Ukraine war mega thread

[OhOh]

Lithuanian president to ask for permanent US troop presence

By Jordan Williams - 02/09/22 12:39 PM EST

"Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said he will ask the United States to permanently base troops in the country, Reuters reported.

The U.S. began deploying a rotational force of about 500 troops in Lithuania in 2019 to help NATO deter Russia from the alliance's eastern flank.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Nausėda said he will be seek to make sure those forces would be permanently stationed in Lithuania.

“Of course we will be talking to the U.S. to make sure that the rotational U.S. forces would be in Lithuania permanently," Nausėda told reporters, according to Reuters.

"That would be the best boost to security and deterrence that NATO could provide not only to Lithuania but to the whole region," he continued.

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The U.S. and NATO have been scrambling to bolster the eastern flank as Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine. The country's military buildup has sparked fears that Moscow could be planning an incursion against the former Soviet state, as it did in Chechnya in 2014.

Moscow has denied intentions of invading Ukraine, but has shown no signs that it would draw down its military posture.
The U.S. has put 8,500 troops on “heightened alert” to deploy, most of which would help the NATO response force — a multinational force of about 40,000 troops that can deploy on short notice. It has also deployed and repositioned over 3,000 troops to Romania, Poland and Germany."

Lithuanian president to ask for permanent US troop presence | TheHill

and

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...nt-2022-02-09/

[OhOh]

China’s support is a game changer for Russia

February 6, 2022 by M. K. BHADRAKUMAR

"During the visit by President Vladimir Putin to Beijing on Friday, the world attention was focused on how far China would go in support of Russia in the latter’s standoff with the US and NATO. From the joint statement issued after the visit, China has given fulsome support to Russia, endorsing Moscow’s demand for security guarantee and its opposition to NATO expansion, the two core issues. Russia never expected or sought any Chinese intervention in any military confrontation with the western alliance. Russia has the capability to safeguard its sovereignty.

The Chinese support to Russia at the present juncture can still manifest in a variety of ways. Aside China’s backing at the UN Security Council, what really matters most for Moscow would be the myriad ways in which Beijing can mitigate the effect of any harsh western sanctions against by way of transfer of technology, trade, investments, etc. Conceivably, Putin and Xi Jinping have reached an understanding.

Already, a significant step has been taken this direction during Putin’s visit with the agreement on new Russian oil and gas deals with China worth an estimated $117.5 billion, and China promising to ramp up Russia’s Far East exports. A new 30-year contract to supply 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year to China from Russia’s Far East was signed.

Separately, Russian oil giant Rosneft signed a deal with China’s CNPC to supply 100 million tonnes of oil through Kazakhstan over 10 years, effectively extending an existing deal, which is worth an estimated $80 bn. The construction of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China with a massive capacity of 50 bcm annually is also under discussion.

No doubt, Russia is seriously diversifying its markets for oil and gas exports. This will create space for Moscow to negotiate with its European partners. The new deal with Beijing will not necessitate diversion of Russia’s gas exports to Europe, as they are linked to the gas reserves from the Pacific island of Sakhalin, whereas Russia’s European pipeline network sources gas from the Siberian fields.

The ball is in now entirely in the European court — whether to continue to source assured energy supplies from Russia at such incredibly low prices or punish itself by forgoing that option.

While sanctions may inflict some dislocation initially necessitating readjustments, Moscow will cope with it, as past experience shows. With around $640 billion in foreign exchange reserves, Moscow could persevere longer than the Europeans in the energy market.

The big question is about Putin’s decisions regarding the dangerous situation on Russia’s western borders. The short answer is that Putin will not be browbeaten by the Biden Administration’s threat of sanctions.
China does not consider that a full scale invasion of Ukraine is in the Russian calculus but it neatly sidesteps the issue, nonetheless. Putin acts very cautiously, and almost always is reactive. Be it in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria or Ukraine itself, that has been the pattern. Of course, it is a different matter that in all these instances, Putin acted decisively to make sure his objectives were realised.

