Russian Invasion of Ukraine[In Progress]

[tvbcof]

Gonzalo Lira (independent journalist in the Ukraine)
 - Poland will invade Western Ukraine
https://www.bitchute.com/video/hKh831Kof9sZ/

Maybe Lira is reading my work on this forum.

Zelensky (and, by implication, his sponsor Kolomoyskyi) are talking about a very loose border with 'brotherly' Poland, maybe even to the degree that it won't even be necessary to use the dirty-word 'border' since it conflicts with the woke principles of 'openness' and 'unity'.

Occam's Razor would imply that Zelensky('s various puppet masters) main goal in the conflict with Russia would be to get rid of the nationalist problem when the Western areas go back to their historically 'rightful owners'.

As I (and some others) see it, the Jockeying at this point is centered around who gets Odessa.  A land-bridge would be a pretty sweet plumb in the pudding for the Russians since it implies much more defensible gas line routes for their product (and a lot more rubles coming in in exchange for said product.)  OTOH, certain security arrangements with those who end up in control of the re-born 'der tchum-ha-moyshev' could achieve the same effect and their could be a lot of political reasons (e.g., 'technology transfers' and such) to go that way.

From conspiracy theorist and incel youtuber that goes by "Coach Red Pill", to one of the few independent journalist in Ukraine, probably the world, that have earned the trust of tvbcof.

I'd never heard of the guy before a few months ago...when he was walking around business-as-normal Kiev whilst the Western lamestream media were reporting that the bad bad Rooshins had bombed the city into the stone ages.

Like I said before, anything Lira is or is not reporting now is certainly controlled by someone.  That may or may not have been the case prior to his arrest.  This is intellectually interesting generally and casts an extra element of intrigue on what his is reporting, but I don't expect that to mean anything to you guys in the chimp squad here on this thread.

[1715042214]

1715042214

[1715042214]

1715042214

[1715042214]

1715042214

[suchmoon]

Zelensky (and, by implication, his sponsor Kolomoyskyi) are talking about a very loose border with 'brotherly' Poland, maybe even to the degree that it won't even be necessary to use the dirty-word 'border' since it conflicts with the woke principles of 'openness' and 'unity'.

Your conspiracies are getting desperate. There are no borders between most countries in Europe. Nothing to do with conspiracies or wokeness or invasions, just business. Like there are no borders between states in the US.

[tvbcof]

Zelensky (and, by implication, his sponsor Kolomoyskyi) are talking about a very loose border with 'brotherly' Poland, maybe even to the degree that it won't even be necessary to use the dirty-word 'border' since it conflicts with the woke principles of 'openness' and 'unity'.

Your conspiracies are getting desperate. There are no borders between most countries in Europe. Nothing to do with conspiracies or wokeness or invasions, just business. Like there are no borders between states in the US.

There was last time I crossed into California three or four years ago.  You even have to stop and show them what food you might be carrying right under the "Welcome to California" sign.

Anyway, I'm not expecting the Russians to completely de-nazify the place and do anticipate a restive population for a while.  I'm going to guess that a commonly heard phrase in the W,NW areas is going to be something like: 'Pokaż mi swoje dokumenty...cyкa'.  We'll just have to see.  Maybe not as most of this stuff will be just a scan, and Zelensky, while he doesn't seem to give two shits about Ukrainian soldiers getting waxed, it pretty hot on the idea of getting the civilian slavs vaxxed and chipped in order to align with the great reset.

[BADecker]

One question is, can you counterfeit Russian Rubles in large scale quantities? Since you can steal a presidential election electronically, can you steal Russian gas with electronically manufactured counterfeit Russian Rubles?

If Trump were in office, there would be no war in the Ukraine. There would be peace, and the US wouldn't be destroying itself and taking much of Europe along in that destruction... as Biden is doing to us right now.


European gas importers quietly surrender to Russia and begin buying gas in RUBLES… while the West’s economic warfare scheme disastrously BACKFIRES

When the Russian military crossed into Ukraine and Vladimir Putin stated his military objectives there, European leaders were quick to escalate the situation, imposing sweeping economic and banking sanctions against the Russian people. These sanctions caused a domino effect of unintended consequences throughout Europe and the West.

