Assault on Kiev: Russian helicopters swoop above Ukraine's capital

[placeholder]

26 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

My take is the west will continue to supply arms to Ukraine to use them alone to keep repelling Russia.

The west then along with contination of sanctions think that will weaken Russia and wear them down and they don't care how long it takes.

The US would like this and the EU don't give a flig otherwise they wouldn't still be receiving coal, oil and gas from Russia.

As always the west is a bunch of hypocrites and I think many Ukraians think so to but can't do much about it or say to much.

There's much more to come yet I reckon and much going on behind the scenes.

More of your usual nonsense. Given the effect that this war is having on food prices and other aspects of the world economy, and the fact that voters tend to blame those in power for such adverse consequence,  of course politicians are going to care about how long the war lasts. At least in those nations where elections have consequences.  As for oil and gas restriction, maybe you aren't aware that it's only due to the actions of Putin's chief admirer in the EU, Viktor Orban, that Russian oil wasn't cut off. All other EU nations were in favor of it. And they're working on getting others sources of gas. But, because these politicians have to undergo general elections. they're reluctant to make life too difficult for their populace. 

Edited May 15, 2022 by placeholder

[coolcarer]

39 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

My take is the west will continue to supply arms to Ukraine to use them alone to keep repelling Russia.

The west then along with contination of sanctions think that will weaken Russia and wear them down and they don't care how long it takes.

The US would like this and the EU don't give a flig otherwise they wouldn't still be receiving coal, oil and gas from Russia.

As always the west is a bunch of hypocrites and I think many Ukraians think so to but can't do much about it or say to much.

There's much more to come yet I reckon and much going on behind the scenes.

would expect no less on your take but the situation is far from that and the EU is doing all it can to stop Russian oil and gas, even Germany watch this space.

 

Germany may be able to cope with a boycott of Russian gas imports as soon as the coming winter, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told WirtschaftsWoche weekly on Thursday (12 May).

https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/germany-may-be-able-to-withstand-winter-without-russian-gas-habeck-says/

 

 

[ballpoint]

42 minutes ago, placeholder said:

More of your usual nonsense. Given the effect that this having on food prices and other aspects of the world economy, and the fact that voters tend to blame those in power for such adverse consequence,  of course politicians are going to care about how long the war lasts. At least in those nations where elections have consequences.  As for oil and gas restriction, maybe you aren't aware that it's only due to the actions of Putin's chief admirer in the EU, Viktor Orban, that Russian oil wasn't cut off. All other EU nations were in favor of it. And they're working on getting others sources of gas. But, because these politicians have to undergo general elections. they're reluctant to make life too difficult for their populace. 

You raise two interesting (in a bad way) points:

"of course politicians are going to care about how long the war lasts. At least in those nations where elections have consequences". - It's looking likely that the turmoil caused by the war will ironically lead to this year's election results in at least one major country going in favour of the party that openly supports Putin (maybe not officially, but rather in the words and actions of senior members).  In the biggest case, these elections won't affect the leadership of the country, but will (if they go according to prediction) directly affect the legislative branch of government, which has proven time and time again to stymie the efforts of the administration in an attempt to raise the implied perception of their party and lower that of the other, even when it is to the detriment of the country.  This should provide impetus to the current administration to try and bring the war to a successful conclusion in the next two years, before the main presidential elections take place, but will conversely provide impetus to the opposing party to do all it can to drag the conflict out as, the longer it goes on for, the more favourable they will be seen.

 

"And they're working on getting others sources of gas".  - We constantly hear of the Europeans sourcing gas from places like Qatar, (which will instantly lead to price increases due to lack of pipelines between them), but rarely hear the other side, namely that Qatar already has buyers for close to its entire production, and, without Russian gas, the world simply won't have enough to satisfy every country's requirements.  (It is doubtful if it even has enough with Russian supply). If the EU tilts the see-saw in its favour then it has to tilt to someone else's disfavour.  A point made in the link below:

"Energy poverty in parts of Asia could result as Europe sucks LNG cargoes away from their originally intended destinations,” said Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG...

