Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[The Brain]

Russia! What the fuck is Russia?

[grumbler]

Russia! What the fuck is Russia?

Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a Belgian waffle, inside an enigma.

[Sheilbh]

I don't like Munich comparisons - but I'm really uncomfortable with this quint of the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK talking before and after Biden spoke to Putin. I understand not including Ukraine because they're not in the EU or NATO, but this primarily will have a security impact in Eastern Europe. There are issues with the Polish government but it feels like at least they should be included if only because the EU and NATO have moved on from the 70s when you could have the US, France, Italy, UK and West Germany chatting about policy.

As I say I don't like Munich comparisons but this feels very France and the UK talking about what to do with Czechoslovakia...

[Zoupa]

Belgians are considered worth fighting for. Ukrainians not so much, apparently.

Nobody is stopping you from joining in the defense of Ukraine. Have at it buddy.

[The Brain]

Belgians are considered worth fighting for. Ukrainians not so much, apparently.

Nobody is stopping you from joining in the defense of Ukraine. Have at it buddy.

I haven't guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

[garbon]

Belgians are considered worth fighting for. Ukrainians not so much, apparently.

Nobody is stopping you from joining in the defense of Ukraine. Have at it buddy.

I haven't guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Are you sure?

[The Brain]

Belgians are considered worth fighting for. Ukrainians not so much, apparently.

Nobody is stopping you from joining in the defense of Ukraine. Have at it buddy.

I haven't guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Are you sure?

Sure enough.

[garbon]

Belgians are considered worth fighting for. Ukrainians not so much, apparently.

Nobody is stopping you from joining in the defense of Ukraine. Have at it buddy.

I haven't guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Are you sure?

Sure enough.

So still a possibility?

[The Brain]

Belgians are considered worth fighting for. Ukrainians not so much, apparently.

Nobody is stopping you from joining in the defense of Ukraine. Have at it buddy.

I haven't guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Are you sure?

Sure enough.

So still a possibility?

What is reality anyway?

[Habbaku]

What is a man?

[DGuller]

What is a man?

Adult male human.  Frankly you could've googled that yourself.

[Habbaku]

What is a man?

Adult male human.  Frankly you could've googled that yourself.

Statistically probable, sure. But likely?

[Eddie Teach]

What is a man?

What has he got?

[OttoVonBismarck]

I actually agree with Latvia if Putin does an invasion of Ukraine the U.S. and NATO needs to significantly militarize the Baltics, shift more serious U.S. assets into Poland etc. That actually imposes greater costs on Putin in many ways than economic sanctions (which I also think should be extremely severe in such scenario)--a big enough build up along the frontier of NATO forces Russia to respond in kind, tying it down strategically, ramping up costs it has to put into its military etc etc. Maintaining a large built up military along the Western fringes of the Soviet vassal states during the Cold War was a big cost to the Soviets and one Putin has not really had to pay, he would likely feel compelled to start paying some form of it in this scenario.

[mongers]

I actually agree with Latvia if Putin does an invasion of Ukraine the U.S. and NATO needs to significantly militarize the Baltics, shift more serious U.S. assets into Poland etc. That actually imposes greater costs on Putin in many ways than economic sanctions (which I also think should be extremely severe in such scenario)--a big enough build up along the frontier of NATO forces Russia to respond in kind, tying it down strategically, ramping up costs it has to put into its military etc etc. Maintaining a large built up military along the Western fringes of the Soviet vassal states during the Cold War was a big cost to the Soviets and one Putin has not really had to pay, he would likely feel compelled to start paying some form of it in this scenario.

Interesting viewpoint Otto, I could see that working.