Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[trabuquera]

They're going to need a bigger table (and a military tent big enough to put it in)

 

[zahir]

 

[planetgeli]

A small worry with Belarus declaring war is that Lukashenko has said Russia may put nuclear weapons in his country if they ask nicely.

'If necessary, if such stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals and opponents, we will deploy not only nuclear weapons, but super-nuclear and up-and-coming ones to protect our territory,' Lukashenko said, according to the state-run Belta news agency.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Someone in the comments is saying it would be a delegation going rather than Zelensky himself.

The tweet he quotes, translates as

We agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet with the Russian delegation without preconditions on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River.

Alexander Lukashenko has taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation's travel, talks and return.

No mention of Zelensky attending.

 

[Aladdin]

I think you might be overreacting a bit. I can't see anything that was said last night that you should take as particularly offensive or piss-taking.

I think people are stressed.
This whole thing is fucking scary.
People poking at others and giving them aggro or grief isnt helping.
Some of us are barely hanging in there in life let alone trying to face an increasingly more difficult future.

 

[Orang Utan]

They're going to need a bigger table (and a military tent big enough to put it in)

He’ll have to hire Ken Adam to design a suitable one.

 

[Aladdin]

Let's hope they just stay on alert.

Fucksake.

Keep him away from the big red button.

Bloody lunatic

 

[Artaxerxes]

Have you ever been through O'Hare?

Stansted and Luton.

I have no intention of visiting the US tbh

 

[bimble]

That link has now been updated.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to put the country’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert in response to “aggressive statements” by NATO countries.

The order, which was announced by the TASS news agency, came at a meeting between Putin, defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Valery Gerasimov.

“Senior officials of the leading NATO countries also allow aggressive statements against our country, therefore I order the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff [of the Russian Armed Forces] to transfer the deterrence forces of the Russian army to a special mode of combat duty,” Putin said in the statement, which was quoted by state-run TASS.

It is not immediately clear what the “special mode of combat duty” entailed. Putin has warned foreign countries not to interfere in his ongoing invasion of Ukraine, saying it could lead to “consequences they have never seen.” He has positioned anti-air missiles and other advanced missile systems in Belarus and deployed his fleet to the Black Sea in an effort to prevent a western intervention in Ukraine.

The Russian invasion has left hundreds dead. Russia has launched missile strikes against buildings in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other major Ukrainian cities as it threatens an all-out assault not seen since the time of the second world war.

What the hell is going on.
Is there a pragmatic tactical reason for him at this point to start talking about nuclear weapons?
Also what does ‘nuclear deterrence forces’ mean anyway.

 

[Nylock]

Short of naked intimidation abroad and general fearmongering at home, none whatsoever .

 

[cupid_stunt]

What the hell is going on.
Is there a pragmatic tactical reason for him at this point to start talking about nuclear weapons?
Also what does ‘nuclear deterrence forces’ mean anyway.

He hinted at there possible use days ago.

 

[bimble]

He hinted at there possible use days ago.

Yes I know.
What’s he up to now?

 

[nogojones]

What the hell is going on.
Is there a pragmatic tactical reason for him at this point to start talking about nuclear weapons?
Also what does ‘nuclear deterrence forces’ mean anyway.

Because its the only real card that holds him at the big boys table

 

[planetgeli]

What the hell is going on.
Is there a pragmatic tactical reason for him at this point to start talking about nuclear weapons?

He's telling the West to stfu a bit.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Yes I know.
What’s he up to now?

Hinting at their use again, but slightly louder this time.

 

[bimble]

He's telling the West to stfu a bit.

And stop sending weapons and saying mean stuff about him?

 

[planetgeli]

Because its the only real card that holds him at the big boys table

But it's got 4 Aces on it.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Get the nukes ready lads, they’ve said bad things about us:

You can see the two generals are just sitting there thinking 'yeah, OK, you fucking head case'

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Is anyone else getting annoyed at the media coverage? Some outlets make it sound like they're calling a sporting event. This "war as entertainment" that some of them are selling is pretty sick.

 

[planetgeli]

And stop sending weapons and saying mean stuff about him?

Everything.

 

[nogojones]

You can see the two generals are just sitting there thinking 'yeah, OK, you fucking head case'

Is one of them the one who got sacked earlier?

The wonders of twitter

 

[YouSir]

Is anyone else getting annoyed at the media coverage. Some outlets make it sound like they're calling a sporting event.

Parts of the media and commentariat have been shocking. Absolute gleeful cheerleading, blind propaganda, hysterical threats, rampant racism.

 

[steveo87]

What the hell is going on.
Is there a pragmatic tactical reason for him at this point to start talking about nuclear weapons?
Also what does ‘nuclear deterrence forces’ mean anyway.

It wss inevitable really, especially (as appears) the war isn't going as well as he'd planned.
It's cock waving - 'either you listen to us or we could nuke you'.
It also sends a message to anyone in the Kremlin that he's still very much in charge.

It's a weak move, also. Where does he go after this? Does he use them? Well, it's Vlad, if he wants to do something, he will. But I doubt even he wants to start a nuclear war over Ukraine.
So at some point, he'll have to pull back, which will make him look even weaker.

 

[Raheem]

Yes I know.
What’s he up to now?

Hopefully, he's on the verge of surrendering and is trying desperately to gain leverage by ratcheting up the tension.

Hope that's not too wildly optimistic.

 

[YouSir]

It wss inevitable really, especially (as appears) the war isn't going as well as he'd planned.
It's cock waving - 'either you listen to us or we could nuke you'.
It also sends a message to anyone in the Kremlin that he's still very much in charge.

It's a weak move, also. Where does he go after this? Does he use them? Well, it's Vlad, if he wants to do something, he will. But I doubt even he wants to start a nuclear war over Ukraine.
So at some point, he'll have to pull back, which will make him look even weaker.

It's only been a few days, ultimately nothing at all has been decided yet.

 

[bimble]

Everything.

That’s not going to happen, is it though. That everyone just just stops everything that’s annoying him. I don’t think.
And he must know that?
Is why I asked whether there’s a sane pragmatic reason for this move.
He won’t ever be invited into polite world leader dinner parties after saying this will he? Backed into a corner and talking about nukes is bad.

 

[Wilf]

I wouldn't trust the fuckers, I'd ask for a zoom call instead.

Was just about to post that. 'Vlad is waiting for the host to start the meeting'.

 

[rekil]

Is there a pragmatic tactical reason for him at this point to start talking about nuclear weapons?

He's way back in the queue at the ATM.

 

[Aladdin]

I have an awful feeling that Putin is not beyond dropping a nuclear bomb in Ukraine...

 

[planetgeli]

That’s not going to happen, is it though. That everyone just just stops everything that’s annoying him. I don’t think.
And he must know that?
Is why I asked whether there’s a sane pragmatic reason for this move .

He doesn't expect them to shut up about everything. Moves like this aren't made with an expectation of total result. (Until they are made physically and they blow us all to bits). It's part of the mind games. Part of war.

I'd like to be certain that's all it is and ever will be. Amen.

But I can't. And it's interesting timing with Lukashenko chipping in with a possible declaration of war and an offer to host nuclear weapons. Hmm.