3-D Chess not the 2-D Chess of Ukraine-Russia - What is actually coming during this decade…

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

2 minutes ago, Rob Plant said:

The clue here Andrei is that FIFA and The olympic committee represent countries all over the globe! This surely tells you of the sentiment global organiisations and governments have of the incursion into Ukraine that your reckless leader has taken your country into.

As  it turns out, not really. Both turned out to be private organizations, which aren't even really non-profits. Russian users are also banned from PornHub. Now, that one is scary.

[Jay McKinsey + 1,490]

What the Moscow stock exchange would look like if they dared to open it:

[Boat + 1,323]

On 2/23/2022 at 12:07 PM, Tom Nolan said:

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)  

This is a very clear point of fact.  Look up the structure of how the European Union Parliament is designed.  And everyone knows about the negative interest rates in Europe.  However, many people do not know that European Pension Funds are required to own a percentage of bonds which get tied to the EURO.   

It doesn't take a genius to recognize that investment monies will flock to the American dollar when The Fed will raise interest rates.  This results in the EURO being a less valued currency.  and there goes the dominos falling..

So, this is one aspect.

I don’t think Europe was designed to be potent. They just wanted to trade freely and eliminate tariffs. They felt everyone would benefit financially. Everyone knew it would be like herding cats and be difficult. In the US we have one language and still there are rouge groups that make any semblance of unity difficult. What you call real power is very fleeting. There is always another group that thinks their shyt doesn't stink wanting power. This is human nature.

 

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

2 hours ago, Jay McKinsey said:

What the Moscow stock exchange would look like if they dared to open it:

Why should they "dare"? Missing a point there, Jay. You froze the assets of the Russian Central Bank, the Russian Central Bank froze the Russian assets of your investors, including trillions worth of stock. So, there is no way, for example, for BP to drop their ~20% share of Rosneft like they announced. Given the prices for oil, don't think they are complaining too much. One force majeure overruling another.

Stop thinking like such an American. There are limits to power exerted by cut pieces of paper, and absolutely no legal basis to any of this activity. You feel like going to court over it? When the exchange reopens, it will probably be ruble-only for now, Russian ruble-based accounts continue to work unimpeded worldwide, probably via the Chinese CIPS. The great dollar-bypass manifesting itself on retail level for the first time? Should that be so, you pretty much destroyed SWIFT over nothing much. Because the sanctioned Russian banks already have correspondence accounts with non-sanctioned ones. Dare to switch off all the Russian banks now?

Edited March 1, 2022 by Andrei Moutchkine

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

On 2/28/2022 at 10:13 AM, Rob Plant said:

@frankfurter In your world Americans did this! Wake up man!!

'Russian saboteurs' shoot dead girl and her parents in family car

The number of civilian deaths is growing by the day.

Ukraine's health ministry said on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It also said that 1,684 people, including 116 children, had been wounded.

The first to be named is a 4th grade girl from Kyiv called Polina, who was in her final year of primary school.

She and her parents were shot dead by a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group who opened fire on the family car, the city's deputy mayor Volodymyr Bondarenko said in a Facebook post.

Polina's brother is receiving treatment at Okhmatdyt children's hospital and her sister is in intensive care at a second hospital.

 

 

Here's is the episode right after it happened. No Russian recon groups  in sight, only more of the random thugs Ze gave arms to.

https://twitter.com/Deus_Abscondis/status/1497264669236817922

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

On 2/22/2022 at 7:22 PM, Tom Nolan said:

It is my contention (the short version)…

 

 

In order to install a new “governance”, the old system must be quietly and deceptively destroyed, where the new rulers can “save” society.

 

 

EUROPE and its coming destruction.

 

People should realize that The European Parliament is impotent.  Nation Members of EU Parliament have no real powers…look it up and understand their structure.  It was by design.   And also grasp that tied to the EURO currency there have been negative interest rates but also mandates that Pension Funds must own these type of bonds. (the imminent destruction of pension funds)   The insane Energy Policies of Europe have not been ordained by rational thinking, but by deceptive influence from powerful interests.

Anyone can put 2 + 2 together to forecast the coming decade.  What will happen to European currency and the economy when The Federal Reserve raises interest rates?  What will happen to prices when the European energy sector is in shambles?

The famous quote of the 4^th Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum for predictions of the year 2030 is  “You will own nothing and be happy”.

