Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

https://mobile.twitter.com/BumpRunDuo/status/1498392531003867137

[BlueSwan]

We, the Presidents of the EU member states: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective.

Therefore, we call on the EU Member States to consolidate highest political support to Ukraine and enable the EU institutions to conduct steps to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open the process of negotiations.

In this critical moment, we reiterate our full solidarity with Ukraine and its People.

Link: https://www.hrad.cz/en/for-media/press-releases/open-letter-by-presidents-in-support-of-ukraines-swift-candidacy-to-the-european-union-16316

Interesting, even if it is extremely unlikely to happen.

I don't really think that is a very smart way to approach this crisis.

It is an extreme provocation of Russia, all for something that is very unlikely at present for reasons given earlier in the thread. NATO just kicking Russia out of Ukraine and showing Putin who is boss would be MUCH preferable to this, even with the inherent risks of doing so.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

We, the Presidents of the EU member states: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective.

Therefore, we call on the EU Member States to consolidate highest political support to Ukraine and enable the EU institutions to conduct steps to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open the process of negotiations.

In this critical moment, we reiterate our full solidarity with Ukraine and its People.

Link: https://www.hrad.cz/en/for-media/press-releases/open-letter-by-presidents-in-support-of-ukraines-swift-candidacy-to-the-european-union-16316

Interesting, even if it is extremely unlikely to happen.

I don't really think that is a very smart way to approach this crisis.

It is an extreme provocation of Russia, all for something that is very unlikely at present for reasons given earlier in the thread. NATO just kicking Russia out of Ukraine and showing Putin who is boss would be MUCH preferable to this, even with the inherent risks of doing so.

It is not surprising that all the member-states that proposed this are in Eastern Europe.

[Person Man]

https://mobile.twitter.com/BumpRunDuo/status/1498392531003867137

Super Dark Take:
I'm definitely enjoying how the internet has become not just a way to download pornography, but also snuff films.

[Storr]

We, the Presidents of the EU member states: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective.

Therefore, we call on the EU Member States to consolidate highest political support to Ukraine and enable the EU institutions to conduct steps to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open the process of negotiations.

In this critical moment, we reiterate our full solidarity with Ukraine and its People.

Link: https://www.hrad.cz/en/for-media/press-releases/open-letter-by-presidents-in-support-of-ukraines-swift-candidacy-to-the-european-union-16316

Interesting, even if it is extremely unlikely to happen.

I don't really think that is a very smart way to approach this crisis.

It is an extreme provocation of Russia, all for something that is very unlikely at present for reasons given earlier in the thread. NATO just kicking Russia out of Ukraine and showing Putin who is boss would be MUCH preferable to this, even with the inherent risks of doing so.

It is not surprising that all the member-states that proposed this are in Eastern Europe.

What I find interesting is that the only EU nation that was (or has predecessor state that was) a Warsaw Pact member that didn't (and isn't Hungary, which seems to hate the EU except when it comes to all the money it receives from it) join this declaration was Romania.
(East Germany being an obvious exception because it was absorbed into the FRG as opposed to splitting up.)

Edit: I'm dumb and have become so accustom to Hungary taking bad positions, I forgot about it! I'm not surprised they didn't join this statement.

Notable also is Croatia's absence since Slovenia joined in, though Yugoslavia was never a Warsaw Pact country, so hurrah for the non-aligned movement!

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Russia says Ukraine agreed to another round of talks. 

Do y'all want to guess the success chance of these talks? Anyone?

[Buffalo Mayor Young Kim]

Russia says Ukraine agreed to another round of talks. 

Do y'all want to guess the success chance of these talks? Anyone?

Reposting this
https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1498318222961094656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7C...

Not very good

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

We, the Presidents of the EU member states: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective.

Therefore, we call on the EU Member States to consolidate highest political support to Ukraine and enable the EU institutions to conduct steps to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open the process of negotiations.

In this critical moment, we reiterate our full solidarity with Ukraine and its People.

Link: https://www.hrad.cz/en/for-media/press-releases/open-letter-by-presidents-in-support-of-ukraines-swift-candidacy-to-the-european-union-16316

Interesting, even if it is extremely unlikely to happen.

I don't really think that is a very smart way to approach this crisis.

It is an extreme provocation of Russia, all for something that is very unlikely at present for reasons given earlier in the thread. NATO just kicking Russia out of Ukraine and showing Putin who is boss would be MUCH preferable to this, even with the inherent risks of doing so.

It is not surprising that all the member-states that proposed this are in Eastern Europe.

What I find interesting is that the only EU nation that was (or has predecessor state that was) a Warsaw Pact member that didn't join this declaration was Romania.
(East Germany being an obvious exception because it was absorbed into the FRG as opposed to splitting up.)

Notable also is Croatia's absence since Slovenia joined in, though Yugoslavia was never a Warsaw Pact country, so hurrah for the non-aligned movement!

Romania's generally been less focused on things to the north I guess (and most countries who signed this are farther north in Europe than Romania). Romania does its own thing I suppose?
That's the best explanation I can give on this, without thinking too hard.

