Russia

[Jaycey]

The Times reports today that Macron and Orban are pushing for an EU army.

Macron and Orban want Europe to have its own army

President Macron smoothed over differences yesterday with Viktor Orban, the man he has defined as his European adversary, and won Hungarian support for French goals for EU defence, nuclear power and agriculture.The Hungarian prime minister, who was long cast by Macron as his nationalist bête noire,

www.thetimes.co.uk

But will Ukraine be allowed to join ?

 

[Camden]

The Dodik Problem – Civil War in the Balkans Looms Large​

“The place is a powder keg,” a well-respected international diplomat with vast experience in the Balkans told me during our latest meeting. “And Dodik is close to lighting the fuse.” With the diplomat having just spent a few weeks in and around Bosnia and Herzegovina, I trusted the assessment. And the assessment about Milorad Dodik, the populist politician currently serving as the 7th Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, seemed spot on.

Dodik recently threatened to stop cooperating with the Bosnian state institutions, and to raise his own Army of Republika Srpska. Such a move would destroy what little unity there is, creating a divisive military marching under Dodik’s very own banner. It’s hard to not see this as anything but a dangerous precursor to a new civil war.


Should Dodik choose to carry out his threats to destroy the tragically flawed Dayton accords, and set Republika Srpska on the path to secede from BiH, Russia’s next moves are fairly predictable.

Thousands of “little green men” would deploy from the asymmetrical hybrid warfare unit the Russian military intelligence directorate has created, commonly known as Wagner. A few fighter-bombers dispatched from Republika Srpska would dare NATO to do anything about it.

At the same time, Russia could incentivize Serbian President Aleksander Vucic to engage the heavy weaponry of the JA (Yugoslav Army) with the promise of regaining Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia. In this way, he could neutralize Bosniak leaders whose remaining Bosnian Army would have no chance of ensuring the continued integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.


Interesting reading

The Dodik Problem - Civil War in the Balkans Looms Large

As the U.S. and E.U. remain asleep at the wheel, the Balkans face what could be another civil war, drawing Russia and Turkey into the fray. Will Milorad Dodik fuel Serbian secession igniting the spark? Bill Stuebner offers possible solutions.

limacharlienews.com

 

[Kanga]

amazing how all round this thread are ads to sharpen knives. . .

 

[Kanga]

Having a laugh is he?

Russia issues list of demands it says must be met to lower tensions in Europe

Contentious security guarantees Moscow is seeking include a ban on Ukraine from entering Nato

www.theguardian.com

 

[Jaycey]

German Economy Minister calls Nord Stream 2 geopolitical mistake. The question remains whether the Russian gas pipeline will be put into operation. “Except for Germany and Austria, all European countries have always been against it. Now the gas pipeline has been built, the question of whether it will be put into operation remains open. This issue should be resolved from the standpoint of European and national law," said. Habek. He also commented on the threat of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and stressed that “any further aggression should not remain without harsh consequences".

 

[Jaycey]

Putin’s Ukraine saber-rattling and a last gasp.

The Russian leader may believe a successful war is what is needed to save his falling approval numbers...

Putin’s Ukraine saber-rattling and a last gasp

With Russia's economy faltering, Vladimir Putin may be seeking a military victory to turn around his tanking political fortunes.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Kanga]

View attachment 25333

Putin’s Ukraine saber-rattling and a last gasp.

The Russian leader may believe a successful war is what is needed to save his falling approval numbers...

Putin’s Ukraine saber-rattling and a last gasp

With Russia's economy faltering, Vladimir Putin may be seeking a military victory to turn around his tanking political fortunes.

www.japantimes.co.jp

In which case. . . .

 

[Jaycey]

In which case what?

????

 

[Kanga]

View attachment 25338 ????

Your guess is as good as mine. . .

 

[Jaycey]

A Russian invasion of Ukraine could be Vladimir Putin’s downfall

A Russian invasion of Ukraine could be Vladimir Putin’s downfall

Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently threatening to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine but his plans do not appear to enjoy widespread support among the Russian public and could destabilize the regime.

www.atlanticcouncil.org

Russian court accidentally delivers guilty verdict on Putin’s Ukraine war

Russian court accidentally delivers guilty verdict on Putin’s Ukraine war

A Russian court in Rostov has accidentally issued a guilty verdict on Putin's Ukraine war by publishing official documents confirming the presence of Russian military units in Kremlin-occupied eastern Ukraine.

www.atlanticcouncil.org

 

[Jaycey]

Withdraw Troops from Poland - Putin's latest demand

'Withdraw troops from Poland' – Putin's latest ultimatum to NATO

Russia has prepared two draft agreements concerning “security guarantees” between itself and the United States, as well as between Moscow and NATO members which, if signed, would see the withdrawal of NATO troops from Poland. But what are these documents about, exactly? Center for Eastern...

rmx.news

"Should Russia’s demands be accepted, it would be the end of NATO, warns a Polish expert"

Methinks a bridge too far.

 

[Kanga]

Putin's having a health meltdown. Why does he think children aged 6+ need tests for STDs? How do you explain that to a child?
As for TB they have 40 x more cases of TB in Russia than the EU.

Russia to Introduce Health Exams for Foreigners: What You Need to Know - The Moscow Times

All expats and their family members, including children aged 6 and over, will have to undergo quarterly medical examinations starting next year.

www.themoscowtimes.com

Russia orders health and drug checks for foreigners

Business groups criticise a new law requiring mandatory fingerprinting, drug tests and STD checks.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[429nufc]

I m beginning to believe that after every General Election the winner should b barred from office on the grounds of unsuitability
I give you Putin, Trump, Bolsonaro, Boris, Macron and Orban. You live in hope that Putin is not as wayward as he seems

 

[Jaycey]

Putin is actually a very nice chap, loves his dogs - just can't understand why he gets such a bad press

 

[Jaycey]

Russian politicians mock Boris and threaten nuclear attack on London

Russian politicians mock Boris and threaten nuclear attack on London

'Let the Scots, Irish, Welsh live. But not London, always the core of anti-Russian propaganda.'

metro.co.uk

Here’s what would happen if a nuclear bomb was dropped on London in event of WW3

World War 3: Here's what would happen if a nuclear bomb was dropped on London during WW3

RUSSIA and Ukraine remain at war after President Putin’s troops invaded.

www.portsmouth.co.uk

......................................................

 

[Saoirse]

It's been estimated that if a nuclear bomb was dropped on Belfast the damage could easily run to several hundred pounds


Update just after reading the first of Jayceys articles and it appears Ireland is to be spared

 

[Jaycey]

Putin, Ukraine and the Preservation of Power

Putin, Ukraine, and the Preservation of Power

Once more, the Russian President is poised to invade the nation. His weapons include military hardware, malware, and propaganda.

www.newyorker.com

 

[Kanga]

If Ukraine had kept its nuclear weapons I wonder if things would be different now?

 

[Jaycey]

If Ukraine had kept its nuclear weapons I wonder if things would be different now?

I suspect very different - that's what comes of trusting Putin's promises.

BTW I'd better be more circumspect in posting on this thread lest it's being monitored in Moscow and the worst case scenario comes to pass.

 

[Jaycey]

‘Dirty money’ blunts Russia sanctions

US officials fear that they will be unable to impose effective sanctions on Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine because of the volume of “dirty money” in London.
Diplomatic sources told The Times that US State Department officials had expressed “dismay and frustration” at the British government’s failure to tackle the problem.
“The fear is that Russian money is so entrenched in London now that the opportunity to use it as leverage against Putin could be lost,” a source in Washington said.