 

The global policies from the Covid-19 Pandemic were not about trying to help people’s health, but they were about deceptively installing control factors upon the populace.

The first step of The World Economic Forum is to destroy Europe.  That WILL OCCUR…Europe will be in shambles during the coming years.   The U.N. is a dynamic tool of the World Economic Forum.  This Ukraine-Russia crisis emphasized by the United States is designed to facilitate the destruction of Europe.

 

In the beginning, the U.S. will appear to benefit especially as its currency remains dominant with no threat as a result of trading partners such as Germany and Russia who might exchange mutual currencies.

 

The Ukraine-Russia crisis needs to occur now, prior to the destruction of European currencies when The Federal Reserve raises rates.

There is much more to this agenda.  If you read the documents at the World Economic Forum, they tell you the plans.

 

It is… 3-D Chess not the 2-D Chess of Ukraine-Russia - What is actually coming during this decade…

 

The Fed is not at liberty to raise rates to match the inflation, Tom. This would cause a huge snowball of bankruptcies due to inability to support the pile of outstanding debt, which has only been getting worse. Because it is obvious that everybody in the US has been picking up more debt and sinking it into Nasdaq stocks. Given how the stocks grew, while the credit was better than free? (available at below the inflation rates)

[Jay McKinsey + 1,490]

1 hour ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

Why should they "dare"? Missing a point there, Jay. You froze the assets of the Russian Central Bank, the Russian Central Bank froze the Russian assets of your investors, including trillions worth of stock. So, there is no way, for example, for BP to drop their ~20% share of Rosneft like they announced. Given the prices for oil, don't think they are complaining too much. One force majeure overruling another.

Stop thinking like such an American, Jay. There are limits to power exerted by cut pieces of paper, and absolutely no legal basis to any of this activity. You feel like going to court over this? When the exchange reopens, it will probably be ruble-only for now, Russian ruble-based accounts continue to work unimpeded worldwide, probably via the Chinese CIPS. The great dollar-bypass manifesting itself on retail level for the first time? Should that be so, you pretty much destroyed SWIFT over nothing much. Because the sanctioned Russian banks already have correspondence accounts with non-sanctioned ones. Dare to switch off all the Russian banks now?

Stock worth trillions of Rubbles is only a few tens of billions in real money. BPs stake in Rosnfet is only worth 14 billion USD. The legality of all this has long been settled. The courts won't even bother hearing the case. All the major western countries have announced freezing of Russia central bank assets.

Banks outside Russia aren't going to touch any transaction with Russia for fear of being sanctioned. It has happened many times before. We even fined the Bank of Moscow once for violating our sanctions and we will do it again.

Russia is running out of options to participate in the global financial system as it faces bank runs and a ruble crash. Over the weekend, all G-7 countries moved to freeze Russia’s foreign currency reserve assets.

Edited March 1, 2022 by Jay McKinsey

[Rob Plant + 2,756]

'Watch your tongue': Russian government official issues warning over sanctions

A Russian government official has launched a terse warning over sanctions against his country over its invasion of Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia's Security Council, was retorting to a comment by French finance minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday that the European Union was going to unleash an all-out economic and financial war against Russia. 

He tweeted: "Today, some French minister has said that they declared an economic war on Russia.

"Watch your tongue, gentlemen! And don't forget that in human history, economic wars quite often turned into real ones."

Mr Medvedev served as placeholder president from 2008 to 2012 when Vladimir Putin had to shift into the prime minister's post because of term limits.

 

 

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

2 hours ago, Jay McKinsey said:

Stock worth trillions of Rubbles is only a few tens of billions in real money. BPs stake in Rosnfet is only worth 14 billion USD. The legality of all this has long been settled. The courts won't even bother hearing the case. All the major western countries have announced freezing of Russia central bank assets.

Banks outside Russia aren't going to touch any transaction with Russia for fear of being sanctioned. It has happened many times before. We even fined the Bank of Moscow once for violating our sanctions and we will do it again.

Russia is running out of options to participate in the global financial system as it faces bank runs and a ruble crash. Over the weekend, all G-7 countries moved to freeze Russia’s foreign currency reserve assets.

