11 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You need to include some proof of 2,000 dead children. I don't believe it's anywhere near that high. Unlike children in a different country, Ukrainians have bomb shelters and were able to evacuate children from the danger areas.

 

Zelensky is the epitome of a tin pot dictator. Tell us when he last had an election.

600 dead in one go at this theatre 2 years ago.

 

And, as been pointed out repeatedly, Ukraine's constitution does not allow a general election during wartime

 

But neither of these fit into your preconceived narrative of putin = good man

4 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

And, as been pointed out repeatedly, Ukraine's constitution does not allow a general election during wartime

 

 

Convenient for tin pot dictators then. Even Britain had a general election during the slaughter in WW1.

Constitutions can be changed.

 

4 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

But neither of these fit into your preconceived narrative of putin = good man

Making it up again!

I have said nothing to suggest I believe Putin= good man, but don't let reality get in the way of your insults.

 

5 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

600 dead in one go at this theatre 2 years ago.

and the other 1400?

 

 

On 12/29/2024 at 1:24 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

You need to include some proof of 2,000 dead children. I don't believe it's anywhere near that high. Unlike children in a different country, Ukrainians have bomb shelters and were able to evacuate children from the danger areas.

 

Zelensky is the epitome of a tin pot dictator. Tell us when he last had an election.

How about 2000 killed an wounded?

 

According to official UN data, at least 600 children have been killed in attacks since the escalation of the war in 2022. More than 1,350 children have been injured. The true number of children killed and injured is likely considerably higher.

 

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/significant-increase-number-children-killed-across-ukraine-year-deadly-attacks

17 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

 

As posted on twit thing, LOL. Not exactly an unbiased source.

 

Got anything from a more neutral source?

 

Never mind, keep saying it over and over and one day it might come true.

 

For the moment I'll file it with all the posts saying Russia was running out of missiles.

On 11/29/2024 at 7:38 PM, AndreasHG said:

Russia a military giant but an economic dwarf

...are you serious??

40 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

...are you serious??

 

Of course I am serious: below is the GDP (in USD) per capita of the Russian Federation compared to some benchmark countries in Europe and nearby. Russia's per capita GDP is lower than any of them, thanks also to the Ruble, which has been trashed yesterday for the second time in a bit more than one month.

Poor Russia is a giant only when compared to Ukraine. 

 

Besides commodities and raw materials, Russia has never been able to produce anything in any meaningful quantity.

 

Data are from the IMS:
https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPDPC@WEO/RUS/TUR/BGR/ROU/POL/FRA/GBR/DEU/USA

 

15 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

Poor Russia is a giant only when compared to Ukraine. 

 

So, what you're saying is that the Ukes in the areas annexed by Putin will be better off financially?

58 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

So, what you're saying is that the Ukes in the areas annexed by Putin will be better off financially?

 

The Ukrainians are treated by the Russians in the same way all the ethnic minorities subjected to their empire are treated: with no mercy.

Why do you think Tatars, Chechens, Bashkirs, Chuvash, Avars, Armenians, Dargins, lose their lives by the thousands in the Russian army for a few dollars of sign-in bonus, monthly wage, and a super-bonus in case of death?

It's because they live in appalling conditions, deprived of freedom, and barely able to satisfy their families' basic need. It's desperation that provides the Russian army with its cannon fodder.

It has always been this way: under the tzars, the soviets, and now under Putin.

 

Remember the Holodomor: The famine affected the Ukrainian SSR as well as the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (a part of the Ukrainian SSR at the time).

Its consequences are evident in demographic statistics: between 1926 and 1939, the Ukrainian population increased by only 6.6%, whereas Russia grew by 16.9%.

 

Russia has never been kind with the ethnic minorities subjected to its imperial rule.

 

Interesting video by BBC.

 

'I want the war to end and for us to win' - Russian hopes for 2025 

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/ce327we7w7zo

 

20 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

Russia has never been kind with the ethnic minorities subjected to its imperial rule.

Which is strange considering Stalin was a Georgian.

20 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

Remember the Holodomor: 

As I remember it that was a man made catastrophe due to ideology, rather than because they were an ethnic minority.

Same as in China during the IMO madman Mao's rule.

Further bad news for the Russian economy - 4 out of 5 main gas export routes to Europe now closed. 

 

On 1/1/2025 at 7:52 AM, Pique Dard said:

...are you serious??

Russia's GDP is at around the same level as Italy. It's around ten times lower than the U.S.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/by-gdp

 

Russia always wants to compare itself to the U.S, but it's clearly trying to punch over its weight. 

18 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

Further bad news for the Russian economy - 4 out of 5 main gas export routes to Europe now closed. 

 

Further bad news for the European economy - 4 out of 5 main gas export routes to Europe now closed. 

Gas prices increase, uneconomical for businesses which close.

 

Russian gas still gets to Europe via Turkey, but costs a lot more.