The United States, Canada and Europe put up a tough, “united front” against Russia, but as their trade war against Russia escalated, supply chains were threatened and prices for valuable commodities increased throughout the West. European leaders talked a big talk against Vladimir Putin from the start, making empty demands without having much leverage at all. Russia responded to the sanctions by demanding that hostile nations in the West pay for Russian energy supplies with gold or Russian rubles. Vladimir Putin called Europe’s bluff and exposed the vulnerabilities of the West.

European gas buyers are now paying for energy in Russian rubles, emboldening Russia

Now the head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, is confirming that European gas buyers are paying for energy in Russian rubles.  Draghi now says that “most gas importers” have opened up Ruble accounts with Gazprom and have acquiesced to Russian demands. One after the other, European gas buyers are violating the EU’s sanctions against Russia, as Western tough talk becomes nothing but a mere echo of weakness. The world’s reserve currency – the U.S. dollar – is taking a historic blow in the process, as Russia circumvents the petrodollar.

The West is quietly surrendering to Russia, as the Kremlin holds oil and fertilizer as leverage over the West. At the same time, the Biden regime is threatening to send more U.S. weapons and military equipment (up to $20 billion worth) to Azov, the Nazi brigades fighting in Ukraine.

...

[suchmoon]

More evidence of Russian forces killing civilians and looting: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/11/europe/ukraine-video-russian-soldiers-shoot-civilians/index.html

~

You need to do better, you're not far enough up Putin's ass - we can still see your feet.

"electronically manufactured" LOL... how do you even find your way to a Bitcoin forum while being so utterly illiterate.

[paxmao]

Gonzalo Lira (independent journalist in the Ukraine) - Poland will invade Western Ukraine
https://www.bitchute.com/video/hKh831Kof9sZ/

...

Suuuure... count on that and repeat with me "I am safe... I am safe..."

As I (and some others) see it, the Jockeying at this point is centered around who gets Odessa.  A land-bridge would be a pretty sweet plumb in the pudding for the Russians since it implies much more defensible gas line routes for their product (and a lot more rubles coming in in exchange for said product.)  OTOH, certain security arrangements with those who end up in control of the re-born 'der tchum-ha-moyshev' could achieve the same effect and their could be a lot of political reasons (e.g., 'technology transfers' and such) to go that way.

...

Yes, there is plenty going on at Odessa. Russ ships sunk, troops unable to even get to Mykolaiv, no way of using Snake Island to launch and attack... If you intend to deviate the attention from Belgorod, you have just chosen the "right spot".

You could as well choosen Findland. Do you think Poland will also invade Finland? Another 1340 km of frontier with NATO coming soon. And people laughed when I said that Putin may be a CIA agent... you cannot do it worse.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/12/europe/finland-leaders-join-nato-intl/index.html

And of course Putin does the only thing he know: Threaten. There is no winner to this war other than US, thank to your chief Psychos and you lame leader.

One question is, can you counterfeit Russian Rubles in large scale quantities? Since you can steal a presidential election electronically, can you steal Russian gas with electronically manufactured counterfeit Russian Rubles?

If Trump were in office, there would be no war in the Ukraine. There would be peace, and the US wouldn't be destroying itself and taking much of Europe along in that destruction... as Biden is doing to us right now.


European gas importers quietly surrender to Russia and begin buying gas in RUBLES… while the West’s economic warfare scheme disastrously BACKFIRES

...

The West is quietly surrendering to Russia, as the Kremlin holds oil and fertilizer as leverage over the West. At the same time, the Biden regime is threatening to send more U.S. weapons and military equipment (up to $20 billion worth) to Azov, the Nazi brigades fighting in Ukraine.

...

With Trump we would be now using white suits and gas masks all over the globe.

What the real news is:

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said European companies will be able to pay for gas in rubles without breaching sanctions, apparently dismissing European Union guidance to the contrary.

