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Post by zenfootball2 on Mar 24, 2022 14:25:17 GMT 1
the extent of Russian money and links that various conservatives have with oligarchs can hardly be suprise.sleaze and the conservatives seem to walk hand in hand, it is laughable to hear conservbative measuers against oligarchs but do nothing about contributions to the conservative party from oligarchs. www.politico.eu/article/britain-tories-russian-money-oligarch/"Others attribute the lack of action over the 2020 Russia report to, at least in part, what it had to say about Brexit. Dominic Grieve, former chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, said there was an "embarrassment" that the outcome might have been influenced by hostile actors, which fed into an unwillingness to look too closely at it." www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/feb/27/conservative-peer-lord-barker-urged-quit-board-russian-firm-en-oligarch-oleg-deripaska"The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has urged the Conservative peer and former minister Greg Barker to quit his lucrative role on the board of the Russian aluminium firm EN+, whose owners include the oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Lord Barker, an energy minister in David Cameron’s government, earned $4m last year as executive chair of the firm, and devised a plan to help the company respond to US government sanctions levelled against the company and Deripaska in 2018." www.thetimes.co.uk/article/conservative-co-chairman-ben-elliot-boasted-of-helping-billionaires-in-capital-ddc93mdgm"The co-chairman of the Conservative Party once boasted about his company’s success helping Russian oligarchs to buy property in London and move their children to British public schools. Ben Elliot, 46, is the co-founder of Quintessentially, a luxury concierge company that catered to the needs of Russia’s wealthy for the past 15 years." www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/04/tory-party-top-female-donor-lubov-chernukhin-vast-offshore-empire-husband"The victorious bidder was Lubov Chernukhin, one of the biggest female donors in recent British political history. Since 2012, she has given the Tories £2.1m. This extraordinary sum has paid for two tennis matches with the prime minister, including in 2014 when Johnson was mayor of London, as well as dinner with his predecessor Theresa May." Chernukhin, a former banker married to the former Russian oligarch Vladimir Chernukhin, reportedly donates enough to the Tories to qualify for membership of a small group of ultra-rich donors who meet monthly with Johnson and his chancellor, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10647291/Rishi-Sunak-refuses-answer-questions-wifes-stake-Indian-firm-Russian-connections.html"Rishi Sunak refuses to answer questions about his millionaire wife's stake in Indian firm with Russian connections amid western sanctions after being asked if his family 'could be benefitting from Putin's regime' Chancellor was grilled about Akshata Murthy's £490million stake in Infosys The multinational business technology giant is owned by her father, NR Murthy Firm based in India and Delhi has so far refused to follow Western sanctions"
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Post by armchairfan on Mar 24, 2022 14:30:54 GMT 1
If you put nuclear power to one side, this "Russian war machine" has been practically proven to be anything but a machine. They might have numbers but their equipment and training as well as direction and strategy from above is severely lacking. The Ukrainians are doing a tremendous job. Exactly the same failings as NATO believed were endemic in the old Soviet military; but time will tell whether, ultimately that assessment remains accurate.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Mar 24, 2022 15:01:09 GMT 1
If you put nuclear power to one side, this "Russian war machine" has been practically proven to be anything but a machine. They might have numbers but their equipment and training as well as direction and strategy from above is severely lacking. The Ukrainians are doing a tremendous job. Exactly the same failings as NATO believed were endemic in the old Soviet military; but time will tell whether, ultimately that assessment remains accurate. at some point you would expect a russian general who knows what he is doing to turn up but i personally hope not,
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Post by severnaside on Mar 24, 2022 15:48:41 GMT 1
The Soviet era T-72 tank which is still in use, was considered a great threat at one time. I have seen one parked next to an American M1-A1 'Abrams' tank and it was like parking a Toyota Yaris next to a Landrover.
