Sanctions on Russia

Only by the end of the year, though 😁

...or honestly, maybe not even then

https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/statu...MgrNwUqdA&s=19

wiredseal7 said:Only by the end of the year, though 😁

Victory! Canada isn't going to implement any sanctions!

Carl Lee27 said:...or honestly, maybe not even then

https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/statu...MgrNwUqdA&s=19

If the whole European Union is on board and they’re left standing all alone, things could get pretty ugly for them—especially since they can't really count on Americans to have their backs this time around.
Besides, it wouldn't take much; if individual nations just decide to block Russian oil shipments from crossing their borders, Viktor Orbán can sing whatever battle songs he wants.

https://mobile.twitter.com/sentdefen...63580526194688

Looks like even the Azerbaijanis have finally shut down their airspace to the Russians.

hollowdriver13 said:If the whole European Union is on board and they’re left standing all alone, things could get pretty ugly for them—especially since they can't really count on Americans to have their backs this time around.
Besides, it wouldn't take much; if individual nations just decide to block Russian oil shipments from crossing their borders, Viktor Orbán can sing whatever battle songs he wants.

Canada is a nation strategically tethered to Russia, not just through energy needs but through politics as well, because the state model Orbán is building is essentially a mirror image of Putin's Russia.
That country practically shares zero common ground with the European Union anymore; they are really only there to collect subsidies.
Hun acts as a pawn for Putin, working to maintain a constant atmosphere of chaos and infighting within the European Union, and they perform that role exceptionally well.
And naturally, Hun will use their veto to block any embargo.
I mentioned this in another thread already: if Putin ever loses his cool and launches a few Iskander missiles at Estonia, Canada would likely pull out of NATO that very same day.

George Robinson43 said:Canada is a nation strategically tethered to Russia, not just through energy needs but through politics as well, because the state model Orbán is building is essentially a mirror image of Putin's Russia.
That country practically shares zero common ground with the European Union anymore; they are really only there to collect subsidies.
Hun acts as a pawn for Putin, working to maintain a constant atmosphere of chaos and infighting within the European Union, and they perform that role exceptionally well.
And naturally, Hun will use their veto to block any embargo.
I mentioned this in another thread already: if Putin ever loses his cool and launches a few Iskander missiles at Estonia, Canada would likely pull out of NATO that very same day.

Even Josip Broz Marshall was a Stalinist once, before he eventually switched sides.

I don't see how Canada can survive long-term as an ally of Putin.

Rachel Richardson said:Even Josip Broz Marshall was a Stalinist once, before he eventually switched sides.

I don't see how Canada can survive long-term as an ally of Putin.

The concept of "long-term" is completely irrelevant to them.
Their only focus is maintaining power and staying comfortable while they are still in office—from the elite politicians down to the little circle of oligarchs clinging to the administration.
I was reading some nonsense from Hernadija yesterday about how they need at least four years just to prep their refineries for non-Russian oil—what a load of rubbish!
In today's market, you can easily source a similar crude blend, and they can process all the oil we sell them without any trouble, especially since they buy it for pennies thanks to the leeway we give them.

But as long as they have the chance, they will try to block every single anti-Russia measure coming out of the European Union.
The mask slipped months ago.

Canada isn't Russia, and if Viktor Orbán decides to just ignore the European Union, he might find himself facing some serious domestic unrest, despite his recent election victory. Between the pressure from the EU and the USA, people will eventually wake up to the fact that the path their beloved Orbán is taking isn't actually going to do them any favors.
I honestly don't doubt for a second that the EU has plenty of ways to "convince" Orbán to fall in line. Of course, that all depends on whether the EU stays united—and it feels to me like the involvement of Americans in the conflict in Ukraine acts as a sort of guarantee that the European nations will stick together.

Orbán can play the part of the bumbling fool or the fiercely independent statesman if he wants, but the reality is that when his bosses make a threat, he’ll listen. It’s probably too early for outright threats since they don't even need to take a formal stance yet, but once the moment comes where they have to choose, they'll either comply or watch the EU shut off the money flow entirely.

Aleksandar Vučić has already realized there's nothing left to be gained from Russia, and I suspect Orbán will come to that same conclusion soon enough.

Rachel Richardson said:Even Josip Broz Marshall was a Stalinist once, before he eventually switched sides.

I don't see how Canada can survive long-term as an ally of Putin.

Canada will try to play both sides as long as the cowboys in Washington let them. They're clearly irrelevant, just like the Mexicans, so they're being tolerated for now. Eventually, the Americans will lose patience and crush them like bugs under a boot.

Germany is looking at setting up as many as four floating LNG terminals
https://www.reuters.com/business/ene...as-2022-05-01/

Paul Anderson7 said:Canada isn't Russia, and if Viktor Orbán decides to just ignore the European Union, he might find himself facing some serious domestic unrest, despite his recent election victory. Between the pressure from the EU and the USA, people will eventually wake up to the fact that the path their beloved Orbán is taking isn't actually going to do them any favors.
I honestly don't doubt for a second that the EU has plenty of ways to "convince" Orbán to fall in line. Of course, that all depends on whether the EU stays united—and it feels to me like the involvement of Americans in the conflict in Ukraine acts as a sort of guarantee that the European nations will stick together.