So the minister of Italy says something, which is "can" and you take it as Europe saying yes? You have open the box, now add 1 +1 here.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/exclusive-eu-considering-curbing-russias-rights-imf-over-invasion-sources-2022-03-04/

European Union officials are examining curbing Russia's influence and access to finance at the International Monetary Fund following its invasion of Ukraine, six officials told Reuters.

https://www.ft.com/content/2aef066b-3cdb-49c2-9258-38575b4ad799

The proposals will be published next week, as EU leaders rush to break their dependence on Russian oil and gas following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The commission has already said it thought the EU could drive down Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year and has urged member states to replenish their gas storage facilities ahead of next winter.

Keep hold of those Roubles very hard, put them under your blanket. They will go up right? What could go wrong?

[BADecker]

One question is, can you counterfeit Russian Rubles in large scale quantities? Since you can steal a presidential election electronically, can you steal Russian gas with electronically manufactured counterfeit Russian Rubles?

If Trump were in office, there would be no war in the Ukraine. There would be peace, and the US wouldn't be destroying itself and taking much of Europe along in that destruction... as Biden is doing to us right now.


European gas importers quietly surrender to Russia and begin buying gas in RUBLES… while the West’s economic warfare scheme disastrously BACKFIRES

...

The West is quietly surrendering to Russia, as the Kremlin holds oil and fertilizer as leverage over the West. At the same time, the Biden regime is threatening to send more U.S. weapons and military equipment (up to $20 billion worth) to Azov, the Nazi brigades fighting in Ukraine.

...

With Trump we would be now using white suits and gas masks all over the globe.

What the real news is:

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said European companies will be able to pay for gas in rubles without breaching sanctions, apparently dismissing European Union guidance to the contrary.

So the minister of Italy says something, which is "can" and you take it as Europe saying yes? You have open the box, now add 1 +1 here.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/exclusive-eu-considering-curbing-russias-rights-imf-over-invasion-sources-2022-03-04/

European Union officials are examining curbing Russia's influence and access to finance at the International Monetary Fund following its invasion of Ukraine, six officials told Reuters.

https://www.ft.com/content/2aef066b-3cdb-49c2-9258-38575b4ad799

The proposals will be published next week, as EU leaders rush to break their dependence on Russian oil and gas following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The commission has already said it thought the EU could drive down Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year and has urged member states to replenish their gas storage facilities ahead of next winter.

Keep hold of those Roubles very hard, put them under your blanket. They will go up right? What could go wrong?

So you think you know what some imaginary future would have been with Trump, right? We're seeing YOUR Trump future being played out by Biden right now. And all the evidences of Trump in the past showed a Peacemaker who made America stronger.

On the other hand, what Putin can do or not do is questionable. Are the reports of his nuclear capabilities in the waters around the world true? If they are, you might destroy Russia, but the cost would be so bad that you might as well simply kill yourself. Trump would never have let the situation go to the point where Putin might get scared enough to use his nukes.

And Russia... Russia only needs one more thing to win everything... PEOPLE. Russia owns Siberia, and Siberia has so much material wealth that they don't need anything from the rest of the world.

Furthermore, Russia has the history of the world just like all the other governments do. Communications around the world have provided this knowledge of the past to everyone. Russia knows what works in war and what doesn't. They know what holds a nation together and what doesn't. They know how to appease their people to get them to willingly work for their homeland (unlike Lenin and Stalin and the Bolsheviks). Biden knows this all, as well. But we don't see Biden endearing any average Americans to his ways.

Russia has everything to gain and nothing to lose in a game of standing up to the rest of the world. If Russia's hand is forced, we all go back to the middle ages, or the stone age.

[suchmoon]

https://twitter.com/Blue_Sauron/status/1524742847664173057




Meanwhile Russian "diplomats" are threatening Finland:

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/12/russia-threatens-retaliatory-steps-if-finland-joins-nato.html

Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop threats to its national security arising.

See above for an example of their "military-technical" capacity.

[Branko]

Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop threats to its national security arising.

So now even if Russia is doing steps to protect its national security, you consider it threat?

LOL

[TwitchySeal]

Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop threats to its national security arising.

So now even if Russia is doing steps to protect its national security, you consider it threat?

LOL

Do you think Russia is threatening Ukraine yet?