[WMS]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

[Storr]

The US is certainly going to try to acquire at least one of those T-90s for testing/intelligence:

Edit: Then again T-90s are 30 years old. Maybe the US won't want them and Ukraine can use them to replace their ancient T-64s.
https://twitter.com/NotWoofers/status/1498400020223209472?s=20&t=qyAHqQy6dQN...

[jaichind]

Russia says Ukraine agreed to another round of talks. 

Do y'all want to guess the success chance of these talks? Anyone?

I am glad it did not blow up and there is a second round.  I hope both sides ratchet down any unrealistic positions. 

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

His own VP too, who if anything is TOO cavalier about attempting to blast Russia to kingdom come.

[WMS]

https://twitter.com/pragatipal6/status/1498168588858920960?s=21



https://twitter.com/mr_andrew_fox/status/1497938247099498501?s=21

Ah, so THIS is why the Taliban were trying to look reasonable abroad; to help distract from this.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

Buritobr just posted on this topic on another board in this forum

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/mayer_iras/status/1498264671727587337

[WMS]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

His own VP too, who if anything is TOO cavalier about attempting to blast Russia to kingdom come.

As much as I admire his sentiments, one needs to use both their hearts and their minds.

[WMS]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

Buritobr just posted on this topic on another board in this forum

Very interesting. Doesn’t exactly make me a fan of Lula either, although of course he’s better than Bolsonaro. It would help if Lula was a bit clearer on his stance

[Person Man]

https://twitter.com/pragatipal6/status/1498168588858920960?s=21



https://twitter.com/mr_andrew_fox/status/1497938247099498501?s=21

Ah, so THIS is why the Taliban were trying to look reasonable abroad; to help distract from this.

"Denazifying" Jewish people with mercenaries who are named after an actual Nazi. The memes write themselves.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

https://twitter.com/pragatipal6/status/1498168588858920960?s=21


https://twitter.com/mr_andrew_fox/status/1497938247099498501?s=21
Ah, so THIS is why the Taliban were trying to look reasonable abroad; to help distract from this.

"Denazifying" Jewish people with mercenaries who are named after an actual Nazi. The memes write themselves.

It gets more tragicomic than that. Yevgeny Prigozhin, per Wiki, is half-Jewish. All the more evidence that the de-Nazification claims are driven by the desire to dredge up the memory of the war against Nazi Germany, than anything of real substance.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/pragatipal6/status/1498168588858920960?s=21

This would definitely cross the reddest of red lines. The question is what could be done without start WWIII? My first thought was Biden sending the CIA to "take care" in Moscow, though that would definitely have severe consequences.

Definitely shows how rotten to the core Putin is. I hope this war ends his reign very soon because Russian elites have enough of his delusion and madness.

[Logical]

For all the talk about denazification and stopping a genocide, it bears repeating that the people being bombed with cluster munitions are the Russian speaking civilians of Kharkiv.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

Buritobr just posted on this topic on another board in this forum

Very interesting. Doesn’t exactly make me a fan of Lula either, although of course he’s better than Bolsonaro. It would help if Lula was a bit clearer on his stance

In Latin America, you have a strong impulse in many quarters for independence from the US' stances and geopolitical autonomy, especially on the Left. America casts a big shadow over the region in the same way Russia casts a big shadow over parts of the post-Soviet sphere.
This translates into, for better or worse, differences between the American/NATO lines on things and a Latin American one.

[Middle-aged Europe]

International Criminal Court (ICC) is on the case:

https://twitter.com/IntlCrimCourt/status/1498393339804233736

#LockPutinUp

[WMS]

Bolsonaro is not on Russia's side. He just refuses to take Ukraine's side.
Maduro on the other hand...

In Bolsonaro’s case, in opposition to the stance of literally every other presidential candidate in Brazil*

*At least, I think Lula is taking Ukraine’s side; the statement of his on Wikipedia is a little ambiguous but I await more information about that.

Buritobr just posted on this topic on another board in this forum

Very interesting. Doesn’t exactly make me a fan of Lula either, although of course he’s better than Bolsonaro. It would help if Lula was a bit clearer on his stance

In Latin America, you have a strong impulse in many quarters for independence from the US' stances and geopolitical autonomy, especially on the Left. America casts a big shadow over the region in the same way Russia casts a big shadow over parts of the post-Soviet sphere.
This translates into, for better or worse, differences between the American/NATO lines on things and a Latin American one.

Oh yes, I’ve ran into that attitude before.

I draw a line between “desires more autonomy in geopolitics” and “is happy to side with Autocracy Inc.™️ and betray the cause of human rights worldwide just To StIcK iT tO tHe YaNkEeS”. That latter attitude has been exposed as the despicable hypocrisy it always was by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

[Storr]

Extremely good thread analyzing the Russian effort so far:
https://twitter.com/KofmanMichael/status/1498381975022940167?s=20&t=NdAdtfsO...