Russian invasion of Ukraine

[David]

[stui magpie]

^

Putting a poultice on a wooden leg as my dad used to say.

[pietillidie]

Well done, David. The optics also help isolate the pariah and encourage governments to provide more support, which Australia has just done. The outpouring of support worldwide has been genuine; people can detect that a line has been crossed and can relate.

[Jezza]

Is a Worry 2 of the Biggest Countries in China and India did not side against Russia/Soviet Union

China remains the biggest concern.

India doesn't worry me. They've always had close relations with Russia, but they share similar concerns about China as we do.

[pietillidie]

I wouldn't be going to Belarus for peace talks. There must be another option, although Putin's got zero mates.

Anyone got a clearer sense of the fruitcake's end game yet? While we know he's always playing to the home crowd, going as far as issuing a whacko nuclear deterrence order might indicate greater unrest at home than we know about. Or just another tantrum because the world's turned on him.

[David]

In terms of relatively neutral spots, I was thinking Hungary, Serbia or Switzerland might be a good option, but not sure how practical that is. Israel, which has traditionally had close ties with Russia despite its general pro-Western alignment, has also been offering its services as a potential peace broker, for whatever that’s worth.

[stui magpie]

Apparently the Russian people are being bombarded with propaganda that the Russians are in the Ukraine to save it's people. Their Ukrainian family and friends are saying rescue us from who/what?

My view of next steps is that Putin won't enter negotiations until he has Kyiv under control. That's taking him a lot longer than he expected, hence the frustration. He seemed to expect his troops would just cruise into Kyiv through a ticker tape parade, not have to fight.

[#26]

I can't believe China aren't siding with the US on this. It's the least they could do after all the goodwill the US has shown them.

[stui magpie]

^

Boom Tish.

China is doing a tightrope balancing act, managing both the internal and external narrative.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60492134

if Chinese citizens start joining the dots with Russia's justification for invading Ukraine and applying it to their own country, this could upend the Chinese government's entire explanation for its current borders.

Vladimir Putin says he's liberating Russian speakers inside Ukraine. What of the ethnic Mongolians, Koreans, Kyrgyz and the like who are now part of China? More potentially explosive for Beijing, what if Tibetans or Uyghurs renew calls for greater autonomy or even independence?

That this does not happen is more important to Xi Jinping's administration than anything.

[David]

[Lazza]

India doesn't worry me. They've always had close relations with Russia, but they share similar concerns about China as we do.

After all is said and done, India would have always said more than they did. Historically very big on noise but very poor on action. They did a lot of talking during Sri Lanka’s war with the Tamil Tigers but for years they avoided getting involved. When they finally did, they were matched by an outnumbered & much smarter Tamil Tiger army. They were empty vessels.

[stui magpie]

India also relies on Russia for most of it's military equipment.

[David]

Some suggestion that Belarus may be joining the invasion. They (coincidentally?) held a referendum over the weekend that enables Lukashenko to remain in power until 2035, and also now permits nuclear weapons to be stockpiled on Belarussian territory. More ominously, apparently it removes the country's "neutral" status and enables them to work more closely with Russia's military.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/2 ... ear-status

Not sure if this will make much difference overall as Belarussian military resources are dwarfed by Russia's, but it certainly isn't going to make things any easier for Ukraine.

[think positive]

[stui magpie]

These Ukrainians are different cats.

A few videos and stories doing the rounds,

A Ukrainian bloke filmed himself pulling over beside a Russian Tank that had run out of petrol and offered to tow them back to Russia. Lucky for him they laughed.

Some border guards on an Island reportedly told a Russian Warship officer to "Go fvck yourself" after being ordered to surrender. Unlucky for them, the bloke on the boat didn't have a sense of humour.

Another bloke was filmed picking up a Russian Anti tank mine, carrying it off the road and into the forest while casually dangling a smoke in the corner of his mouth.

An old woman filmed approaching some Russian Soldiers in the street, offered them some Sunflower seeds to put in their pockets so when they die in the streets something will grow.

The Ukraine President when offered the chance to be evacuated by the US, apparently replied "I need ammunition, not a lift"


Good luck trying to defeat people like that.