Discussion: Relations with Russia

[Fosterson]

Fascinating summary of comments made by Sergey Karaganov, a Russian political scientist and former advisor to both Yeltsin and Putin:



In particular, his assertion that Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other post-Soviet states are "fake countries" which Russia needs to "reclaim" is very telling and fits perfectly with Sergey Lavrov's recent comments about the former Warsaw Pact countries in Eastern Europe being "orphans" in need of Russia's guiding hand.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Hopefully people there are brighter than those in Afghanistan who stuck around after warnings.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

"Christian"

 

[Hobgoblin]

Glad to see that Biden isn’t the only one putting their foot in their mouths.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

NY Times - Britain Says Moscow Is Plotting to Install a Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine
In a highly unusual public statement, backed by U.S. officials, London named [Yevgeniy Murayev] the putative head of a potential puppet government but few other details.

 

[Marvolo]

NY Times - Britain Says Moscow Is Plotting to Install a Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine
In a highly unusual public statement, backed by U.S. officials, London named [Yevgeniy Murayev] the putative head of a potential puppet government but few other details.

Which means he intends to murder or imprison the current ruler. That door swings both ways. NATO should eliminate Murayev and any other puppet Putin chooses. For that matter eliminate Putin for good measure.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Russia also has been driving up the cost of gas as part of OPEC+. Low supply during high demand drives prices up.

Doha News (Qatar) - Qatar in talks with the US on supplying Europe with gas as Russia, Ukraine tensions mount
More than 40% of Europe’s liquified natural gas (LNG) supply comes from Russia, and almost a third of the latter’s gas passes through Ukraine.

Russian wants countries (like Germany) hooked on their gas to be dependent upon them and slow to act against them if at all.

The operations should be assisted by a tough, hard-headed utilization of Russia's gas, oil, and natural resources to bully and pressure other countries.

Foundations of Geopolitics - Wikipedia

Wall Street Journal - Germany’s Reliance on Russian Gas Limits Europe’s Options in Ukraine Crisis
Berlin is vulnerable if the West sanctions Russia over Ukraine and Moscow responds by cutting off exports

 

[Marvolo]

If we could eliminate Europe's need for Russia's gas that would be a nice big fork you to Russia and its economy.

Also, Germany isn't about to be invaded and have its citizens murdered and its government over thrown so their fuel needs shouldn't be prioritized over Ukraine's welfare. The Germans will just have to ration or find another supplier.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Forbes - [Trump's Former NSA] Michael Flynn—Once Indicted Over Russia Communication—Voices Support For Russia Ahead Of Potential Ukraine Invasion

 

[Holy Slapper]

Russia also has been driving up the cost of gas as part of OPEC+. Low supply during high demand drives prices up.

Doha News (Qatar) - Qatar in talks with the US on supplying Europe with gas as Russia, Ukraine tensions mount
More than 40% of Europe’s liquified natural gas (LNG) supply comes from Russia, and almost a third of the latter’s gas passes through Ukraine.

Russian wants countries (like Germany) hooked on their gas to be dependent upon them and slow to act against them if at all.



Foundations of Geopolitics - Wikipedia

Wall Street Journal - Germany’s Reliance on Russian Gas Limits Europe’s Options in Ukraine Crisis
Berlin is vulnerable if the West sanctions Russia over Ukraine and Moscow responds by cutting off exports

I've mentioned it before in this thread but people really need to check out the info on Dugin's book. It literally lays out the plan for Russia to destablize it's enemies and how to achieve greater power. They've accomplished three tasks already: reclaimed Crimea (more or less), separated UK from Europe and grown dissension and distrust on media and government and political system, effectively weakening America for who knows how long. And they did it America's own tools. Internet and social media.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Axios - Pentagon: 8,500 U.S. troops on high alert for possible deployment to eastern Europe

• Several NATO members, including the U.K., the U.S. and the Baltic states, have sent weaponry and military trainers to Ukraine as Russia continues to amass more than 120,000 troops on all sides of its border.

‘Ukrainians are ready to tear apart Russians with their bare hands’ | News | The Times (January 22, 2022)

NBC News - Russian Defense Ministry video shows missile systems, bombers on the move

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

The Guardian - US finalizing plans to divert gas to Europe if Russia cuts off supply

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

The Guardian - Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not open if Russia invades Ukraine, says US

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

 

[Marvolo]

We should have sold Ukraine a handful of MOABs to drop on the Russias.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Reuters - Exclusive: Russia moves blood supplies near Ukraine, adding to U.S. concern

 

[Fosterson]

Interesting article on the background to the current crisis:

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Reuters - NATO calls on Europe to diversify energy supply amid standoff with Russia

The Guardian - US Senate panel close to approving ‘mother of all sanctions’ against Russia

The Guardian - UK urged to suspend ‘golden visas’ after fast tracking of Russian millionaires

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

 

[OtherwiseKnownAs]

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It's so weird how the least worried about Russia are Ukraine. It's almost like the US, their allies and their media want war...

Have people forgot how this all works after the last 20 years?

 

[OtherwiseKnownAs]

It's so weird how the least worried of Russia are Ukraine. It's almost like the US, their allies and their media want war...

Have people forgot how this all works after the last 20 years?

You say that now, but won’t you look stupid when we finally find those WMD’s.

Any day now.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

You say that now, but won’t you look stupid when we finally find those WMD’s.

Any day now.

Everyone is up for some war, but intervening in genocide? Why would we do that?

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

It's about a strong deterrence as plan A, not war. If Putin pisses his pants and runs his imperialist invasion army back closer to Moscow mission accomplished. Plan B is the defense of Ukraine against Russia's invasion using force.

There wasn't a strong enough deterrence back in 2014 before Russia invaded and then not enough defense after they invaded.

Russo-Ukrainian War - Wikipedia