Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[DaveCinzano]

Keenie-meenie

Rogue warriors indeed

 

[kebabking]

You'd think someone as smart as him would have stopped doing that though; lets face it the record of such private troops is not exactly one of success (either on their terms or globally).

Doing 'well' in Mali at the moment - Wagner have effectively become the government's fist, to the point where the UN mission there is folding. The French have pulled out of it (former colonial power), and the UK has announced likewise today. The rest of the European contributors won't be far behind.

Win for Russia. Obviously, Putin gets a cut...

 

[agricola]

On their terms the mercenaries or on their terms the governments'?

both - I mean even the really successful ones (like Hawkwood) ended up with nothing, and governments that go down that route usually regret it sooner rather than later

 

[planetgeli]

Doing 'well' in Mali at the moment - Wagner have effectively become the government's fist, to the point where the UN mission there is folding. The French have pulled out of it (former colonial power), and the UK has announced likewise today. The rest of the European contributors won't be far behind.

Win for Russia. Obviously, Putin gets a cut...

Burkina Faso too.

Why Russia is cheering on the Burkina Faso coup

Russian mercenaries look set to profit from the new junta that has seized power in Burkina Faso.

www.bbc.co.uk

Russian role in Burkina Faso crisis comes under scrutiny

Questions are swirling in Burkina Faso about what role Russia may have played in the West African nation's second coup this year.

apnews.com

 

[DaveCinzano]

Burkina Faso too.

Why Russia is cheering on the Burkina Faso coup

Russian mercenaries look set to profit from the new junta that has seized power in Burkina Faso.

www.bbc.co.uk

View attachment 351541

Russian role in Burkina Faso crisis comes under scrutiny

Questions are swirling in Burkina Faso about what role Russia may have played in the West African nation's second coup this year.

apnews.com

According to The Gray Zone it's all a big misunderstanding

Who’s really behind Burkina Faso’s coup? - The Grayzone

Western media fixates on coup supporters waving Russian flags in Burkina Faso's capital while overlooking the long history of US and French control over the country – and its destabilizing consequences. The landlocked country of Burkina Faso has proven itself to be a valuable diplomatic and...

thegrayzone.com

 

[StoneRoad]

Some light news for this thread ...

Why did Zelensky want a watermelon in Kherson?

Since Russia's retreat from the region memes of the fruit have been widely shared online.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[The39thStep]

Doing 'well' in Mali at the moment - Wagner have effectively become the government's fist, to the point where the UN mission there is folding. The French have pulled out of it (former colonial power), and the UK has announced likewise today. The rest of the European contributors won't be far behind.

Win for Russia. Obviously, Putin gets a cut...

Wagner is big business

 

[planetgeli]

According to The Gray Zone it's all a big misunderstanding

Who’s really behind Burkina Faso’s coup? - The Grayzone

Western media fixates on coup supporters waving Russian flags in Burkina Faso's capital while overlooking the long history of US and French control over the country – and its destabilizing consequences. The landlocked country of Burkina Faso has proven itself to be a valuable diplomatic and...

thegrayzone.com

Innocent bystanders

(who have been offering military support through Wagner since at least January this year).

 

[Ming]

And Blackwater and other western PMC's were around long before Wagner was born. Get dirty shit done at an arms distance from the state.

In some ways Russia is trolling the US by doing exactly what they do but not bothering with much PR management.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Wagner a bit more than some free booting and plundering . It’s the boot of the Russian state with it’s no comeback or liability at all. Reuters screenshot

 

[TopCat]

Since that piece in the Washington Post Zelensky has talked a lot about talks, peace, negotiations. Talked a lot of bollocks but it’s a start.

 

[strung out]

Since that piece in the Washington Post Zelensky has talked a lot about talks, peace, negotiations. Talked a lot of bollocks but it’s a start.

Which bits of Ukraine do you think he should hand over to Russia?

 

[inva]

Which bits of Ukraine do you think he should hand over to Russia?

Rostov and Voronezh

 

[maomao]

Which bits of Ukraine do you think he should hand over to Russia?

How many people are you okay with dying in order to keep Donetsk and Lugansk Ukrainian? A million? Ten million?

 

[The39thStep]

Since that piece in the Washington Post Zelensky has talked a lot about talks, peace, negotiations. Talked a lot of bollocks but it’s a start.

I found this an interesting read

After Kherson, can Ukraine and Russia talk peace?

