The Brink of War?

[Moses]

As usual, you selectively quote to score a point. The Bloomberg article's opening sentence is "A logistically risky and costly transfer of crude between tankers at sea highlights the steps at least one Chinese buyer is willing to take to ensure the smooth flow of oil from eastern Russia to Asia." Only after that sentence does the article include the text you cited.

Who cares? Fact: sales of oil to Asia (China and India) overgrew sales to EU first time ever at past week.

New data! #Russia's oil and gas revenues hit another record high in April. 1.8 trillion rubles in a single month, after 1.2 trillion in March. After only 4 months, Russia's federal #budget has now already received 50% of the planned oil and gas revenue for 2022 (9.5 trillion).

There is no way to completely remove Russian oil from the market without sending oil prices much higher — perhaps to $200 a barrel.

In other words, it is a classic catch-22. In attempting to punish Russia by keeping its oil off the market, Russia is enjoying a net benefit of higher oil revenues.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sanct...170000724.html

That is what I wrote here in November yet: it is not possible to exclude Russia from global market despite political dreams in some stupid heads, starting from Obama's speech where he told "Russia is regional country and producing nothing". Despite your words about "gas station" - close all gas station in your city and you will see how fast you'll be on the knees.

[Dragonman]

Who cares? Fact: sales of oil to Asia (China and India) overgrew sales to EU first time ever at past week.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sanct...170000724.html

That is what I wrote here in November yet: it is not possible to exclude Russia from global market despite political dreams in some stupid heads, starting from Obama's speech where he told "Russia is regional country and producing nothing". Despite your words about "gas station" - close all gas station in your city and you will see how fast you'll be on the knees.

Not as quickly as you think as we haven't imported Russian oil for five years - since 2016 - and the contract for LNG expired in March of this year. Supplies of coal did not form a major part of our imports.

"Even though Taiwan imports most of its energy, the diversification of sources means that its dependence on Russian coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is limited, reports said Wednesday (March 9).
Taiwan stopped importing oil from Russia in 2016, leaving Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States as its three main suppliers, with Middle Eastern countries accounting for 74%, CNA reported.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Bureau of Energy, 70% of LNG imports in 2021 were based on mid- and long-term contracts unlikely to be affected by sudden events. While 9.7% of Taiwan’s LNG supplies last year came from Russia, the contract ends this month, which will allow the country to turn to other suppliers, according to the report. Australia accounted for 32.2% of Taiwan’s LNG imports, Qatar for 24.5%, and the U.S. for 9.1%.
Russia also held third place for coal imports in 2021, with 14.7%, but well behind 54.7% from Australia and 24.4% from Indonesia. Taiwan’s power plants are the largest consumers of coal, accounting for 75% of imports, with state-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) using 28 million metric tons per year.
Taipower said sanctions against Russia would not impact its coal imports or consumption nor imperil its power production, as it had signed long-term contracts with suppliers while also disposing of reserves good for one month of production.

Source: "Taiwan relies on diverse oil and gas sources amid Russia sanctions. Russia is third-largest supplier of coal, LNG" - Taiwan News, 2022/03/09 18:51 https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4467263

The gas contract that was not renewed refers to that which state-owned CPC had - a 750,000 ton per year five-year contract with the Sakhalin-2 project.

While you are threatening to cut off oil and gas supplies and bring others to their knees, consider this headline: Taiwan’s semiconductor ban could spell catastrophe for Russia - https://www.ship-technology.com/spec...a-catastrophe/, March 3, 2022. We can bite back.

[dab69]

A new report indicates that an anonymous Russian intelligence officer claims that President Vladimir Putin is on the verge of losing his eyesight and has a short lifespan as his health condition deteriorates further.

FSB officer said Putin is suffering from “rapidly progressing cancer” and has been given a maximum of three years to live by doctors.

“We are told he is suffering from headaches and when he appears on TV he needs pieces of paper with everything written in huge letters to read what he’s going to say. They are so big each page can only hold a couple of sentences. His eyesight is seriously worsening,” the spy told the news outlet.

The report further pointed out that the Russian president's health is in such a bad state that his limbs are 'shaking uncontrollably.'

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov refuted the reports and said there was no sign of any ailment.