Alternatively, it is your dollars which aren't worth what you say they are? Rosneft got oil. Lots of it. Ultimately, it cannot be worth less than what the oil is worth, or the petrodollar is toast. Is it, Jay? Whose courts, Jay? American "sanctions" have no legal validity outside your own Podunk jurisdiction. Only the UNSC sanctions are international law. Bank of Moscow is some small fry affiliate of the Italian UniCredit, right? Russians can start fining US banks doing business in Russia, too. Collecting the fines is a different matter, altogether.

Well, what can I say. The hegemony is not what it used to be. Only about half of Russian central bank reserves are in reach of the G7. Which represent less than half of the world economy anymore. Out of actually leading seven world economies, about four are not in G7. One of which is Russia itself. More interestingly, the assets that are in the West are IMF SDF. By freezing those, are you attacking institutions at the heart of the "Washington Consensus" - IMF and World Bank (our agent Donnie already took care of the third one, WTO) undermine the trust in those, and your "global financial system" is no more. Not that it was in any good shape before this started.

"Bank runs" are BS in a country where most population haven't handled any paper money for years. All the cashless payment methods work without a hitch at the POS. Moreover, so do VISA and MC cards issued by sanctioned banks. Worldwide. This is because all Russian  credit card transactions must go through a Russian processing center disconnected from SWIFT. This happened after they dared to refuse ATM service to customers in Crimea back in 2014. And Uncle Sam swallowed, Jay. In Russia, it is Russian rules.

Edited March 1, 2022 by Andrei Moutchkine

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

1 hour ago, Rob Plant said:

'Watch your tongue': Russian government official issues warning over sanctions

A Russian government official has launched a terse warning over sanctions against his country over its invasion of Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia's Security Council, was retorting to a comment by French finance minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday that the European Union was going to unleash an all-out economic and financial war against Russia. 

He tweeted: "Today, some French minister has said that they declared an economic war on Russia.

"Watch your tongue, gentlemen! And don't forget that in human history, economic wars quite often turned into real ones."

Mr Medvedev served as placeholder president from 2008 to 2012 when Vladimir Putin had to shift into the prime minister's post because of term limits.

 

 

Old Dimon turned out to have a bit of a spine, after all.  Why placeholder? That's what Biden is.

[Rob Plant + 2,756]

2 minutes ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

Old Dimon turned out to have a bit of a spine, after all.  Why placeholder? That's what Biden is.

Biden is a frail old man with dementia!

He isnt scaring anyone anytime soon

I wouldnt be surprised if this conflict finishes him off.

Putin however has miscalculated the strength of feeling not only from Ukrainians but countries the world over, he needs a way out of this mess without losing face or he may escalate the crisis with unimagineable consequences for all sides and the world as a whole.

The winners in this.... China, they sit and wait like a hyena waiting for the spoils. Once USA, Europe and Russia are weakened enough they will pounce and the world will forever be a different place with Xi taking the spoils.

[Jay McKinsey + 1,490]

1 hour ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

Alternatively, it is your dollars which aren't worth what you say they are? Rosneft got oil. Lots of it. Ultimately, it cannot be worth less than what the oil is worth, or the petrodollar is toast. Is it, Jay? Whose courts, Jay? American "sanctions" have no legal validity outside your own Podunk jurisdiction. Only the UNSC sanctions are international law. Bank of Moscow is some small fry affiliate of the Italian UniCredit, right? Russians can start fining US banks doing business in Russia, too. Collecting the fines is a different matter, altogether.

Well, what can I say. The hegemony is not what it used to be. Only about half of Russian central bank reserves are in reach of the G7. Which represent less than half of the world economy anymore. Out of actually leading seven world economies, about four are not in G7. One of which is Russia itself. More interestingly, the assets that are in the West are IMF SDF. By freezing those, are you attacking institutions at the heart of the "Washington Consensus" - IMF and World Bank (our agent Donnie already took care of the third one, WTO)

I don't get much say in what the Dollar is worth. The market clearly defines the value of the USD. It is worth what the market says it is worth. I guess you never studied economics. At the moment the USD is at an all time high against the Rubble. 1 trillion Rub = 9 billion USD:

 

The London-headquartered oil firm announced on Sunday that it was offloading its 19.75% voting stake in Rosneft, noting that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represented a “fundamental change” in relations with Moscow. The value of the stake was estimated at $14bn (£10.4bn) at the end of last year. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/27/bp-exiting-its-1975-shareholding-in-russian-oil-giant-rosneft

US sanctions only need our jurisdiction. No one wants to be cut out of the USD financial system. Here is a good example from yesterday: 

India's top lender will not process any transactions involving Russian entities subject to international sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, according to a letter seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter.

