Russia has invaded Ukraine

[pip08456]

Kremlin to hold back on illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

According to independent Russian media outlet Meduza, the annexation will be postponed as it now won't have the desired "PR effect" on the Russian population that is dissatisfied with mobilization.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by pip08456

Kremlin to hold back on illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

According to independent Russian media outlet Meduza, the annexation will be postponed as it now won't have the desired "PR effect" on the Russian population that is dissatisfied with mobilization.

Not as thick as Putler thinks they are then

BREAKING: Four occupied areas of Ukraine will become part of Russia on Friday, the Kremlin has announced. It comes after so-called referendums, widely dismissed as a sham by the West, were held in recent days.

Russia is now expected to claim that efforts by Ukrainian forces to recapture these areas are an attack on the motherland and potentially lead to Putin ordering a nuclear strike, albeit a lower yield tactical warhead in Ukraine to shock Ukrainian resistance, the U.S has warned Russia that such an attack would be catastrophic for them.- Sky News, guardian CBS News.

Ukraine latest news: Putin 'faces imminent defeat' in area he's about to declare part of Russia - Sky News.

Originally Posted by Mick

Ukraine latest news: Putin 'faces imminent defeat' in area he's about to declare part of Russia - Sky News.

Let's hope so! The more ground Ukraine takes before the winter the better.

BREAKING: Ukraine latest news: Putin delivering speech as Russia officially annexes regions - with leader facing 'major embarrassment' after city reportedly surrounded; Zelenskyy appeals to Russians to 'stop' their president - Sky News.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING: Ukraine latest news: Putin delivering speech as Russia officially annexes regions - with leader facing 'major embarrassment' after city reportedly surrounded; Zelenskyy appeals to Russians to 'stop' their president - Sky News.

Been watching on TV no one in that room looked impressed at what putin has just done, they just gave the mandatory don't get yourself shot clap when necessary.

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Been watching on TV no one in that room looked impressed at what putin has just done, they just gave the mandatory don't get yourself shot clap when necessary.

I saw, to say this was meant to be a celebration, they all looked downbeat and unimpressed.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mick

I saw, to say this was meant to be a celebration, they all looked downbeat and unimpressed.

I think they have had enough of him but are afraid to do something about it.

BREAKING: U.S President Joe Biden has tonight, issued a strong warning to Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

"The United States is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory," he said, hours after Mr Putin made another veiled nuclear threat.

The Russian president had pledged to defend the annexed territory of Ukraine by any means necessary. But Mr Biden appears to have matched his strong words, saying: "Mr Putin, don’t misunderstand what I am saying." - Sky News.

[Jaymoss]

Ukraine has formally applied for fast track membership of NATO https://www.politico.eu/article/ukra...ion-join-nato/

This literally would put the world at war if Russia continues. My ring is twitching a little

BREAKING: Putin ally calls for Nuclear strike on Ukrainian soil, after they retake one area, illegally annexed by Russia. - Sky News.

The recapturing by Ukraine of a city held by Russian forces marks the first big test for Vladimir Putin since he declared the territory to be part of Russia.
One of his allies said on Saturday the president should consider a nuclear strike after losing Lyman, in eastern Ukraine.

The comments by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov came after Ukrainian troops forced remaining Russian soldiers into retreat from the city, extending gains from a major counteroffensive across Kharkiv region deeper into neighbouring Donetsk.
Mr Putin has raised his nuclear rhetoric in recent days as his forces suffered repeated defeats.
He also triggered a series of phoney referendums on joining Russia in four regions, including Donetsk.

In the culmination of this piece of theatre, the Russian leader on Friday declared the land Russian. It means he could choose to treat any attack in the same way as an attack against the true territory of Russia, which includes responses up to the use of nuclear weapons.
The US has said it is taking Moscow's nuclear threats seriously but did not presently see indications of the use of nuclear weapons.

Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, said on Friday that Washington was taking the risk very seriously and communicating directly with Russia about the issue, including about decisive responses the United States would take if Moscow went down "that dark road".

Dr Mike Martin (@ThreshedThought) believes Ukrainian advances northeast of Kherson this evening represent the early stages of a complete Russian collapse in the area:

https://twitter.com/threshedthought/...iDrYAwLmMJurIA

The Russians are proper screwed.

Hopefully, they can claim Kherson before the winter 'freezes' the conflict as expected.

Putin seems to be getting more unhinged though. I am getting concerned he may use a smaller-scale nuclear weapon at this point, he longer seems to be rational. Ukraine doesn't pose an existential threat to Russia but it may be so for him. Putin doesn't seem to face the internal challenge we need to take him down and what high-level criticism does exist appears to be that he isn't going far enough. The propaganda on their television is talking of holy war.

If/Once Ukraine gets back all that is theirs then how do we get out of this?

Ukraine has to join NATO, or at the very least have a tangible US-backed security guarantee. The only way to prevent future invasion is for an invasion to entail direct conflict between Russia and the West (by which I mean actual direct conflict, not the confected ‘war against the West’ Russian propaganda is feeding the masses right now).

I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over the likes of Olga Skabayeva. They’re regime sycophants. There are certain voices close to the centre of power that are starting, carefully, to be critical. It’s worth following Steve Rosenberg on the twatter so you can get his daily round-up of what the Russian papers are saying. It’s always very interesting.