Finaland joining NATO would really illustrate how incredibly stupid it was for Russia to invade Ukraine.

[suchmoon]

So now even if Russia is doing steps to protect its national security, you consider it threat?

LOL

I consider the "national security" bullshit a lie.

Finland was one of Russia's most loyal friends. There hasn't been any "national security threat" to Russia from Finland and there won't be. Finns just don't trust Putin anymore - for a good reason. Putin is the biggest threat to Russia's national security so if they could do some "military-technical" things on him that'd be greatly beneficial for everyone.

[paxmao]

...

 Russia knows what works in war and what doesn't.
...

I will give you half a point on this one. Russia does know what doesn't - is just that they keep on doing it.

One question is, can you counterfeit Russian Rubles in large scale quantities? Since you can steal a presidential election electronically, can you steal Russian gas with electronically manufactured counterfeit Russian Rubles?

If Trump were in office, there would be no war in the Ukraine. There would be peace, and the US wouldn't be destroying itself and taking much of Europe along in that destruction... as Biden is doing to us right now.


European gas importers quietly surrender to Russia and begin buying gas in RUBLES… while the West’s economic warfare scheme disastrously BACKFIRES

...

The West is quietly surrendering to Russia, as the Kremlin holds oil and fertilizer as leverage over the West. At the same time, the Biden regime is threatening to send more U.S. weapons and military equipment (up to $20 billion worth) to Azov, the Nazi brigades fighting in Ukraine.

...

With Trump we would be now using white suits and gas masks all over the globe.

What the real news is:

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said European companies will be able to pay for gas in rubles without breaching sanctions, apparently dismissing European Union guidance to the contrary.

So the minister of Italy says something, which is "can" and you take it as Europe saying yes? You have open the box, now add 1 +1 here.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/exclusive-eu-considering-curbing-russias-rights-imf-over-invasion-sources-2022-03-04/

European Union officials are examining curbing Russia's influence and access to finance at the International Monetary Fund following its invasion of Ukraine, six officials told Reuters.

https://www.ft.com/content/2aef066b-3cdb-49c2-9258-38575b4ad799

The proposals will be published next week, as EU leaders rush to break their dependence on Russian oil and gas following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The commission has already said it thought the EU could drive down Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year and has urged member states to replenish their gas storage facilities ahead of next winter.

Keep hold of those Roubles very hard, put them under your blanket. They will go up right? What could go wrong?

So you think you know what some imaginary future would have been with Trump, right? We're seeing YOUR Trump future being played out by Biden right now. And all the evidences of Trump in the past showed a Peacemaker who made America stronger.

On the other hand, what Putin can do or not do is questionable. Are the reports of his nuclear capabilities in the waters around the world true? If they are, you might destroy Russia, but the cost would be so bad that you might as well simply kill yourself. Trump would never have let the situation go to the point where Putin might get scared enough to use his nukes.

And Russia... Russia only needs one more thing to win everything... PEOPLE. Russia owns Siberia, and Siberia has so much material wealth that they don't need anything from the rest of the world.

Furthermore, Russia has the history of the world just like all the other governments do. Communications around the world have provided this knowledge of the past to everyone. Russia knows what works in war and what doesn't. They know what holds a nation together and what doesn't. They know how to appease their people to get them to willingly work for their homeland (unlike Lenin and Stalin and the Bolsheviks). Biden knows this all, as well. But we don't see Biden endearing any average Americans to his ways.

Russia has everything to gain and nothing to lose in a game of standing up to the rest of the world. If Russia's hand is forced, we all go back to the middle ages, or the stone age.

Well, it certainly seems that YOU can make YOUR bold assumptions, but I am not granted that opportunity. Very typical of a Trump supporter. Anyway, Trump is not the POTUS and there is another thread in politics where you can rant as much as you like.

You may want to read about the scenarios that are built around the possibility of using nuclear weapons. While it is something that I would not like to test, it is not an immediately "all nukes in", there is escalation and chances to stop. Again, there are YOUR bold assumptions, that cannot be wrong because they are inspired by your God (Trump I assume).

