🇷🇺🇺🇦 Discussion: Relations with Russia and the war in Ukraine

[blueharvest]

A record number of NATO allies are hitting their defense spending target during war in Ukraine

The estimated figure is a nearly fourfold increase from 2021, when only six nations were meeting the goal.

apnews.com

 

[blueharvest]

Russia's Putin to visit North Korea amid international concerns over their military cooperation

North Korean state media says Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in the country on Tuesday for a two-day visit.

apnews.com

 

[DA_Champion]

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the granddaughter of a prominent Nazi, praises Ukrainian army members for sporting the Swastika. She says they've rehabilitated the swastika.

Given that she's demonstrably not very intelligent, it's hard to tell if she understands what she's saying. To be clear, the reason many Ukrainian units sport the Swastika is because they support the supremacy of the White Race over untermemschen such as Slavs and Semites. They use the same symbols as they share the same ideology.

 

[Sithborg]

Yes, Ukraine has a nazi problem. So does all of Europe.

Not justification for a war of conquest.

 

[DA_Champion]

Yes, Ukraine has a nazi problem. So does all of Europe.

Not justification for a war of conquest.

There's Nazism in every Western country, but due to Western interference it's exceptionally prominent in Ukraine. Stephan Bandera is a national hero there (is there an equivalent in Europe?), for example. There are prominent military brigades that sport the Swastika as a symbol.

My understanding is that Nazism is not particularly popular among ordinary Ukrainians, but it is popular among those who organized the coup, started the war, and began an ethnic cleansing campaign in 2014.

World Jewish Congress troubled by honoring of Nazi collaborator in Ukraine - World Jewish Congress

“The notion that a figure such as Stepan Bandera – a Nazi collaborator during the Second World War who is deeply controversial within Ukrainian society and beyond – will be celebrated in this way is deeply troubling."

www.worldjewishcongress.org

Ukraine’s glorification of Stepan Bandera draws criticism even from key ally : Peoples Dispatch

Since 2014, the post-Maidan regime in Ukraine and its far-right militias have been glorifying the far-right, hyper-nationalist legacy of World War II Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera

peoplesdispatch.org

 

[blueharvest]

Ukraine war briefing: ‘Drone sanctions’ burn Russian oil reserves

South Korea says 10,000 containers carry suspected North Korean arms for Russia; claim that Russians beheaded captured defender. What we know on day 847

www.theguardian.com

 

[Mani-Man]

A record number of NATO allies are hitting their defense spending target during war in Ukraine

The estimated figure is a nearly fourfold increase from 2021, when only six nations were meeting the goal.

apnews.com

This is another side effect that plays against Putin in the future.
Should have happened years ago in Europe especially.
Europe was too blue eyed when it came to Russia and all...we should have never given Russia this much confidence by making ourself rely too much on Russia for Oil etc and America for possible War.

Europe needs to be its own Power and NATO has to be even.
We cant rely on America to carry the biggest share when Russia is closer to the rest of us.

Ukraine war briefing: ‘Drone sanctions’ burn Russian oil reserves

South Korea says 10,000 containers carry suspected North Korean arms for Russia; claim that Russians beheaded captured defender. What we know on day 847

www.theguardian.com

The Sanctions burn to everything Russia has.
Russia has to regularly use reserves on everything because the money is not enough compared to what Russia loses daily.
That is why China etc stopping their support for Russia, would be a death blow.
If 2-3 of the biggest countries who still take goods from Russia, would stop...Russia would have to stop their War so very fast.

Its not wrong when people say that the World finances this war, because its true.
On their own, neither Russia nor Ukraine could pay for it.

 

[:eek:]

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/19/asia/north-korea-russia-putin-visit-thursday-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[DA_Champion]

This is another side effect that plays against Putin in the future.
Should have happened years ago in Europe especially.
Europe was too blue eyed when it came to Russia and all...we should have never given Russia this much confidence by making ourself rely too much on Russia for Oil etc and America for possible War.

Europe needs to be its own Power and NATO has to be even.
We cant rely on America to carry the biggest share when Russia is closer to the rest of us.

