Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[Berkut]

It was just "most" leftists!

[Jacob]

Yeah, that's the first I ever heard that particular line.

The leftists of Viper's imagination hold all kinds of strange opinions.

[Grey Fox]

Viper over dramas the multicultural leftist view to its extreme.

I agree with him on this, the left love for religions is at best disappointing and at worse self-defeating.

[Valmy]

I agree with him on this, the left love for religions is at best disappointing and at worse self-defeating.

Well it gets complicated because many cannot separate the religion from the people. Since many use criticizing the religion as a cover for racism, therefore everybody who criticizes the religion must be racist.

[Jacob]

I agree with him on this, the left love for religions is at best disappointing and at worse self-defeating.

I don't love religions in the slightest. I just think it's fine to let folks do their own thing when it doesn't harm anybody. If someone wants to wear a special hat or eat (or not eat) different food it really isn't a big deal; no need to be a dick about it.

And, yeah, some people are pretty bigoted and use religion as the most convenient vector for channeling abuse at the targets of their bigotry.

[Tamas]

There was mortar fire across rebel held territory with both sides accusing the other of stating it, to be precise the Russians are saying they shot back the Ukrainians saying they didn't shoot at all. Ukrainians also are displaying the kindergarten hit by the shells but to be honest it might have been hit years or weeks ago so I don't really care about it.

What's more concerning is that Russia is saying they are concerned about the escalating situation and the Ukrainian troop concentration. Which is of course hilarious but doesn't sound like they are trying to de-escalate.

[Tamas]

Russia threatens "military technical" response, insists no plans for invasion - newspaper
Russia has accused the US of ignoring its core demands on security and threatened "a military-technical" response in a letter to Washington issued on Thursday.

The letter has not been published, but Elena Chernenko of the Russian newspaper Kommersant has seen the 10-page document and has a full breakdown.

This is a key paragraph from the Russian response, cited in her report.

"In the absence of the readiness of the American side to agree on firm, legally-binding guarantees of our security from the United States and its allies, Russia will be forced to react, including by implementing measures of a military-technical character"

The Russian government restates it has no plans to invade Ukraine and describes US warnings of such an attack as "an attempt to put pressure and devalue Russia's proposals for security guarantees".

The US did not give a "constructive answer" to the "basic elements" of Russia's proposals, namely a veto on Ukraine and Georgia's Nato membership and removing troops from the eastern flanks of the alliance, the document states.

[Valmy]

Removal of troops? Are Poland and Finland and company supposed to disband their militaries or something?

[Josquius]

Just heard a UK journalist talk about the flight to Ukraine. There were two counter-terrorism police at the gate who were checking people's IDs and asking why they were going to Ukraine etc.

She said she'd seen this before when flying to Syria and Iraq - and apparently the reason is basically the same. UK authorities are quite worried about neo-Nazis/radicalised far-right travelling to Ukraine for "weapons training" or just the opportunity to fight - in much the same way as violent Islamists/extremists tried to get to Syria or Iraq. It's pretty ghoulish to think there are people traveling and in Ukraine who are super-hyped that it'll be a war so they get to do some violence

When the ISIS fighters were coming back, most leftists were telling us they should be welcomed back with open arms and not ostracized.  I wonder what they'll say about the neo nazis

I think you're getting confused with the real left wing view which was "its against international law to make someone stateless. They're our problem and we have to deal with them"

[Sheilbh]

[snip the article]

Also some repulsive stuff on Russian TV about the Scholz-Putin press conference point on genocide.

It would not surprise me to see both pushed as potential pretexts: that there is a genocide of Russian-speakers in Donbass and that NATO/the West have failed to address Russia's fears.

From CNN a European defence official has apparently said that it seems like the "withdrawal" was actually a re-positioning of troops and the net effect is that there are 7,000 more troops on the border.

[Syt]

Removal of troops? Are Poland and Finland and company supposed to disband their militaries or something?

Finland's not in NATO. Though they're re-evaluating their stance, I think.

[Sheilbh]

I'm assuming the MoD published this so if it happens on these lines they can point out it was pre-meditated? Another example of the interesting information war going on here:


Edit: Oh and UK, Poland and Ukraine have signed a "tri-lateral memorandum of cooperation" focusing on cybersecurity, energy security and countering disinformation with the UK and Poland also pledging to provide Ukraine "with support ... in the face of ongoing Russian aggression".

[Grey Fox]

Russia's army seems to be really vulnerable to artillery. I hope we gave/sold Ukraine lots of it.

[The Brain]

I'm assuming the MoD published this so if it happens on these lines they can point out it was pre-meditated? Another example of the interesting information war going on here:

Looks like axes to me. Or is there only one possible axis?

[Valmy]

After that last Armenia-Azerbaijan War I hope Ukraine has lots of drones.