... Power plants in Pakistan are running out of fuel, and are pleading with the government to make more supply available, according to local reports. As prices remain elevated, fuel shortages are at risk of spreading to Bangladesh, India and Thailand".

 

 

Global Energy Upheaval Threatens Years of Natural Gas Shortages - BNN Bloomberg

 

I have no solutions, and will no doubt be lambasted as a doomsayer, (and accused of going off topic, but this is a direct result of the Ukraine invasion), however, these are the hard facts.  Countries forced to buy from Russia because they can't get any from the "PC" suppliers will be criticised, but may have little other choice until alternatives to gas can take up the full demand - which is still years off.

 

 

Edited May 15, 2022 by ballpoint

[Kwasaki]

13 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

You raise two interesting (in a bad way) points:

"of course politicians are going to care about how long the war lasts. At least in those nations where elections have consequences". - It's looking likely that the turmoil caused by the war will ironically lead to this year's election results in at least one major country going in favour of the party that openly supports Putin (maybe not officially, but rather in the words and actions of senior members).  In the biggest case, these elections won't affect the leadership of the country, but will (if they go according to prediction) directly affect the legislative branch of government, which has proven time and time again to stymie the efforts of the administration in an attempt to raise the implied perception of their party and lower that of the other, even when it is to the detriment of the country.  This should provide impetus to the current administration to try and bring the war to a successful conclusion in the next two years, before the main presidential elections take place, but will conversely provide impetus to the opposing party to do all it can to drag the conflict out as, the longer it goes on for, the more favourable they will be seen.

 

"And they're working on getting others sources of gas".  - We constantly hear of the Europeans sourcing gas from places like Qatar, (which will instantly lead to price increases due to lack of pipelines between them), but rarely hear the other side, namely that Qatar already has buyers for close to its entire production, and, without Russian gas, the world simply won't have enough to satisfy every country's requirements.  (It is doubtful if it even has enough with Russian supply). If the EU tilts the see-saw in its favour then it has to tilt to someone else's disfavour.  A point made in the link below:

"Energy poverty in parts of Asia could result as Europe sucks LNG cargoes away from their originally intended destinations,” said Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG...

... Power plants in Pakistan are running out of fuel, and are pleading with the government to make more supply available, according to local reports. As prices remain elevated, fuel shortages are at risk of spreading to Bangladesh, India and Thailand".

 

 

Global Energy Upheaval Threatens Years of Natural Gas Shortages - BNN Bloomberg

 

I have no solutions, and will no doubt be lambasted as a doomsayer, (and accused of going off topic, but this is a direct result of the Ukraine invasion), however, these are the hard facts.  Countries forced to buy from Russia because they can't get any from the "PC" suppliers will be criticised, but may have little other choice until alternatives to gas can take up the full demand - which is still years off.

 

 

More of my usual nonsense India is already getting an earful for stopping exports of grain so they can feed their own. 

Edited May 15, 2022 by Kwasaki

[jollyhangmon]

... listened to morning news streamed out of Austria, apparently the turkish sultan now is just 'sceptical' about the better part of Scandinavia joining NATO, no longer mentioning veto, we'll see ...

 

Either the recommended goats did it or there was some friendly reminder about the international bailout his grossly mismanaged economy will soon be in need of ... already is, actually.

 

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

India is already getting an earful for stopping exports of grain so they can feed their own. 

Just tell them to ask Russia, they have plenty for sale, they are stealing it all from Ukraine

 

Russia is stealing Ukraine’s grain and trying to sell it to other countries

Ministry of Defense said that Russian ships carrying stolen Ukrainian grain had reached the Mediterranean Sea and were likely en route to Syria.

“From there, grain can be supplied to other countries in the Middle East,” the ministry said.

 

Yet they are happy to blockade Ukraine's export of grain and cause a world crisis:

 

Russian blockade of Ukraine's ports puts global food supply at risk

The Russian blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports risks causing a global food crisis, given that Ukraine is one of the world’s top agricultural exporters. Analysts say this shows how Russia is weaponising food in its geopolitical games

[RJRS1301]

16 hours ago, Chris.B said:

They are not together.

