Russia / Ukraine Watch

[Proposition Joe]

Basically wearing a mini skirt and letting Russia buy her drinks.

Snaffle that bit then it's an easy straight line across to form a corridor into Kaliningrad.

[Dunners]

Not wearing any knickers too.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Wonder how much involvement Russia will have in the US election considering its massively in their interest if Trump wins. Almost feels like Trumps comments about encouraging Russia to attack NATO countries was effectively an invite for them to help him out.

[Long slender neck]

Of course their misinformation army will be working overtime and for our election too.

[Mistadobalina]

Wonder how much involvement Russia will have in the US election considering its massively in their interest if Trump wins. Almost feels like Trumps comments about encouraging Russia to attack NATO countries was effectively an invite for them to help him out.

Makes his European cheerleaders all the more baffling to me. He's openly saying he wants to abandon the entire security system that has prevented a major European war for the last 70 years.

I really doubt anything happens in the Baltics as it'd inevitably draw in Poland, NATO or not. Lithuania is historically completely linked to Poland - they would not let an invasion slide and have an extremely well funded, large professional military, plus a historical grudge.

Georgia on the other hand is quite similar to Ukraine in the sense that it's flirting with EU membership and is geographically vulnerable. They seem very nervy right now. And if Russia can make it to Odessa, then Transnistria becomes another flashpoint. Which is why Moldova is talking about unification with Romania. However it'd directly bring in an EU country with a contested region, which we haven't really had before.

[Dunners]

Fair shout on Georgia but, while Russia has now overhauled its military and transformed to a wartime economy, that would still require diverting forces from Ukraine. A war on two fronts?

[Proposition Joe]

Depends how long a war in Georgia lasted. Granted, their resources are already stretched at the moment, but they put them right on a few points they were unsure of pretty quickly back in 2008 (and have since retained effective control of South Ossetia and Abkhazia).

[Mistadobalina]

Fair shout on Georgia but, while Russia has now overhauled its military and transformed to a wartime economy, that would still require diverting forces from Ukraine. A war on two fronts?

They have an election this year, the protest last summer in Tibilsi felt very Maidan like from the pro western, EU population against a Russia friendly government who are essentially controlled by a Russian billionaire. It isn't a simplistic pro Russia vs pro West split but walking the tightrope of EU membership and remaining cordial with Russia feels impossible, they will have to pick a side sooner or later, which will mean either becoming a Russian pawn or risk a Russian invasion.

[Mistadobalina]

The politics there are crackers - their western loved 'reformer' (read economic liberalizing) pm got chased out the country, only to become governor of Odessa under Poroshenko, who he then turned on and resulted in being chased out of Ukraine as well. He then returned to Ukraine under Zelensky, who then tried to use him as a pawn to get Georgia to open up a second front against Russia by spiriting him into Georgia on the back of a milk truck. He was immediately arrested and is now in jail.

[RedDwarf 1881]

Wonder how much involvement Russia will have in the US election considering its massively in their interest if Trump wins. Almost feels like Trumps comments about encouraging Russia to attack NATO countries was effectively an invite for them to help him out.

I think after previous accusations of Russian interference I would imagine special attention will be given to secure it doesn't happen .

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Wonder how much involvement Russia will have in the US election considering its massively in their interest if Trump wins. Almost feels like Trumps comments about encouraging Russia to attack NATO countries was effectively an invite for them to help him out.

I think after previous accusations of Russian interference I would imagine special attention will be given to secure it doesn't happen .

well, that depends who has a vested interest and who's in charge.

[Dunners]

Heh. It looks like those cheeky Russians have hacked into and knocked out the GPS and comms on the plane flying Grant Shapps back from Poland.

[Mistadobalina]

Thank you for the reminder that Grant Schapps, aka Michael Green, aka Corrine Stockheath, aka Sebastian Fox, is the UK's actual defence secretary.

[Dunners]

Yeah. I was kind of with the Russians on that one.

[Long slender neck]

'Election' this weekend, wonder who will win?

[Long slender neck]

They're actually trying to blame Ukraine for this arent they?

[Dunners]

Yep. And here's the cranks' favourite, George Galloway, not just blaming Ukraine, but the US and it's allies too.

[Long slender neck]

I havent been on islamicstate.com to check, but the news says ISIS have claimed responsibility and posted videos of their soldiers and the attack.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Yep. And here's the cranks' favourite, George Galloway, not just blaming Ukraine, but the US and it's allies too.

Hes actually a sitting MP. Scary

[Rich Tea Wellin]

I havent been on islamicstate.com to check, but the news says ISIS have claimed responsibility and posted videos of their soldiers and the attack.

I mean, The US did create them didn’t they? Really playing the long game though…

[Max B Gold]

Looks like escalation is possible. I hope youse are happy now.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... apons-test

[Dunners]

Nah. They won't use nukes. You gave my guarantee on that.

[RedDwarf 1881]

Correct me if I've misheard something but didn't they say on the news that the Americans had warned the Russians about a possible ISIS attack . That's why America were telling any Americans to stay well clear of any entertainment venues in and around Moscow .

[RedDwarf 1881]

Looks like escalation is possible. I hope youse are happy now.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... apons-test

I thought it was Macron who was calling for NATO boots on the ground . The man is a lunatic . The Germans quite rightly slapped him down and refused that scenario point blank .

[Long slender neck]

A western leader with bigger balls should have brought this to a head before this all started.