34 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Further bad news for the European economy - 4 out of 5 main gas export routes to Europe now closed. 

Gas prices increase, uneconomical for businesses which close.

 

Russian gas still gets to Europe via Turkey, but costs a lot more.

 

Indeed, but nobody wins in this situation, all because of one small dictator. 

30 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Indeed, but nobody wins in this situation, all because of one small dictator. 

Please stop ignoring that there were many factors involved in the Russian invasion, and pretending it was all on Putin waking up and deciding to start a war, just because.

14 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Please stop ignoring that there were many factors involved in the Russian invasion, and pretending it was all on Putin waking up and deciding to start a war, just because.

It was all on Putin.  It's a waste of time even talking to people that deny that.

On 12/1/2024 at 8:18 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO not many clever people take the renewable energy thing seriously, but it's very profitable so it will keep being pushed till it can't be faked any more.

 

Nuclear and hydrogen are far more reliable, still work at night time and when the wind stops blowing. The new nuclear technology is well on the way and hydrogen is coming along slowly, but they are coming.

Nuclear is the most expensive form of electricity on the planet, and there's also the problem of what to do with a nuclear facility when it reaches end of life in 50 years. Currently, the solution is to encase the whole plant in concrete, and let the irradiated steel decay for the next 150,000 years.

 

Currently, only 5% of hydrogen is produced from electrolysis of water by renewable energy. 95% is made by cracking methane, biomass and natural gas, which has carbon dioxide as a by product, the very thing the world is trying to reduce. It's a Red Queen's race.

 

Clever people know renewable energy is denigrated by the fossil fuel industry, as it sees its market share shrinking.

 

Unfortunately, you are not one of them.

 

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Please stop ignoring that there were many factors involved in the Russian invasion, and pretending it was all on Putin waking up and deciding to start a war, just because.

Please stop revising history.

 

The Holodomor was orchestrated by Stalin, who then moved ethnic Russians into the most fertile region of Ukraine, if not the world, after killing off about 6 million Ukrainians. Lebensraum in reverse.

 

The only factors in Putin's decision to invade Ukraine were his repeatedly expressed desire to restore the Soviet Union to its former glory, plus being told what he wanted to hear by the FSB. The rest were not factors, but excuses.

 

 

On 1/5/2025 at 8:03 AM, Lacessit said:

.

 

The only factors in Putin's decision to invade Ukraine were his repeatedly expressed desire to restore the Soviet Union to its former glory, plus being told what he wanted to hear by the FSB. The rest were not factors, but excuses.

 

 

Just because you believe this does not make it fact. There are many other more learned, distinguished scholars who give other reasons, not one of which refers to Putin wanting to restore the Soviet Union.

21 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Just because you believe this does not make it fact. There are many other more learned, distinguished scholars who give other reasons, not one of which refers to Putin wanting to restore the Soviet Union.

The OP is correct and you are wrong.

 

 

On 1/5/2025 at 8:03 AM, Lacessit said:

The only factors in Putin's decision to invade Ukraine were his repeatedly expressed desire to restore the Soviet Union to its former glory

 

28 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Just because you believe this does not make it fact.

I agree with the second comment. It’s impossible to restore Russia to its former glory for the simple reason it has never been neither glorious nor great.
 

The most Russia has ever been is huge. An immense landmass sparsely populated by people mostly living in misery.

1 hour ago, Gweiloman said:

Just because you believe this does not make it fact. There are many other more learned, distinguished scholars who give other reasons, not one of which refers to Putin wanting to restore the Soviet Union.

IMO it is not a belief when Putin himself has expressed the sentiment repeatedly and publicly.

 

 

On 1/2/2025 at 6:12 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Which is strange considering Stalin was a Georgian.

Psychopaths are to be found in every nationality.

 

They discriminate against groups they consider to be weaker and less powerful.

3 hours ago, Mike_Hunt said:

The OP is correct and you are wrong.

You are of course entitled to believe whatever you like. Some people even believe that the earth is flat…

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

IMO it is not a belief when Putin himself has expressed the sentiment repeatedly and publicly.

 

 

I’ve read many western reports and articles claiming that but never once heard it from Putin himself.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Psychopaths are to be found in every nationality.

 

They discriminate against groups they consider to be weaker and less powerful.

Much like many western “powers”.

3 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

 

 

 

I agree with the second comment. It’s impossible to restore Russia to its former glory for the simple reason it has never been neither glorious nor great.
 

The most Russia has ever been is huge. An immense landmass sparsely populated by people mostly living in misery.

9th most populous country in the world, blessed with an immense landmass and resources.
 

Most Russians I know are happy with their lives. My ex-gf already owned her own 2 bedroom apartment in St.P when she was only 25 yrs old. I stayed there before; mighty comfortable with extremely cheap heating during winter.

11 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I’ve read many western reports and articles claiming that but never once heard it from Putin himself.

You're chums, that explains a lot, comrade...........