Ukraine declares state of emergency, requests international aid from NATO. Disaster supplies, mine and explosive detection equipment, medical equipment on the list.
Russia said Tuesday that some units participating in military exercises would begin returning to their bases, adding to glimmers of hope that the Kremlin may not be planning to invade Ukraine imminently, though it gave no details on the pullback.
One thing coming out of this is how spineless the German's have been and how addicted they are to the natural gas flowing out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
They've caved and blocked the expulsion of Russia from the SWIFT banking network and today just declared that Ukraine entry into NATO is off the table. While yes, NATO rules do say any country with border conflicts would not be considered for entry into NATO, having your foreign minister rule that out in a joint press conference with Putin moments before he is likely to invade, and when Putin demanded a resolution the Ukraine NATO question, is complete cowardice and appeasement at best, and sends the complete wrong message to an aggressor moments away from an invasion. Putin in show no way be dictating other countries foreign policies for them. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...rd-2022-01-21/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-ne...invasion-news/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/li...08093848aaefa9
You do know what they have done in Georgia, Syria, the Donbass and Crimea right?
They have brought in troops from 6000 kms away in eastern Russia, I don’t think they spend that type of money unless they are serious.
Previously, they have preferred limited engagements - mercenaries, troops without insignia, and air support where they have air superiority. And even when they have fully committed to an engagement, they have been fairly limited in their ambitions.
Now we believe they are going to make a push on Kiev?
Invading Ukraine will be a bloody slog even if it is over relatively quickly. I'm still pretty skeptical this is anything more than a feint.
My main skepticism is that I don't even know what Russia would gain from doing it. I mean sure, more land. But it just seems like a lot of trouble for something that you don't gain much from.
Location: In a land without pants, or war, or want. But mostly we care about the pants.
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Originally Posted by PeteMoss
My main skepticism is that I don't even know what Russia would gain from doing it. I mean sure, more land. But it just seems like a lot of trouble for something that you don't gain much from.
Prestige and power projection. It has nothing to do with logic, it's all about looking like the guys with the biggest d**ks, and to keep the populace entranced with the idea that Russia is an influential and feared world power instead of a backward and mismanaged kleptocracy.
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Prestige and power projection. It has nothing to do with logic, it's all about looking like the guys with the biggest d**ks, and to keep the populace entranced with the idea that Russia is an influential and feared world power instead of a backward and mismanaged kleptocracy.
Yep. Putin's ultimate goal is to make himself look strong and NATO look weak so that Russia looks like a better security option to align with. It's actually better to not invade countries and deal with the rebuilding and occupation if you can just scare them into following you.
I am not saying he definitely won't invade Ukraine, but he would probably prefer to force an Anschluss by making it known they can take if they want.
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Contrary to Putins claims of pulling back, OSINTS in the field are reporting increased Russian troop movements towards the Ukrainian border, bridges being built across rivers near the border, and an increased deployment of jets and helicopters to the border in the last 24 hours.
My main skepticism is that I don't even know what Russia would gain from doing it. I mean sure, more land. But it just seems like a lot of trouble for something that you don't gain much from.
I'm far closer to the old guy in the meme than an expert on this, but did some looking to understand more myself. In a picture;
I've decided Putin's end game is just brinkmanship and not an actual invasion. Seems he is already getting some concessions so a little bit longer and I'd imagine he thinks he can secure some better hard assurances on NATO's eastern flank.
