The Brink of War?

[Dragonman]

Instead of listening to "Ukrainian answers", look at Ukrainian actions. And Zelensky’s actions over the past month are as follows: more than 10 political parties have been banned, the former: Minister of the Interior Avakov (he is also the main patron of the Nazis), Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, Speaker of Parliament Turchynov, President Poroshenko were summoned to the prosecutor’s office, so far as witnesses, in a case of treason.

Zelensky removes everyone who can interfere with him in peace negotiations with Russia, removes those who may try to seize power in Ukraine, while accepting Russia's conditions.

Because, no matter how long the conflict lasts, the end will be the same - peace negotiations. And the situation is working against Ukraine: the main resource that will run out first is Ukrainian conscripts. Ukraine has already mobilized everyone from the age of 18 to 60. The West will not be able to prolong the conflict "until the last Ukrainian" indefinitely: conscripts are not an endless resource.

As soon as Zelensky clears the "political clearing" from the highest "trees", and will be sure that no one will throw him out of the presidency, his current "heroic" rhetoric will be replaced by a search for a compromise.

Stop dealing in half-truths! The actions were carried out in accord with Ukrainian law by the appropriate Ukrainian legal forces.

Ukraine's national security and defence council took the decision to ban 11 parties from any political activity because of their ties with Russia.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) summoned former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov and former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov for questioning on Viktor Medvedchukʼs "coal case." The case concerns the organization of illegal coal supply schemes from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk. Petro Poroshenko not only asked Medvedchuk to contact the leadership of the Russian Federation but also ensured the adoption of the necessary decisions in all Ukrainian instances.

This was as legal as Putin using the Duma to outlaw the word "war," and as legal as his purging of the Kremlin of Russian officials he blames for the fact that the invasion of Ukraine was not going according to his plan.

[Moses]

Ukraine's national security and defence council took the decision to ban 11 parties from any political activity because of their ties with Russia.

What is "half truth"? I just wrote facts: more than 10 parties has been banned. Legal parties became illegal just because President signed order.

So it is censorship? Because these 11 parties have voters in Ukraine and support of part of Ukrainian nation. And ban means total ignorance of opinions of part of Ukrainian population.

By the way: how many TV channels were closed at the same time? Radio stations? Newspapers?

But anyway: thank you for confirmation about ban of 11 political parties.

[dab69]

Concertgoers in Russia chant ‘F**k the war!’


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R36xAJFdMNo

[dab69]

Is the war in Ukraine sounding the death knell for attack helicopters?


The large number destroyed has sparked a debate among experts over whether the aircraft are under-performing or being used poorly by Russian forces.

Saturated with anti-aircraft defences, both long-range systems and short-range missiles that can be carried and launched by a soldier (Manpads), the skies above Ukraine are deadly for helicopters.

The numerous videos on social media of Russian helicopter gunships being shot down are very public evidence of the extent of the losses.

Russia has lost at least 42 helicopters since its February 24 invasion and Ukraine seven, according to specialist blog Oryx, which has recorded material losses from photographs and videos taken from the battlefields.

Attack helicopters were designed to aid troops and tanks on the battlefield.

They are armoured themselves and heavily armed, but as the conflict shows, they too are extremely vulnerable.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-a...110600595.html

[Dragonman]

What is "half truth"? I just wrote facts: more than 10 parties has been banned. Legal parties became illegal just because President signed order.

So it is censorship? Because these 11 parties have voters in Ukraine and support of part of Ukrainian nation. And ban means total ignorance of opinions of part of Ukrainian population.

By the way: how many TV channels were closed at the same time? Radio stations? Newspapers?

But anyway: thank you for confirmation about ban of 11 political parties.

You're still dealing in half-truths. The 11 political parties were suspended, i.e., banned from any political activity for the period of martial law. They have not been disbanded. Contrary to your assertion that the parties "have voters," most of them were not represented in the parliament. The parties did not become illegal "just because President signed order," but their activities were suspended because Ukraine's national security and defence council took the decision to ban the parties from any political activity.