Why It Matters: The rumors come as the Russia-Ukraine war drags on for over three months. Some have questioned Putin's motives and state of mind in launching the military invasion. On Monday, the European Union decided to place a ban on all Russian oil imports by the end of the year.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...qWd?li=BBnb7Kz

Soon to be in Hell with
the other Hitler

[Moses]

A new report indicates that an anonymous Russian intelligence officer claims that President Vladimir Putin is on the verge of losing his eyesight and has a short lifespan as his health condition deteriorates further.

FSB officer said Putin is suffering from “rapidly progressing cancer” and has been given a maximum of three years to live by doctors.

“We are told he is suffering from headaches and when he appears on TV he needs pieces of paper with everything written in huge letters to read what he’s going to say. They are so big each page can only hold a couple of sentences. His eyesight is seriously worsening,” the spy told the news outlet.

The report further pointed out that the Russian president's health is in such a bad state that his limbs are 'shaking uncontrollably.'

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov refuted the reports and said there was no sign of any ailment.

Why It Matters: The rumors come as the Russia-Ukraine war drags on for over three months. Some have questioned Putin's motives and state of mind in launching the military invasion. On Monday, the European Union decided to place a ban on all Russian oil imports by the end of the year.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...qWd?li=BBnb7Kz

Soon to be in Hell with
the other Hitler

I can write any bullshit from the mouth of "anonymous US intelligence officer" about health of Mr.Alzheimer. Putin every day shows himself in videoconferences with governors of provinces. Then TV shows it widely.

At least he doesn't handshake thin air and doesn't talks with spirits while he is on public like Biden did already many times. I even wonder does Biden still remember his own name?

56631839-10720467-Biden_visited_Greensboro_North_Carolina_to_see_North_Carolina_Ag-a-7_164998111.jpg

And by the way: what do you think - does "anonymous officer FSB" has reason to talk with MSN for to inform them how is Putin's health? This is story, that is sucked from the middle finger.

[Moses]

US Rivals Shunning Dollar Lifts Yuan-Ruble Trading by 1,067%. Volumes between Russian, Chinese currencies near $4 billion

The emerging multi-polar world now includes foreign-exchange markets -- as China and Russia, the biggest challengers to U.S. supremacy, boost direct trading between their currencies.

Monthly volumes on the ruble-yuan pair have surged 1,067% to almost $4 billion since the start of the war in Ukraine as the two nations seek to reduce their reliance on the dollar and boost bilateral trade to overcome current and potential U.S sanctions.

That’s a sign Russians are increasingly turning to Chinese goods to replace stalled Western imports and international brands that have vanished from store shelves. For China, it creates the latest boost for the internationalization of the yuan just when growing tensions with the U.S. are slowing that process.

De-risking From Dollar
Efforts by Russia and China to pursue non-dollar transactions are part of a broader de-risking strategy gaining popularity among several emerging markets.

Saudi Arabia plans to price some oil contracts in the yuan, while India is exploring a rupee-ruble payment structure. Global central banks are diversifying reserves, sparking a drop in the dollar’s share in the holdings to 59% in the last quarter of 2020, the lowest in 25 years, according to the International Monetary Fund.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-rebuff-dollar

[Dragonman]

US Rivals Shunning Dollar Lifts Yuan-Ruble Trading by 1,067%. Volumes between Russian, Chinese currencies near $4 billion

The emerging multi-polar world now includes foreign-exchange markets -- as China and Russia, the biggest challengers to U.S. supremacy, boost direct trading between their currencies.

Monthly volumes on the ruble-yuan pair have surged 1,067% to almost $4 billion since the start of the war in Ukraine as the two nations seek to reduce their reliance on the dollar and boost bilateral trade to overcome current and potential U.S sanctions.

That’s a sign Russians are increasingly turning to Chinese goods to replace stalled Western imports and international brands that have vanished from store shelves. For China, it creates the latest boost for the internationalization of the yuan just when growing tensions with the U.S. are slowing that process.

De-risking From Dollar
Efforts by Russia and China to pursue non-dollar transactions are part of a broader de-risking strategy gaining popularity among several emerging markets.

Saudi Arabia plans to price some oil contracts in the yuan, while India is exploring a rupee-ruble payment structure. Global central banks are diversifying reserves, sparking a drop in the dollar’s share in the holdings to 59% in the last quarter of 2020, the lowest in 25 years, according to the International Monetary Fund.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-rebuff-dollar

Pity you didn't quote the rest of the article, so that board members can see the whole report and not just a selection to make a point:

The crippling sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine have highlighted China’s own vulnerability to US action. Any geopolitical dispute between them could isolate China’s economy from the dollar-dominated financial system, while pushing other nations and foreign investors to prune yuan holdings.