 

they are both tyrants ask the kurds

Edited May 15, 2022 by RJRS1301

[GroveHillWanderer]

18 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Yes it's looking like that Turkey doesn't want loses ties with Russia.

That doesn't make any sense, given that Turkey has been quite open about supplying their highly effective, highly lethal Bayraktar TB2 drones to Ukraine. These drones have been credited with a high rate of success against Russian armoured vehicles.

 

Turkish drones have become a symbol of the Ukrainian resistance

 

It seems much more likely that he will be using his "resistance" to the idea to extract concessions from other NATO allies, just as he has done in the past with other issues.

 

As the article below points out:

 

"Erdogan has a long track record of using NATO’s consensus-driven policymaking bodies to extract concessions on other issues. In this instance, he may be targeting the United States, analysts said, with potential demands related to access to top-of-the-line U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, or U.S. dealings with Kurds in Syria."

 

Sweden, Finland mull NATO entry as Turkey voices opposition

Edited May 15, 2022 by GroveHillWanderer

[metisdead]

A post with unattributed information that was what somebody heard on the TV and radio news has been removed, please try to always supply a link to the source of information. 

[2 is 1]

2 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

"Erdogan has a long track record of using NATO’s consensus-driven policymaking bodies to extract concessions on other issues. In this instance, he may be targeting the United States, analysts said, with potential demands related to access to top-of-the-line U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, or U.S. dealings with Kurds in Syria."

There live many Kurdish in Sweden, Turkish bla bla bla more about Sweden than Finland's situation. Turkish make own desition and buy missile's from Russia, funny thing is that Finland already buy 64 F-35 fighter and US Congress accept deal. F-35 going to replace Finland's F/A-18's when new planes start to come.

[RJRS1301]

 

‘War-enabling, not war-winning’: how are drones affecting the Ukraine war?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/15/war-enabling-not-war-winning-how-are-drones-affecting-the-ukraine-war

[2 is 1]

 

[2 is 1]

https://www.justsecurity.org/81481/an-offer-nato-cannot-and-should-not-refuse-finlands-membership/

 

An Offer NATO Cannot (and Should Not) Refuse: Finland’s Membership!

 

Today here local time at 13:00 president and prime minister going to announce that Finland goin to apply NATO membership!

Edited May 15, 2022 by 2 is 1

[tgw]

5 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

https://www.justsecurity.org/81481/an-offer-nato-cannot-and-should-not-refuse-finlands-membership/

 

An Offer NATO Cannot (and Should Not) Refuse: Finland’s Membership!

they won't ... they just need to know what Erdogan wants for his payoff.

[2 is 1]

Just now, tgw said:

they won't ... they just need to know what Erdogan wants for his payoff.

Yeah i know political game has started!

[ballpoint]

More speculation on Putin's health, including the possibility that he is taking mood changing steroids - known to induce anger and paranoia, as part of his cancer treatment. He is known to have back problems for some time, and now walks with a limp. Investigative journalist Michael Weiss wrote a piece on this in New Lines magazine, and gave an interview to Times Radio:

 

"Ashley Grossman, a professor of endocrinology at Oxford University, told New Lines, "Putin has always been a very fit-looking man with a slightly gaunt appearance, but over the last couple of years, he seems to have filled out in the face and neck. Cushingoid appearance, it’s called, and it’s compatible with steroid use.”

Steroids, Grossman said, are typically prescribed for various kinds of lymphoma or myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells, which “can cause widespread bone disease and definitely affect the spinal column and back.”

 

Is Putin Sick – Or Are We Meant to Think He Is? - New Lines Magazine

 

Commonly associated with this is a decline in immunity from other infections, which would explain his covid paranoia and the statement in the interview below that “People in his own administration have to provide faecal samples, and PCR tests apparently in order to get within spitting distance of the guy. He’s become very germ phobic.”

 

 

The change in his face is quite evident, even in the last few months:

February 1st 2022

 

May 9th 2022

 

[tgw]

As stated before, I suspect Putin is not in his right mind.

But sick or not, and whatever the causes, my recommended treatment for him remains the same.

