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

[Social Media]

Putin tells Ukraine he is ready for peace talks - but only if Kyiv accepts 'new territorial realities'

• Putin told Turkey's President Erdogan he was open to peace dialogue with Kyiv
• However, Kremlin said this was only possible if Ukraine accepts that territories occupied by Moscow's armies since the invasion began on Feb. 24 as Russian
• Erdogan called for peace talks in the phone call with Putin, his office said 

[bannork]

Lots of forced smiles and compulsory clapping amongst these Russians celebrating New Year.

 

[Bkk Brian]

Now we can understand why Bakhmut is so important for them and why Wagners boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has his ex convict terrorists there. Its all about the money to be made.

 

Putin ally fighting to control salt and gypsum mines near Ukraine city of Bakhmut, says US

A close ally of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is interested in taking control of salt and gypsum from mines near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, according to a White House official.

Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of Russia’s most powerful mercenary force, the Wagner Group. Wagner has played a key role in the Russian offensive against Bakhmut.

There were indications that monetary motives were driving Russia’s and Prigozhin’s “obsession” with Bakhmut, the US official said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/06/putin-ally-fighting-to-control-salt-and-gypsum-mines-near-ukraine-city-of-bakhmut-says-us

[ExpatOilWorker]

4 hours ago, bannork said:

Lots of forced smiles and compulsory clapping amongst these Russians celebrating New Year.

 

They have so much to celebrate ????. 

 

[jvs]

Cease Fire by Russia?

Really desperate or running out of bullets?

I would not give them one minute of rest,if they do not want to fight any longer they can all move east,all the way to mother  russia!

[jvs]

I just read russia already broke their own cease fire,missiles fired again.

 

[Bkk Brian]

Lets hope they don't head to Thailand for their hols. The first ex convicts have finished their 6 month stint fighting in Ukraine. Now back in Russia, Yevgeny Prigozhin is telling them not to rape anyone and don't drink too much!

 

Putin ally’s advice to freed Russian convicts: ‘Don’t drink too much, don’t rape women’

The first batch of Russian convicts sent to fight on the front lines has been told not to drink too much or rape anyone after being returned as free men in exchange for their services.

The advice came from the founder of the notorious Wagner mercenary group debriefing several dozen returning men who, before the war, were in prison for violent crimes.

Yevgeny Prigozhin told the recruits they deserved the nation’s respect for their duties, but that they should also “behave”.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/05/putin-ally-russia-convicts-wagner-group-dont-drink-rape/

[Rimmer]

Boosting Ukraine’s Maneuver Capabilities Focus Of $3B US Aid Package

 

 

 

Last month, Valery Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Army, told The Economist what was needed to restore Ukraine’s territory to its borders before Russia’s full-on invasion. Friday, the Pentagon took another partial step toward fulfilling those wishes with a new $3 billion aid package headlined by 50 M2A2-ODS Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

 

“I know that I can beat this enemy. But I need resources," Zaluzhny said back in December. "I need 300 tanks, 600-700 IFVs [Infantry Fighting Vehicles], 500 Howitzers. Then, I think it is completely realistic to get to the lines of February 23rd.”

 

All told, the $2.85 billion Presidential Drawdown package includes no tanks, but among the Bradleys and Sea Sparrow missiles, more than 300 other vehicles are being donated, including 18 M109A6 Paladin 155-mm self-propelled howitzers - another first for Ukraine. An additional 36 105mm towed howitzers are also on the list.

 

Full story:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/boosting-ukraines-maneuver-capabilities-focus-of-3b-us-aid-package

 

 

[Social Media]

The Biden administration on Friday announced its largest drawdown yet in US military assistance to Ukraine, but there are lurking concerns that Republicans wielding newfound power in Washington could stand in the way of future aid – especially as chaos brews in the House.

[rudi49jr]

Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief, said Russia is preparing to mobilize an extra 500,000 conscripts.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/06/russia-preparing-mobilise-extra-500000-conscripts-claims-ukraine

 

And the little Kremlin gremlin will no doubt gladly sacrifice 10 million more men if necessary, just to save face. And this man said he is willing to ‘negotiate’. Yeah, right.  

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Black Ops said:

The Biden administration on Friday announced its largest drawdown yet in US military assistance to Ukraine, but there are lurking concerns that Republicans wielding newfound power in Washington could stand in the way of future aid – especially as chaos brews in the House.

I've seen nothing to suggest that the GOP will block all aid to Ukraine, but I do assume they won't be signing any blank cheques.

[rudi49jr]

28 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I've seen nothing to suggest that the GOP will block all aid to Ukraine, but I do assume they won't be signing any blank cheques.

What’s all this talk about blank cheques? If the US government were actually signing blank cheques, we’d be talking seriously different numbers from what the US has done for Ukraine so far.

[candide]

1 hour ago, rudi49jr said:

What’s all this talk about blank cheques? If the US government were actually signing blank cheques, we’d be talking seriously different numbers from what the US has done for Ukraine so far.

It's just the usual right-wing propaganda m.o. They cannot decently object helping Ukraine, so they insinuate that blank checks may have been written, which could have fed corruption. Of course, as usual, they don't have any evidence about it.

[ExpatOilWorker]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I've seen nothing to suggest that the GOP will block all aid to Ukraine, but I do assume they won't be signing any blank cheques.

Biden planned ahead. 

The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 is an act of the United States Congress that facilitates the supply of materiel to the Ukrainian government in a manner similar to the World War II Lend-Lease Act in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

[tgw]

1 hour ago, candide said:

It's just the usual right-wing propaganda m.o. They cannot decently object helping Ukraine, so they insinuate that blank checks may have been written, which could have fed corruption. Of course, as usual, they don't have any evidence about it.

