Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[Pickman's model]

He is their leader. The last two years would not have gone in the direction it has other than for his leadership. His maximalist demands were always startling. I haven’t seen reports of him scaling down. Have you?

him and putin should duke it out

 

[The39thStep]

He is their leader. The last two years would not have gone in the direction it has other than for his leadership. His maximalist demands were always startling. I haven’t seen reports of him scaling down. Have you?

I think its worth considering the events in the Istanbul peace talks where a number of sources clearly indicate that the Ukrainian delegation had negotiated the makings of a potential agreement with the Russians or at least something to consider. Perhaps there were doubts, perhaps it wouldn't have been good enough, however, it seems that their decision making process was heavily influenced by both Johnson's and the US's feedback and advice. Johnson even flew in to give his view face to face and to make his case.

 

[likesfish]

Possibly true, but Peter Dow, who in reality would make a pretty shite terrorist, got prosecuted and convicted for his fantasies about the assassination of the Queen. So, it's probably better to err on the side of caution when making wishes in public forums

Aberdeen activist who threatened to shoot the Queen on Twitter sentenced

A political activist who sparked a major terrorism investigation after posting tweets threatening to kill the Queen has admitted he is "massively

www.pressandjournal.co.uk

tbf he was a major pain in the arse of several websites and worked really really hard to be seen as a threat to the establishment

 

[Rob Ray]

He is their leader. The last two years would not have gone in the direction it has other than for his leadership. His maximalist demands were always startling. I haven’t seen reports of him scaling down. Have you?

Yes, in fact he offered not to join Nato within weeks of the war starting, but his personal views are not driving the continuation of this conflict (let's be honest here, his "maximalist demands" have been primarily hot air for domestic consumption - no wannabe Churchill is going to start with "let's fight for a slightly less thumping loss lads") and you've acknowledged as much in this very thread. So I ask again, why are you obsessing about him specifically? Do you think the logics change if the general takes over instead?

 

[Pickman's model]

Yes, in fact he offered not to join Nato within weeks of the war starting, but his personal views are not driving the continuation of this conflict (let's be honest here, his "maximalist demands" have been primarily hot air for domestic consumption - no wannabe Churchill is going to start with "let's fight for a slightly less thumping loss lads") and you've acknowledged as much in this very thread. So I ask again, why are you obsessing about him specifically? Do you think the logics change if the general takes over instead?

I don't think Churchill is a particularly good comparison tho it's worth noting z did fly to Argentina and congratulate the new far right president there. He seems to have a peculiar affinity for right wing populists

 

[Pickman's model]

Don't piss off the Ukrainians

Ukrainian intelligence attacks and paralyses Russiaâs tax system â photo

Cyber units of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence attacked the tax system of Russia and managed to destroy the entire database and its backup copies. The intelligence adds that Russia will not be able to resuscitate its tax system fully.

www.pravda.com.ua

This hasn't really been reported anywhere vaguely reputable or taken up by newspapers so I suspect it's bollocks.

 

[two sheds]

This hasn't really been reported anywhere vaguely reputable or taken up by newspapers so I suspect it's bollocks.

Yahoo News and msn carry it, cybernews and SCMedia and a couple of others do too although I've not heard of any of them before.

But yes they all got it from the same source so apologies if it is indeed bollocks

 

[StoneRoad]

This hasn't really been reported anywhere vaguely reputable or taken up by newspapers so I suspect it's bollocks.

ISW reported it on 12thDec - it's in the "topline text" as the 7th section ...

Institute for the Study of War

US intelligence reportedly assessed that Russian offensive operations in eastern Ukraine in fall 2023 and through the upcoming winter aim to weaken Western support for Ukraine instead of achieving any immediate operational objectives. The US intelligence

www.understandingwar.org

As far as I can see,, it was Not retracted on the 13th.

 

[Rob Ray]

I don't think Churchill is a particularly good comparison tho it's worth noting z did fly to Argentina and congratulate the new far right president there. He seems to have a peculiar affinity for right wing populists

Just as well I didn't compare him to Churchill then. And yes, of course Zelensky is happy to talk to right-wing populists, this is hardly surprising.

 

[StoneRoad]

Just as well I didn't compare him to Churchill then. And yes, of course Zelensky is happy to talk to right-wing populists, this is hardly surprising.

Well, of course it isn't - if he wants material such as ammunition or F-16s or tanks he has to talk to the decision-makers.

 

[nogojones]

I don't think Churchill is a particularly good comparison tho it's worth noting z did fly to Argentina and congratulate the new far right president there. He seems to have a peculiar affinity for right wing populists

Shame the right wing populists like Trump, Bolsonaro, Orban or Putin don't have an affinity for him, as it might bring the war to an end sooner.