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Post by armchairfan on Mar 24, 2022 15:54:56 GMT 1
The Soviet era T-72 tank which is still in use, was considered a great threat at one time. I have seen one parked next to an American M1-A1 'Abrams' tank and it was like parking a Toyota Yaris next to a Landrover. Some of the Russian equipment may well be antiquated by Western standards, but ultimately the ability to protect force is probably more dependent upon the quality, training and morale of the personnel. As a fighting vehicle, I suspect that the days of the tank are all but over, anyway, for multiple reasons.
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Post by staffordshrew on Mar 24, 2022 16:03:46 GMT 1
If you put nuclear power to one side, this "Russian war machine" has been practically proven to be anything but a machine. They might have numbers but their equipment and training as well as direction and strategy from above is severely lacking. The Ukrainians are doing a tremendous job. An army that includes conscripts:
Who were not told exactly why they were there?
Do not share the same hatred of Ukraine democracy?
Young lads who like the things they get from the West - even Mc Donalds?
Didn't take too much notice of the training 'cos they never expected to have to fight a war?
Were surprised when they got fired on because they thought it was an excercise?
A load of machinery, a bit like we used to have the old "Green Goddesses", probably maintained by people who just pocketed the money?
Chinese tyres that had been on the vehicles so long that the sidewalls had perished?
A belief, which no one would challenge Putin on, that they were going to walk in and Zalentsky would scaper on the first plane out - Putin maybe thinking it would be like the Taliban walked straight back in a few months ago?
No back up plan for logistics if they didn't march straight in. Now Russian soldiers might be running short of ammo, food and suffering frostbite in the cold?
A leader who has sat in his Kremlin getting slowly out of touch for too long?
There must be a hell of a lot of learning, checking and spending to do to ensure NATO has not become so complacent. Thank God Trump is not in power anymore!
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Post by shrewder on Mar 24, 2022 17:31:27 GMT 1
If you put nuclear power to one side, this "Russian war machine" has been practically proven to be anything but a machine. They might have numbers but their equipment and training as well as direction and strategy from above is severely lacking. The Ukrainians are doing a tremendous job. An army that includes conscripts:
Who were not told exactly why they were there?
Do not share the same hatred of Ukraine democracy?
Young lads who like the things they get from the West - even Mc Donalds?
Didn't take too much notice of the training 'cos they never expected to have to fight a war?
Were surprised when they got fired on because they thought it was an excercise?
A load of machinery, a bit like we used to have the old "Green Goddesses", probably maintained by people who just pocketed the money?
Chinese tyres that had been on the vehicles so long that the sidewalls had perished?
A belief, which no one would challenge Putin on, that they were going to walk in and Zalentsky would scaper on the first plane out - Putin maybe thinking it would be like the Taliban walked straight back in a few months ago?
No back up plan for logistics if they didn't march straight in. Now Russian soldiers might be running short of ammo, food and suffering frostbite in the cold?
A leader who has sat in his Kremlin getting slowly out of touch for too long?
There must be a hell of a lot of learning, checking and spending to do to ensure NATO has not become so complacent. Thank God Trump is not in power anymore!
Putin lives in a different world to the rest of us. He has totally lost contact with reality. Perhaps someone near to him may soon grasp the situation and sort the problem out once and for all. We can but hope.
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Post by Valerioch on Mar 24, 2022 17:37:29 GMT 1
If you put nuclear power to one side, this "Russian war machine" has been practically proven to be anything but a machine. They might have numbers but their equipment and training as well as direction and strategy from above is severely lacking. The Ukrainians are doing a tremendous job. An army that includes conscripts:
Who were not told exactly why they were there?
Do not share the same hatred of Ukraine democracy?
Young lads who like the things they get from the West - even Mc Donalds?
Didn't take too much notice of the training 'cos they never expected to have to fight a war?
Were surprised when they got fired on because they thought it was an excercise?
A load of machinery, a bit like we used to have the old "Green Goddesses", probably maintained by people who just pocketed the money?
