All things Russia and Ukraine...

EU awards Ukraine and Moldova candidate status
EU awards Ukraine and Moldova candidate status

Ukraine applied days after the Russian invasion in February, and the process moved at a record speed.

While Moldova's application was accepted, a third former Soviet state, Georgia, has still to qualify for candidacy.

EU President Ursula von der Leyen said all three countries were "part of our European family".

"It strengthens Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, in the face of Russian imperialism. And it strengthens the EU. Because it shows once again to the world that we are united and strong in the face of external threats."

 

Nike latest brand to leave Russia permanently

Nike latest brand to leave Russia permanently

The US sportswear giant halted online orders and closed the stores it owned in the country in March.

Shops run by local partners continued to operate, but the firm is winding down those agreements.

Russia is now working on legislation that would punish foreign companies seeking to leave, allowing the government to seize their assets and impose criminal penalties, according to Reuters.

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Russian auto sales plunge 83.5% in May, another historic dive

Russian auto sales plunge 83.5% in May, another historic dive

Russia sent troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24, and sales of new cars have been falling since March as sanctions blocked main supply chains. Last month, only 24,268 vehicles were sold, AEB said. A year earlier, sales were six times greater.

 

Half Russian separatist force dead or wounded - UK

Half Russian separatist force dead or wounded - UK

They estimate the Donetsk militia alone has lost 55% of its original force.

Russia's two proxy statelets are not recognised internationally. In fact Moscow only recognised the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics two days before it invaded Ukraine in February. Last week the president of Kazakhstan said in front of President Vladimir Putin that he had no intention of recognising them.

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Russia has warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences after it banned the rail transfer of some goods to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad: Russia warns Lithuania of consequences over rail transit sanctions

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has said Russian claims of a rail blockade of its territorial outpost in Kaliningrad are a lie.

When Lithuania banned the transit of steel and other ferrous metals under EU sanctions last Saturday, Russia threatened to respond.

Ms Simonyte explained that passengers were still able to travel freely across Lithuanian territory from Russia to Kaliningrad and only about 1% of Russian freight was affected.

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Just Russin lies again. Mr Putin, are you a tired old man who has nothing but lies to offer. Your country is collapsing. Have a nice day. Oh yeah, a man called Tamino wants to see your army. Go meet him. And take to Siberia like the other people from Ukraine. I am sure he would like the climate there.

 

Terrain, I would think. Monte Cassino was a rather steep mountain, while Ukrainian cities tend to be flatter. A better comparison might be Stalingrad (or Berlin, or Manila, etc) - a sufficiently large attacking force will tend to keep grinding through an urban defence until something external happens to change the situation. Might be reinforcements for the defence or a dearth of supplies for the offence.

In Ukraine, as far as I can tell from news reports, Ukrainian forces are mostly in defensive mode, with limited counterattacks in vulnerable or strategic areas. It looks like being a case of the defence hanging on until either the Russians are exhausted (not far off if reports are to be believed) or a counter can be made (new equipment arriving should help there)

 

Yes,
I think you're correct. I just read by a Finnish officer that the Soviets have had big losses crossing rivers to hill-like defensive positions so the Terrain makes the difference.

 

Well, for starters:

- U.S. military bases outside of North America: 750 (approximate).
- Russian military bases outside of the former Soviet Union: 3 (two in Syria, one in Vietnam).

The United States has so many military bases abroad, the Pentagon is unable to give an exact count. If we include foreign bases to which U.S. armed forces are allowed access, the number is closer to 1,000.

U.S. foreign policy essentially amounts to nonstop illegal and criminal activity, such as: military invasions, drone warfare, economic sanctions, naval blockades, regime change by subversion. Usually this is done to eliminate or punish world leaders who oppose the wishes of U.S. corporations, multi-national corporations, and foreign governments (anyone who can bribe members of the U.S. government with election campaign donations). This lobby effort is truly staggering and is a big reason why the U.S. government is $30 trillion in debt.

Put another way, U.S. troops are little more than mercenaries for the highest bidder, usually deployed with the amusing cover story that they are "spreading democracy".

U.S. and western sanctions imposed against Russia have largely backfired; punishing us with higher prices more than it has punished Putin. The Russian ruble is the strongest currency in the world. Russian oil and gas profits have soared since January.

I have nothing against Ukraine, but that country is not a democracy, is not a member of NATO, and is not entitled to receive welfare payments from the USA. So far the U.S. Congress has pissed away about $55 billion there during the eight years since the U.S. State Department helped overthrow the Ukraine government in 2014.

There is no oversight or control agency to monitor issue of those weapons. Many will go straight into the black market, as they did in South Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. The arms makers do not care, they only want to make another sale and secure more contracts.

 

I sincerely hope that the Ukrainians will win this war. The west, particularly Britain is helping a great deal but I have to hesitate when I read all the different reports. Propaganda isn't, of course, just a weapon of the enemy!!! I read that on an almost daily basis Ukraine is giving Russians a bloody nose but at the same time the Russians 'take' another Ukrainian town. Something isn't quite right! If the Ukrainians are doing all that we read the how come the Russians are gaining ground?

