Is Russia just about to invade Ukraine?

[wheelnut]

I can't understand why any country gets itself involved in Afghanistan. It's been a problem area of the world for centuries.

The Brits got their ass handed to them over 150 years ago, then we ignored history & went back with the yanks... who hadn't learned a damn thing from the Russians when they went there.

The taliban, or mujahadeen as they were in the 80s learned plenty from US/UK though when they were fighting Russia. They were still using the same tactics 20 years later.

[demographic]

Well if Radio 4s coverage is right the Russian troops have been ordered back to their bases and away from the Ukranian border.
So by the looks of it, just Putin doing some sabre rattling.

[irie]

Well if Radio 4s coverage is right the Russian troops have been ordered back to their bases and away from the Ukranian border.
So by the looks of it, just Putin doing some Biden rattling.

ftfy

[demographic]

Well if Radio 4s coverage is right the Russian troops have been ordered back to their bases and away from the Ukranian border.
So by the looks of it, just Putin doing some Biden rattling.

ftfy

Did it work then?

[irie]

Well if Radio 4s coverage is right the Russian troops have been ordered back to their bases and away from the Ukranian border.
So by the looks of it, just Putin doing some Biden rattling.

ftfy

Did it work then?

Seems that Biden rattled Putin's cage and called his bluff.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... phone-call

According to the White House, Biden pressed Putin on Russia’s military buildup, saying that he “emphasised the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

So no, I don't think it worked.

[demographic]

Fair enough, I'd not seen that piece but also I'd not noticed Biden being pushed into anything by Putin.

Despite being a weak leader, etc, yada yada.

Lets face it, I only heard most of my info on Radio 4 on my way to work between 06:15 and 07:00 and news is a bit thin on the ground at that time of day.

[irie]

Seems that Biden rattled Putin's cage and called his bluff.

What actually happened was that Putin rattled Biden's cage and made him pick up the phone.
But fair play, the response from the WH has been more than I expected.

There is history between those two and I think Putin is going to provoke him as much as he can.
Putin made his point, Biden bumped his gums. I think there might be more to see in the future between them.

As it happens, cages have been rattled and bluffs called many times from long before this latest Biden/Putin episode, this is simply a continuation of the same.

[Yorick]

Copied from another site.

For those who ask: “Why does Ukraine matter? “
This is why Ukraine matters.
It is the second largest country by area in Europe by area and has a population
of over 40 million - more than Poland.
Ukraine ranks:
1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores;
2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves;
2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world's reserves);
2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);
2nd place in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves;
3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
4th in the world by the total value of natural resources;
7th place in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons)
Ukraine is an important agricultural country:
1st in Europe in terms of arable land area;
3rd place in the world by the area of black soil (25% of world's volume);
1st place in the world in exports of sunflower and sunflower oil;
2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley exports;
3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world;
4th largest producer of potatoes in the world;
5th largest rye producer in the world;
5th place in the world in bee production (75,000 tons);
8th place in the world in wheat exports;
9th place in the world in the production of chicken eggs;
16th place in the world in cheese exports.
Ukraine can meet the food needs of 600 million people.
Ukraine is an important industrialised country:
1st in Europe in ammonia production;
Europe's 2nd’s and the world’s 4th largest natural gas pipeline system;
3rd largest in Europe and 8th largest in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants;
3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km);
3rd place in the world (after the U.S. and France) in production of locators and locating equipment;
3rd largest iron exporter in the world
4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;
4th world's largest manufacturer of rocket launchers;
4th place in the world in clay exports
4th place in the world in titanium exports
8th place in the world in exports of ores and concentrates;
9th place in the world in exports of defence industry products;
10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).
Ukraine matters. That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world.

[MrLongbeard]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/why-d ... ne-matter/

[Trinity765]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/why-d ... ne-matter/

It's mostly true then.

[slowsider]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/why-d ... ne-matter/

It's mostly true then.

I think people would object to Putin's plans even if it wasn't.

[MrLongbeard]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/why-d ... ne-matter/

It's mostly true then.

For the most part yes.
Well that is if you believe Snopes

[Screwdriver]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/why-d ... ne-matter/

It's mostly true then.

For the most part yes.
Well that is if you believe Snopes

It would be a cold day in hell before I believed a word of that propaganda machine.

So is Putin going to get on with it then or what? There's nothing on telly, I'm bored.

Let's play war with superintelligent A.I. drones and shit. I'm sure the weapons manufacturers haven't just been sitting on their hands all COVID. They must have some developed some funky new toys to play with. Something that looks good on telly.

[MingtheMerciless]

Well the sanctions have obviously worked

[Trinity765]

So is Putin going to get on with it then or what?

Seems he has.

[Yambo]

So is Putin going to get on with it then or what? There's nothing on telly, I'm bored.

Putin was clearly just waiting for your OK Screwd.

In a televised address to the Russian people, Putin said that the operation is aimed at the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine.

'Denazification'?

That should make it OK with Europe then.

[Supermofo]

In a televised address to the Russian people, Putin said that the operation is aimed at the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine.

'Denazification'?

The bloke is full on Tonto.

So many ways this could all play out now. Some of them really bad.

[Hoonercat]

In a televised address to the Russian people, Putin said that the operation is aimed at the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine.

'Denazification'?

The bloke is full on Tonto.

So many ways this could all play out now. Some of them really bad.

There's approx 3 million Ukraines living in Russia. Fingers crossed one of them has a Russian-made sniper rifle.

[Screwdriver]

So is Putin going to get on with it then or what? There's nothing on telly, I'm bored.

Putin was clearly just waiting for your OK Screwd.

I warned him not to do it. He was like "yeah, what are you going to do about it..."

I said we would be very cross indeed and punish him with really harsh words.

The bloke is full on Tonto.

So many ways this could all play out now. Some of them really bad.

I doubt it. By the time you finish reading this, it will be all over. Russia will have full control of Ukraine and anyone in the country who resists will be labelled a "terrorist" and disappear. Europe will do nothing beyond harsh words and "economic sanctions" carefully crafted to the financial benefit of global corporations.

The USA is weak and won't do anything either. Their "government" is effectively being run by corporate interests.

Russia: wins.

[Phoenix]

There's approx 3 million Ukraines living in Russia. Fingers crossed one of them has a Russian-made sniper rifle.

Surprised he wasn’t taken out by ‘external agencies’ after MH17/Crimea.