 

[The39thStep]

Shame the right wing populists like Trump, Bolsonaro, Orban or Putin don't have an affinity for him, as it might bring the war to an end sooner.

Debatable that Putin is a populist imo

 

[Chz]

What’s his stated strategic goal now?

To evict the Russians from Ukraine and get some compensation. But the whole depose Putin thing was quietly nixed well over a year ago. Probably someone US side had a word about "Yeah, that's not gonna happen, we don't support that, in fact we prefer Putin to the alternatives."

 

[Rob Ray]

I wonder what they had on Orban to force him off the veto.

EU sidesteps Viktor Orbán to open membership talks with Ukraine

Decision after hours of tense negotiations in Brussels is critical boost to Volodymyr Zelenskiy

www.theguardian.com

 

[The39thStep]

I wonder what they had on Orban to force him off the veto.

EU sidesteps Viktor Orbán to open membership talks with Ukraine

Decision after hours of tense negotiations in Brussels is critical boost to Volodymyr Zelenskiy

www.theguardian.com

Apparently 10 billion euros, not on him but on them which they gave to him yesterday. The funds had been withheld due to concerns about the judiciary in Hungary. However, Hungary have , as it happens, turned things around and everything is ok now. "We have received sufficient guarantees to say that independence of the judiciary will be strengthened in Hungary," said Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice.

 

[TopCat]

him and putin should duke it out

I thought sort of like this when six.

 

[panpete]

No sure on the truth of this, can't link to the vid as it was embedded in twitter, Alex Jones says on Clayton Morris's podcast, NATO mobilising for war on Russia.
I read that Clayton has had scandal with properties.
As for Alex Jones, he's a bit loud and hyper for my liking, that's not to diss him, him and Tucker Carlson (also someone I get a vague bad feeling about) talked about Alex predicting 9/11
As I say though, not stating facts, just putting this out there.

 

[Ĝasper]

EU to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky hails the decision as "a victory" for his country and Europe.

www.bbc.com

= Sorry, we can't keep arming you, but it's alright as we've bumped you up that years long waiting list you were also asking about earlier

??

 

[Humberto]

No sure on the truth of this, can't link to the vid as it was embedded in twitter, Alex Jones says on Clayton Morris's podcast, NATO mobilising for war on Russia.
I read that Clayton has had scandal with properties.
As for Alex Jones, he's a bit loud and hyper for my liking, that's not to diss him, him and Tucker Carlson (also someone I get a vague bad feeling about) talked about Alex predicting 9/11
As I say though, not stating facts, just putting this out there.

He's a grifter shitbag. Don't want to derail but you are better avoiding Jones completely.

 

[Pickman's model]

Just as well I didn't compare him to Churchill then. And yes, of course Zelensky is happy to talk to right-wing populists, this is hardly surprising.

The wannabe Churchill bit crept in when you weren't looking then

 

[Crispy]

As for Alex Jones, he's a bit loud and hyper for my liking, that's not to diss him, him and Tucker Carlson (also someone I get a vague bad feeling about)

Trust your feelings. Both of them are A-grade bastards more interested in stirring hate (and profitting off it) than reporting any kind of facts.

 

[Rob Ray]

The wannabe Churchill bit crept in when you weren't looking then

A comparison to Churchill would suggest he has aspects in common. Calling him a wannabe Churchill only implies that he'd like to.

 

[WouldBe]

It’s less the amount but the fact that an outside protagonist is effectively supporting one side with weapons. Or used to.

.

 

[WouldBe]

I don't think putin has the freedom of action you ascribe to him.

Yet it would appear that anyone that disagrees with him has a close encounter with a high window.

 

[Pickman's model]

A comparison to Churchill would suggest he has aspects in common. Calling him a wannabe Churchill only implies that he'd like to.

Yeh. Have a pedant point, he doesn't want to be like him for the obvious reason that one core aspect of Churchill was that he aspired to be a career politician from a very early age. You appear to aspire to be like me, a much worthier aim.

 

[wow]

You appear to aspire to be like me, a much worthier aim.

Fancy yourself much?

 

[krtek a houby]

Fancy yourself much?

And who the fuck are you, anyway?

 

[Pickman's model]

Fancy yourself much?

No one fancies you. Not even you. And look how you've turned out, like gollum without the ring

 

[Pickman's model]

Yet it would appear that anyone that disagrees with him has a close encounter with a high window.

You haven't

 

[Rob Ray]

So cash-wise, this means both the US and EU billions are on hold - I do wonder how long Ukraine can hold it's war economy together while the bickering goes on.