 

Whatever. Due to rubble policy, Russia has not been able to pay its debts in required dollars since May and will be considered as trash country in getting new loans. As much of gold you have in Russia in rubbless it does not work. Selling under-priced oil to India and China, those countries use Russia only because it is in trouble with foreign currency. India is laughing at the oil price and gets a big profit. So far Russia has not paid its debt and will be condemned to have no loans in the west. The Russian Bank has increased the taxes to keep the inflation lower but as Nobody sells minor electronic items for cars etc there will be no new cars or tanks. If Russia cannot built these you know the end result.

 

The Russians have gained an area of a 30 000 City people in a month or so. And if they consider these areas will be Russian I wonder how much it will cost to rebuilt these areas if they decide to make them part of Russia. After they bombed the City to kindom come. Oh stupid you. Sounds good to bomb the City but all in all rebuild it to new...from scratch. What a stupid idea. To rebuild Donbass. Great idea, Mr Putin. Where do you get the builders and tiles etc for years to come. You say " Whatever" I know. You don't really care.

 

NATO has today decided today to increase its troops in the Eastern European countries from 40,000 to 300,000 men. Hard to believe they only come with mg's. Sorry guys, I know this one country must be stopped in Europe. Must be a whole lot of US troops include.

 

Well, for starters:
In Bosnia the big military camp builders hired local Bosnian people who got ONE dollar a day. Do you think the big businesses made big Money?

In the local US PR shop you could order a leather couch to your tent.

And the best of all: the US troops only came when there was a movie Cinema, Macdonalds in their dinner shop.

What warfare is that, Sorry??!!
We always went to the US camp if we wanted to eat hambugers and pizza.

And that's not all I tell you. Don't ask me.

 

Nice talk. Would you be happier surrounded By China and Russia? Think about it.

 

You better pray Ukraine wins or you are a soldier or a Russian passport owner, mate. Do you think Russia stops in Ukraine?
From history we know Stalin wanted Hitler to exhaust both side armies and then they would invade the whole western Europe.
Also France. Pick your side!

 

Surround me with WHAT?

I thought about it, and I don't want to pay for Finland's defense.

If your government seeks to saber-rattle with the Russians, then Finland should spend far more on weapons and far less on health care, social services and infrastructure (as we do in the United States). Let me know how that works out.

I don't understand why anyone in Finland tries to agitate Putin, or anyone else with thousands of nuclear weapons. It's crazy. Finland joining NATO might be counter-productive, or worse, lead to the exact opposite result they hoped for.

And by the way, fear sells. Think about that the next time you read a press release from your exalted leaders.

 

I have been predicting there will be war in Europe ever since the day dreamers said that there will be no more war because of the existence of the E.U.!! It's what mankind does best!!!! Do I think Russia will stop at Ukraine? No, I don't. Do I think Germany will, once again, try and over run Europe? Yes! When, I have no idea. perhaps another country will try its luck in the future but as sure as eggs are eggs there will forever be war in Europe and elsewhere. Any one who thinks the world will be at peace is a fool.

 

No, you don't have to pay for Finlands defence. Unlike many other countries that thought that EU will have fast acting defence forces and sold their tanks, Sweden even ended their army. We bought the Leopards, we have a big artillery section and our army has some 70 Hornets, and our army and reservists train regularly. Not to mention we made a deal of F-35s and we are buying land-to-air missiles from Israel.That is why we would cause no extra expenses to NATO, on the contrary. We are a wealthy country with good army and modern weapons. Besides the countryside towards Russia is full of trees and lakes so tanks cannot use any motorways. That is our advantage. Only through forests and lakes.

Btw, we don't want war with Russia. Russia attacked suddenly Ukraine and we don't want to be alone if that happens here as Putin says he wants old Soviet countries back. Sweden ruled Finland 6 centuries, Russia one. How can Putin count Finland as their old part of Russia. Sweden can. But Putin has shown he is unpredictable so we want more protection

Do you think Putin would stop to Ukraine? He wants all Europe. China takes Taiwan etc and Russia all it can. Europe is full of neo-nazi led countries. Good reason to "purify" Europe. Do not underestimate dictators. Putin has prepared for a big war for a long time by restoring money and gold. He will continue for years. Like he said he is Peter the Great. So he will continue to conquer countries, no doubt about it. And China is on the brink of starting war. They are already pushing boundaries and intelligence ships sail more and more around Taiwan. That is why the US has two carriers close to Taiwan. In case they are needed. They are not cruising around.

 

Otherwise yes but Germany has a very weak army due to post ww2 restrictions. That is why they are unwilling to give help to Ukraine as they will give all they got from their army. I think Germany may be powerful in Finance but their army is a joke.

 

Yes, fear sells. Do you think some 8 million people country is attacking 200 million Russia. No way. Where the **** do you get your information. It is like Winter War. Bad Finland, good Russia. Before the Ukraine war 12% of Finns wanted to join NATO. Now it is 80%. Because we fear Russian invasion.