[RJRS1301]

28 minutes ago, tgw said:

As stated before, I suspect Putin is not in his right mind.

But sick or not, and whatever the causes, my recommended treatment for him remains the same.

Cure by Glock?

 

[placeholder]

5 hours ago, ballpoint said:

You raise two interesting (in a bad way) points:

"of course politicians are going to care about how long the war lasts. At least in those nations where elections have consequences". - It's looking likely that the turmoil caused by the war will ironically lead to this year's election results in at least one major country going in favour of the party that openly supports Putin (maybe not officially, but rather in the words and actions of senior members).  In the biggest case, these elections won't affect the leadership of the country, but will (if they go according to prediction) directly affect the legislative branch of government, which has proven time and time again to stymie the efforts of the administration in an attempt to raise the implied perception of their party and lower that of the other, even when it is to the detriment of the country.  This should provide impetus to the current administration to try and bring the war to a successful conclusion in the next two years, before the main presidential elections take place, but will conversely provide impetus to the opposing party to do all it can to drag the conflict out as, the longer it goes on for, the more favourable they will be seen.y

Actually, Republicans in the House and Senate have voted overwhelmingly to support the latest 40 billion dollar package for Ukraine. 

[placeholder]

5 hours ago, ballpoint said:

"And they're working on getting others sources of gas".  - We constantly hear of the Europeans sourcing gas from places like Qatar, (which will instantly lead to price increases due to lack of pipelines between them), but rarely hear the other side, namely that Qatar already has buyers for close to its entire production, and, without Russian gas, the world simply won't have enough to satisfy every country's requirements.  (It is doubtful if it even has enough with Russian supply). If the EU tilts the see-saw in its favour then it has to tilt to someone else's disfavour.  A point made in the link below:

"Energy poverty in parts of Asia could result as Europe sucks LNG cargoes away from their originally intended destinations,” said Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG...

... Power plants in Pakistan are running out of fuel, and are pleading with the government to make more supply available, according to local reports. As prices remain elevated, fuel shortages are at risk of spreading to Bangladesh, India and Thailand".

 

 

Global Energy Upheaval Threatens Years of Natural Gas Shortages - BNN Bloomberg

 

I have no solutions, and will no doubt be lambasted as a doomsayer, (and accused of going off topic, but this is a direct result of the Ukraine invasion), however, these are the hard facts.  Countries forced to buy from Russia because they can't get any from the "PC" suppliers will be criticised, but may have little other choice until alternatives to gas can take up the full demand - which is still years off.

 

 

Well, I know the Italians, for one managed to get a nice increase of gas from Algeria. And are planning to get more from Azerbaijan and Libya.

https://www.google.com/search?q=italians+to+get+more+gas+from+azerbaijan&sxsrf=ALiCzsaOC0e2Mi251GwrmCcbYiY3ckP7lw%3A1652607924705&ei=tMuAYrzYKvDYz7sPu-uhiAs&ved=0ahUKEwi8griinOH3AhVw7HMBHbt1CLEQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=italians+to+get+more+gas+from+azerbaijan&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAM6BwgAEEcQsAM6CggAEEcQsAMQyQNKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQmQdY1ytg2TNoAXABeACAAWWIAeUFkgEDOC4xmAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz

 

What's more, the USA is set to become the world's largest exporter of natural gas.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-be-worlds-biggest-lng-exporter-2022-2021-12-21/

And then there's Iran. If the Biden administration succeeds in its negotiations in  opening up the Iranian share of the gas field that it shares with Qatar, that should go a very long way towards supplying the deficit. But apart from that, even if these nations don't immediately manage to cut off supplies buying less over time will hurt the Russians. Also, once the Russians are driven out of Ukraine, which I think is inevitable unless the conflict goes nuclear, it won't be so urgent to completely cut them off. Which isn't really possible anyway. And who knows what's going to happen in Russia in the future? Their situation is potentially very unstable.

 

[Bkk Brian]

The title to this published piece should probably be "Why Russia is humiliated in Ukraine" however the content seems to correct it.

