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Maybe Bulgaria, Romania next? Do they want to go back under the iron curtain? Ukraine certainly doesn’t…..maybe the Russian people will rise up? They’ll soon be banned from going anywhere or partaking in anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Cartman
This has been coming for years. This UK government is up to its neck in money from Putins mates. Christ they even put one of them in the House of Lords. London the money laundering capital of the world. Interference in elections. Turning a blind eye has come back and bitten us on the arse. Anyone for tennis!!!
BREAKING: Ukraine says it has killed fifty Russian soldiers and shot down six planes
I read five jets and one helicopter?Quote:
Originally Posted by MOZZER2
Unlike Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania are members of NATO. Invading either of those two countries would be on a different level altogether.Quote:
Originally Posted by goats
Whose side is China on?Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
Putin's played the long game. He had a 10 year plan. Funded Brexit to create disharmony in Europe, fund Trump's conspiracy plans and anarchy in America, make countries such as Germany dependant on Russian oil so they don't want sanctions. UK did **** all when Russian spies poisoned brits on UK soil. We did **** all when Russia bombed Syria. He has played us for fools, tested the water in the Crimea. He has China as an ally, supporting their lack of human rights. He funded oligarchs to fund the Tory party. So now he knows he can just do what the hell he likes.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninian opinian
Merkel was advised not to do the gas deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by fingers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50875935
A good article regarding sanctions on Russia’s oligarchs, courtesy of the Guardian:
Putin allows them to prosper on two conditions: that they cough up the cash when he needs it, and that they stay out of politics. The idea that they influence his policies is pure fantasy. The proof of that is that sanctions regularly meted out on oligarchs since 2014 have made not one jot of difference to Putin’s policies.
However, there is a much bolder and more imaginative approach. Russia’s ruling class – the members of the Duma, the Senate, the presidential council, the top echelons of the security and defence services, top state television employees – is several thousands strong. These men (and some women) draft, rubber-stamp, promote and carry out Putin’s decisions. Some of them also – unlike the oligarchs – actually advise him.
Being a member of the Duma or Senate is a pretty cushy number – you are well-paid, you can make an occasional speech if you wish, but you are basically there to vote for the Kremlin’s decisions, and, above all, you can extort as many bribes as you can cope with. (For this reason they are detested by a majority of Russians.) Members of the presidential council are civil servants, essential for the preparation of legislation. The security services play crucial roles in executing Putin’s vision. And TV propagandists spread disinformation.
These are the people to target – because when several thousand of the people Putin actually depends on begin to feel the consequences of his policies in their personal lives, there will be a groundswell of discontent.
Most of these people love to travel to Europe and the US. They educate their children here. They own properties here. The members of the Russian elite, their families and children, love to swan around on yachts, ski slopes and fine hotels in the west, posting pictures of themselves on Instagram. If they are denied visas to travel to the west – if they are effectively imprisoned in Russia – it will not take long for the discontent to permeate the entire political class. The message to them will be clear: if you want to enjoy your western lifestyles, you need a new leader who respects western values; until then, you’re banned.
The added value of this approach is that, unlike some economic sanctions, it will not harm ordinary Russians, in fact, it will delight them.
china is on China's sideQuote:
Originally Posted by Wales-Bales
All that just for a never ending war with Ukraine? StrangeQuote:
Originally Posted by fingers
China is involved in its own expansion project in the Pacific and claiming territorial waters and islands not nternationally recognised as belonging to them hitherto - and Taiwan is a long-term desired acquisition for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wales-Bales
it could well be that China will use the west's focus on Russia as the opportunity it needs to conduct further expansion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
I'm absolutely not an expert， but from my very limited guesswork I think it would most likely involve consolidating it's controversial territorial waters claims, and displaying more overt control over Hong Kong and Macau .
just my feeling bit I think they're prepared to play the long game with Taiwan - it isn't going anywhere.
I wouldn't put it past Putin at this point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
and that is why any country on the Russian border needed to get under the umbrellaQuote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
would it have made a difference ? ? ? he certainly wouldn't have had free rein to roll in tanks thats for sure
Attachment 4820
no idea what this is based on, but it's pretty terrifying.
apparently from someone called Peter Zeihan.
found on Reddit
might aswell go the whole way and retake, Hungary, Romania and PolandQuote:
Originally Posted by Rjk
interesting to see Germany then, with the red army camped on a border
Just read this whole thread for the first time. Lots of predictions that were way off already but I wouldn't hold that against them and quote message them to show them up-but it's interesting to see how certain some people were that certain things would or wouldn't happen...... Id say bare that in mind when making future predictions from here.
UEFA Champions League final will be played in Paris, after it was moved from Russia.
Now kick them out of the World Cup….Quote:
Originally Posted by MOZZER2
If they have any teeth they will, if they have any conscience they will. That country should be ostracised from everything. But at the end of the day money talks and they still have plenty, so don’t hold your breath for any significant sanctions from FIFA, UEFA, IOC, or any Government.Quote:
Originally Posted by goats
I’d heard that France have surrendered :hide:Quote:
Originally Posted by MOZZER2
There are plenty of things based on no evidence that are pretty terrifying. Can't we just concentrate on what we know?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rjk
Interesting map.Quote:
Originally Posted by blue matt
Azerbaijan is a very oil-rich state the supplies it to the European countries and also has 2 gas pipelines which run to Turkey and supply Europe, deliberately built to avoid Russian soil and to be a foil to Russian control of gas.
They also have a very strong military ally in Turkey who supplied them with drones and missile in the recent battle with Armenia. And Turkey is a member of NATO. If it has troops in Azerbaijan when Russian forces cross the border it could be the trigger for full on war.
If Russian determined to do to Azerbaijan what it is doing to Ukraine I think the reaction they get will be a lot different.
Putin is now upping the ante, he’s now putting Russia on Nuclear alert!
Those analysing Putins posture have mentioned 'the assassins stare' - therefore at this juncture the only short road to peace and sanity in the region and beyond is the removal of Putin one way or another.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleve van Leef
The key concern is that Putin individually has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, nothing to lose :frown:
A chilling analysis of Putin -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60551140
speculation on the radio just now that Putin is taking steroids for some reason, potentially cancer treatment
https://www.reddit.com/r/interesting...m_source=share
feel bad for the young russian soldiers as well, they were told they were a liberating army and they would be welcomed in by the people.
morale must be pretty low once they realise that isn't the case. no wonder some have surrendered fairly easily
UAE's response:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-b2026983.html
Boot Man City out the league!Quote:
Originally Posted by Swiss Peter
On his way out? Trying to take the half the world with him? Surely MI5 have a close operative over there for the last 20 years? Time to blow one’s cover and do the world a massive favour…..Quote:
Originally Posted by Rjk
One of the reasons that huge convoy has stopped isn’t it? Realised they’ve been sold a dud, being greeted with petrol bombs not hugs would be a clue for the RussiansQuote:
Originally Posted by Rjk
If anyone is going to act on him, I'd imagine it's the oligarchs. They aren't gonna be pleased that he's spilled the gravy train.Quote:
Originally Posted by goats
MI6Quote:
Originally Posted by lardy
Russian tanks set reactor at Europe's biggest atomic power plant ON FIRE !
Ukraine officials say nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia power plant is 'secured' following Russian shelling
Phew....
Another day of the Russian stock market being closed. The rouble is going to go through the floor when it reopens. Theyre f*cked.
Can't believe the Ukrainians are still fighting. Some unbelievably brave people out there.