The start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Part 1)

I guess Scholz would be down for picking and choosing who gets kicked out of SWIFT, but he won't touch anything involving Russia as a whole
Man, what does that even matter
I mean, what about being hooked on Russian oil and gas?

Larry Walker24 said:Standard & Poor's just knocked Ukraine's long-term credit rating down from a "B" to a "B-" in both foreign and local currencies. They're basically saying the whole situation with Russia is putting massive risks on the country's economic growth and financial stability.

S&P also mentioned they might slash those ratings even further if this conflict causes Ukraine's external liquidity to dry up.

They did the exact same thing to Russian stocks, dragging them right down to junk status.

S&P cuts Russia's rating to junk, Moody's issues junk warning
https://www.investing.com/news/stock...kraine-2772940

On the flip side, it looks like Russia saw the sanctions coming and played their cards pretty well, stockpiling about $670 billion in hard currency reserves, with a quarter of that held in gold. They even picked up another $5 billion in cash back in December alone...
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/21/b...ons/index.html

Jeremy Lopez93 said:Not a bad post at all.

Translate this into Russian and distribute it to Putin's soldiers somewhere near Kharkiv so they have something to read during their downtime.

The worst part is that deep down, you actually know none of this is true. 🤣

What’s even worse is that you know in your heart that everything being said here is the truth.

If we're going to go around handing out little political pamphlets, I wonder if you were making these same arguments back when we were invading Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, or Syria, or when the Gaza Strip and Syria are under constant fire on a daily basis.

But of course, that isn't the work of Putin’s military; no, it's those wonderful Anglo-peacekeepers who step in to bring democracy, peace, and prosperity to the people.

Look, I am definitely not a fan of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, but I am absolutely sick of the double standards and the sheer hypocrisy of people who act like the entire world consists of just a few European nations and Big Brother across the Atlantic.

Joseph Clark37 said:They are really the only EU members showing any actual backbone right now, unlike those weak leaders over in Western Europe...

Geography dictates their reality, and history has taught them a hard lesson. They understand that immediate, decisive action—showing some teeth—is far superior to hesitation. The mindset in the rest of the European Union is fundamentally different, but this time, they are simply wrong. It is vital to send a clear, unmistakable signal to Moscow so they can draw the correct conclusions.

Joseph Clark37 said:It doesn't change much right now, since the Russian Black Sea Fleet is in the Black Sea and their Mediterranean fleet is in the Mediterranean. This move only really matters if there is a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. What would actually have an impact immediately is closing the straits to all Russian vessels, effectively cutting off their merchant ships...

Hardly irrelevant. They've essentially cut off Russia's southern maritime routes. For them, the Black Sea has become nothing more than a lake.

Grace Bennett6 said:Zelenskyy won 75% of the vote back in 2019. 👍

Yet, in the interval between that mandate and 2014, the administration shifted through countless electoral cycles.

vividtiger72 said:And why on earth would you think Putin expected to conquer Ukraine in a matter of days? Did any actual Russian official ever make claims like that? As far as I can tell, it was only the Western experts who were telling Kyiv they had maybe two or three days left; the Russians always maintained they'd stay as long as it took.

They gave him four days—96 hours—by the second day of the invasion. That brings the total to six days: https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-news-example-link-6-days

Frankly, I hope it doesn't drag on any longer, because if it does, we're looking at a humanitarian catastrophe involving upwards of three million people.

Douglas Davis4 said:Have you seriously not seen the massive lines of people from the EU practically begging to move to China or Russia? Open your eyes.

Man, I wouldn't even go there as a tourist.

Sounds pretty terrifying when you listen to it, but honestly, I have no clue how much weight there actually is behind those claims or if they'll even work.

bluepuma9 said:His goal ceases to exist, along with him, the second he uses nukes.

The China Development Bank is already starting to tighten the screws on raw material trade with Russia. Sorry, Putin, but the market is a cold mistress. 😁

Personally, I suspect he’d choose death over abandoning his mission. We aren't dealing with a rational actor here; we're dealing with a madman.

Rebecca Lewis7 said:

Peace to all. As stated by:
BoJo:
To the people of Ukraine: Glory to Ukraine.
To the citizens of Russia: It is my firm conviction that this conflict is being waged entirely without your consent or in your interest.

The current rhetoric regarding the necessity of continued support for Ukraine remains predictably tiresome. One observes the usual parade of political grandstanding, where leaders offer sweeping declarations of solidarity that often lack the practical substance required to actually move the needle on the ground. It is a familiar spectacle: the high-minded speeches designed to satisfy domestic audiences while the actual complexities of the conflict continue to unfold with much less fanfare. While the intention to stop the war in Ukraine is frequently touted, the gap between lofty diplomatic goals and the gritty reality of modern warfare suggests that we are merely engaging in a very expensive exercise in moral signaling.

Good grief, the hairstyles. 🤣🤣🤣
Everything else. 🙏🙏

The Biden administration continues to push the envelope, essentially cheering on the escalation of this bloodshed. One has to wonder: who actually stands to gain from all this?

It is highly improbable that the British or American militaries would actually deploy troops to assist their "allies" in such a capacity. They will simply sit there, watching everything unfold with detached indifference, cheering from the comfort of their offices thousands of miles away.

They refuse to deploy the promised military forces or provide the necessary weaponry, yet they remain equally opposed to any meaningful negotiations; instead, they seemingly pray for an ever-increasing casualty count simply to serve the economic and political interests of the b@b elites.

I find myself struggling to grasp the logic here. We have no intention of deploying our military or sending direct aid, yet we expect you to hold your ground—even though it is painfully obvious to the entire world that victory is simply not on the table for you.