"No transactions involving entities, banks, ports or vessels appearing" on a U.S., European Union or United Nations sanctions list shall be processed irrespective of the currency of the transaction, said a letter sent by State Bank of India (SBI) (SBI.NS) to certain clients.

Russia was 11th in GDP,  but not now. Only India and China are in the top 7 but not the G7. 

Russia is toast.

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by Jay McKinsey

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

44 minutes ago, Rob Plant said:

Biden is a frail old man with dementia!

He isnt scaring anyone anytime soon

I wouldnt be surprised if this conflict finishes him off.

Putin however has miscalculated the strength of feeling not only from Ukrainians but countries the world over, he needs a way out of this mess without losing face or he may escalate the crisis with unimagineable consequences for all sides and the world as a whole.

The winners in this.... China, they sit and wait like a hyena waiting for the spoils. Once USA, Europe and Russia are weakened enough they will pounce and the world will forever be a different place with Xi taking the spoils.

He did not miscalculate. The "strength of feeling" is a complete Astroturf, maintained by the Western propaganda machine. It won't last. Moreover, there will be a blow back.

Say, you give me  rolling eyes when I debunk a story of one dead child allegedly killed by the Russians.  What happens when you see 8 years worth of children maimed and killed by the Ukronazi regime?

https://twitter.com/DanielDumbrill/status/1498342813032849408

There will be show trials, like the new Nuerenberg. My guess is, in the LDNR, since they are no signatories to the ECHR charter. With really bad  cases to be hung. Can your tabloids conceivably stay away from this kind of fodder?

See, this is why I advocate always kicking the Brits ahead of the Yankees. The American Empire may be creaking and leaking fluids, but who knows how much endurance they've still got? It is colossal. You, on the other hand, are a shadow of your former self, with no hard power and no real economy left. Still as vicious as 100 years ago, and right up there with the Yankees in terms of propaganda impact. The "soft power superpower" thing. Basically, like the later day Austria-Hungary.

"Countries the world over" are outside your tabloid infosphere, Rob. They mostly don't give a damn or actually quietly root for Russia. Note how China, India and UAE abstained from UNSC resolution against Russia. Which Russia vetoed anyway, of course.

 

[Rob Plant + 2,756]

6 minutes ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

He did not miscalculate. The "strength of feeling" is a complete Astroturf, maintained by the Western propaganda machine. It won't last. Moreover, there will be a blow back.

Say, you give me  rolling eyes when I debunk a story of one dead child allegedly killed by the Russians.  What happens when you see 8 years worth of children maimed and killed by the Ukronazi regime?

https://twitter.com/DanielDumbrill/status/1498342813032849408

There will be show trials, like the new Nuerenberg. My guess is, in the LDNR, since they are no signatories to the ECHR charter. With really bad  cases to be hung. Can your tabloids conceivably stay away from this kind of fodder?

See, this is why I advocate always kicking the Brits ahead of the Yankees. The American Empire may be creaking and leaking fluids, but who knows how much endurance they've still got? It is colossal. You, on the other hand, are a shadow of your former self, with no hard power and no real economy left. Still as vicious as 100 years ago, and right up there with the Yankees in terms of propaganda impact. The "soft power superpower" thing. Basically, like the later day Austria-Hungary.

"Countries the world over" are outside your tabloid infosphere, Rob. They mostly don't give a damn or actually quietly root for Russia. Note how China, India and UAE abstained from UNSC resolution against Russia. Which Russia vetoed anyway, of course.

 

Andrei you couldnt be more wrong! the strength of feeling is global not just the West, if youre denying that then you bury your head in the sand and just refuse to see it. This isnt propoganda or British tabloid influence, this is the average man woman and child furious at the actions of Putin.

For a very small country Britain still has the 5th largest economy by GDP per capita, Russia is 12th! And that is set to fall with all the sanctions.

https://www.populationu.com/gen/countries-by-gdp#rank

You say Britain has no economy well what does that mean Russia has??? Oil and gas nobody will be buying?? and even if they did youre still miles behind britain lol.

if you think countries around the world are "quietly rooting for Russia" then I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

You did not debunk the story of the dead girl you hypothesized a scenario where it might not have been Russia that killed her, I'm sticking to my opinion they did!

