Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[Habbaku]

They must have denied his request for a raise this year.

[Syt]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Russia will always be ready for dialogue despite Russian forces launching a major military assault on Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, our Western friends do not respect international law, trying to destroy it and promote what they call 'rules-based order,'" Lavrov says, state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reports.

"We had intensive and detailed discussions with our American colleagues, with other Nato members," he says.

We hope that there is still a chance to return to international law and international obligations."

Lavrov says that Russia will "always be ready for a dialogue that will return us to justice and the principles of the UN charter".

[Tamas]

Battle of Chernobyl confirmed to be ongoing.

I guess it is a pretty good spot to defend - urban terrain without civilian population to worry about.

[Sheilbh]

Gerhard Schröder has called for a quick end of the war, and that it was Russia's responsibility end it. He says there's been "many mistakes on both sides" in recent years, but that Russian security concerns don't justify the use of military means.

Has he resigned his position?

Renzi and a former Finnish PM have apparently resigned their role as directors on certain Russian boards. I don't think they'll be the last.

Seem like credible reports (though who knows in this situation and handle with care) of a Ukrainian counter-attack on that airport near Kyiv. Ukrainian army say there's a battle underway for it now.

Related to AKK's comments - apparently this (DeepL translated and via Tom Nuttall, the Economist's Berlin bureau chief) is from a LinkedIn post today by the head of the German army which seems a pretty extraordinary comment:

[Syt]

That's an accurate translation of his words, yes.

[Zanza]

AKK's party was in power for sixteen years until two months ago, so she must ask herself why she was not able to convince her party or society at large regarding her views.

[Syt]

AKK's party was in power for sixteen years until two months ago, so she must ask herself why she was not able to convince her party or society at large regarding her views.

Of course. It's generally a trait in the CDU to complain that the new government has not yet fixed the problems that weren't tackled through those years.

[Sheilbh]

AKK's party was in power for sixteen years until two months ago, so she must ask herself why she was not able to convince her party or society at large regarding her views.

Yeah - it feels like if George Osborne came out now and said that apparently there's Russian money in the City and that may be an issue

[Tamas]

Brutal: https://twitter.com/i/status/1496854488933715972

[crazy canuck]

AKK's party was in power for sixteen years until two months ago, so she must ask herself why she was not able to convince her party or society at large regarding her views.

Of course. It's generally a trait in the CDU to complain that the new government has not yet fixed the problems that weren't tackled through those years.

Well, to be fair, its the go to move for all parties who have lost the reigns of power.

[HVC]

File Under unfortunate timing:

[Sheilbh]

Bravo to the Poles for this - at Poland's request they're taking the Ukrainian ambassador/head of mission to the EU to the Coreper meeting on sanctions. In part just a show of solildarity which is good, but also making the representatives who are going to be dove-ish on sanctions to look at the ambassador of Ukraine while they're explaining their position.

[The Brain]

Has Kelsey Grammer spoken yet?

[Syt]

[Syt]