Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[Person Man]

O_O

https://mobile.twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1498805592068136960

The Americans bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 and there were no consequences. I guess it's good to be on top of the world pecking order, huh?

Whataboutism is a technique that was perfected by the Pravda.

Isn't it related to the Russian Reversal?

[Person Man]

Another day, another preventable tragedy.
The only question now is how far can Putin go without being challenged? Unfortunately this is an experiment in watching what a dictator who threatens with nukes can get away with. Make no mistake, China, Iran, and North Korea are watching.

Yes, I fear the experiment is whether, with the whole world watching, the West has the stomach to do nothing further while Putin fires missiles into Ukraine's major cities reducing them to dust ala Grozny until the explosions are just breaking down the rubble into smaller bits because nothing else is left - including people.  We now know to Putin is enough of a monster to do exactly that if he thinks it is necessary to restore Russia to its former glory as he sees it and that he can get away with it. How much poison can the Western stomach tolerate until it vomits it all out?

You read the words from the Western posters on here, the answer is simple, there is no red line. Putin can do whatever he wants to Ukraine so long as it does not hurt us. Those who do believe in the continued existence of the Ukrainian people ought to hope these opinions are more fringe than anything. We will see. God save Kyiv.

Obviously the West needs to do more for Ukraine, but you need to keep the destruction in perspective. The bombardment of Grozny was, at its time, the most destructive urban campaign (for civilians) since WWII. It killed under 10% of the city’s population, an appalling figure, but also one that speaks to how resilient and resourceful people can be even as their cities are flattened and life collapses all around them. People still live in Aleppo, and some managed to stay there for the whole war.

The war crimes in Mariupol are punitive and meant to intimidate, but even thermobaric bombardment is not in the same ballpark as death camps. A majority of its people are likely to survive this conflict between Ukraine and Russia. A nuclear conflict could ultimately kill more of them, so conventional warfare should only be considered (if at all) once all other options have been exhausted.

A nuclear conflict would probably ruin everyone's life, but it would cause people or even civilization to go extinct.

[Storebought]

NATO countries pour weapons into Ukraine, risking conflict with Russia

BRUSSELS — The Dutch are sending rocket launchers for air defense. The Estonians are sending Javelin antitank missiles. The Poles and the Latvians are sending Stinger surface-to-air missiles. The Czechs are sending machine guns, sniper rifles, pistols and ammunition.

Even formerly neutral countries like Sweden and Finland are sending weapons. And Germany, long allergic to sending weapons into conflict zones, is sending Stingers as well as other shoulder-launched rockets.

In all, about 20 countries — most members of NATO and the European Union, but not all — are funneling arms into Ukraine to fight off Russian invaders and arm an insurgency, if the war comes to that.

At the same time, NATO is moving military equipment and as many as 22,000 more troops into member states bordering Russia and Belarus, to reassure them and enhance deterrence.

NATO is defending the small eastern nations, but the amount of direct assistance -- military and financial -- given to Ukraine itself seems inadequate to me, especially after Russia's escalation.

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

https://mobile.twitter.com/LostWeapons/status/1499040883865391107

[Person Man]

O_O

https://mobile.twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1498805592068136960

Given the totality of the circumstances, this is a much bigger deal than 1999, in terms of both culpability and the reasonable generation of apprehension.

[Storebought]

https://mobile.twitter.com/LostWeapons/status/1499040883865391107

I knew Russia never planned on a Six Day War (let alone an absurd 48-hour war), but still, two weeks was highly optimistic.

[Ferguson97]

Odds on Predict and Polymarket

Odds of Putin still being Russia Prez by end of 2022: 78/22
Odds of Zelensky still being Ukraine Prez by April 22 2022: 49/51

Putting money on that sort of thing is in poor taste IMO.

[Person Man]

Odds on Predict and Polymarket

Odds of Putin still being Russia Prez by end of 2022: 78/22
Odds of Zelensky still being Ukraine Prez by April 22 2022: 49/51

Putting money on that sort of thing is in poor taste IMO.

At least morale is holding.

[Lourdes]

https://twitter.com/KyleJGlen/status/1498959118689779715

[Middle-aged Europe]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

[afleitch]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

[Roll Roons]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba or Iran maybe?

[afleitch]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

That's the five.

Also Georgia has just submitted an application to join the EU.

Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba or Iran maybe?

[sguberman]

Even some of Russia's closest allies like Cuba and the Central African Republic abstained

[Mike88]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba or Iran maybe?

Cuba, Nicaragua and Iran abstained, while Venezuela didn't cast a vote.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

Like the Air Force, it seems Ukraine’s Navy still remains in what is likely to be an extremely degraded (but operational) state. Verified accounts have been posting pictures of the ship, but this user is the only one to (mis?) identify its type.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Harry_Boone/status/1499044733171163141
The Ukranian Navy was in a bad way after losing most of its power in Crimea. It was hit terribly on the first couple of days of the latest invasion, and Russia claimed it was destroyed on February 24.

It doesn’t pose as much of a risk to Russia as the remaining air force and AA, but that it’s still operating at all reflects badly on the RuAF and the Black Sea Fleet.

[Associate Justice PiT]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

     Any idea why Eritrea voted against? The other four are obvious, but that one puzzles me.

[Aurelius]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

     Any idea why Eritrea voted against? The other four are obvious, but that one puzzles me.

Perhaps Afwerki has designs on the Tigray region of Ethiopia?

[Logical]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

     Any idea why Eritrea voted against? The other four are obvious, but that one puzzles me.

Have a look at the guy who ruled Eritrea since they gained independence. They are the North Korea of Africa.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

United Nations GA resolution condemning Russia has been passed.

Yes: 141
No: 5
Abstentions: 35

No info yet on who the five dipsh**t countries were... probably Russia, Belarus, Syria, ?, ?.

Eritrea and North Korea too.

     Any idea why Eritrea voted against? The other four are obvious, but that one puzzles me.

Eritrea is Africa's closest equivalent to North Korea. This checks out.

[Omega21]

Full list here:

On the unexpected side, Serbia voted in favor as well

https://twitter.com/Brynwales/status/1499075649146961930

[nicholas.slaydon]

Full list here:

On the unexpected side, Serbia voted in favor as well

https://twitter.com/Brynwales/status/1499075649146961930

That is quite a shock, I thought they would be in the abstain category.

[It’s so Joever]

Full list here:

On the unexpected side, Serbia voted in favor as well

https://twitter.com/Brynwales/status/1499075649146961930

I am very pleased by this and definitely surprised. Good on them!

[Omega21]

Full list here:

On the unexpected side, Serbia voted in favor as well

https://twitter.com/Brynwales/status/1499075649146961930

That is quite a shock, I thought they would be in the abstain category.

Serbia is currently following the old Tito strategy, meaning it is trying to keep good relations with everyone.

However, judging from my social circle and the media in Rep. Srpska / Serbia, the reactions are far more negative compared to Crimea.

Serbs generally didn't give a sh*t about Crimea (no shots fired), and kind of just wanted to "stick it to the Americans/NATO/EU" for Kosovo.

But this invasion is a completely different ball game. A lot of people still remember the Yugo wars, and pictures of blown-up kids have caused many to take a more pro-Ukrainian stance in this case, regardless of Russian support for Serbia in the Kosovo dispute.  

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

https://mobile.twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1499065913974439939