Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[brucejoel99]

There's no way on God's green Earth that the Russians will be able defeat a country with people willing to defuse a 500 kilogram unexploded bomb during active fighting (shelling is heard in the background) wearing no protection beyond a police vest, using only a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.

https://twitter.com/COUPSURE/status/1501654247619842049

Does this mean that Ukraine is the Florida of Europe?

[Middle-aged Europe]

There's no way on God's green Earth that the Russians will be able defeat a country with people willing to defuse a 500 kilogram unexploded bomb during active fighting (shelling is heard in the background) wearing no protection beyond a police vest, using only a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.

https://twitter.com/COUPSURE/status/1501654247619842049

Does this mean that Ukraine is the Florida of Europe?

Ukraine man defuses bomb with water bottle.

[Person Man]

There's no way on God's green Earth that the Russians will be able defeat a country with people willing to defuse a 500 kilogram unexploded bomb during active fighting (shelling is heard in the background) wearing no protection beyond a police vest, using only a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.

https://twitter.com/COUPSURE/status/1501654247619842049

Does this mean that Ukraine is the Florida of Europe?

Ukraine man defuses bomb with water bottle.

Ukraine Man.

[Storr]

There's no way on God's green Earth that the Russians will be able defeat a country with people willing to defuse a 500 kilogram unexploded bomb during active fighting (shelling is heard in the background) wearing no protection beyond a police vest, using only a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.

https://twitter.com/COUPSURE/status/1501654247619842049

Does this mean that Ukraine is the Florida of Europe?

Ukraine man defuses bomb with water bottle.

I'm reminded of this guy:

https://twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1498391052096458753?s=20&t=UDD_s1ZhpxC...

[Storr]

It seems significant that the UK MoD is admitting any soldiers have gone AWOL to fight in Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/NotWoofers/status/1501669434808745988?s=20&t=5pSWOR4fuJF...

[Helsinkian]

The Russians have invented their own "Putin salute":

https://twitter.com/YMonastyrskyi/status/1501666277919707150

[President Johnson]

German news sources already report that a member of Lavrov's delegation said there would be "no concessions at all." Probably this meeting is just a waste of time.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1501654121908211715

[nicholas.slaydon]

The Russians have invented their own "Putin salute":

https://twitter.com/YMonastyrskyi/status/1501666277919707150

That is very cringe

[GoTfan]

German news sources already report that a member of Lavrov's delegation said there would be "no concessions at all." Probably this meeting is just a waste of time.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1501654121908211715

At this point, it seems clear Russia is only conducting these meetings for propaganda purposes. Russia is using them as evidence at home that they are the side "wanting peace", as part of the brain dead narrative that the war is a defensive "special military operation". 

If I were Ukraine I'd stop playing along with Russia's games and refuse to meet (mentioning how the government is busy defending the country and doesn't have time to be lectured to) until the Russia is willing to offer significant concessions.

Russia's already laid out their red lines: DPR, LPR and Crimea recognition, as well as constitutional neutrality. That is their absolute limit; they won't accept anything less than that.

Also, I'll say it's very easy for us to say Ukraine should be aggressive in neogitations. Keep this in mind: Ukrainian forces are stuggling, and stuggling heavily. Their only way out of this is a negotiated peace.

[WMS]

Per The Guardian ~ 7 Minutes ago:

Russia’s foreign ministry has confirmed the use of the TOS-1A weapon system in Ukraine, Britain said. The UK’s ministry of defence said the system uses thermobaric rockets, creating incendiary and blast effects.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/09/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/09/ukraine-news-russia-war-ceasefire-broken-humanitarian-corridors-kyiv-russian-invasion-live-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelenskiy-latest-updates

Time for the two disgusting fascist posters from Brazil and New Jersey to gloat over the deaths of children.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

The US appears to give up on negotiating for the transfer of any Soviet jets and further argues that they wouldn’t be particularly useful: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60657155

It would have been much better if the various branches of the US government had communicated with each other before making overtures to Poland that they would consider too dangerous for their own country. If there was any chance of Poland making the transfer without US support, it is likely a lot smaller now that they know the US wouldn’t do it and would possibly abandon Poland in any conflict started over it.