 

Why Russia needs to be humiliated in Ukraine

 

Russia is poor, corrupt and authoritarian, and now we also know that it is weak and pathetic. Russia’s ‘greatness’ has crumbled in an orgy of murder and rape inflicted by brutal occupiers in Ukraine. Tainted by the blood of the innocents, and beaten in honest combat, the bully has been reduced to size. It’s about time. Thank you, Ukraine, for serving this bitter medicine. Russia needed it badly.

 

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-russia-needs-to-be-humiliated-in-ukraine

[ozimoron]

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) announced on Saturday that they will not accept any territorial gains by Russia in Ukraine.

“We will never recognize borders that Russia has attempted to change by military aggression,” G7 foreign ministers said in a statement concluding a meeting in Gut Weissenhaus, a luxurious seaside resort in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

The countries will uphold their “engagement in the support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, and all states,” they added.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/g7-foreign-ministers-will-never-recognize-territorial-gains-russia-ukraine-borders-military-aggression/

[ozimoron]

Finland announced it would apply to join NATO, as top diplomats from the Western alliance, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, gathered Sunday in Berlin to discuss the war. Sweden’s governing party plans to announce its position on seeking NATO membership later Sunday.

 

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-eurovision-song-contest-zelenskyy-kyiv-entertainment-c01129f703b79b0757771afc60172257

[Bkk Brian]

18 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Finland announced it would apply to join NATO, as top diplomats from the Western alliance, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, gathered Sunday in Berlin to discuss the war. Sweden’s governing party plans to announce its position on seeking NATO membership later Sunday.

 

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-eurovision-song-contest-zelenskyy-kyiv-entertainment-c01129f703b79b0757771afc60172257

[Bkk Brian]

#UPDATE NATO will look at providing security guarantees for Finland and Sweden during the interim period from their application for membership to accession, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday

[Rimmer]

Baiting bickering post and replies removed

[placeholder]

The following could well just be disinformation designed to spook an allegedly ill and failing Putin. But we can live in hope:

 

Putin coup is underway and 'impossible to stop,' says Ukraine's military intelligence chief

• A coup to overthrow Russian President Vladimir Putin is underway, according to Ukraine's military intelligence chief.
• The coup is "impossible to stop," Major General Kyrylo Budanov told Sky News.
• The Russian leader is in "a very bad psychological and physical condition," Budanov said.

https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-coup-underway-impossible-to-stop-ukraine-military-intel-2022-5

[Chris.B]

Panicked Russian troops retreat to nine miles from border as Putin's Plan B crumbles

VLADIMIR PUTIN'S troops have been pushed back to "within just nine miles" of the Russian-Ukraine border as Moscow faces a humiliating "collapse" of its Plan B invasion strategy.

Russian forces have been pushed back to within just nine miles from its own border, as Vladimir Putin's forces are on the brink of "total collapse". CNN's Nick Paton Walsh, reporting from Kharkiv after a Russian retreat, said that the military "reset" of the invasion three weeks ago has already unravelled. 

 

Express

 

 

[coolcarer]

On 5/14/2022 at 7:49 AM, farmerjo said:

Spanner in the works.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/13/erdogan-says-turkey-opposed-to-finland-sweden-nato-membership

It’s been fixed for you. 
 

Ukraine Latest: NATO Says Turkey Doesn't Plan to Block Nordics

 

https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/ukraine-latest-nato-says-turkey-doesnt-plan-to-block-nordics

 

[placeholder]

Support for the Ukrainian venture may be unraveling in Russia. Even among the most enthusiastic supporters.

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, MAY 14

 

The Ukrainian destruction of significant elements of a Russian motorized rifle brigade that tried to cross a pontoon bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River on May 11 has shocked prominent Russian milbloggers. Those bloggers have begun commenting on the incompetence of the Russian military to their hundreds of thousands of followers. The attempted river crossing showed a stunning lack of tactical sense as satellite images show (destroyed) Russian vehicles tightly bunched up at both ends of the (destroyed) bridge, clearly allowing Ukrainian artillerymen to kill hundreds and destroy scores of vehicles with concentrated strikes. 

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-14