Your argument about Russia being a country that could be fully autonomous industrially is right in the principle. The USSR was quite disconnected (apart from the COMECON, which was not of much use). The problem is that the rest of the world is perfectly able to grow faster by commerce, growing on the exchanges of strengths, etc... Which is one of the reasons why the USSR disintegrated, despite having all natural resources at their disposal.

As simple as this, interconnexion creates competitivity and markets, autarky brings corruption, kleptocracy, inefficiency and the inability of keeping up with an adversary. Again, many of those traits exist in Russia and that is why it has been unable to bring more countries into its sphere of influence pacifically and the reason why Ukraine is being invaded.

So now even if Russia is doing steps to protect its national security, you consider it threat?

LOL

I consider the "national security" bullshit a lie.
...

I am not sure it is a lie TBH, it is probably the only "reason" that may have, from Putin's view, at least some coherence. However it is mostly a flawed argument, since NATO has not invaded any country. In fact, many countries did not support US stance on Iraq other than US a a few lightweights.

I am still wondering if there is out there a system of early nuclear interception that works in a 300 or so km range from the launch point. That could explain all the fuss about security.

[BADecker]

One question is, can you counterfeit Russian Rubles in large scale quantities? Since you can steal a presidential election electronically, can you steal Russian gas with electronically manufactured counterfeit Russian Rubles?

If Trump were in office, there would be no war in the Ukraine. There would be peace, and the US wouldn't be destroying itself and taking much of Europe along in that destruction... as Biden is doing to us right now.


European gas importers quietly surrender to Russia and begin buying gas in RUBLES… while the West’s economic warfare scheme disastrously BACKFIRES

...

The West is quietly surrendering to Russia, as the Kremlin holds oil and fertilizer as leverage over the West. At the same time, the Biden regime is threatening to send more U.S. weapons and military equipment (up to $20 billion worth) to Azov, the Nazi brigades fighting in Ukraine.

...

With Trump we would be now using white suits and gas masks all over the globe.

What the real news is:

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said European companies will be able to pay for gas in rubles without breaching sanctions, apparently dismissing European Union guidance to the contrary.

So the minister of Italy says something, which is "can" and you take it as Europe saying yes? You have open the box, now add 1 +1 here.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/exclusive-eu-considering-curbing-russias-rights-imf-over-invasion-sources-2022-03-04/

European Union officials are examining curbing Russia's influence and access to finance at the International Monetary Fund following its invasion of Ukraine, six officials told Reuters.

https://www.ft.com/content/2aef066b-3cdb-49c2-9258-38575b4ad799

The proposals will be published next week, as EU leaders rush to break their dependence on Russian oil and gas following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The commission has already said it thought the EU could drive down Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year and has urged member states to replenish their gas storage facilities ahead of next winter.

Keep hold of those Roubles very hard, put them under your blanket. They will go up right? What could go wrong?

So you think you know what some imaginary future would have been with Trump, right? We're seeing YOUR Trump future being played out by Biden right now. And all the evidences of Trump in the past showed a Peacemaker who made America stronger.

On the other hand, what Putin can do or not do is questionable. Are the reports of his nuclear capabilities in the waters around the world true? If they are, you might destroy Russia, but the cost would be so bad that you might as well simply kill yourself. Trump would never have let the situation go to the point where Putin might get scared enough to use his nukes.

And Russia... Russia only needs one more thing to win everything... PEOPLE. Russia owns Siberia, and Siberia has so much material wealth that they don't need anything from the rest of the world.

Furthermore, Russia has the history of the world just like all the other governments do. Communications around the world have provided this knowledge of the past to everyone. Russia knows what works in war and what doesn't. They know what holds a nation together and what doesn't. They know how to appease their people to get them to willingly work for their homeland (unlike Lenin and Stalin and the Bolsheviks). Biden knows this all, as well. But we don't see Biden endearing any average Americans to his ways.

Russia has everything to gain and nothing to lose in a game of standing up to the rest of the world. If Russia's hand is forced, we all go back to the middle ages, or the stone age.

Well, it certainly seems that YOU can make YOUR bold assumptions, but I am not granted that opportunity. Very typical of a Trump supporter. Anyway, Trump is not the POTUS and there is another thread in politics where you can rant as much as you like.