In the situation surrounding Ukraine, the Biden Administration is forcing Putin’s hands. The latest US and NATO troop reinforcements to Russia’s neighbours—particularly to the Baltic states, in close proximity to St. Petersburg — were completely unwarranted and can only be seen as a calculated act of provocation when there has so far been no evidence of an adequate justification for a major Russian military operation.

Yet, there could be a method in this madness, given the real possibility of risky military operations in Donbass by an emboldened Ukrainian military or even worse, by the nationalist battalions in that region (to whom NATO has secretly provided a large influx of arms in recent weeks.)

In the event of any attack on Donbass, make no mistake, Russian intervention is guaranteed. The legislation under consideration with the Duma in Moscow currently factors in precisely such a contingency. It calls upon the Russian government to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and, secondly, authorises the government to provide with new weapons to these two “people’s republics.”

A plausible scenario could be that Russia will patiently wait for the Ukrainian provocation. That is, it all boils down to a question of resolve. For Russia, the stakes are exceedingly high and its staying power is far greater than that of its Western adversaries.

There is a big element of brinkmanship here. What is happening in Europe at the moment has turned out to be a huge distraction for the US and as time passes, the Biden Administration would rue that its Indo-Pacific strategy is faltering and it is bogged down. The likelihood of Russia backing off is zero.

Evidently, the North Korean missile testing is already putting enormous strain on the US’ alliance system in the Far East. Unlike Ukraine, the US’ security interests are directly affected. Yet, on Friday, a US-drafted statement condemning Pyongyang crash-landed.

Ironically, China called on the US to be more flexible in its dealings with North Korea and joined six other member countries (including Russia and India) in refusing to sign the joint statement.

China’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun later told reporters, “If they do want to see some new breakthrough, they should show more sincerity and flexibility. They should come up with more attractive and more practical, more flexible approaches, policies and actions and accommodating the concerns of the DPRK.”

This is where the US is facing the new reality that its Cold War mentality to isolate China in the Asia-Pacific region and Russia in Europe will not work.

The solidarity between China and Russia reflected in Friday’s joint statement goes far beyond the immediate crisis in Ukraine or the tensions over Taiwan and has an epochal significance heralding a new era in international relations based on a pluralistic world order where the role of the US will no longer be exclusive or defining.

Russia and China have a broad consensus today on almost all core issues related to global strategic stability, which is unprecedented in modern history.
The joint statement mentions the US not less than five times while highlighting the common stance of China and Russia on several key regional and global issues, including the expansion of NATO, the US-led ideological clique in the name of democracy, the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy, AUKUS, etc.

Xi told Putin he is willing to work with him to plan a blueprint and guide the direction of China-Russia ties under the new historical conditions. China has lent support to the fundamental principle of the indivisibility of security that Russia is upholding. In these circumstances, if the US with its zero-sum mindset thinks it can defeat Russia through sanctions, it is being delusional.
Stonewalling the Russian demands is not going to be feasible, either. The challenge facing the Biden Administration will be how to preserve its credibility, especially in the European eyes. For, if Russia is compelled to act militarily to defend its non-negotiable core interests, as it will be at some point, a dangerous escalation may happen.

Is the US ready for an open-ended conflict with Russia? Are its allies game for it? Can they afford it? Will their domestic opinion allow it — war with a thermonuclear nuclear power in Europe to defend ill-defined notions?

A far better judicious course will be to seek a diplomatic formula that takes into account all these self-evident realities and negotiate some kind of a document that guarantees Russia’s legitimate security needs."

China’s support is a game changer for Russia - Indian Punchline

[OhOh]

What did NATO annex?

NATO doesn't do annexing.

It does splattering of foreign men, women and children.

It leaves countries, in the middle of the night, in ruins or continually ignores the countries government orders to get out, by their military/economic threats.

How many do you want to be reminded of?

[HermantheGerman]

A German Foreign Minister visiting a memorial for those that suffered from a 1930's genocidal policy, in order to make the offender look bad.
Christ, they've got some neck!