For Russia, the purpose is immediate survival. The nation depends on China more than on the US to keep its trade flowing. The world’s second-biggest economy accounts for a quarter of all the merchandise Russia imports, while the US accounts for less than 11%.

“Russia has a very weak domestic manufacturing industry; so the sanctions mean that it will necessarily have to rely more on China for machinery and consumer goods,” said Alvin Tan, the head of Asia currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets in Singapore. “At the same time, Chinese buyers are being enticed by discounts on Russian commodity exports.”

Yuan internationalization stalls amid Ukraine war
Despite recent shifts, the dollar remains the world’s most favorite medium of exchange and the main trading pair for most currencies including the ruble. In fact, after Russia’s central bank signaled last week that it wants a weaker currency, daily ruble-dollar volumes recovered to normal levels.
“It is obvious that the Central Bank of Russia is getting worried about ruble strength,” RBC’s Tan said. “The stronger ruble is exacerbating the domestic economic downturn by tightening financial conditions, which also has an adverse impact on Moscow’s tax revenues.” The ruble gained 1.5% against the dollar on Tuesday, and rose for a second day against the yuan.
In its biannual report on financial stability, the Bank of Russia said the yuan’s share in Russia’s currency markets is increasing.
“The main trend of the Russian foreign-exchange market in the near future will be the declining role of the US dollar and the euro in all aspects of economic activity, with the growing role of the currencies of friendly countries and the ruble,” the central bank said.
As for China, the share of yuan in international transactions remains minuscule, falling further since the war started.
“Larger central banks may be more reluctant to hold the yuan due to potential Western sanctions risk and the corresponding need for China to reimpose capital controls on foreigners,” Gene Frieda, a strategist at Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, wrote in a note last month. “The yuan should continue to attract reserve flows from smaller countries that China dominates as a trade partner.” *https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-rebuff-dollar).

One unintended consequence of the strength of the ruble is that "Russian Soldiers Refuse to Fight Due to Shrinking Paychecks: Report" (https://www.newsweek.com/russian-sol...report-1711475). The report states: "Some Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine are refusing to return and fight due to lower paychecks, according to a report from the Russian news outlet Caucasus.Realities.
Members of the Russian Guard from Krasnodar, a city in Russia, have filed reports refusing to be sent back to Ukraine. According to a source from the Federal Troops of the National Guard, several of the soldiers cited dissatisfaction with the amount they were paid during their time in Ukraine from February to April as the reason for refusing to fight, Caucasus.Realities reported.
The source explained in the report that part of the reason paychecks were shrinking was due to the growing exchange rate of the ruble, Russia's currency.
"Just the other day, a payment for the second month of being there came. And if for the first month they paid 100 thousand, now it's 50. The command explained this by the fall in the dollar exchange rate—the payment is calculated from about 50 dollars per day of stay, but is made in rubles at the Russian exchange rate," the source said.
The report summarized that if the dollar rate in Russia on March 10 was 120 rubles, it was 56 rubles by May 26, hence why payments from the military had changed.
Despite the international economic sanctions against Russia that have slowed economic growth even more than countries predicted, the ruble's value has grown significantly, jumping nearly 150 percent since it initially collapsed right after the invasion began, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Decreasing soldiers' paychecks does little to help with the current issue of low morale and mistreatment within the Russian military. While paychecks shrink, soldiers have been asked to pay for weapons and supplies with their own money."

Another shining example of Russian strategic thinking, and what happens when a "war" is not officially a "war" under Russian domestic legislation but a "special military operation," akin to a police operation. Under Russian military rules, troops who refuse to fight in Ukraine can face dismissal but cannot be prosecuted.

This legal situation is why there are reports of other soldiers, including members of "Putin's Private Army," refusing to fight in Ukraine (e.g., https://www.businessinsider.com/puti...kraine-2022-5_.