You may want to read about the scenarios that are built around the possibility of using nuclear weapons. While it is something that I would not like to test, it is not an immediately "all nukes in", there is escalation and chances to stop. Again, there are YOUR bold assumptions, that cannot be wrong because they are inspired by your God (Trump I assume).

Your argument about Russia being a country that could be fully autonomous industrially is right in the principle. The USSR was quite disconnected (apart from the COMECON, which was not of much use). The problem is that the rest of the world is perfectly able to grow faster by commerce, growing on the exchanges of strengths, etc... Which is one of the reasons why the USSR disintegrated, despite having all natural resources at their disposal.

As simple as this, interconnexion creates competitivity and markets, autarky brings corruption, kleptocracy, inefficiency and the inability of keeping up with an adversary. Again, many of those traits exist in Russia and that is why it has been unable to bring more countries into its sphere of influence pacifically and the reason why Ukraine is being invaded.

You miss the point entirely. Anybody can predict this or that about Trump and any future. But since Trump isn't the POTUS, those predictions don't matter one bit.

What matters? The thing that matters is that Biden is POTUS, and all the bad things Trump naysayers predicted about Trump are happening under Biden... and probably worse.

[coolcoinz]

Gonzalo Lira (independent journalist in the Ukraine)

From conspiracy theorist and incel youtuber that goes by "Coach Red Pill", to one of the few independent journalist in Ukraine, probably the world, that have earned the trust of tvbcof.

Isn't this the guy that was supposed to be dead?
I remember reading a posts in this thread where some of our supporters of Russia were saying that Azov or whoever kidnapped and killed this "independent journalist".

It's common for Russian trolls to use fear and misinformation tactics. For instance, Lukashenko did an interview yesterday and staged it so that the journalist of a state-owned TV channel would ask if he's prepared for an attack by Poland, so that he'd be able to make an unwarranted threat towards that country, a country that Belarus was attacking since the beginning of the year with the use of migrants from Africa and their own military, disguised as civilians.

Putin tries to make it look like NATO and Ukraine are the aggressors, yet NATO is not issuing any threats. I'd like to remind everyone than NATO is not flying its bombers into the air space of Russia, or Belarus, it's not staging attacks on any borders, it's not sending military personnel to blind border patrols with lasers in hope of provoking them to fire and last but not least, it's not waging a war (and losing).

https://twitter.com/Blue_Sauron/status/1524742847664173057

Makes me think how many more are swimming at the bottom. In the picture with a closeup of T72 tanks that managed to cross the river you can see a lot of scrap right under the surface and then the water gets too deep to see anything. Probably a bunch of their tanks went looking for Moskva. 

[paxmao]

...

You miss the point entirely. Anybody can predict this or that about Trump and any future. But since Trump isn't the POTUS, those predictions don't matter one bit.

What matters? The thing that matters is that Biden is POTUS, and all the bad things Trump naysayers predicted about Trump are happening under Biden... and probably worse.

I can live with Trump politics and I can live with Biden's. The problem is how Trump tends to communicate and respond to criticism by trying to shoot anyone opposing. Seriously, even getting near to supporting a mob assaulting the congress would have been science fiction before him.

No, you have stated that the Russian invasion would have not happened with Trump. That is a quite bold guess. My guess is that it would have happened anyway, but due to his "experience" with Ukraine and his narcissistic personality it would have ended either letting Putin take Ukraine or on a full scale NATO intervention with a clear risk of nuclear war. Your guess, my guess. And now, guess who is going to sleep.  

[suchmoon]

I am not sure it is a lie TBH, it is probably the only "reason" that may have, from Putin's view, at least some coherence. However it is mostly a flawed argument, since NATO has not invaded any country. In fact, many countries did not support US stance on Iraq other than US a a few lightweights.

I am still wondering if there is out there a system of early nuclear interception that works in a 300 or so km range from the launch point. That could explain all the fuss about security.

