398 posts shown.
feralnomad35 said:Look, if a single club like Real Madrid can swing a million, just imagine what the USA would actually need to cough up so this whole aid situation doesn't end up looking like a total joke...
It's gotta be a massive number..
wiredseal7 As stated by Michelle Nelson4:
A significant portion of this entire mess consists of various former mobsters, relatives, associates, and even the mistresses of high-ranking officials—among many others (I won't claim it's everyone, though it certainly feels that way). It is an enormous amount of corruption that would, quite frankly, demand a massive federal investigation back in Russia, provided we were living in a more civilized era.
Is it not precisely the responsibility of the EU and America to handle such matters through the mechanism of sanctions and by seizing assets via freezing? These assets belong to Russia and to Russians.
And really, what on earth do they have to do with Ukraine? Why exactly is this being lumped into these so-called "crisis" sanctions? Where did this sudden, intense concern regarding oligarchs come from, especially considering they were welcomed guests for two decades while they shamelessly drained resources from the EU?
Where on earth is he thinking he’s heading with all that excess cash? Why wasn't that surplus being funneled back into the domestic budget instead of being bled out to foreign interests?
wiredseal7 said:Oh sure, poor honest Khodorovsky gets hit with a sham trial, while all those other oligarchs are perfectly legitimate citizens?
🤦
He’s a crook too—he’s just lucky enough to be protected because he’s against Putin. Same deal for plenty of others over in London. It’s all about which side you're on, not whether your money is clean. Pure politics.
wiredseal7 said:"Quote"Khodorkovsky was convicted exactly where he committed his crimes—in Russia.
Masqueron (No content provided to rewrite.)
Have you really hit such a new low—whining about the assets being seized from Putin's thieving oligarchs? 🤣
Yesterday was all about celebrating that Khodorkovsky asset seizure. 🤦
When it comes to those oligarchs, we're talking about assets that belong to them or to Russia—period. At the end of the day, only Russian courts have any say in that matter.
Even if the European Union starts pretending they have any jurisdiction over Russia—it’s a joke—they’re just freezing assets through sanctions without anyone ever seeing a courtroom.
It’s basically a theft from the owner—the only difference is that some other party can't actually touch the frozen funds. Or maybe they can, if the big banks decide to play around with those deposits behind the scenes.
wiredseal7 said:Which "regimes" have we actually seen sanctions topple so far? Hardly this one—especially since they're just leaning harder into totalitarianism now. Sanctions mostly just push them further into a corner. They aren't exactly feeling any pressure from the West to stop the repression.
And if we're being honest, those planes weren't stolen—they were sanctioned. 🙂
I don't get why people are whining about the planes when "we" essentially seized hundreds of billions in assets—not just state property, but private holdings belonging to Russian citizens, even folks in the EU or Israel. In some cases, it even touches their grown children's interests.
I doubt they'd be foolish enough to hand back the planes after getting hit that hard.
crimsoncyclist71 said:This obsession with Russian grandeur is bordering on fanaticism.
They completely missed the fact that after just 20 days of war, they’re practically begging for a handout—mind you, begging for a damn handout—from the Chinese... 🤦
hiddeneagle98 said:It isn't even really about Western junk food for Russians; the real sting is losing access to an iPhone, a MacBook, a PlayStation, a brand new BMW, or even just being able to get their current car fixed.
The core issue is that they can't do business with the West anymore, ranging from individual IT freelancers all the way up to the massive corporations.
If things continue down this path—where they end up selling their oil and gas at a 25% discount just to move it—we're looking at a total systemic collapse for Russia across every single level of society.
They might not starve, but in every other sense, they’re going to be living like they're stuck in one giant, open-air prison.
Andrew Hall47 said:They'll probably just fly in some experts from Venezuela to help out. ☕ It'll definitely lead to an even better Coca-Cola and a much improved McDonald's.
Russians have flocked to set up businesses and buy property in the United Arab Emirates in an effort to Secure Residence and park assets in the Gulf as the US, UK and EU tighten financial sanctions, according to relocation specialists, brokers, and legal experts.
Many are turning to the UAE, which has historically served as a sanctuary for those escaping instability and remains a premier tourism and investment destination for Russians. Current estimates suggest there are already an estimated 40,000 Russians and 15,000 Ukrainians in the UAE, supplemented by roughly 60,000 Russian-speaking expatriates hailing from former Soviet states. Even the superyachts belonging to oligarchs frequently find harbor in Dubai, serving as a playground for the global elite.
“Russians are now unwelcome banking customers in Europe, even though the majority went there to get away from Putin,” noted Peter Gray, a partner at ADG Legal in Dubai. “People are worried about What The Banks will do — The Banks are Afraid of sanctions and expensive investigations and so are reluctant to continue business with Russian nationals, regardless of their political affiliation.”
In a move that highlights its complex positioning, the UAE abstained on a UN Security Council vote condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine while backing a subsequent general assembly motion. Furthermore, it IT reversed an early decision to cancel vis Free access for Ukrainians. In recent years, Abu Dhabi Has fostered close ties with Moscow in recent years, joining forces against islamist forces across The region and co-operating on Energy policy.