I came across some statements of certain republicans and the insinuations were absolutely disgusting.
I'm surprised Qanon sympathizers and other politicians exploiting similar crazies to gain votes are accepted in the republican party. It certainly isn't the same world today as it was 30 years ago.

[Social Media]

 

[Rimmer]

Off topic deflection posts have been removed, please do not try to hijack the topic which i about what is happening on a daily basis regarding the illegal occupation of Ukraine

[Social Media]

 

[rudi49jr]

3 hours ago, Black Ops said:

 

So far there’s zero evidence for Russia’s claim it killed 600 Ukrainian soldiers with a strike in Kramatorsk:

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moscow-ends-self-proclaimed-ceasefire-vows-press-ahead-ukraine-2023-01-08/

[tgw]

5 hours ago, Black Ops said:

 

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-why-russias-claim-that-air-strike-killed-600-is-almost-certainly-a-grotesque-untruth-12782550

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

23 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

What’s all this talk about blank cheques? If the US government were actually signing blank cheques, we’d be talking seriously different numbers from what the US has done for Ukraine so far.

Yes but the right wing in the U.S. has now been hijacked in the house by the most insanely RADICAL wing of that party. Which means it's definite that there will be more opposition to giving Ukraine the military help it really needs -- enough to WIN this war ASAP as time is on Putin's side. 

Why?

They don't really have coherent foreign policy but they mirror the Putin's poodle attitude of the leader of their party, Florida man Trump. 

They are very ISOLATIONIST, which is very much about domestic policy, similarly to the American fascists also using the "America First" slogan leading up to WW2,

You'll hear a lot of garbage from them saying what happens in Ukraine doesn't matter to Americans.

Europe etc. must continue to step it up, because support from the U.S. is likely to weaken.

[Jingthing]

On 1/6/2023 at 1:28 PM, bannork said:

Lots of forced smiles and compulsory clapping amongst these Russians celebrating New Year.

 

It's very revealing to watch this video and see who was doing the same show in 2013 in Russia (before Putin stole Crimea) and to to see the usual fun (not war propaganda) tone of it. 

 

 

[stevenl]

8 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

So far there’s zero evidence for Russia’s claim it killed 600 Ukrainian soldiers with a strike in Kramatorsk:

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moscow-ends-self-proclaimed-ceasefire-vows-press-ahead-ukraine-2023-01-08/

I think we can safely say the Russian claim it not true.

[Tug]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Yes but the right wing in the U.S. has now been hijacked in the house by the most insanely RADICAL wing of that party. Which means it's definite that there will be more opposition to giving Ukraine the military help it really needs -- enough to WIN this war ASAP as time is on Putin's side. 

Why?

They don't really have coherent foreign policy but they mirror the Putin's poodle attitude of the leader of their party, Florida man Trump. 

They are very ISOLATIONIST, which is very much about domestic policy, similarly to the American fascists also using the "America First" slogan leading up to WW2,

You'll hear a lot of garbage from them saying what happens in Ukraine doesn't matter to Americans.

Europe etc. must continue to step it up, because support from the U.S. is likely to weaken.

I disagree although with McCarthy beeing controlled by the worst of the maga bunch I’m sure there will be lots of bumps in the road and it’s pure bs that Putin killed 600 Ukrainians with a missile strike 

[Social Media]

.

Olaf Scholz under pressure to release Leopard II tanks to Ukraine after Poland and Finland pledge

German manufactured tank is one of most feared in the world and would give Ukraine an edge against Russia’s T-72 tanks

Pressure is building on Germany to release Leopard II tanks to Ukraine after Finland and Poland pledged to send Europe’s most fearsome tank to fight the Russian army.

Germany manufactures Leopard II tanks and also holds the export licence for them, meaning Berlin must approve any shipment of the tanks to Ukraine or elsewhere.

After both the Finnish and Polish governments signalled their desire to send Leopard II vehicles to Ukraine, Lars Klingbeil, a German MP and part of the ruling coalition, said the government wouldn’t be bounced into a deal and that no countries “were yet delivering heavy battle tanks” to Ukraine.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/8/2023 at 12:10 PM, ExpatOilWorker said:

Biden planned ahead. 

The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 is an act of the United States Congress that facilitates the supply of materiel to the Ukrainian government in a manner similar to the World War II Lend-Lease Act in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The British had to pay back the "loan", but I've seen nothing to say the Ukrainians will have to do so. Tell me if they do.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/8/2023 at 9:30 AM, rudi49jr said:

What’s all this talk about blank cheques? If the US government were actually signing blank cheques, we’d be talking seriously different numbers from what the US has done for Ukraine so far.

Oh pulease!

[rudi49jr]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Oh pulease!

Is that all you got? Like arguing with a six-year-old.

[rudi49jr]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The British had to pay back the "loan", but I've seen nothing to say the Ukrainians will have to do so. Tell me if they do.

Freedom comes with a price. But the US and EU are getting their money’s worth:
 

https://www.csis.org/analysis/united-states-aid-ukraine-investment-whose-benefits-greatly-exceed-its-cost

[Bkk Brian]

Overwhelming majority of Ukrainians believe authorities won't make compromise with Russia – KIIS

 "the absolute majority (84%) of Ukrainians still believe that the government is not going to and will not make unacceptable compromises with Russia (in September it was 87%).

This is evidenced by the results of an opinion poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on December 4-27, 2022 and their comparison with the same survey conducted in September of the same year."

https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/882939.html