It's not clear if it's possible for Europe to become its own power. In the past twenty years, Europe relied on America for defense, Russia for natural resources, and China for base manufacturing. Now it's at risk of losing all three. The continent also has incredibly weak leadership, with leaders like Rishi Sunak telling homeless people that they should work for hedge funds, and Annalena 360 degrees Baerbock, the future is not bright for Europe. Meanwhile, Germany is deindustrializing, it is the biggest victim of the sanctions war.

Over the next twenty years, Europe may simply become an American colony and a petting zoo for wealthy Asian tourists who like the pretty architecture.

That is why China etc stopping their support for Russia, would be a death blow.
If 2-3 of the biggest countries who still take goods from Russia, would stop...Russia would have to stop their War so very fast.

In the unlikely event that the West subjugates Russia, it will immediately move to use its stronger hand to seek to subjugate China.

So China will not allow Russia to fall.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/19/asia/north-korea-russia-putin-visit-thursday-intl-hnk/index.html

The globally sanctioned economy: Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, Yemen, parts of China, is large, rich in natural resources and technical knowhow, and diplomatically skilled. Due to Western policy, none of these countries are isolated, at a minimum they have each other, and then they have much of the rest of the world's population.

Early in the war, North Korea offered to support Russia with 50,000 ground troops, an offer which was declined.

I presume that the North Korean military wanted combat experience, but that Russia wants to keep the war as a Slavic civil war.

 

[blueharvest]

‘It is all lining up’: Plan for Ukraine to finally start using F-16 jets this summer

After delays in delivery and training pilots and ground staff, Netherlands says Ukraine should get first planes in summer

www.theguardian.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

South Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea sign strategic pact

South Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea sign strategic pact

Details of the agreement could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War, observers say.

apnews.com

President Biden Bans Kaspersky Antivirus Software Over Russia Ties
The cybersecurity firm has 30 days before sales of its software will be blocked.

President Biden Bans Kaspersky Antivirus Software Over Russia Ties

The cybersecurity firm has 30 days before sales of its software will be blocked.

gizmodo.com

The United States announced it is banning the sale of antivirus software from the Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Labs on Thursday, according to a from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. Kaspersky’s alleged close ties to the Russian government were found to pose a critical risk. The software’s privileged access to American computer systems could potentially allow Russian actors to steal sensitive information, install malware, or withhold critical updates, sources told Reuters before the official announcement.

In 2019, the story around Kaspersky deepened when a Russian court convicted a senior researcher at the company for treason in the interest of the United States. Ruslan Stoyanov, the former head of the computer incidents investigation team at Kaspersky Labs, is in the midst of serving a 14-year prison sentence.

The authority Biden is using to ban Kaspersky is a relatively new power of the executive branch. Former President Donald Trump attempted to use the same power to ban Americans from using Chinese social media platforms TikTok and WeChat, but he was stopped by federal courts. In that case, and this one, the executive branch is theoretically allowed to ban or restrict technology from “foreign adversary” nations.

 

[DA_Champion]

South Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea sign strategic pact

South Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea sign strategic pact

Details of the agreement could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War, observers say.

apnews.com

Historian Tarik Cyril Amar on the bind South Korea finds themselves in:

Seoul Searching

Why South Korea has only got itself to blame for having special reasons to worry about Russia’s and North Korea’s newly elevated cooperation

open.substack.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

[U.S. Senators] Graham (R), Blumenthal (D) unveil bill declaring Russia a state sponsor of terror

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4731835-russia-state-sponsor-terror-bill/

White House redirects air defense interceptors to embattled Ukraine

The Biden administration will delay the delivery of hundreds of air defense interceptors to friendly countries and redirect them to Ukraine.

www.yahoo.com

 

[blueharvest]

Russia hammers Ukraine's power grid again and Kyiv's drones target more enemy oil depots

Russia has resumed its aerial attacks on Ukraine’s power grid and Kyiv’s forces again targeted Russian oil storage depots with drone strikes across the border.

apnews.com

 

[blueharvest]

US ‘incredibly concerned’ over Putin’s threat to supply weapons to North Korea after Asia tour

State department warns such a move could destabilise the peninsula, as South Korea considers arming Ukraine

www.theguardian.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

i24NEWS

www.i24news.tv

"If Armenia wants to die economically, we might lose it. But I don't think that the Armenians are stupid people. Armenians are smart people. After all, there isn't even a single Jew there. Do you know why? Because Armenians are the smartest people," Lukashenko said.