Fair enough, it may be not a lie in the sense that Putin et al may honestly believe it, but the fact is that no one wants to fight Russia. A resource-rich country with nuclear weapons... it's in everyone's best interest for it to be stable and friendly, so much so that even in the face of aggression (like 2008 in Georgia and 2014 in Ukraine) the rest of the world was like "nah, Putin's actually a good guy and if we buy enough gas from him, everything will be fine".

As for interception... considering that NATO deployed Patriots only in Romania (AFAIK) in the 20+ years since the expansion eastward began, and it was Romanians buying it, not NATO "donating" it, doesn't seem like it was a huge concern, at least not geographically. Now probably NATO will stack missile defence three rows deep along the entire border, again a great victory for the geopolitical genius Vladimir Vladimirovich.

[Tash]

Ruble Surpasses Brazil’s Real as year to date best performing currency

[be.open]

I am not sure it is a lie TBH, it is probably the only "reason" that may have, from Putin's view, at least some coherence. However it is mostly a flawed argument, since NATO has not invaded any country. In fact, many countries did not support US stance on Iraq other than US a a few lightweights.

I am still wondering if there is out there a system of early nuclear interception that works in a 300 or so km range from the launch point. That could explain all the fuss about security.

Fair enough, it may be not a lie in the sense that Putin et al may honestly believe it, but the fact is that no one wants to fight Russia. A resource-rich country with nuclear weapons... it's in everyone's best interest for it to be stable and friendly, so much so that even in the face of aggression (like 2008 in Georgia and 2014 in Ukraine) the rest of the world was like "nah, Putin's actually a good guy and if we buy enough gas from him, everything will be fine".

As for interception... considering that NATO deployed Patriots only in Romania (AFAIK) in the 20+ years since the expansion eastward began, and it was Romanians buying it, not NATO "donating" it, doesn't seem like it was a huge concern, at least not geographically. Now probably NATO will stack missile defence three rows deep along the entire border, again a great victory for the geopolitical genius Vladimir Vladimirovich.

NATO's strategy is to get closer to Russia and thus reduce the reaction time for the Russian missile defense system. Russia's strategy is to have a significant advantage in the means of delivering nuclear weapons, by increasing the range and speed of missiles. NATO and Russia are both quite successful in their strategies, but whose strategy is more effective I hope I will never know in practice.

In simple words, Russian missiles are now so fast and long-range that NATO does not have adequate countermeasures. They can fly over the North Pole, bypassing NATO missile defense systems, they can even fly over the South Pole. This is if we are talking about land-based missiles, and Russia's nuclear triad also includes sea- and air-based missiles, which are on constant combat duty. In the event of a serious mess, I would not hesitate to bet on Russia. To effectively intercept missiles, you need to be twice (and preferably four times) faster. At the moment, any NATO missiles are noticeably slower than Russians. As Biden said about the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, it's an ordinary missile, it's just almost impossible to intercept it. And Russia has missiles two to three times faster than Kinzhal, as well as the S-500 missile defense system, capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles, which NATO, in principle, still does not have. It is technically not easy to make a rocket for which flight in a cloud of hot plasma is a regular mode of operation, well, Russian engineers succeeded. Old school rocket science has no unsolvable problems.

More evidence of Russian forces killing civilians and looting: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/11/europe/ukraine-video-russian-soldiers-shoot-civilians/index.html

You seem to be a sane person, but you eat all sorts of shit and don’t even wince. Tank special forces on a minibus lol.

[paxmao]

I am not sure it is a lie TBH, it is probably the only "reason" that may have, from Putin's view, at least some coherence. However it is mostly a flawed argument, since NATO has not invaded any country. In fact, many countries did not support US stance on Iraq other than US a a few lightweights.

I am still wondering if there is out there a system of early nuclear interception that works in a 300 or so km range from the launch point. That could explain all the fuss about security.

Fair enough, it may be not a lie in the sense that Putin et al may honestly believe it, but the fact is that no one wants to fight Russia. A resource-rich country with nuclear weapons... it's in everyone's best interest for it to be stable and friendly, so much so that even in the face of aggression (like 2008 in Georgia and 2014 in Ukraine) the rest of the world was like "nah, Putin's actually a good guy and if we buy enough gas from him, everything will be fine".