John Kirby also claims the US is open to working with other allies to boost Ukraine’s air defences in other ways. Hopefully, this means medium-to-long range Soviet/Russian SAMs (and possibly Bulgaria’s Tochka ballistic missiles) - but signs of this are scant. The $13.6 billion budget should cover back-fills for the countries that would be giving theirs up.

[President Johnson]

The US appears to give up on negotiating for the transfer of any Soviet jets and further argues that they wouldn’t be particularly useful: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60657155

It would have been much better if the various branches of the US government had communicated with each other before making overtures to Poland that they would consider too dangerous for their own country. If there was any chance of Poland making the transfer without US support, it is likely a lot smaller now that they know the US wouldn’t do it and would possibly abandon Poland in any conflict started over it.

John Kirby also claims the US is open to working with other allies to boost Ukraine’s air defences in other ways. Hopefully, this means medium-to-long range Soviet/Russian SAMs - but signs of this are scant. The $13.6 billion budget should cover back-fills for the countries that would be giving theirs up.

Meh, Putin will most likely see this as a sign of weakness. Exactly what should be a avoided. He's a thug and bully and only understands strength and determination.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The US appears to give up on negotiating for the transfer of any Soviet jets and further argues that they wouldn’t be particularly useful: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60657155

It would have been much better if the various branches of the US government had communicated with each other before making overtures to Poland that they would consider too dangerous for their own country. If there was any chance of Poland making the transfer without US support, it is likely a lot smaller now that they know the US wouldn’t do it and would possibly abandon Poland in any conflict started over it.

John Kirby also claims the US is open to working with other allies to boost Ukraine’s air defences in other ways. Hopefully, this means medium-to-long range Soviet/Russian SAMs (and possibly Bulgaria’s Tochka ballistic missiles) - but signs of this are scant. The $13.6 billion budget should cover back-fills for the countries that would be giving theirs up.

This is absolutely vile an pathetic.

Of course, the EU is being just as vile and pathetic in refusing to cut off gas and oil imports. Small-minded, short-termist fecklessness all around. They claim to understand the threat, but they won't do what it takes to actually stop it before it reaches us. Just wonderful.

We have to hope and pray that the bravery of the Ukrainian people will make up for our own cowardice. Thankfully, they have that in spades. It's a disgrace that we're not doing our part, though.

[Storr]

German news sources already report that a member of Lavrov's delegation said there would be "no concessions at all." Probably this meeting is just a waste of time.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1501654121908211715

At this point, it seems clear Russia is only conducting these meetings for propaganda purposes. Russia is using them as evidence at home that they are the side "wanting peace", as part of the brain dead narrative that the war is a defensive "special military operation".  

If I were Ukraine I'd stop playing along with Russia's games and refuse to meet (mentioning how the government is busy defending the country and doesn't have time to be lectured to) until the Russia is willing to offer significant concessions.

Russia's already laid out their red lines: DPR, LPR and Crimea recognition, as well as constitutional neutrality. That is their absolute limit; they won't accept anything less than that.

Also, I'll say it's very easy for us to say Ukraine should be aggressive in neogitations. Keep this in mind: Ukrainian forces are stuggling, and stuggling heavily. Their only way out of this is a negotiated peace.

If Russia is not willing to give up on those red lines, (I deleted my post you quoted because I felt it was too aggressive) they'll only get them through regime change. Russia could nuke Kyiv and Ukraine would still not be willing to recognize LPR and DPR independence as terms for peace. Donetsk is the 5th largest city in Ukraine and giving up the Donbass would be like Germany giving up the Rhur at the end of WWII, forever crimping the country's economy.  

Zelensky has already publicly floated the idea of pursuing neutrality and recognition of Crimea as Russian is an easier pill to swallow than Donbass independence since Russia already controls all of it. Thus, I could see a negotiated peace where Ukraine accepts those two sacrifices, but not LPR and DPR recognition.

[Frodo]

If I were Putin, I'd concentrate on keeping the North Crimea Canal in Russian hands, and give up everything else (except, of course, Crimea), so long as Ukraine gives up NATO membership aspirations although it can pursue talks on joining the European Union, and remain a neutral state like Austria and Switzerland.  