By establishing businesses in the UAE, Russians can effectively Secure visas for themselves and their families. Virtuzone, a firm specializing in corporate setup within the UAE, has reported a massive spike in interest from Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians since War Brok out. “I am receiving 50 inquiries a day — it’s booming right now,” remarked Maryia Vinahradava, head of the Russian-speaking team at Virtuzone, noting that a single Russian corporation with approximately 500 staff members is currently seeking relocation to Dubai. Prior to this crisis, her intake was merely one new business lead every two days.
bluemason3 said:Sailors will probably see their paychecks bump up again—or at least they'll have more cash to blow on whatever else they fancy while smuggling nylon and denim into Russia. That’s just how life works.😍
Though, looking at how globalization works, we might find that returning to "normal" happens just as fast as the sanctions did.🤔
hollowdriver13 said:Honestly, this feels like a pretty surface-level take on how economics actually works. Every single bottle of Coca-Cola, every McDonald's meal, every iPhone, every Pepsi, every pair of Adidas gear, and every Volkswagen car had built-in taxes that were padding the government's coffers. On top of that, every one of those companies was employing people who were collecting paychecks—people who are now likely headed straight toward unemployment lines.
Every time a major player shuts down or pulls out like this, it puts even more strain on the U.S. budget, pushing the country closer to a financial meltdown where they won't even be able to fund the military anymore.
P.S.
Also, for regular Americans who have been raised for two generations to enjoy all the perks of the "wicked and hedonistic" West, this whole transition is going to be a massive reality check. Just look at the mad rush to IKEA right before they closed, or the stampede to McDonald's before they pulled out.
There are even videos floating around YouTube showing how people rushed to stock up on stuff like motor oil and car parts while they still could.
The Biden administration could “ essentially shut ” down Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation or Any Chinese companies that defy U. S. sanctions by continuing to supply chips and other advanced technology to Russia, Ms. Raimondo said in an interview with The New York Times.
wiredseal7 said:Don't sweat it—I checked. Here's the official word if you want it:
https://home.cern/news/news/cern/cer...vasion-ukraine
Most of the countries involved that aren't actual CERN members don't have observer status anyway. So, there's no rule saying their institutes have to keep doing what they've been doing. Plus, you have to wonder how those experiments would even work if the Russians shut down their gear and pulled their experts out. It'd be like the EU shooting themselves in the foot with those sanctions.
bluemason3 said:The Polish government's official pages merely stated they have reached a decision regarding their willingness to enter such an arrangement; they certainly did not claim the deal was finalized, nor did they suggest that the USA has actually completed—or even possesses the logistical capacity to complete—its portion of the task.
Until the Americans issue a formal threat, until a viable method for providing replacements is established, and until the ink is dry on the contracts, is this really a settled matter?
Could there perhaps be a provision for interim airspace coverage over Poland by allies while they wait for their new aircraft to arrive—a process that, let’s face it, cannot happen overnight?
Furthermore, one must seriously consider what capabilities the Ukrainian side actually possesses to manage, secure, and integrate such hardware...
I am uncertain if this can be resolved within a few days, but if this drags on—if we hit a lull during the muddy season and it takes several months to sort out the logistics—well, we shall see.
Poland has agreed to hand over all of its MIG-29 fighter jets to a US airbase "immediately and free of charge" as part of a plan to provide aircraft to the Ukrainians.
Washington has been looking at a proposal under which Poland would supply Ukraine with Soviet-era fighters and in turn receive American F-16s to make up for their loss.
brightheron64 As I have previously observed:
That is precisely why I provided the link.
The Pentagon and White House continue to operate within their own sphere of influence, seemingly detached from the realities on the ground. One must wonder, does anyone in the halls of power actually grasp the gravity of the situation we are facing? They move with such calculated indifference, issuing directives that feel more like academic exercises than strategic necessities. How much longer can this level of detachment be sustained before the entire structure begins to buckle under the weight of its own indecision?
Is anyone else watching this slow-motion train wreck unfolding at the highest levels of our government? It seems the Pentagon and White House have suddenly decided to dial back their ambitions, effectively lowering expectations regarding the deployment of Polish warplanes to aid Ukraine. One has to wonder: where exactly is the strategic backbone in all of this? Are we simply watching a calculated retreat under the guise of "managing expectations," or is this just another instance of bureaucratic hesitation stalling much-needed momentum? How can we expect any meaningful shift in the theater if our own leadership is already preemptively tempering the very support they once suggested was on the table? It feels less like a tactical adjustment and more like a surrender to political inertia.
DoD lower expectations of Polish warplanes for Ukraine by Joe Gould mar 8
March 8, 12:00 AM
Is anyone actually surprised by this latest development from the Pentagon? According to a recent report from Defense News, the Department of Defense is essentially telling us that we should temper our expectations regarding how much those Polish warplanes will actually contribute to the fight in Ukraine. It seems the goalposts are being moved once again, isn't it? One has to wonder: why is there such a persistent pattern of lowering the bar just when the situation demands more decisive action? Are we meant to simply accept these diminishing returns as the new standard for international support? It feels like a calculated maneuver to manage public perception while simultaneously scaling back the actual impact of military aid. If the objective is truly to provide meaningful assistance, how can one justify such a blatant attempt to dampen the very momentum required to succeed? It’s a frustrating cycle of high-stakes promises followed by immediate, measured retreats.
I find myself leaning much more toward the perspective presented in... Defense News
So, we are expected to believe that Harry S. Truman will personally make his way to Trieste just so an F-18 can complete its flight path over to Poland? Is that really the logic we are being sold now? It certainly isn't as if it's a vast distance, is it?