We all know what the Nazis did to Europe. But have you ever heard of Holodomor?
Just trying to educate you and show that the Russians and Ukrainians have no lovey dovey relationship.

The hate towards Russia/Soviet by ALL its neighbors is astonishing. But everyone loves a Mercedes, Porsche, Siemens, SAP, VW and a little Sauerkraut . So let the Germans invade Ukraine (economically of course). I'm sure even the Russians living there will sing: "za zda-ró-vye"
and welcome the Krauts. But will the Russians and Anglo-Saxons approve ? There will be probably more resistance coming from the Brits who are still trying to figure out their brexit

[HermantheGerman]

NATO doesn't do annexing.

It does splattering of foreign men, women and children.

It leaves countries, in the middle of the night, in ruins or continually ignores the countries government orders to get out, by their military/economic threats.

How many do you want to be reminded of?

But can never compete with your beloved dictators from China, Russia and who knows how many more you have a wet dream of.

[Cujo]

NATO doesn't do annexing.

It does splattering of foreign men, women and children.

It leaves countries, in the middle of the night, in ruins or continually ignores the countries government orders to get out, by their military/economic threats.

How many do you want to be reminded of?

Three.

[OhOh]

dictators from China, Russia

Both elected democratically, in according to their constitutions and accepted by their election authorities.

Similar to most democracies, but not all.

Neither China nor Russia are ruled by a foreign military power by force.

Unlike



Biden says Nord Stream 2 won’t go forward if Russia invades Ukraine, but German Chancellor demure

"Biden said Monday that Nord Stream 2 would be scrapped if Russia launches a military invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow’s troop movements strongly suggest is imminent. But Scholz refused to say the same.“If Russia invades -- that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine, again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,”

Biden said at a joint press conference with Scholz. “We will bring an end to it.”

“But how will you do that exactly, since the project and control of the project is within Germany’s control?” asked Andrea Shalal of Reuters, who had posed the original question to Biden about Nord Stream.

“We will, I promise you, we’ll be able to do it,” Biden replied.

When the same question was put to Scholz, however, the German leader gave a very different answer.

“We have intensively prepared everything to be ready with the necessary sanctions if there is a military aggression against Ukraine,” he said, without mentioning Nord Stream. “It is part of the process that we do not spell out everything in public, because Russia should understand that there might be even more to come.”

“Will you commit today to turning off and pulling the plug on Nord Stream 2?” asked Shalal.
But Scholz would not.

“As I already said, we are acting together. We are absolutely united and we will not be taking different steps,” he replied, ignoring Shalal’s question."

Biden says Nord Stream 2 won’t go forward if Russia invades Ukraine






From 10:40

The POTUS German Chancellor was asked four times, by the assembled reporters, to specifically confirm Biden's statement.

Each time German Chancellor did not.

Trust in another NaGastani POTUS "promise" or his military, much?

[HermantheGerman]

Both elected democratically, in according to their constitutions and accepted by their election authorities.

You are sick!

[HermantheGerman]

NEWS FLASH ! Feb. 09 2022

....but only for the idiots or expats who's brain has been splattered by the sun and lost touch to reality.

A new low for global democracy | The Economist

[Backspin]

Looks like Liz Truss’ Moscow trip has not gone down well with Lavrov, who said UK diplomats came “unprepared” to their meeting and said it was “like a mute talking to a deaf person” https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1491724760195207168/video/1

The public dressing-down Lavrov gave Liz Truss was so brutal, and the gap between them so yawning, you almost have to wonder why they even had the meeting – and Lavrov did indeed wonder that aloud during an excruciating press conference in Moscow

https://on.ft.com/3648HoN

Things behind the scenes were even worse, according to @ElenaChernenko.

Lavrov said, "Do you recognize Russia's sovereignty over Rostov and Voronezh oblasts?"