Contrary to his claims, Armenia does have a Jewish community, numbering around 400 members, and generally enjoys positive relations with the authorities.

 

[Mani-Man]

US ‘incredibly concerned’ over Putin’s threat to supply weapons to North Korea after Asia tour

State department warns such a move could destabilise the peninsula, as South Korea considers arming Ukraine

www.theguardian.com

Thats either fear mongering, or in a sea of dumb decision, the latest in Putins folder.
Because China and North Korea have in the last few years a growning strained relationship...sending weapons to NK is not a smart decision looking at that.
According to experts in China, China is not as strong behind Russia as before the War...so this wont help.
Russia is seemingly overestimating the need China has for them, which could be a problem for Russia.
One can only hope.

 

[DA_Champion]

The USA should have been the one to open up North Korea.

Trump has the right idea, but as was often the case, he lacked follow through and hired the wrong people.

 

[:eek:]

Ukrainian army unit says situation on frontline becoming 'extremely difficult'

Units fighting Chasiv Yar say Russia is launching "mass frontal attacks" on the key strategic town.

www.bbc.com

 

[blueharvest]

‘War how it truly is’: Ukrainian director turns accidental footage into a film

Oleh Sentsov’s film Real is 90 minutes of frontline action captured when he didn’t realise his camera was on

www.theguardian.com

 

[DA_Champion]

If NATO troops enter Ukraine on suicide missions, North Korean troops might come in to acquire combat experience.

Not mentioned, we could also see Iranian, Syrian, etc troops.

For some time, Russia’s chattering classes have speculated about possibilities for enlisting some of North Korea’s one million man army to help their forces in the ground war in Ukraine. Now, under conditions of the newly signed military alliance with Pyongyang, these same Russians are saying that should NATO forces enter Ukraine to join the fight against them, as Emmanuel Macron has been urging, then Russia may invite 50,000 or more North Koreans to lend a hand to their cause. Moreover, they note that the North Koreans have some very impressive artillery pieces to bring with them to the fight.
If that kind of talk on Russian television is being ignored by the military attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow I would be very surprised.

Nothing to worry about? South Korea sounds the alarm

 

[squeekness]

If NATO troops enter Ukraine on suicide missions, North Korean troops might come in to acquire combat experience.

Not mentioned, we could also see Iranian, Syrian, etc troops.




Nothing to worry about? South Korea sounds the alarm

This is what concerns me. The more countries that join the fray the bigger the chances for this war expanding. I'd rather not live through another World War.

 

[DA_Champion]

This is what concerns me. The more countries that join the fray the bigger the chances for this war expanding. I'd rather not live through another World War.

Yeah neither would I :-(

 

[blueharvest]

Russia launches 'massive' overnight attack on Ukraine power grid

Several people are wounded after Russia targeted Ukraine's energy network for a second time this week.

www.bbc.com

 

[DA_Champion]

It is difficult to interpret Russian strategy. What the Russian army does is gets the high ground wherever it can, plants land lines, waits for the Ukrainians to walk on land mines, advance 200 meters at a time. I don't know that the world has ever seen a slow war of attrition like this, though it does get compared to WW1 and The American Civil War.

What this task does "accomplish" is it drains Ukrainian society of able bodied men aged 16-65. This does "demilitarize" Ukraine but at a great cost. And Russia has itself lost 100,000 men.

And we know that the Russian public is dissatisfied with Putin's ultra cautious approach.

My best guess is that the Russian army is keeping most of its troops in reserve because:
- They expect an eventual NATO intervention.
- They think a slow grind is diplomatically and economically advantageous.
- Slow-boiling NATO reduces the odds they use tactical nuclear weapons.

Perhaps, but circling back to the American civil war analogy, the Confederacy was gradually losing until it rapidly collapsed. But the Confederacy wasn't being propped up by 40 countries.