The Brink of War?

[latintopxxx]

....to be fair thats probably where the fence was originally before the USSR moved it to be nice to the ukraine....bit like crimea...full of Russians... kinda does belong with Russia.

[StevieWonders]

....to be fair thats probably where the fence was originally before the USSR moved it to be nice to the ukraine....bit like crimea...full of Russians... kinda does belong with Russia.

I would report verbatim the conversation I had over coffee yesterday except the Mods will get their red pens out as the “W” word was bandied about, suggestive of the idea that this is just an argument between fishwives over the back fence

[cdnmatt]

And the missiles have begun flying...

[Dodger]

Greta Thunberg forgot to tell you what only 20% of gas is going for "Energy". 80% is going for to manufacture fertilizers (Russia controls 40% of world export of ammonium).

Also, all oil+gas sectors in Russian economy, including internal and domestic use are only 15.2% of GDP (2020) and number is going down for many years - it was around 20% 5 years ago.

As we all know, Russia's economy is dependent on the export of oil and natural gas, both of which are under the control of the Russian government. This lack of economic diversification puts Russia at a disadvantage when demand for its energy products plummet, which then causes the Russian economy to contract.

While Russia is a very resource-rich country, it suffers from intense social inequality as I'm sure you are aware, with the top 1% of the Russian population controlling 71% of the nation's wealth, and 13% of Russians living in poverty. Unfortunately, the majority of people living in extreme poverty are children. Quite similar to Thailand in these regards which is unfortunate.

The fact that the World's reliance on fossil fuels will decline significantly over-time is no mystery to anyone. It's not like we have a choice.

Some people are marginalizing the effects of Western Sanctions during this crisis, but it's extremely doubtful that the oligarchs (who control the wealth in Russia) aren't extremely concerned while trying to protect their fortunes. For the Russian working-class (99% of its population) it's just another stick in the eye.

Like most people, I hope this problem can be resolved diplomatically, but that's starting to look extremely doubtful (what and understatement).

[StevieWonders]

And the missiles have begun flying...

I see Sleepy Joe has said “the prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine “. I think that’s the same formula American presidents use after a high school shooting - “thoughts and prayers”

[cdnmatt]

Apparently it's ok, because Putin said he has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

Right.... is that the same as he had no plans to invade?

[StevieWonders]

What is crystal clear is that Putin regards the sanctions announced so far as derisory and a provocation. To be effective, what follows will have to be painful for him and us. If Putin’s Russia is to be a pariah, the West – and the EU in particular – has to stop injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the Russian economy daily with purchases of its gas and other hydrocarbons. We need to brace ourselves for immediate increases of perhaps a third in oil and gas prices. This has the makings of an energy crunch like that of the early 1970s.

We are witnessing the start of a war that will define – and for the worse – the new post-Covid age.

[Moses]

While Russia is a very resource-rich country, it suffers from intense social inequality as I'm sure you are aware, with the top 1% of the Russian population controlling 71% of the nation's wealth, and 13% of Russians living in poverty. Unfortunately, the majority of people living in extreme poverty are children. Quite similar to Thailand in these regards which is unfortunate.

where you got that propaganda?

list of countries with inequality of wealth is published by World Bank and CIA yearly. Gini index reflects it clearly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ncome_equality

Look for Russia there and for example US: even Haiti is more equal than US is...

if here really will exist "suffers" then population will not support Putin, but his ratings are above 60%...

[Brad the Impala]

So you think Russia will invide? Russia will allow local private military companies to sort it out. Like it does in Syria or Mali. "Vagner" will do all dirty job, while Putin will keep distance and say "there are no our regular army".

Really?

[Moses]

Really?

Really.

Nobody learn lessons of history. Georgia 2008. Saakashvili started to fire in Ossetia, at next day Russian tanks were near Tbilisi. 3-day war.

Yesterday at 23:30 Ukrainian army started fire in Donetsk region and tried to cross North Donets river. Today Russia destroyed all Ukrainian air bases and army control centers. Mobile networks, radio communications and TV at next to Russian borders regions are suppressed. How far will be tanks we will know at next 1-2 days.

As per news from Ukraine, Ukrainian solders run from army, leaving uniform and weapons. Only volunteers in nazi battalions are trying to control situation.

My relatives in Crimea, Donetsk and Kiev say "finally".