By the way: how many TV channels were closed at the same time? Radio stations? Newspapers?

Ukraine closed 3 TV stations owned by by a Russia-linked magnate close to Vladimir Putin. I cannot locate on the Internet any reports of Ukraine closing down newspapers or radio station. There have been no reports of Ukrainian authorities banning the use of certain words, or of Ukraine blocking access to Facebook, etc. If you know of any, please post the links.

Why haven't you commented on the fact that Russia shut down of country’s only independent TV channel and a liberal radio station. Or the fact that Putin banned the use of the word "war" in relation to the so-called "special military operation," blocked access to Facebook and major foreign news outlets, and enacted a law to punish anyone spreading “false information” about its Ukraine invasion with up to 15 years in prison."Russia Takes Censorship to New Extremes, Stifling War Coverage" (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/04/w...crackdown.html).

[Ruthrieston]

I read that Marks & Spencer is the latest retail outlet from the civilised world to withdraw all it's business from Russia. More doors are closing on the war criminals.

[Dragonman]

In 1904, Leo Tolstoy (author of "War and Peace") wrote a public letter denouncing the Russo-Japanese War, which has sometimes been compared with Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Again war,” he wrote. “Again sufferings, necessary to nobody, utterly uncalled for; again fraud, again the universal stupefaction and brutalization of men.”

In one of his most famous pacifist writings, 1900’s “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” Tolstoy presciently diagnosed the problem of today’s Russia: “The misery of nations is caused not by particular persons, but by the particular order of Society under which the people are so bound up together that they find themselves all in the power of a few men, or more often in the power of one single man: a man so perverted by his unnatural position as arbiter of the fate and lives of millions, that he is always in an unhealthy state, and always suffers more or less from a mania of self-aggrandizement” (How to read Dostoevsky and Tolstoy during Russia’s war against Ukraine: scholar, https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/dos...y-and-tolstoy/).

Were he alive today, he'd probably write the same thing again about Putin - "that he is always in an unhealthy state, and always suffers more or less from a mania of self-aggrandizement.”

[Moses]

I read that Marks & Spencer is the latest retail outlet from the civilised world to withdraw all it's business from Russia. More doors are closing on the war criminals.

Yes. They did. I think this will be the same story like with Reebok and Nike.

Nike announced end of business in Russia in March. Shops are still working. Reebok announced end of business in April then sold network of shops to Turkish distributor of Reebok and shops are still working. A lot of brands did the same - loudly announced quit and then silently returned to the market. Money.

Apple announced quit in March. Distributor re:Store kept doors closed only for 1 week, and then it started import of Apple products from another countries.

McDonalds in Moscow will be reopened at June 12 by its franchise company.

Law that ends trademark protection for companies and brands who leaving Russia works - companies changes decision to leave, or distributors of that brands from another countries come and restore presence of brand on Russian market.

[Moses]

Yes, it is best way to find support.

Ukraine moved to direct threats against Hungary because of its position regarding the imposition of an embargo on Russian oil. Olena Zerkal, Advisor to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, made a corresponding statement.

Ukraine has decided to join the pressure on Hungary, but since it has no levers of influence on Hungary, Kyiv has chosen the most suitable method for them, i.e. began to threaten and blackmail. As Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Olena Zerkal stated, the Druzhba oil pipeline passes through the territory of Ukraine and it is up to the Kyiv regime to make an "accident" on it, after which oil will no longer be supplied to Hungary.

Ukraine has an excellent leverage in its hands - the Druzhba oil pipeline (...) In my opinion, it would be very appropriate if something happened to it

she said, adding that this would be a response to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the language that he "understands and imposes on the EU."

[Moses]

Forte dei Marmi has become a seaside haven for Russia’s ultrarich in recent years, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky owns a villa there too.

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