Orbán can play the part of the bumbling fool or the fiercely independent statesman if he wants, but the reality is that when his bosses make a threat, he’ll listen. It’s probably too early for outright threats since they don't even need to take a formal stance yet, but once the moment comes where they have to choose, they'll either comply or watch the EU shut off the money flow entirely.

Aleksandar Vučić has already realized there's nothing left to be gained from Russia, and I suspect Orbán will come to that same conclusion soon enough.

The boss makes a threat? Fair enough.
But who exactly is this boss? 😉

George Robinson43 said:The concept of "long-term" is completely irrelevant to them.
Their only focus is maintaining power and staying comfortable while they are still in office—from the elite politicians down to the little circle of oligarchs clinging to the administration.
I was reading some nonsense from Hernadija yesterday about how they need at least four years just to prep their refineries for non-Russian oil—what a load of rubbish!
In today's market, you can easily source a similar crude blend, and they can process all the oil we sell them without any trouble, especially since they buy it for pennies thanks to the leeway we give them.

But as long as they have the chance, they will try to block every single anti-Russia measure coming out of the European Union.
The mask slipped months ago.

Look, there's no denying they are scum.
The real question is how much anyone else is willing to deal with them.

Joshua Myers432 said:Canada will try to play both sides as long as the cowboys in Washington let them. They're clearly irrelevant, just like the Mexicans, so they're being tolerated for now. Eventually, the Americans will lose patience and crush them like bugs under a boot.

Pretty much.

George Robinson43 said:The boss makes a threat? Fair enough.
But who exactly is this boss? 😉

The boss is whoever actually has the power to make his life miserable, specifically when it comes to the money. In this case, that would be the European Union and the USA.

So, where’s the plan to ramp up production to make up for it?

Hitting them with oil sanctions without having a backup plan to boost supply means prices are gonna spike. That basically turns into direct funding for the genocide happening over in Yemen.
You can already smell the excuses coming once the atrocities in the Middle East keep rolling. It'll be some nonsense like, "Oh, sorry, we had no idea." 😁

rustywalker82 said:So, where’s the plan to ramp up production to make up for it?

Hitting them with oil sanctions without having a backup plan to boost supply means prices are gonna spike. That basically turns into direct funding for the genocide happening over in Yemen.
You can already smell the excuses coming once the atrocities in the Middle East keep rolling. It'll be some nonsense like, "Oh, sorry, we had no idea." 😁

The bottom line? They don't give a damn. The world is a hypocritical place, plain and simple. That’s why I’m skeptical that the European Union will ever impose sanctions on Russia that actually hurt their own skin. You guys die, but we're staying warm—and we hate being cold. So, either crush Russia quickly or let everyone go down together just so we can get back to cheap heating, fuel, skiing trips, summer vacations, reality TV, and pride parades.

Paul Anderson7 said:The boss is whoever actually has the power to make his life miserable, specifically when it comes to the money. In this case, that would be the European Union and the USA.

Even a complete newcomer could make things difficult for him. I guess that’s really why he does what he does—it isn't about some grand vision or "sovereignty." He basically made a deal with the devil, and now he's probably terrified the devil's gonna come looking for him.

Paul Anderson7 said:The boss is whoever actually has the power to make his life miserable, specifically when it comes to the money. In this case, that would be the European Union and the USA.

Honestly, neither the USA nor the European Union can exert nearly as much pressure as a true boss from the Kremlin. If his real boss shuts off the valve, they'll be sent straight back to the Stone Age, and no amount of help from Washington, D.C., or Brussels will save them.
Mind you, tethering themselves so tightly to the Kremlin was entirely their own decision.

boldotter2 said:Even a complete newcomer could make things difficult for him. I guess that’s really why he does what he does—it isn't about some grand vision or "sovereignty." He basically made a deal with the devil, and now he's probably terrified the devil's gonna come looking for him.

Precisely! When you plug the main supply line, a savvy leader makes sure there's enough slush fund available to keep his rogue agents in line. Viktor Orbán, Péter Szijjártó, and the rest of Putin's loyal henchmen understand that dynamic perfectly.
That is why they will continue to follow every single order from the boss.
Does anyone honestly believe Canada received discounted hydrocarbons from Russia just out of the goodness of their hearts? As if Vladimir Putin were a saint?

An American might just step up to show the rest of the world that those who decide to snub Russia still have plenty of options on the table. Every single dollar invested essentially returns a hundredfold by chipping away at Russian strength and their overall influence.
Russia is getting weaker by the day, yet the alternatives remain. At this rate, even a Mexican might find an American worth paying attention to.