One might argue that forcing Russia to pay a heavy price for their victory is a satisfying goal, yet we must acknowledge the grim reality that such a costly triumph simultaneously demands thousands upon thousands of Ukrainian lives sacrificed for a defeat—all in vain. The economic landscape of Ukraine has been systematically regressed by fifty years, leaving a once-functioning economy in total shambles. One is left to wonder if the entire nation will be completely annihilated or merely left as a fractured, ruined shell of its former self.

Perhaps I am simply lacking the intellectual capacity to grasp why this entire forum is populated by self-proclaimed "experts" on warfare, all of whom seem unshakably convinced that a Ukrainian victory is an absolute certainty. Fairytales, fables, and idle fantasies are one thing, but facts and practical reality are quite another.


If someone were to attempt to convince me that Mexico could actually prevail in a conflict against the United States, I would find the proposition utterly absurd. It seems people possess a profound, almost pathological inability to confront reality. One must ask: did the Taliban truly defeat America by forcing a withdrawal? They were left with a fractured nation, drowning in corruption and effectively regressed to the standards of the 16th century. To suggest that anyone actually "won" in Afghanistan is nothing short of intellectual bankruptcy. Furthermore, if Russia were to suddenly withdraw tomorrow, the reality remains that Ukraine has already lost. Is this truth simply too uncomfortable for the masses to acknowledge? It appears no one possesses the desire to focus on actual damage control.

Back in the 19th century, Americans were still operating under the Monroe Doctrine.
Look, at the start of the 19th century, they made it very clear: everyone was a target.
Who's actually getting close to the West Coast?
It’s not just about the U.S. government. It’s all Americans.
What rights? What democracy? 😁
They’ve made it crystal clear: they've claimed American territory as their own exclusive domain.
The zone of interest where they enjoy absolute hegemony.
It never even crossed anyone's mind to ask.
Maybe this situation actually plays right into those countries' hands?
So, they think it’s perfectly fine to just tear down legitimately elected governments whenever they feel like it?
When does the government stop serving American interests?
But they were invited to step in from across the Atlantic...
And then people go around asking such incredibly stupid questions:
Why is Ukraine being targeted when nearly half its population is...
They’re pro-Russia. There is absolutely no reason to let them be shoved into an American political or military alliance.
If that's what they "want." 😁 That’s it. That's all there is to it.
Nuclear superpowers and America's top rivals are staring each other down right at the borders.

Let’s be real here: no other country in Europe has hit a dead end quite like Mexico has.

Vučić’s little game of trying to sit on both sides of the fence is officially over.

Scott Rodriguez19 said:Basically.

The global stock markets aren't even flinching at what’s going down in Ukraine.
https://www.google.ch/search?q=DAX&s...client=gws-wiz
https://www.google.ch/search?q=dow+j...client=gws-wiz

So—nothing unexpected is actually happening here, I guess.

They're even up.
Which—if you think about it—might mean they're actually viewing the situation in Ukraine somewhat positively.

But hey, that's just business as usual.

Oil and gas prices even dropped yesterday because people realized Putin has to sell more fuel now just to fund the war. It seems Russians are selling oil at a $12 discount compared to Brent.

Tyler Jones6 said:But it actually exists at the Volkel military base in the Netherlands.

link

Furthermore—if Russia were to hit any city within the EU or NATO with nuclear weapons—NATO would respond 100%. It’s simple: radiation doesn't respect borders.

If those are American bases, just like the ones in Turkey

I guess radiation from somewhere like Amsterdam wouldn't reach London or Paris, so I'm just wondering if the French or Brits would actually risk themselves for everyone else

If this turns out to be true regarding Turkey, it would constitute a legitimate casus belli for The Government, provided they are willing to play ball with the big players. This will easily be the biggest news of the next three days.

COME AND SEE

Michael Davis10 said:George Hill4

No one else has even mentioned this yet, and I guess I don't really see why the Turks would even be allowed to do that

Why wouldn't they? International law basically doesn't mean much anymore when you're dealing with Russia...

Richard Wilson4 said:For decades now, the Russians have been clinging to this total fantasy that they’re some kind of unstoppable military superpower.
If they actually lose this, they're going to be facing massive headaches with their territories in places like Kazakhstan.

No matter how this plays out, NATO needs to be actively working to undermine the Russian Federation and get Putin's regime replaced.

swiftjackal11 said:They aren't that efficient; they can't just swap out all the street signs in Kyiv in three days. Ukraine was caught completely off guard by the Russians.

It takes more than a few days to ignite a nation, but it looks like the Russians aren't just going to stroll through the streets without a fight.
Zelensky seemed in good spirits this morning. No fear visible... the resistance is massive, and honestly? It was totally unexpected.

[Grace Bennett6]

Justin Rogers5 said:CNN showed footage of that TOS-1 rocket system—the kind that turns entire areas into an inferno once it hits.
Poor people. Plenty have fled, but plenty stayed too, refusing to leave their homes. But if they start using those projectiles, there won't be anyone left. I hope someone stops the madman... though who actually can? Is he even afraid of anything?🤔
Because honestly, the guy creeps me out. Just cold and empty.

Kharkiv was hit an hour ago: Indiscriminate MLRS strikes hitting Kharkiv. Total chaos. No distinction between targets. Just heavy, unguided fire raining down on everything. The situation in Kharkiv is shifting. Reports coming in indicate that forces are pushing back toward the city. It’s a volatile frontline, but the momentum seems to be moving in one direction right now. Keeping an eye on the updates.

Joshua Myers432 said:Look, this isn't some joke or a video game simulator. We are talking about WW3—the actual end of civilization here. What exactly is your problem? Everyone needs to cool off and get back to the negotiating table, period.

And what exactly are we supposed to do if that lunatic actually triggers WW3? Is there anything we can even do at that point? Send him a psychiatrist?...