[Moses]

Yes-yes... "crippling sanctions" )))))) these sanctions multiplicate Russian income from oil and gas sales almost twice )

even yesterday, when EU just announced future embargo, oil prices rocketed and since yesterday Russia will receive $50 millions USD daily more in addition to daily $1 billion USD...

everyday we reading proud announces about "most destructive sanctions" that are running against Russia, it is "on the knees", while Bloomberg publishing news what forecast for Russian GDP'22 fall will be not 12% but 8%... and that is correction has been earned by Russia just in 3 months... "most destructive sanctions" what are postponed for 6 months... for some countries till the end of 2024, and for some sanctions are only on the paper since these countries are exemptions...

Inflation in EU in May is 10% without any sanctions from Russia...

for how long you will repeat western propaganda here? today at press-conference in White House they announced what almost 60% rise of fuel price is "Putin's fault"... do you read? prices are raised because of Putin, not because US canceled Russian oil import and after it offer of oil on the US market shrinks

meanwhile SWIFT reports what Chinese yuan just in 3 months took almost the same share in global trading that has Japanese currency, and is just twice lower than British pound...

[Dragonman]

Yes-yes... "crippling sanctions" )))))) these sanctions multiplicate Russian income from oil and gas sales almost twice )

even yesterday, when EU just announced future embargo, oil prices rocketed and since yesterday Russia will receive $50 millions USD daily more in addition to daily $1 billion USD...

everyday we reading proud announces about "most destructive sanctions" that are running against Russia, it is "on the knees", while Bloomberg publishing news what forecast for Russian GDP'22 fall will be not 12% but 8%... and that is correction has been earned by Russia just in 3 months... "most destructive sanctions" what are postponed for 6 months... for some countries till the end of 2024, and for some sanctions are only on the paper since these countries are exemptions...

Inflation in EU in May is 10% without any sanctions from Russia...

for how long you will repeat western propaganda here? today at press-conference in White House they announced what almost 60% rise of fuel price is "Putin's fault"... do you read? prices are raised because of Putin, not because US canceled Russian oil import and after it offer of oil on the US market shrinks

meanwhile SWIFT reports what Chinese yuan just in 3 months took almost the same share in global trading that has Japanese currency, and is just twice lower than British pound...

As you don't share from where you drag up this information, it is difficult - but not impossible - to correct it.

Oil prices did not "rocket" after the EU announced its future embargo, e.g., "The global oil price rose above $120 a barrel after European Union leaders agreed to a partial ban on Russian oil imports, lifting oil-producer stocks. Brent crude, the international benchmark, ended the day up 1% at $122.84, after rising as high as $125.28." https://www.barrons.com/articles/rus...985165?tesla=y, May 31, 2022. A 1% rise is hardly significant in the long term of things.

Bloomberg reported that the Russian "Gross domestic product is likely to shrink as much as 12% this year, deeper than the 8% decline expected by the Economy Ministry, according to people familiar with the estimates who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ion-since-1994. You have transposed the figures.

Eurozone inflation in May was 8.1%, not as you claimed ("Inflation in EU in May is 10% without any sanctions from Russia) "as the war in Ukraine stokes energy and food prices." Reports, however, also add, "Prices had already been increasing because of supply chain problems in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic," https://www.dw.com/en/eurozone-infla...may/a-61983683.

If the renminbi/yuan has risen, it is because in April, "China's currency just had its worst month ever. It's still dropping" https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/13/i...hnk/index.html. "The Chinese currency is declining rapidly as the world's second largest economy falters under the weight of Covid restrictions. Since the start of the year, investors have been moving money out of China, driven by concerns about rising lockdowns in major cities, and Beijing's close ties with Moscow in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The links have raised fears that China could be targeted by Western sanctions if it helps Moscow."

As for SWIFT, you do know that it is not a trading forum for currency? SWIFT does not actually move money; it is only a messaging system banks use to send instructions, using standard codes and formats, from banks in one country to banks in other countries. If the renminbi/yuan has risen to the position you state, it is because people and firms are moving money out of the PRC rather than into it.

The 60% rise in price of gasoline is only in the USA. A website called "Politifact" fact-checked the White House comment, and concluded that "The most recent spike in gas prices has stemmed largely from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. However, gas prices were rising long before the Russian troop buildup around Ukraine became front-page news, primarily from growing demand due to the economic recovery from the pandemic" https://www.politifact.com/factcheck...soline-prices/. The press in western democracies is free to fact-check politicians' statements. The website lists its sources. The US, by the way, is famous for its usually cheap gasoline prices compared with other countries. Its present US price of around US$4.70 is about the same price as gasoline in Taiwan at the moment - equivalent to US$4.41 - the highest seen in seven years, and in part caused by Saudi Arabia's announcement that it would increase its official contract price for crude oil in April. The CPC adjusts its fuel prices weekly based on changes in crude oil prices, using a weighted oil price formula composed of 70 percent Dubai crude and 30 percent Brent crude. https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202203130008.