Truss said the UK would "never" do so – before the ambassador told her they're not in Ukraine

https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5207486?tg

[NamPikToot]

Looks like Liz Truss’ Moscow trip has not gone down well with Lavrov, who said UK diplomats came “unprepared” to their meeting and said it was “like a mute talking to a deaf person”

What he means is that he didn't get the opportunity to humiliate her whilst in her presence like the Russians have done with other diplomatic meetings and that Truss didn't accept Russia's position. She wasn't there to sue for peace, she was there to tell Moscow in person that they will face a united front if it makes the idiotic decision to set foot inside Ukraine sovereign territory.

She's not there like that little idiot Macron offering Finlandization as a means to appease Moscow, basically offering Russia the Ukraine in all but name - no rights as a sovereign territory without Moscow approval.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/world/europe/ukraine-russia-finlandization.html

[helge]

The hate towards Russia/Soviet by ALL its neighbors is astonishing

Really ?

Through work and beer drinking, I have daily relations with poles and balts. (Nah, poles not daily anymore)

The hatred they express is hatred against the polical system adopted/forced upon them from the west, which has stolen their grandparents pensions and livelyhood.


But according to you astonishing hatred ?

I call 80'ies mentality and indoctrination, in your case

[HermantheGerman]

^

Reminds me of that Russian scumbag Putin and what he did to Merkel

Putin Brought Dog to Meeting With Merkel

[HermantheGerman]

In Russia, former military officials and a former intelligence officer have warned of an attack on Ukraine. One even calls for the resignation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

There is hope for Russia after Putin is gone

[helge]

^^ Astonishing stuff

^ There's always hope

[Troy]

B52s have started to arrive at RAF Fairford, UK to keep the U2s company.

Not a good idea to increase the pressure when there is a good compromise that can be obtained. No-one wants a threat on their doorstep...

[Backspin]

So Herman the Nazi kunt manchild is bragging about how much seething hate NATO nations have for Russia ?

If he was aware, he'd realize that this isn't a good argument for the official line from the NATO nations. Which is that NATO is no threat to Russia.

[Backspin]

What he means is that he didn't get the opportunity to humiliate her whilst in her presence like the Russians have done with other diplomatic meetings and that Truss didn't accept Russia's position. She wasn't there to sue for peace, she was there to tell Moscow in person that they will face a united front if it makes the idiotic decision to set foot inside Ukraine sovereign territory.

She's not there like that little idiot Macron offering Finlandization as a means to appease Moscow, basically offering Russia the Ukraine in all but name - no rights as a sovereign territory without Moscow approval.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/world/europe/ukraine-russia-finlandization.html

She's a complete retard and out of her depth. And trying to act tough to show she can handle it like "one of the boys"
And she made a complete moron of herself.

And Russia could attack Ukraine , and the UK would do nothing about it.

Mainland Europe wants to do business with Russia. And the Anglo axis wants to drive a wedge between Russia and Europe. Which is why we see the different approaches

[NamPikToot]

Putin is throwing his weight around, its what dictators on their last legs do. He's not got much he can do now which is why he's cast around and chosen Ukraine to demonstrate Russia is still potent. I agree that a sensible sit down and discourse would work normally, with a sane leader but he isn't.

[NamPikToot]

So Herman the Nazi kunt manchild is bragging about how much seething hate NATO nations have for Russia ?

haven't you got a dilapidated pool to doggy paddle in?

[Backspin]

For those who don’t understand the British FM failure — this is like saying Russia doesn’t recognize the sovereignty of Britain over Liverpool and Manchester. Voronezh and Rostov are some of the largest Russian cities. Makes you wonder, where do the British get their education ��[at]��

[NamPikToot]

you are missing the word annexed there.

[sabang]

tell Moscow in person that they will face a united front

Yes, squawkus- real scary stuff. What infants they have made themself look. Just stay in your crib and leave this to adults.

[NamPikToot]

i​s it time for your hydrotherapy with SoCal?

[sabang]

As long as you wear a union jack bikini, spaboy.