Chinese tyres that had been on the vehicles so long that the sidewalls had perished?
A belief, which no one would challenge Putin on, that they were going to walk in and Zalentsky would scaper on the first plane out - Putin maybe thinking it would be like the Taliban walked straight back in a few months ago?
No back up plan for logistics if they didn't march straight in. Now Russian soldiers might be running short of ammo, food and suffering frostbite in the cold?
A leader who has sat in his Kremlin getting slowly out of touch for too long?
There must be a hell of a lot of learning, checking and spending to do to ensure NATO has not become so complacent. Thank God Trump is not in power anymore!
Personally I doubt this would be happening if President Trump was still in charge President Biden has been living up to his “sleepy Joe” nickname ever since elected. Asleep at the wheel of the US is dangerous for us all
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Post by Exkeeper on Mar 24, 2022 17:51:22 GMT 1
Trump has said that if was still POTUS (heaven forbid), he would send in nuclear submarines to attack Russia. There is little doubt that we would be on the receiving end of any response. Putin said when this started that his nuclear Arsenal could wipe out NATO.
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Post by armchairfan on Mar 24, 2022 18:12:50 GMT 1
An army that includes conscripts:
Who were not told exactly why they were there?
Do not share the same hatred of Ukraine democracy?
Young lads who like the things they get from the West - even Mc Donalds?
Didn't take too much notice of the training 'cos they never expected to have to fight a war?
Were surprised when they got fired on because they thought it was an excercise?
A load of machinery, a bit like we used to have the old "Green Goddesses", probably maintained by people who just pocketed the money?
Chinese tyres that had been on the vehicles so long that the sidewalls had perished?
A belief, which no one would challenge Putin on, that they were going to walk in and Zalentsky would scaper on the first plane out - Putin maybe thinking it would be like the Taliban walked straight back in a few months ago?
No back up plan for logistics if they didn't march straight in. Now Russian soldiers might be running short of ammo, food and suffering frostbite in the cold?
A leader who has sat in his Kremlin getting slowly out of touch for too long?
There must be a hell of a lot of learning, checking and spending to do to ensure NATO has not become so complacent. Thank God Trump is not in power anymore!
Personally I doubt this would be happening if President Trump was still in charge President Biden has been living up to his “sleepy Joe” nickname ever since elected. Asleep at the wheel of the US is dangerous for us all Trump and Putin in power at the same time? TWO simpleton egomaniacs in charge simultaneously....do you think that's wise, Cap'n Mainwaring.....lol
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Post by Valerioch on Mar 24, 2022 18:35:40 GMT 1
Personally I doubt this would be happening if President Trump was still in charge President Biden has been living up to his “sleepy Joe” nickname ever since elected. Asleep at the wheel of the US is dangerous for us all Trump and Putin in power at the same time? TWO simpleton egomaniacs in charge simultaneously....do you think that's wise, Cap'n Mainwaring.....lol Well it’s already happened for 4 years… with far better outcomes than Putin’s actions when Obama and Biden have been in charge
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Post by staffordshrew on Mar 24, 2022 18:40:21 GMT 1
Trump didn't exactly set the world on fire with his dealings with Putin, but that was probably a good thing.
Where would we be now if there was a NATO disliking, democracy disliking Trump in the White House and Putin in the Kremlin? With Trump in power, Putin got what he wanted.
