.ru/news/2015/7/3/754225.html

First EU with $50 billion compensation for the thieves and tax-evaders, and now Georgia. Seems they are vying for the title of most absurd reason.

What about Russia asking a compensation from Georgia for the millions of Russian murdered by the hand of Gzhugashvili? And what about Russia investigating a probe into legality of Russia taking on all foreign debt of the former Soviet republics, and demanding some hefty multi-billion compensations for shouldering that debt alone.

The following tidbit slipped my attention.

From Lada's article:
https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/greferendum-domino-effect-revolution-coming-the-future-of-europe-and-eurasia/

I think Russia can survive and sanctions, there are plenty of countries that friendly relations and that stood behind her, but she herself can not cope with all the countries that oppose her, because I think that Russia is the greatest power on world.

Ah, now it makes sense why Finland was pressured into not allowing Russian democratically elected representatives entry on a diplomatic mission to OCSE PA. Russia was to be denied speaking in its defence at any cost, even resorting to violation of democracy, international law and diplomatic norms, which the West so hypocritically "values".

OCSE PA has now one-sidedly approved and anti-Russian resolution:
http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/2103516

Lavrov commented it as such: "Now, in our absence, they (OCSE PA) have fallen for the temptation to do propaganda instead of doing concrete work."
http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2015/07/09/n_7360769.shtml

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At least not all in Europe have lost it.

Finland’s denying visas to Russian lawmakers undermines OSCE’s principles — OSCE chairman
http://tass.ru/en/world/807298


Canada? Proposing to OCSE?

Ukrainian citizens abducted? Do they mean those 3 million economical and war refugees, who seek better life in Russia or simply flee for their lives from Kiev-juntas artillery?

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Oh, well. There is always BRICS:
http://tass.ru/en/world/807305

BRICS/SCO summits in Russian city of Ufa LIVE UPDATES
http://rt.com/business/272254-russia-brics-sco-summits/

And so the US-instigated Mistral farce ends in Russia's favour:

Dispute 'completely resolved': Putin, Hollande officially cancel Mistral contract
http://www.rt.com/news/311682-mistral-putin-hollande-cancel/



Talk about shooting yourself in the foot...

Does anyone still remember what the sanctions against Russia were all about? Correct. To punish it for the US-sponsored coup d'etat in Ukraine and to inhibit Russian economy for the US-choreographed civil war in Ukraine.

And USA pushed through "moare sanctionz"!

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that those US sanctions will have a boomerang effect on the American economy. And that they will lead to destabilisation in international relations. (The latter in many cases is usually translated as "war")

Here are the top 15 countries, whose economy suffers from those sanctions against Russia:
http://img01.rl0.ru/05074b0df7a913f831e81fad13578d65/736x736/news.rambler.ru/img/2015/09/02104404.379703.8356.png

And EU suicidally joins the suicidal prolongation of the sanctions fest (or should I say, infestation?):
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2015/09/02/n_7544009.shtml?jhouhv

And the expected outcome to the Mistral farce.

Russia got back the money. Counting the change in the conversion rate, and given that payments were made in roubles, Russia got twice as much money:
http://russian.rt.com/article/117419

Now France got green light from Russia to sell Mistrals to Egypt:
http://www.aif.ru/politics/world/franciya_dogovorilas_s_egiptom_o_prodazhe_mistraley

And in lieu of that, Egypt is buying 50 Ka-52 helicopters for the Mistrals from Russia:
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/news/2015/09/23/n_7625519.shtml

Double score. Thank you, Obama.  ;D

Hmmm. This is absurd and short-sighted:

Ukraine Should Be Given Legal Cover to ‘Walk Away’ From Debt - Chris Murphy
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150925/1027496191.html


In other words, he acknowledges that Ukraine has a debt, but that it should get help in cheating Russia out of getting that money back.

Not very happy with this one. Russia got a refund of € 949.7 million (€949,754,849 to be precise), against total costs of approximately € 1,200 million. Also, the Euro was worth much more when the payment was made (the exchange rate was around $1.3 = €1, compared to $1.1 = €1 as of now). Russia should have gone for international arbitration.

Russia had paid a total of €893 million to the French in 2011. An additional €56.7 million was paid for cost of training, Russian equipment.etc.

EU prolonged sanctions against Russia for 6 more months, citing Ukraine's failure to observe Minsk-2 agreements between Ukraine and the Donetsk Republic.

As expected, double-speak galore continues...

Speaking about Yeltsin and his "democratic" approaches:

https://youtu.be/VVqCA-yGK3E?t=27m57s

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Russia is a country with a strong military background in the world. Russia has invaded the territory of neighboring countries, especially Ukraine. Therefore, Western countries have come up with many measures to punish Russia. But I think this is very unlikely because Russia has a developed economy, large population and large land area. In particular, Russia has a powerful army that can oppose any military force.