The killing and maiming of children or anyone else in the separatist areas is because Russia invaded Crimea 8 years ago, and subsequently some Ukrainians wanted to be Russian also.

Why not hold discussions to let part of those territories be so if that is the will of the people??? Instead you arm the separatists to fight the Ukraine army. Russia is at best complicit in this and at worst the main reason it is so.

Instead of criticising and insulting my country take a long HONEST look at your own country first.

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

54 minutes ago, Jay McKinsey said:

I don't get much say in what the Dollar is worth. The market clearly defines the value of the USD. It is worth what the market says it is worth. I guess you never studied economics. At the moment the USD is at an all time high against the Rubble. 1 trillion Rub = 9 billion USD:

US sanctions only need our jurisdiction. No one wants to be cut out of the USD financial system. Here is a good example from yesterday: 

India's top lender will not process any transactions involving Russian entities subject to international sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, according to a letter seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter.

"No transactions involving entities, banks, ports or vessels appearing" on a U.S., European Union or United Nations sanctions list shall be processed irrespective of the currency of the transaction, said a letter sent by State Bank of India (SBI) (SBI.NS) to certain clients.

Russia was 11th in GDP,  but not now. Only India and China are in the top 7 but not the G7. 

Russia is toast.

 

 

 

The value of a currency is largely determined by a bunch of central banks. If you don't let the Russian Central Bank to participate in this activity, it is not really a market by any conceivable means. As in, a manipulation that costs you resources to maintain. For as long as everybody believes in it or you fold. With 2nd option a lot more likely. Russia has a vibrant real economy which is largely self-sufficient in all its basic needs. It runs a trade surplus with pretty much every country it trades with, but possibly China. Thus, do most Russians have absolutely no need for dollars, regardless how expensive they are. So, they won't buy as much from the West. They still do sell you oil and gas and other minerals. Nobody's got any intent to sanction that. Guess what happens when Russia refuses to sell now?

Talk is cheap, especially in India. Russia is not borrowing anything there, only lending. The Chinese CIPS  and HK branch of SWIFT are processing Russian sanctions just fine, which is OK for India, too. Russia's own SPFS alternative has clients as far out as Germany and Switzerland. Russian Mir card network is accepted by ATMs in Turkey and Egypt, the foreign countries which most Russians want to visit, anyway. India was among the countries which abstained when UNSC voted on the resolution against Russia sponsored by Albania and US. Some powerful friends you've got! China and UAE also abstained. Note that the resolution was doomed to be vetoed by Russia to start with, so nobody had to do this.

Russia is so not toast. Your sanction bullshit quite possibly is. Because, should Russia shrug it off, you will be a laughingstock for the whole world. Got no ammo left. Nada. Zilch. This is more financial sanctions than what the Nazis experienced in WWII (Switzerland and Sweden traded with them like nothing happened throughout the war) Go ahead, hurt your own business interests some more. Note that US airspace is still open for Russian carriers (and visa-versa) and Boeing still sells aircraft to Russia. Unlike Airbus. Obviously, Uncle Sam tests the waters with its European muppets first.

[notsonice + 1,255]

1 hour ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

Old Dimon turned out to have a bit of a spine, after all.  Why placeholder? That's what Biden is.

placeholder? That's what Biden is....Yet his actions are crushing Putin.......He is acting with the powers vested in the office of Presidency ...in real time ....delivering the weapons that the free Ukraine needs to turn back Putins gang of thugs. Delivering sanstions and he has rallied NATO to rise to the task of making sure Putin is stopped. Enjoy watching your beloved Russia lose it all. Russia, with Putin in charge, will never have any standing in the world. 

[notsonice + 1,255]

1 minute ago, Andrei Moutchkine said:

The value of a currency is largely determined by a bunch of central banks. If you don't let the Russian Central Bank to participate in this activity, it is not really a market by any conceivable means. As in, a manipulation that costs you resources to maintain. For as long as everybody believes in it or you fold. With 2nd option a lot more likely. Russia has a vibrant real economy which is largely self-sufficient in all its basic needs. It runs a trade surplus with pretty much every country it trades with, but possibly China. Thus, do most Russians have absolutely no need for dollars, regardless how expensive they are. So, they won't buy as much from the West. They still do sell you oil and gas and other minerals. Nobody's got any intent to sanction that. Guess what happens when Russia refuses to sell now?