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Post by Pilch on Mar 24, 2022 18:42:37 GMT 1
Personally I doubt this would be happening if President Trump was still in charge President Biden has been living up to his “sleepy Joe” nickname ever since elected. Asleep at the wheel of the US is dangerous for us all Trump and Putin in power at the same time? TWO simpleton egomaniacs in charge simultaneously....do you think that's wise, Cap'n Mainwaring.....lol what about Putin & Blair ? close call that
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Post by Valerioch on Mar 24, 2022 18:47:17 GMT 1
Trump didn't exactly set the world on fire with his dealings with Putin, but that was probably a good thing. Where would we be now if there was a NATO disliking, democracy disliking Trump in the White House and Putin in the Kremlin? With Trump in power, Putin got what he wanted. He disliked NATO as most member nations weren’t/aren’t paying the correct % of GDP. I guess he was right about the importance of that too…
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Post by armchairfan on Mar 24, 2022 18:51:40 GMT 1
Trump and Putin in power at the same time? TWO simpleton egomaniacs in charge simultaneously....do you think that's wise, Cap'n Mainwaring.....lol Well it’s already happened for 4 years… with far better outcomes than Putin’s actions when Obama and Biden have been in charge Whatever one's opinion on the Obama presidency - and mine is not very high, after he backed down in Syria when chemical weapons were probably used - by no stretch of the imagination can he be called a "simpleton egomaniac"....soft and fluffy perhaps. I must confess to not having fully made my mind up about the current incumbent; he seems keen to let the Europeans take some of the heat - or, perhaps, more accurately when it comes to energy supplies - "lose" some of the heat - which is no bad thing in itself: its about time that Europe faced up to its defence responsibilities more seriously. Apart from anything else, that approach goes down well domestically, too.
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Post by armchairfan on Mar 24, 2022 18:54:44 GMT 1
Trump and Putin in power at the same time? TWO simpleton egomaniacs in charge simultaneously....do you think that's wise, Cap'n Mainwaring.....lol what about Putin & Blair ? close call that You may have a point, except that Mr Blair was only a junior partner.
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Post by martinshrew on Mar 25, 2022 18:31:49 GMT 1
A lot of evidence suggesting Russia is going to retreat from Kyiv and others regions to focus on Donbass and the 2x "independent" states.
It's been stated as a face-saving exercise and they're making no progress around Kyiv and if anything are being pushed back.
Also reports that a Russian regiment had turned on its general and murdered him. Low moral and increasing losses being cited as the reason, apparently they've run him over!
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Post by zenfootball2 on Mar 25, 2022 18:43:20 GMT 1
what Ukraine is doing is stagerring ;the west needs to keep on supplying the ukraine army with anti tank missiles and ground to air missiles and let us just the russians keep on been incompetent .if the upper figure of deaths is true then even putin cant cover that up. just sorry for the poor mothers and fathers of conscripts killed who dont wont to be there. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10652501/Russian-commander-deliberately-run-tank-soldiers-DIED.htm"claims that 20 of the 120 battalions massed by Vladimir Putin have been rendered inoperative by Ukraine's staunch resistance" "Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsymbaliuk said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that Colonel Medvedev's tank battalion of 1,500 troops had lost around half its strength to either death or injury. 'A soldier, choosing a convenient moment during the battle, ran over his brigade commander, Colonel Yuri Medvedev, with a tank, injuring both his legs,' Tsimbalyuk wrote in his report to his followers." 2NATO estimated on Wednesday that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of war in Ukraine, where ferocious fighting by the country's fast-moving defenders has denied Moscow the lightning victory it sought. By way of comparison, Moscow lost about 15,000 soldiers in Afghanistan over 10 years."
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Mar 25, 2022 18:44:23 GMT 1
A lot of evidence suggesting Russia is going to retreat from Kyiv and others regions to focus on Donbass and the 2x "independent" states. It's been stated as a face-saving exercise and they're making no progress around Kyiv and if anything are being pushed back. Also reports that a Russian regiment had turned on its general and murdered him. Low moral and increasing losses being cited as the reason, apparently they've run him over! Maybe Putin himself would like to get out there and lead from the front. Doubt he would last more than acouple of days with his troops.
