Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/1501170083976126464

Is this for real?

I think it's more likely to be fake than not, tbh. At least needs further validation. That said, I wouldn't be that surprised to find out it's real. It's for sure obvious Russians and Mr. Putin in particular don't give a damn about their soldiers, who are sent to die for nothing. They're not even moving the dead bodies back to Russia. We're moving heaven and earth to return dead soldiers back home to America.

We do see that Russian is sending these dump trucks.

https://twitter.com/LostWeapons/status/1500417894491983876

[pppolitics]

Maybe the Russians are sending their best

https://twitter.com/GirkinGirkin/status/1500101026015289347

[OSR stands with Israel]

What about Iraqi civilians?

They were mostly caused by the Iraqi insurgency much of which was led by former Suddam Hussain Republican guard members who also killed a lot of Iraqis when they were in charge of Iraq . Keep in mind that much of even ISIS military leadership were former members of Suddam Hussain’s Republican guard too

[Illiniwek]

Honestly, I am surprised there hasn't been more done to take out the train lines between Russia and Ukraine. Not that these videos of what the trains are carrying are impressive. But any blow to their supply line you would think would be crippling.

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

-Snip-

If collecting pieces of wood is all that is needed to become a Russian general, why the f**k has the FSB not bothered to recruit me yet?

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1501194294924914696

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

Northern Crusades when???

https://mobile.twitter.com/Reuters/status/1501230083826241539

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1501223381135462409

https://mobile.twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1501231995526934528

[jaichind]

https://airlineweekly.com/2022/03/aircraft-lessors-face-loss-of-hundreds-of-planes-as-russia-clamps-down/

"Russia Looks to Seize Hundreds of Planes Before Air Lessors Can Repossess"

Looks like there are around $10 Billion worth of jets inside Russia that are leased Airbus and Boeing which might be sized outright as part of Russia retaliation against sanctions. 

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

https://mobile.twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1501237463712419846

[jaichind]

AFP reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine

[Storr]

Literally a propaganda cope train. This thing will make for the easiest drone target of the war:

https://twitter.com/NotWoofers/status/1501241308358361095?s=20&t=c8igN6arQuO...

[jaichind]

https://news.yahoo.com/lme-suspends-nickel-trading-unprecedented-082125655.html

"LME Halts Nickel Trading After Unprecedented 250% Spike"

Nickle surges 250%

[jaichind]

AFP reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine

US equities surges on this news.

[compucomp]

AFP reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine

This means a peace settlement is possible. Perhaps the Americans will not be so eager to give up their ambitions though and will try to strong-arm Zelensky into revoking this statement.

[jaichind]

This entire episode of USA going to Iran and Venezuela to ask them to pump more gas and Australia asking PRC to get Russia to back down (Australia-PRC relationships have been in the dumps for a few years now) make the collective West look like a bunch of high school cheerleaders that have no problem ostracizing those they feel that are social inferiors but when they need those they have ostracizing having no problems just demanding they fall in line because they assume that everyone wants to hang out with the cheerleaders.  I am not saying they are necessary wrong in their reading of the social positions but more of a comment on their actions and the assumptions they have of the world.

[KaiserDave]

[jaichind]

AFP reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine

This means a peace settlement is possible. Perhaps the Americans will not be so eager to give up their ambitions though and will try to strong-arm Zelensky into revoking this statement.

I still hope both Russia and Ukraine can come to their senses and work out a compromise where Ukraine has constitutional guarantees on being neutral while the two Donetsk Republics return to Ukraine as autonomous regions.  The Second condition is key especially now Russia is now much more dependent on PRC which would be very negative the the idea of independence.  The word independence is a big no no for PRC.  Autonomy yes, independence no.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

https://twitter.com/MrKovalenko/status/1501071619439087617

[It’s so Joever]

New changes on the frontlines: Izium is being fought over as we speak, both sides claim control over the crucial city at this point. Whoever controls Izium controls the Ukrainian supply line to Luhansk.

Speaking of Luhansk, there were some pretty significant Russian advances last night. Whether this is due to Ukrainians doing a retreat to avoid encirclement (as I suggested they should consider last night) or being pushed back by the Russians seems unknown. The Russians have captured much of rural Luhansk Oblast and Svatove.

In the Kyiv area, the Russians are still trying to capture Irpin, note they also have not fully captured Bucha nor Hostomel. Meanwhile, the town of Invankiv has fallen to the Russians.

Finally in the south, the Russians are fighting for Mykolaiv, although just like previously, there seems to be an attempt to avoid Mykolaiv entirely by some of the forces on the way to Odessa.

[It’s so Joever]

AFP reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine

This means a peace settlement is possible. Perhaps the Americans will not be so eager to give up their ambitions though and will try to strong-arm Zelensky into revoking this statement.

I still hope both Russia and Ukraine can come to their senses and work out a compromise where Ukraine has constitutional guarantees on being neutral while the two Donetsk Republics return to Ukraine as autonomous regions.  The Second condition is key especially now Russia is now much more dependent on PRC which would be very negative the the idea of independence.  The word independence is a big no no for PRC.  Autonomy yes, independence no.

I would support such a compromise to be honest. Of course while Ukraine may not need to be a part of NATO, Western countries still should definitely be working with the government to further improve the Ukrainian military to prevent future aggression.

[Aurelius]

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2022/03/08/exclusive-limited-no-fly-zone-gains-steam-among-foreign-policy-elite-00015004

Awful idea. No thank you.

[Storr]

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2022/03/08/exclusive-limited-no-fly-zone-gains-steam-among-foreign-policy-elite-00015004

Awful idea. No thank you.

Yeah, it seems like a worse idea than actually creating a no-fly zone. With this idea you still risk all out war with the Russians and don't fully take control of the air.

[jaichind]

AP reports McDonald’s Temporarily Closing 850 Restaurants in Russia

This is actually a great opportunity for Russian copycats of McDonald’s.  The PRC has tons of McDonald’s and KFC copycats.

[jaichind]

Bloomberg reports that a Russian oil tanker booked For Philadelphia changes destination to France. This tanker has over 1 million barrels.  Sigh.  Good thing I rarely drive,  Gas prices will continue to surge in USA. 

[lfromnj]

Interesting, I am guessing the international corporations just don't see it worthwhile considering how low the ruble is.