As for interception... considering that NATO deployed Patriots only in Romania (AFAIK) in the 20+ years since the expansion eastward began, and it was Romanians buying it, not NATO "donating" it, doesn't seem like it was a huge concern, at least not geographically. Now probably NATO will stack missile defence three rows deep along the entire border, again a great victory for the geopolitical genius Vladimir Vladimirovich.

NATO's strategy is to get closer to Russia and thus reduce the reaction time for the Russian missile defense system. Russia's strategy is to have a significant advantage in the means of delivering nuclear weapons, by increasing the range and speed of missiles. NATO and Russia are both quite successful in their strategies, but whose strategy is more effective I hope I will never know in practice.

In simple words, Russian missiles are now so fast and long-range that NATO does not have adequate countermeasures. They can fly over the North Pole, bypassing NATO missile defense systems, they can even fly over the South Pole. This is if we are talking about land-based missiles, and Russia's nuclear triad also includes sea- and air-based missiles, which are on constant combat duty....And Russia has missiles two to three times faster than Kinzhal, as well as the S-500 missile defense system, capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles...

More evidence of Russian forces killing civilians and looting: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/11/europe/ukraine-video-russian-soldiers-shoot-civilians/index.html

You seem to be a sane person, but you eat all sorts of shit and don’t even wince. Tank special forces on a minibus lol.

Of course, Russian soldiers on a minu-bus, ridiculous lol... what is going to be next? Them trying to scape a drone in a Lada ... that cannot be!

If NATO wanted to have nukes at less than 500 miles from Moscow, it would be perfectly possible already. Vilnus is quite close....

False, Russia has no capability to intercept hypersonic missiles.

On the nuclear threat, the existing S-400 missile stands some chance of stopping an small number of warheads if placed in large numbers and very close to the warheads targets. S-500 at most can intercept short range ballistic missiles and there are only very costly few units (I wonder how will they be produced without semiconductors in the future). Russia does not have an advantage on NW delivery platforms by sea or air. The North Pole and the South Pole are there for everyone to use - confers zero advantage. A hypersonic missile, as of now, can deliver one warhead at mid-range only, as opposed to ICBM that can deliver multiple (even 40) warheads both real and decoy.

EDITED TO CORRECT: S-400 can at most intercept short range ballistic missiles, other than re-entry stage ICMB warheads with low certainty.

In sum, there is no Russian weapon that can protect a large city from a determined attack. I am not aware of US having one either, I am just suspecting that THAAD is not all there is.

The argument of Putin trying to avoid nukes in close proximity is completely flawed, that ship has already sailed (like the Moskva). Putin psychologically, is a gangster. He understand only the language of threats and intimidation and somehow he is convinced that his intimidation power is reduced if UKR joins NATO. But I am wondering, what is the real underlying strategic issue behind the war. It could be:

- Nuking to close to Russia would backfire. Russia would be affected. Having Ukraine between Russia and NATO makes a nuclear threat more credible.
- There is some interception system in NATO that is not widely known but could potentially work in early launch stages.

An the reason I think is correct, and that battle is lost with Finland joining NATO: Putin's Russia cannot economically defend a very large border with NATO at the same time as with China and control the extremists in Georgia and Syria. Unfortunately, he got most of this wrong.

[be.open]

False, Russia has no capability to intercept hypersonic missiles.

On the nuclear threat, the existing S-400 missile stands some chance of stopping an small number of warheads if placed in large numbers and very close to the warheads targets. S-500 at most can intercept short range ballistic missiles and there are only very costly few units (I wonder how will they be produced without semiconductors in the future). Russia does not have an advantage on NW delivery platforms by sea or air. The North Pole and the South Pole are there for everyone to use - confers zero advantage. A hypersonic missile, as of now, can deliver one warhead at mid-range only, as opposed to ICBM that can deliver multiple (even 40) warheads both real and decoy.

You know nothing about Russian missiles, but I see no reason to try to convince you - so be it. The main thing is that the Pentagon knows this, whose head Lloyd Austin recently said that in the present and future, the nuclear arsenal that Russia has presents serious difficulties for the United States.