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Post by armchairfan on Mar 25, 2022 18:47:43 GMT 1
A lot of evidence suggesting Russia is going to retreat from Kyiv and others regions to focus on Donbass and the 2x "independent" states. It's been stated as a face-saving exercise and they're making no progress around Kyiv and if anything are being pushed back. Also reports that a Russian regiment had turned on its general and murdered him. Low moral and increasing losses being cited as the reason, apparently they've run him over! I have also noticed this report of a Russian military "re-focus"; it occurs to me that, if true, it may be a prelude to Mr Putin stating that those eastern parts of Ukraine were all the "special operation" was targeted on in the first place, clearing the way to selling any negotiated settlement as a "victory" to the Russian people; whether or not he can sustain that line, even in a Press which he controls absolutely, against the families of those Russian soldiers who have died, is altogether a different matter.
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Post by martinshrew on Mar 25, 2022 18:59:23 GMT 1
A lot of evidence suggesting Russia is going to retreat from Kyiv and others regions to focus on Donbass and the 2x "independent" states. It's been stated as a face-saving exercise and they're making no progress around Kyiv and if anything are being pushed back. Also reports that a Russian regiment had turned on its general and murdered him. Low moral and increasing losses being cited as the reason, apparently they've run him over! I have also noticed this report of a Russian military "re-focus"; it occurs to me that, if true, it may be a prelude to Mr Putin stating that those eastern parts of Ukraine were all the "special operation" was targeted on in the first place, clearing the way to selling any negotiated settlement as a "victory" to the Russian people; whether or not he can sustain that line, even in a Press which he controls absolutely, against the families of those Russian soldiers who have died, is altogether a different matter. I'm far more inclined to believe the Ukrainian figure of 15,000 deaths than I am the newly released Russian figure of 1,500. If I had to put a number on it I'd say it's almost certainly in excess of 10,000.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Mar 25, 2022 19:49:32 GMT 1
Trump has said that if was still POTUS (heaven forbid), he would send in nuclear submarines to attack Russia. There is little doubt that we would be on the receiving end of any response. Putin said when this started that his nuclear Arsenal could wipe out NATO. let us be gratfull that Trump is not in power and hope he never is again.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Mar 25, 2022 19:51:30 GMT 1
I have also noticed this report of a Russian military "re-focus"; it occurs to me that, if true, it may be a prelude to Mr Putin stating that those eastern parts of Ukraine were all the "special operation" was targeted on in the first place, clearing the way to selling any negotiated settlement as a "victory" to the Russian people; whether or not he can sustain that line, even in a Press which he controls absolutely, against the families of those Russian soldiers who have died, is altogether a different matter. I'm far more inclined to believe the Ukrainian figure of 15,000 deaths than I am the newly released Russian figure of 1,500. If I had to put a number on it I'd say it's almost certainly in excess of 10,000. Nato are estimating between 7 ,000 and 15,000 deaths either way when you add the injured soldiers on top of that Russia is taking a hammering .
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Post by kenwood on Mar 25, 2022 20:01:02 GMT 1
what Ukraine is doing is stagerring ;the west needs to keep on supplying the ukraine army with anti tank missiles and ground to air missiles and let us just the russians keep on been incompetent .if the upper figure of deaths is true then even putin cant cover that up. just sorry for the poor mothers and fathers of conscripts killed who dont wont to be there. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10652501/Russian-commander-deliberately-run-tank-soldiers-DIED.htm"claims that 20 of the 120 battalions massed by Vladimir Putin have been rendered inoperative by Ukraine's staunch resistance" "Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsymbaliuk said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that Colonel Medvedev's tank battalion of 1,500 troops had lost around half its strength to either death or injury. 'A soldier, choosing a convenient moment during the battle, ran over his brigade commander, Colonel Yuri Medvedev, with a tank, injuring both his legs,' Tsimbalyuk wrote in his report to his followers." 2NATO estimated on Wednesday that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of war in Ukraine, where ferocious fighting by the country's fast-moving defenders has denied Moscow the lightning victory it sought. By way of comparison, Moscow lost about 15,000 soldiers in Afghanistan over 10 years." I love this part ,” A soldier choosing a convenient moment during the battle ran over his brigade commander , Col. Yuri Medvedev ,with a tank injuring both his legs . What an understatement , possibly the best ever ……. ran over with a tank INJURING both his legs! Bloody hell , got away lightly there . A 20 ton tank running over his legs . I’d say mangled his legs beyond recognition leaving him with two bloody stumps . Never mind, stick his legs in plaster casts , give him intensive physio and he’ll be up and running in no time. Pity they couldn’t run bloody Putin over with a tank the barsteward .