In the UK, over 12 months (i.e., a longer period than the Russian incursion into Ukraine), the price rise was 34.4% (https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/infla...ries/dogq/mm23) for Petrol and Oil, including Fuel Oil.

While you're crowing about Russia oil sales, why don't you comment on the effect of sanctions on ordinary Russians? "Annual inflation accelerated to 17.83% in April, its highest since January 2002. The central bank, which targets inflation of 4%, said the annual increase in consumer prices was on track to reach to 18-23% in the whole of 2022." https://www.reuters.com/business/rus...ke-2022-05-18/. We all know it is the oligarchs who are taking the major share of oil profits - though they can't move them out of Russia at the moment because Russian banks have been cut off from SWIFT and they themselves are sanctioned.

By the way, have you noticed that I mostly post responses to your statements, rather than "posting Western propaganda"? I also cite my sources so you can check them.

If you stop posting nonsense, I'll stop responding in this thread.

[Moses]

Bloomberg reported that the Russian "Gross domestic product is likely to shrink as much as 12% this year, deeper than the 8% decline expected by the Economy Ministry, according to people familiar with the estimates who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ion-since-1994. You have transposed the figures.

don't read "old news" - they are useless - you are quoting May 9 news... I'm writing what is now, you are argue what was month ago...

Eurozone inflation in May was 8.1%, not as you claimed ("Inflation in EU in May is 10% without any sanctions from Russia) "as the war in Ukraine stokes energy and food prices." Reports, however, also add, "Prices had already been increasing because of supply chain problems in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic," https://www.dw.com/en/eurozone-infla...may/a-61983683.

could you please read carefully? I wrote EU, not "Eurozone" - 19 countries where euro is in use...

As for SWIFT, you do know that it is not a trading forum for currency? SWIFT does not actually move money; it is only a messaging system banks use to send instructions, using standard codes and formats, from banks in one country to banks in other countries. If the renminbi/yuan has risen to the position you state, it is because people and firms are moving money out of the PRC rather than into it.

SWIFT is only system in world what is able precise calculate share of any currency in world in global trade - almost all payments in world are going via SWIFT... why you are talking about currency trading???

The 60% rise in price of gasoline is only in the USA. A website called "Politifact" fact-checked the White House comment, and concluded that "The most recent spike in gas prices has stemmed largely from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. However, gas prices were rising long before the Russian troop buildup around Ukraine became front-page news, primarily from growing demand due to the economic recovery from the pandemic" https://www.politifact.com/factcheck...soline-prices/. The press in western democracies is free to fact-check politicians' statements. The website lists its sources. The US, by the way, is famous for its usually cheap gasoline prices compared with other countries. Its present US price of around US$4.70 is about the same price as gasoline in Taiwan at the moment - equivalent to US$4.41 - the highest seen in seven years, and in part caused by Saudi Arabia's announcement that it would increase its official contract price for crude oil in April. The CPC adjusts its fuel prices weekly based on changes in crude oil prices, using a weighted oil price formula composed of 70 percent Dubai crude and 30 percent Brent crude. https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202203130008.

You again wrote a lot of lines just to confirm my one sentence: gasoline prices in US raised on 60% and White Hose blames Putin for it, instead confirm what prises are raised because of own embargo of Russian oil

In the UK, over 12 months (i.e., a longer period than the Russian incursion into Ukraine), the price rise was 34.4% (https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/infla...ries/dogq/mm23) for Petrol and Oil, including Fuel Oil.

Thank you for confirmation, that Boris Johnson lies, when blames Putin for raised prices in UK

While you're crowing about Russia oil sales, why don't you comment on the effect of sanctions on ordinary Russians? "Annual inflation accelerated to 17.83% in April, its highest since January 2002. The central bank, which targets inflation of 4%, said the annual increase in consumer prices was on track to reach to 18-23% in the whole of 2022.

Because it isn't true anymore. Why you always quote old as a shit of mammoth news? It is deflation here already: prices what was under influence or weakened ruble, are going down here third week and forecast for yearly inflation is already below 15%

P.S. Please use search tools - its shows news for past 24/72 hours...