[Badger]

The US appears to give up on negotiating for the transfer of any Soviet jets and further argues that they wouldn’t be particularly useful: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60657155

It would have been much better if the various branches of the US government had communicated with each other before making overtures to Poland that they would consider too dangerous for their own country. If there was any chance of Poland making the transfer without US support, it is likely a lot smaller now that they know the US wouldn’t do it and would possibly abandon Poland in any conflict started over it.

John Kirby also claims the US is open to working with other allies to boost Ukraine’s air defences in other ways. Hopefully, this means medium-to-long range Soviet/Russian SAMs (and possibly Bulgaria’s Tochka ballistic missiles) - but signs of this are scant. The $13.6 billion budget should cover back-fills for the countries that would be giving theirs up.

 G** d*** it. Don't tell me that this "probably wouldn't help very much".

[Badger]

If I were Putin, I'd concentrate on keeping the North Crimea Canal in Russian hands, and give up everything else (except, of course, Crimea), so long as Ukraine gives up NATO membership aspirations although it can pursue talks on joining the European Union, and remain a neutral state like Austria and Switzerland.  

 If I were putin, as an actual Vladimir Putin, I would be aggressively pushing in all points. With no restraint on civilian casualties casualties in order to conquer the Ukraine and install a puppet government.

Oh look....

[lfromnj]

There's no way on God's green Earth that the Russians will be able defeat a country with people willing to defuse a 500 kilogram unexploded bomb during active fighting (shelling is heard in the background) wearing no protection beyond a police vest, using only a pair of gardening gloves and a water bottle.

https://twitter.com/COUPSURE/status/1501654247619842049?s=20&t=KR_reohmoWJhs...

Protection is useless for a 500 kg bomb.

[RFK Jr.’s Brain Worm]

The Russians have invented their own "Putin salute":

https://twitter.com/YMonastyrskyi/status/1501666277919707150

It’s rather surreal to see this and “Z” become Nazi-like symbols in basically no time at all.

[Storr]

The US appears to give up on negotiating for the transfer of any Soviet jets and further argues that they wouldn’t be particularly useful: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60657155

It would have been much better if the various branches of the US government had communicated with each other before making overtures to Poland that they would consider too dangerous for their own country. If there was any chance of Poland making the transfer without US support, it is likely a lot smaller now that they know the US wouldn’t do it and would possibly abandon Poland in any conflict started over it.

John Kirby also claims the US is open to working with other allies to boost Ukraine’s air defences in other ways. Hopefully, this means medium-to-long range Soviet/Russian SAMs - but signs of this are scant. The $13.6 billion budget should cover back-fills for the countries that would be giving theirs up.

Meh, Putin will most likely see this as a sign of weakness. Exactly what should be a avoided. He's a thug and bully and only understands strength and determination.

This move has me nearly convinced that NATO will do nothing if the Russians use chemical weapons. There isn't even a publicized "red line", as there was for Syria under Obama, to not bother enforcing. What indication does Putin have that NATO will do anything more as long as he doesn't attack a NATO member? If we aren't willing to send 35 year old fighter jets to Ukraine at this point (not to mention a no-fly zone), in order to avoid conflict with Russia, why would we be willing to do so once chemical weapons are used?

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1501675123161677828?s=20&t=r6N_4QZxo...

[It’s so Joever]

Joe Biden’s World…

[Mehmentum]

https://charter97.org/en/news/2022/3/9/458213/

Reportedly, a Russian burned down a military recruitment office.  All is not well in Russia...

[Silent Hunter]

WP isn't a chemical weapon in the sarin sense. But it would be illegal to use against civilians.

[Person Man]

The Russians have invented their own "Putin salute":

https://twitter.com/YMonastyrskyi/status/1501666277919707150

It’s rather surreal to see this and “Z” become Nazi-like symbols in basically no time at all.

It’s only a matter of time before more states become nazified. Maybe WW3 is inevitable.

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/uamemesforces/status/1501507467389329412?s=20&t=V4JzMhwQ...