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Mar 26, 2022 8:03:56 GMT 1
Trump has said that if was still POTUS (heaven forbid), he would send in nuclear submarines to attack Russia. There is little doubt that we would be on the receiving end of any response. Putin said when this started that his nuclear Arsenal could wipe out NATO. let us be gratfull that Trump is not in power and hope he never is again. Even so, I'm old enough to remember when a good few were telling us he was going to start World War 3. And yet...
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Mar 26, 2022 8:41:20 GMT 1
A lot of evidence suggesting Russia is going to retreat from Kyiv and others regions to focus on Donbass and the 2x "independent" states. It's been stated as a face-saving exercise and they're making no progress around Kyiv and if anything are being pushed back. Also reports that a Russian regiment had turned on its general and murdered him. Low moral and increasing losses being cited as the reason, apparently they've run him over! Fingers crossed. That we are no longer hearing about replacing the Ukrainian government does suggest that the Russians are now having to reconsider their aims. Testament to the resistance shown by the Ukrainians. As for the Donbas, this is reported in todays Telegraph... Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine will not surrender any of its territory as the price of peace after Russia signalled it was refocusing its invasion in a bid to gain control of the Donbas region.
The Kremlin on Friday gave its first indication that it plans to scale back the invasion as an army chief said its "main goal" was now the "liberation" of the Donbas region on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia.
But Ukraine's president on Friday night appealed to Russia to negotiate an end to the war and said that his government would not agree to give up any of its territory for the sake of peace.
"The territorial integrity of Ukraine should be guaranteed," Mr Zelensky said in a nightly video address to the nation. "That is, the conditions must be fair, for the Ukrainian people will not accept them otherwise."
I did consider ceding Donbas as something difficult for Kiev to accept but something most could accept. I did think this is what the invasion was looking to achieve and I did think that would have been the extent of the Russian advances. As I think Putin would have got away with it. Perhaps an agreement around Ukrainians neutrality will be enough for Putin to sell at home but I'm unsure what would be the case. Which I guess could mean the prolonging of the war in the East to a wider area and with Russian forces now fighting along side pro-Russian separatists for some time to come.
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Post by staffordshrew on Mar 26, 2022 11:22:25 GMT 1
Many more problems to face for Ukraine and the world while Putin remains. He might not get all he wants, but, having started a war against a country with close links to the way Russia was, he should not get away with any part of his war.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is stuck with loads of injured soldiers and prisoners of war to deal with. Then there are the thousands of soldiers who, if they go back home will blow all the propaganda that their relatives have been fed on Russiam state media. Being young men who have got used to having Western type things and products, they are not going to be too keen on a sanctioned and isolated Russia either.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Mar 26, 2022 12:24:46 GMT 1
A lot of evidence suggesting Russia is going to retreat from Kyiv and others regions to focus on Donbass and the 2x "independent" states. It's been stated as a face-saving exercise and they're making no progress around Kyiv and if anything are being pushed back. Also reports that a Russian regiment had turned on its general and murdered him. Low moral and increasing losses being cited as the reason, apparently they've run him over! Fingers crossed. That we are no longer hearing about replacing the Ukrainian government does suggest that the Russians are now having to reconsider their aims. Testament to the resistance shown by the Ukrainians. As for the Donbas, this is reported in todays Telegraph... Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine will not surrender any of its territory as the price of peace after Russia signalled it was refocusing its invasion in a bid to gain control of the Donbas region.