1654083369(1).png

[Dragonman]

don't read "old news" - they are useless - you are quoting May 9 news... I'm writing what is now, you are argue what was month ago... could you please read carefully? I wrote EU, not "Eurozone" - 19 countries where euro is in use...
SWIFT is only system in world what is able precise calculate share of any currency in world in global trade - almost all payments in world are going via SWIFT... why you are talking about currency trading???
You again wrote a lot of lines just to confirm my one sentence: gasoline prices in US raised on 60% and White Hose blames Putin for it, instead confirm what prises are raised because of own embargo of Russian oil.
Thank you for confirmation, that Boris Johnson lies, when blames Putin for raised prices in UK.
Because it isn't true anymore. Why you always quote old as a shit of mammoth news? It is deflation here already: prices what was under influence or weakened ruble, are going down here third week and forecast for yearly inflation is already below 15%
P.S. Please use search tools - its shows news for past 24/72 hours...

1654083369(1).png

I"don't read "old news" - they are useless - you are quoting May 9 news... I'm writing what is now, you are argue what was month ago." If you give the link to your sources, I'll quote more up-to-date-information.

I accept your correction regarding inflation in the eurozone rather than in the EU. However, in the EU, "In turn, the projection for inflation has been revised up significantly. In the EU, HICP inflation is now expected to average an all-time high of 6.8% in 2022, before declining to 3.2% in 2023. In the euro area, inflation is projected at 6.1% in 2022 and 2.7% in 2023. This compares with 3.5% and 1.7%, respectively, in the WiF" (WiF refers to the Winter 2022 interim forecast. HIPC refers to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, which is an indicator of inflation and price stability for the European Central Bank. It is a consumer price index which is compiled according to a methodology that has been harmonised across EU countries) (https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-e...ic-forecast_en).

"SWIFT is only system in world what is able precise calculate share of any currency in world in global trade - almost all payments in world are going via SWIFT... why you are talking about currency trading???" WRONG. SWIFT is primarily a service for communications. It acts as a messenger between banks rather than participating in financial transactions, and it accounts for nearly 50% of all global cross-border payments. I use SWIFT to transfer my money between my bank account in Taiwan and my relatives overseas which have nothing to do with international trade. There's a neat little diagram at https://qz.com/2135680/a-visual-expl...off-to-russia/ which shows the transfer of money between individuals.

Biden's exaggeration was based on the fact that "the most recent spike in gas prices has stemmed largely from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine." That was Putin's fault.

As usual, you drag in information that was not mentioned in your posting - in this case, Boris Johnson.

With regard to your "P.S. Please use search tools - its shows news for past 24/72 hours..., " it is ironic that you write this when none of your statements are linked to sources. That is a point I have made repeatedly.

You harp on the lies of leaders such as Biden and Johnson - try an Internet search for "Putin's lies" and their effect and see the number of articles listed - About 114,000 results (0.34 seconds). You can take Putin out of the KGB but not the KGB out of a 3rd-generation KGB/NKVD apparatchik.

According to Putin himself, his paternal grandfather, Spiridon Ivanovich Putin (1879-1965), worked as a cook for both Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov/Lenin and Stalin. It is unlikely that he would have had such a job without being part of the state security apparatus, aka the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs or NKVD.

Putin’s father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin (1911-1999), served in an NKVD Destruction Battalion early in the Great Patriotic War, the term used to describe the conflict fought from June 1941 to May 195 during the Second World War.

"The “Destruction Battalions” (истребители, "destroyers", "exterminators," abbreviated: istrebki in Russian), and strybki in Ukrainian). The instructions given to these battalions are eerily similar to reports of what Russian troops are currently doing in Ukraine: “The destruction battalions have no mercy for our enemies – bandits and other fascist cankers. They shall be not just destroyed, but sent directly under the ground, where is their right place. In every village and settlement, the destruction battalion has a number of tasks in addition to directly breaking the enemy. With bolshevist grimness, everybody who imparts provocational rumors or generates panic, must be extirpated. Everybody, who directly or indirectly helps the enemy, must be found out and exterminated (What is the Destruction battalion and what are its tasks. Tartu Kommunist, 22 -07-1941 on Wikipedia)."

Does the last part read like a blueprint for the "special military operation" in Ukraine?