Talk is cheap, especially in India. Russia is not borrowing anything there, only lending. The Chinese CIPS  and HK branch of SWIFT are processing Russian sanctions just fine, which is OK for India, too. Russia's own SPFS alternative has clients as far out as Germany and Switzerland. Russian Mir card network is accepted by ATMs in Turkey and Egypt, the foreign countries which most Russians want to visit, anyway. India was among the countries which abstained when UNSC voted on the resolution against Russia sponsored by Albania and US. Some powerful friends you've got! China and UAE also abstained. Note that the resolution was doomed to be vetoed by Russia to start with, so nobody had to do this.

Russia is so not toast. Your sanction bullshit quite possibly is. Because, should Russia shrug it off, you will be a laughingstock for the whole world. Got no ammo left. Nada. Zilch. This is more financial sanctions than what the Nazis experienced in WWII (Switzerland and Sweden traded with them like nothing happened throughout the war) Go ahead, hurt your own business interests some more. Note that US airspace is still open for Russian carriers (and visa-versa) and Boeing still sells aircraft to Russia. Unlike Airbus. Obviously, Uncle Sam tests the waters with its European muppets first.

you really have no clue..... The value of the currencies is not set by any one country. Love the Ruble ...hate the Dollar???? a fools stance. The dollar is stronger than ever and the Ruble is toilet paper...you can thank your hero Putin.

[surrept33 + 609]

I think this is an interesting take:

Quote

“The scales are falling from people’s eyes,” said Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and NATO deputy secretary general. “There are no more illusions or hopes about cooperating with Russia.  
 
”The current moment might serve to alter the defense equation in Europe, adding gravity to Europeans’ sense of needing to protect themselves and potentially relieving the U.S. burden there if there is increased European spending and troop reinforcements on the continent. That would allow the United States to take up its long-planned shift toward Asia, said Vershbow, who is now a fellow at the Atlantic Council.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/28/europe-new-era-russia-ukraine/

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

5 minutes ago, Rob Plant said:

Andrei you couldnt be more wrong! the strength of feeling is global not just the West, if youre denying that then you bury your head in the sand and just refuse to see it. This isnt propoganda or British tabloid influence, this is the average man woman and child furious at the actions of Putin.

For a very small country Britain still has the 5th largest economy by GDP per capita, Russia is 12th! And that is set to fall with all the sanctions.

https://www.populationu.com/gen/countries-by-gdp#rank

You say Britain has no economy well what does that mean Russia has??? Oil and gas nobody will be buying?? and even if they did youre still miles behind britain lol.

if you think countries around the world are "quietly rooting for Russia" then I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

You did not debunk the story of the dead girl you hypothesized a scenario where it might not have been Russia that killed her, I'm sticking to my opinion they did!

The killing and maiming of children or anyone else in the separatist areas is because Russia invaded Crimea 8 years ago, and subsequently some Ukrainians wanted to be Russian also.

Why not hold discussions to let part of those territories be so if that is the will of the people??? Instead you arm the separatists to fight the Ukraine army. Russia is at best complicit in this and at worst the main reason it is so.

Instead of criticising and insulting my country take a long HONEST look at your own country first.

Yes, it is. The average woman and child have no reason to feel any different about this than about you bombing Somalia or Afghanistan. Why should it be any different. The Ukronazies are your special pet, not theirs, why should they. I actually talked to a bunch of people from Asia Pacific on Quora. They don't give a damn or are with Russia. All of Africa is with Russia. Ultimately, it is a just war. So, you'll get over it.

Your stats are in nominal USD. According to which did Russia just lost 30% of its economy. Do you really believe that? Ever heard about PPP? How many companies doing business in Russia, but listed on the LSE, count towards your total? I see quite a few. "Miles behind" in per capita terms, yes. Not really quality of life. UK is an uncomfortable place compared to its Western European about peers and USA. IMHO, compared to Russia, too.