The Kremlin on Friday gave its first indication that it plans to scale back the invasion as an army chief said its "main goal" was now the "liberation" of the Donbas region on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia.
But Ukraine's president on Friday night appealed to Russia to negotiate an end to the war and said that his government would not agree to give up any of its territory for the sake of peace.
"The territorial integrity of Ukraine should be guaranteed," Mr Zelensky said in a nightly video address to the nation. "That is, the conditions must be fair, for the Ukrainian people will not accept them otherwise."
I did consider ceding Donbas as something difficult for Kiev to accept but something most could accept. I did think this is what the invasion was looking to achieve and I did think that would have been the extent of the Russian advances. As I think Putin would have got away with it. Perhaps an agreement around Ukrainians neutrality will be enough for Putin to sell at home but I'm unsure what would be the case. Which I guess could mean the prolonging of the war in the East to a wider area and with Russian forces now fighting along side pro-Russian separatists for some time to come. "Which I guess could mean the prolonging of the war in the East to a wider area and with Russian forces now fighting along side pro-Russian separatists for some time to come" whilst better than what ukraine are facing now that is a prospect which will continue to drain ukraine resouces and lives, i doubt that Putin wont stop attempts to assisinate President Zelensky , and then you get this headline which is probably just posturing but im not sure of the wisdom of it bearing in mind how paranoid Putin is, rather worrying when you have a president who has clearly got cognitive issues with his finger on the Nuke button but not as scarry as if we still got Trump !! www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10654341/Biden-refuses-rule-strike-use-nuclear-weapons-extreme-circumstances.html"Biden refuses to rule out first-strike use of US nuclear weapons under 'extreme circumstances' in dramatic reversal of his campaign vow after Putin's invasion of Ukraine Biden will not change the current US nuclear doctrine under pressure from allies Longstanding US policy allows for first-strike use of nukes in extreme situations Biden had vowed to change that policy but is now backing down from the plan Ongoing Nuclear Posture Review will not adopt the new 'sole purpose' doctrine Nukes can still be used to deter conventional, chemical, or biological attack"
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Mar 26, 2022 13:21:01 GMT 1
Fingers crossed. That we are no longer hearing about replacing the Ukrainian government does suggest that the Russians are now having to reconsider their aims. Testament to the resistance shown by the Ukrainians. As for the Donbas, this is reported in todays Telegraph... Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine will not surrender any of its territory as the price of peace after Russia signalled it was refocusing its invasion in a bid to gain control of the Donbas region.
The Kremlin on Friday gave its first indication that it plans to scale back the invasion as an army chief said its "main goal" was now the "liberation" of the Donbas region on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia.
But Ukraine's president on Friday night appealed to Russia to negotiate an end to the war and said that his government would not agree to give up any of its territory for the sake of peace.
"The territorial integrity of Ukraine should be guaranteed," Mr Zelensky said in a nightly video address to the nation. "That is, the conditions must be fair, for the Ukrainian people will not accept them otherwise."
I did consider ceding Donbas as something difficult for Kiev to accept but something most could accept. I did think this is what the invasion was looking to achieve and I did think that would have been the extent of the Russian advances. As I think Putin would have got away with it. Perhaps an agreement around Ukrainians neutrality will be enough for Putin to sell at home but I'm unsure what would be the case. Which I guess could mean the prolonging of the war in the East to a wider area and with Russian forces now fighting along side pro-Russian separatists for some time to come. ...rather worrying when you have a president who has clearly got cognitive issues with his finger on the Nuke button but not as scarry as if we still got Trump !! Biden or Trump, Trump or Biden. Anyone who was looking on at the US election could kinda guess it was going to be a bit of a mess come what may. I believe Biden informed US soldiers yesterday that they were soon to be deployed to the Ukraine. As you say, cognitive issues...
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Post by kenwood on Mar 26, 2022 16:04:10 GMT 1
Good old Joe . Nothing like the feel good factor .
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