The Brink of War?

[Moses]

Is there any quarantine or prior testing requirements to visit the area?

Negative PCR test within 48 hours before arrival to Russia, fill form of arrival on the border, PCR test within 72 hours after arrival in any laboratory and quarantine till results. Typical time for results is 12-24 hours, so you may to make test right after arrival - in city and wait till next day. No specific hotels are designated, but hostels are forbidden for that purpose. Russia recognize vaccination only for citizens of countries what recognize any Russian vaccine

For to avoid future problems I suggest to arrive to any "officially Russian" airport like Moscow, Sankt-Petersburg or some southern cities like Rostov-on-Don and so on and then to take short local flight for to avoid Crimean entry stamp in your passport since with "Crimean stamp" you will lost ability to visit Ukraine in the future. But if you don't care then you may buy ticket directly to Simferopol - the capital of Crimea, it has international airport what is able to get even B-787 aircrafts.

From Simferopol airport you may take bus (or taxi) ride to Sevastopol (100 km) and then to visit Balaklava just by city buses or by local taxi (it is located very close to Sevastopol). Sevastopol itself is very interesting not only as a Naval base, but also has museums and sites from very old time - Greeks, Rome Imperia, ancient mountain cities (cave cities), Russian-Turkey war, residences and palaces of Russian tsars. The best time to visit is second half of September (not so hot, warm sea, isn't that crowded like at summer, Crimean vine of new season).

[NitNoi]

Moses, I respect you and have learned from your posts - but you seem very biased this time. While you may strongly believe that Ukraine should never join NATO, Mr Putin's demands are provocative.

[Moses]

Moses, I respect you and have learned from your posts - but you seem very biased this time. While you may strongly believe that Ukraine should never join NATO, Mr Putin's demands are provocative.

Let me remind you Caribbean crisis. At that time USSR "strongly believes" what Cuba may join Warsaw pact. Do you remember how it was?

What about Venezuela this time? Should Venezuela accept Russian invitation and to join https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collec...y_Organization ? Maybe together with Cuba? US will be crying about danger for national interest form every iron then. And they will try to make next revolution there or even to invide and to kill Maduro like they did few years ago.

[arsenal]

You lost the cold war. America was strong enough to stop the Soviet Union placing nuclear weapons on Cuba but Russia couldn't stop the Baltic states joining NATO. Your allies now!!! Belarus.

[Moses]

Your allies now!!! Belarus.

You will jump out of your pants after next my word: China.
Also Collective Security Treaty Organization has now 6 members, you know...

Already at time of Obama it has been officially said by US president: Russian army is second powerful army in world and 6th largest economy in World by GDP PPP.

[dinagam]

What will be the best way to resolve this issue is a process of transformation of this land into a federal government with each little state having an agreed to amount of autonomy to accommodate language/culture/religion/etc interests. If the present government continues with its belligerent ways playing into the hands of NATO and Biden, Russia has no choice but to make a surgical cut to exercise the cancerous growth and restore order to her immediate neighbour. Putin is just the knight in shining armour in this situation.

[a447]

If the US couldn't accept Russian missiles on Cuba, why should Russia accept US missiles right on its border should Ukraine ever join NATO?

[Moses]

into a federal government with each little state having an agreed to amount of autonomy to accommodate language/culture/religion/etc interests

You just made crime under Ukrainian law (7 years in prison). By modern Ukrainian constitution Ukraine is unitary state. Russian language, Tatar language (do you remember Crimean Tatars?), Hungarian and Romanian languages are forbidden in Ukraine for to use in official and any commercial communication, on TV and radio. Now already second modern govt in Ukraine is controlled by nationalists from western districts.

BBС report from 2014 clearly stated what power has been seized by Nazi battalions like "Azov" (google it). Legal elected president has been pushed our of country. And West recognizes it as a legal power now. It sounds crazy, but it is real situation. Why? Because of Russia - it makes Russia a little bit more weak, than in situation when Russia has "security belt" btw NATO and own territory.

When Crimea was Autonomous republic within Ukraine at USSR time and late under Ukrainian pro-kremlin govt, nobody spoke about moving to Russia. Only after win of Nazi, Autonomous Republic of Crimea moved to Russia by national voting. There were no Russian invasion to Crimea - Russian bases existed there for many decades. Crimea just voted and joined Russia. NO ONE shoot heared on Crimea peninsula at that time. Ukrainian military forces just ran out, because they knew - they will have no support from Russian who are living there and are 2/3 of population https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Crimea

Very known photo: Ukrainian army battalion marching by Crimean road out of peninsula in 2014. They were allowed to leave, but not allowed to take weapon with them. You see no any Russian military around. It wasn't necessary - they knew they have no support in Crimea, they have one only way - out.

[arsenal]

Well this site chosen at random has your economy as 11th not 6th, about half that of the UK.

https://www.investopedia.com/insight...top-economies/

And as for China being your ally!!! In your wildest imagination.you don't seriously expect China to stand by you do you? In geoppolitical yerms China is as unreliable as it gets. They'll hang you out to dry.

[Moses]

Well this site chosen at random has your economy as 11th not 6th

and 6th largest economy in World by GDP PPP.

If you don't know difference btw GDP and GDP PPP, I can't help to you then, sorry. It is useless to discus GDP when you compare countries because of part of internal consuming - 70-80% of GDP is produced and consumed within the same country, so you must to calculate PPP index which depends on local currencies and prices. Big Mac in Chicago and Big Mac in Deli have 5 time difference in prices, but by fact they bring to GDP just the value of one Big Mac each and must be counted equal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_by_GDP_(PPP)