Why is this a hypothetical scenario? All the guys at the scene spoke Ukrainian, in case you didn't notice.  Your tabloids report something and move on, but local people keep investigating. It is well understood who did it by, now. It is possible that some little girls were killed in this operation by Russian forces, but this one is not. In general, a story of "Russian saboteurs" pretending to be Ukrainian and shooting locals does not verify. What do you expect when you distribute 25,0000 rifles and 10mln bullets willy-nilly, including to violent criminals you release out of prison? Lots of good old gang warfare and marauding in Kiev right now.

Wanting to be Russian is called the right of peoples to self-determination. It is officially granted by UN  Charta, check it out. Why didn't Ukraine ever attack the Crimean separatists, but only the ones in Donbass? Could it be because the Russian army in Crimea was non-imaginary. What do you know, now the Russian army in Donbass is real too! Notice anything different? As if you have never supported any separatists, why holier than though attitude? How is say, Kosovo, different from Donbass. They already had  discussions. People of Donbass held a referendum and chose to split. You choose to not recognize it, same as Crimea. Want to try again? They'll still choose Russia any day.

Your country happens to be a sworn enemy of mine. Therefore, do I have to hurt your interests whenever I see them. It is nothing personal, Rob. I like your people, just not your government, like you would say. I already completely switched to Irish cheddar! Not much else a random Russian expat can do...

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

14 minutes ago, surrept33 said:

I think this is an interesting take:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/28/europe-new-era-russia-ukraine/

An outright triviality. There will be much new weapons pork barrel. Aerospace and defense stocks are already booming. Anybody interested to fight Russia for real, though? That much, not really. You had rather high hopes the Ukrainians will take over this for you, but have been too cheap to arm them for free. Too late now. We are releasing them from this miserable task, while it is still relatively easy. Take it from the horses mouth if you don't believe me

https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1497602531467403270

Ukraine was always your cannon fodder to be. With proper guidance, they are as formidable as fighters as any other Russians. This was a problem. Nobody is afraid of the Eurofags, regardless how much they spend on arms.

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

33 minutes ago, notsonice said:

you really have no clue..... The value of the currencies is not set by any one country. Love the Ruble ...hate the Dollar???? a fools stance. The dollar is stronger than ever and the Ruble is toilet paper...you can thank your hero Putin.

It is set by a bunch of countries, which currently excludes Russia. Otherwise, would the Russian central bank use its sizeable reserves to maintain the FX value of the ruble. Don't you see that this situation is artificially engineered, as opposed to a real market condition?

Ultimately, this is why they call it fiat currency. It's got no value beyond whatever you choose to believe that it does.

 

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

40 minutes ago, notsonice said:

placeholder? That's what Biden is....Yet his actions are crushing Putin.......He is acting with the powers vested in the office of Presidency ...in real time ....delivering the weapons that the free Ukraine needs to turn back Putins gang of thugs. Delivering sanstions and he has rallied NATO to rise to the task of making sure Putin is stopped. Enjoy watching your beloved Russia lose it all. Russia, with Putin in charge, will never have any standing in the world. 

Delivering how, exactly? Russia controls approaches to all the Ukrainian seaports and all the Ukrainian airspace. You send anything, it will be impounded or blown up. Stop over-reacting like a little girl that you are. Let the dust settle. Sleepy Joe would also much prefer to snooze this one over. You should do this more often, too, old man.

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

54 minutes ago, Rob Plant said:

Instead of criticizing and insulting my country, take a long HONEST look at your own country first.

I see petrol prices hitting £1,5 per liter, an all-time high? Enthusiastically in support of this.

[surrept33 + 609]

https://twitter.com/andrew__roth/status/1498724338287132678

Quote

Echo of Moscow and TV Rain have reportedly been cut off the airwaves as Russia imposes a de facto military censorship over its invasion of Ukraine. Russian media have been banned from using the words “war, invasion or attack.” Predictably Orwellian turn as Russia bombs Ukraine.

Clearly, the Kremlin has lost the information war massively in the west, I wonder if they feared they were losing it inside of Russia. 

Edited March 1, 2022 by surrept33

[Andrei Moutchkine + 828]

58 minutes ago, surrept33 said:

https://twitter.com/andrew__roth/status/1498724338287132678

Clearly, the Kremlin has lost the information war massively in the west, I wonder if they feared they were losing it inside of Russia. 

They lost it inside Russia, too. However, Motherland has never been that big on soft power and don't count on it.