The more I think about it the more Putin seems like a petulant scared (key word here for me) individual with unresolved issues from childhood and insecurities about his a bit less than average height that got buried so deep he spiraled into being a literal psychopath. And that's more of a clinical term, not judgement. Quite fascinating if you take it out of context of him literally murdering people using money he stole.

It feels increasingly likely that we'll reach the peak of this situation very soon. I was up until 5:30 watching the nuclear situation last night, and it feels hard to view it as anything other than a purposeful terror tactic for Europe.

I don’t get why they would do that as the fallout of Chernobyl is still fresh in the minds of Russian leaders and it would affect them too?

cos it can't explode like an atom bomb, it supports 20% of Ukraine's power, and Putin doesn't care if the worst happens and an explosion releases radioactive material across Ukraine, Russia and various neighbours as most people will take years to start dying, and those in the area are only Ukranians and Russian soldiers, so they don't matter. He's been quite happy to encourage people to die slowly of radioactive poisoning in the past. Cold-blooded Murderers don't have consciences and he's not likely to suddenly have an epiphany I'm afraid.....

Putin saying he supports talks, but ONLY if Ukraine "complies with his demands". Um, so they aren't talks, just one ciuntry using force to bully another.

 

I'm hearing rumours that Putón is hidden away in a bunker. Is that true??

 

 

 

Is that true??

I'm sorry to interrupt but you're asking people on Buzzjack whether the president of another country is hiding in the bunker, don't you? :)

Wat?

Some of the things in Aleksandr Dugin's book (Foundations of Geopolitics) which relate to Europe - looks a bit like Putin's "playbook"

 

The book states that "the maximum task [of the future]is the 'Finlandization' of all of Europe".

 

In Europe:

• Germany should be offered the de facto political dominance over most Protestant and Catholic states located within Central and Eastern Europe. Kaliningrad Oblast could be given back to Germany. The book uses the term "Moscow–Berlin axis".
• France should be encouraged to form a bloc with Germany, as they both have a "firm anti-Atlanticist tradition".
• The United Kingdom, merely described as an "extraterritorial floating base of the U.S.", should be cut off from Europe.
• Finland should be absorbed into Russia. Southern Finland will be combined with the Republic of Karelia and northern Finland will be "donated to Murmansk Oblast".
• Estonia should be given to Germany's sphere of influence.
• Latvia and Lithuania should be given a "special status" in the Eurasian–Russian sphere.
• Poland should be granted a "special status" in the Eurasian sphere.
• Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, "Serbian Bosnia" and Greece – "Orthodox collectivist East" – will unite with "Moscow the Third Rome" and reject the "rational-individualistic West".
• Ukraine should be annexed by Russia because "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning, no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness, its certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics". Ukraine should not be allowed to remain independent, unless it is cordon sanitaire, which would be inadmissible.

 

Incidentally I've seen lots of unverified photos of Russian tanks stuck in the early spring mud. If true, this whole "operation" looks like a complete shambles to me.

Hmmm, well all of those aims are pretty much tits up following Ukraine. Except for the isolating of the UK (economically) from Europe, which went very well with Russian support.

 

A wet dream of carving up Europe was never going to happen while people are still alive who remember lying dangerous murderous tyrants coming from the East.

Obviously were in the midst of a war, so claims need to be taken with a pinch of salt but Zelensky claiming 10,000 Russian soldiers have died.

 

 

Putin and his ilk probably did not conceive of a pretty strong pan-European feeling that now permeates the continent. It is just feelings and come into contact with Russian forces, it may melt away, but for now, it's holding strong and it appears the war of words is Ukraine's.

 

Obviously were in the midst of a war, so claims need to be taken with a pinch of salt but Zelensky claiming 10,000 Russian soldiers have died.

 

The likely death figures are somewhere between the Ukrainian figures and the Russian figures, the Russians were claiming 500 yesterday but it seems to be a bit more than that.

I read that the Ukrainian figures are misleading but in the right ball park. This was saying that It includes injured and captured. So its basically right to say it’s 10k they’ve removed from the battlefield, not necessarily in body bags.

Putin and his ilk probably did not conceive of a pretty strong pan-European feeling that now permeates the continent. It is just feelings and come into contact with Russian forces, it may melt away, but for now, it's holding strong and it appears the war of words is Ukraine's.

 

Ukraine's reaction to Russian troops invading and history generally suggests that people are generally not keen on giving up their way of life to a regime that denies the truth and freedoms and imposes its will on people. So, melting away of support is not likely. Some Serbian protestors seem to be on the side of Russia - to which I'd suggest they go and live in Russia if they want to give up their freedom and right to protest. Does Putin care about his citizens? Not at all. No more than he cares about anyone else. He only cares about power, as in the end all dictators show that's all they care about.

Ukraine's reaction to Russian troops invading and history generally suggests that people are generally not keen on giving up their way of life to a regime that denies the truth and freedoms and imposes its will on people. So, melting away of support is not likely. Some Serbian protestors seem to be on the side of Russia - to which I'd suggest they go and live in Russia if they want to give up their freedom and right to protest. Does Putin care about his citizens? Not at all. No more than he cares about anyone else. He only cares about power, as in the end all dictators show that's all they care about.

 

I appreciate the heroism of the Ukrainians we have seen, but just as many will want war to leave their lives, no matter who rules them in the end. The current tack for Europe will eventually trend into a condemned but de facto Russian occupation of Ukraine, without much real resistance shown. The morale war is good at the start only, for those who aren't affected, and for those who are, long months of suffering and danger. It is unfortunate that any further action that would helpfully defend Ukraine risks too much.

 

 

Putin now claiming the sanctions imposed by the West are almost a declaration of war. It's almost like he is baiting NATO for a fight (which he would lose, horribly).

Putin now claiming the sanctions imposed by the West are almost a declaration of war. It's almost like he is baiting NATO for a fight (which he would lose, horribly).

 

That's squarely aimed at his internal audience. The invasion of Ukraine is failing, the economic sanctions are hitting his people, and the perfect scapegoat is the west for that rather than him - it's classic deflection. The reality is the economic impact of sanctions, whilst hopefully bad for Russia is nowhere near as bad as full on war would be.

So Putin thinks the sanctions AND war with NATO would be better :lol:

Putin will stop once Ukraine surrenders - I think he may even resign as President once it happens. It wouldnt surprise me if he has made a deal with some of the other powerful figures in Russian government that he will give the job of President to someone else once he takes Ukraine. Maybe thats why they are still backing him and there hasnt been a coup yet?

Putin will stop once Ukraine surrenders - I think he may even resign as President once it happens. It wouldnt surprise me if he has made a deal with some of the other powerful figures in Russian government that he will give the job of President to someone else once he takes Ukraine. Maybe thats why they are still backing him and there hasnt been a coup yet?

 

All his inner circle are mainly people he's known from his childhood. It would take someone very brave to start a coup against him. No way he ever gives up power ever, he will just create some brand new Government role for himself and I don't see a way Ukraine surrender either. The majority of the country isn't arsed by Russia occupation at all, so can never see him having complete control over Ukraine.

Russia announced it will sanction UK interests in Russia. Looks like we're headed for economic warfare.