Putin does not have much to lose from engaging in peace negotiations, but Zelenskyy does.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

It doesn't matter what anyone on here thinks with regards to handing over bits of the Ukraine to Putin's crew. Ukrainians aren't going to do anything like that in the short term. They know Putin can't be trusted. They know his army have been vicious and violent and completely unrestrained. There may be talks eventually, but there just won't be anytime soon. You just have to see the reaction of people in Kherson to know that hardly anyone would willingly put themselves under Putin's rule right now.

 

[TopCat]

I found this an interesting read

After Kherson, can Ukraine and Russia talk peace?

Putin does not have much to lose from engaging in peace negotiations, but Zelenskyy does.

www.aljazeera.com

Yeah Al Jaz have been one of the few news orgs to report on dissent from the Western/EU/NATO line.

 

[teqniq]

Well that didn't work then did it?

CNN Exclusive: US intelligence suggests Russia put off announcing Kherson retreat until after midterm elections | CNN Politics

The US has intelligence that Russia may have delayed announcing its withdrawal from the Ukrainian city of Kherson in part to avoid giving the Biden administration a political win ahead of the midterm elections, according to four people familiar with the intelligence.

edition.cnn.com

 

[TopCat]

Well that didn't work then did it?

CNN Exclusive: US intelligence suggests Russia put off announcing Kherson retreat until after midterm elections | CNN Politics

The US has intelligence that Russia may have delayed announcing its withdrawal from the Ukrainian city of Kherson in part to avoid giving the Biden administration a political win ahead of the midterm elections, according to four people familiar with the intelligence.

edition.cnn.com

Republicans one seat away from control of House in midterms | First Thing

After almost a week of counting, Republicans look set to retake the house with a narrow margin. Plus, media groups urge world leaders to impose climate tax on fossil fuel firms

www.theguardian.com

 

[teqniq]

I didn't realise they were still being counted, apologies. I still suspect that the Russians delaying their withdrawal likely had little or no effect.

 

[TopCat]

I didn't realise they were still being counted, apologies. I still suspect that the Russians delaying their withdrawal likely had little or no effect.

The US said the Russians MAY have delayed the retreat because of the mid term elections. No evidence.

 

[teqniq]

The US said the Russians MAY have delayed the retreat because of the mid term elections. No evidence.

i never suggested that there was evidence. Nor does the article. It also concedes that:



something I also said when I said I thought it has little or no effect.

 

[strung out]

The US said the Russians MAY have delayed the retreat because of the mid term elections. No evidence.

It was said on Russian state TV

 

[Cid]

FIFA head Infantino calls for world cup ceasefire.

“You’re the world leaders, you have the ability to influence the course of history. Football and the World Cup are offering you and the world a unique platform of unity and peace all over the world.”

Ah, coming together for peace and unity, the pro-human rights agenda of the World Cup eh?

World Cup offers ‘unique platform’ to pursue Ukraine peace, claims Fifa chief

Gianni Infantino has issued a plea for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the World Cup, calling for the tournament to be used as a ‘positive trigger’ to work towards peace

www.theguardian.com

 

[strung out]

FIFA head Infantino calls for world cup ceasefire.



Ah, coming together for peace and unity, the pro-human rights agenda of the World Cup eh?

World Cup offers ‘unique platform’ to pursue Ukraine peace, claims Fifa chief

Gianni Infantino has issued a plea for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the World Cup, calling for the tournament to be used as a ‘positive trigger’ to work towards peace

www.theguardian.com

Oh yeah, Infantino who still has his Russian Order of Friendship medal, awarded by Putin

 

[TopCat]

FIFA are totally bent

 

[WouldBe]

How many people are you okay with dying in order to keep Donetsk and Lugansk Ukrainian? A million? Ten million?

The only way you could sort that out would be to have a free and fair vote provided Zelenskyy would agree to that.

 

[TopCat]

The only way you could sort that out would be to have a free and fair vote provided Zelenskyy would agree to that.

Free and fair votes are not a thing in Ukraine

 

[TopCat]

Which bits of Ukraine do you think he should hand over to Russia?

Just negotiate a settlement.

 

[existentialist]

FIFA head Infantino calls for world cup ceasefire.



Ah, coming together for peace and unity, the pro-human rights agenda of the World Cup eh?

World Cup offers ‘unique platform’ to pursue Ukraine peace, claims Fifa chief

Gianni Infantino has issued a plea for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the World Cup, calling for the tournament to be used as a ‘positive trigger’ to work towards peace

www.theguardian.com

Hmm. So let's get a notoriously corrupt football organisation to set itself up as some kind of paragon of virtue, to encourage a notoriously corrupt aggressor to step back from fighting.

What could possibly go wrong?