Merged Ukraine erupts in riots and general strike.

[timhau]

Or that Putin denied having Russian troops in the Crimea before the (rather Soviet) referendum and ten later admitted it?

I don't think he ever actually admitted it -- he just gave them medals for their service there.

 

[carlitos]

looks to miss entire sections that the German one doesn't - there are helpful gaps though:

LOL

 

[jimbob]

I don't think he ever actually admitted it -- he just gave them medals for their service there.

It's actually more bizarre than that...

He denied ever denying that the Little Green Men were Russian troops.

March 4th

Putin denied that the Russian-speaking soldiers occupying key Crimean military sites were Russian special forces, describing them as pro-Russian local self-defence forces.

"There are many military uniforms. Go into any local shop and you can find one," he said.

April 17th

The armed men in military uniform without insignia, dubbed “the little green men” or “the polite people,” who were present in Crimea before and during the referendum there, were Russian troops, Vladimir Putin acknowledged speaking at a Q&A session with on Thursday. The president said he never concealed the fact from his foreign counterparts, and explained to them that it was the only way to ensure the referendum on the region’s status would be carried out peacefully.

Go figure

 

[jimbob]

LOL

I am not entirely sure about the impartiality of a website with a stated agenda of observing* "on an ongoing basis, Germany's renewed attempts to regain great power status in the economic, military and political arena."

I don't know about German, but the word, "hegemonic", especially in the phrase "hegemonic strategies and tactics" in English sounds like the an escape from a 1970's sociology department.

Personally, I am not that worried about a German Military** hegemony. It is particularly ironic, as one could regard Russia as aiming to restore its hegemony in the former USSR.




*"Observing" this avoids any question as to whether this is actually a policy.


**Being charitable, one might argue that the current EU economic policy might be aiming for an economic hegemony.

 

[Childlike Empress]

I am not entirely sure about the impartiality of a website with a stated agenda of observing* "on an ongoing basis, Germany's renewed attempts to regain great power status in the economic, military and political arena."

I don't know about German, but the word, "hegemonic", especially in the phrase "hegemonic strategies and tactics" in English sounds like the an escape from a 1970's sociology department.

Personally, I am not that worried about a German Military** hegemony. It is particularly ironic, as one could regard Russia as aiming to restore its hegemony in the former USSR.




*"Observing" this avoids any question as to whether this is actually a policy.


**Being charitable, one might argue that the current EU economic policy might be aiming for an economic hegemony.

LOL, this is getting better and better. You dismiss a source for an early observation that turned out to be undeniably true and relevant to the later development (an extreme right-wing element in the Euromaidan movement, which by now turned into a militia with several thousand members acting with almost impunity) - because their main topic is something you admittedly "don't know about"? Are you still following even yourself?

 

[funk de fino]

LOL, this is getting better and better. You dismiss a source for an early observation that turned out to be undeniably true and relevant to the later development (an extreme right-wing element in the Euromaidan movement, which by now turned into a militia with several thousand members acting with almost impunity) - because their main topic is something you admittedly "don't know about"? Are you still following even yourself?

Wow. This is hilarious

 

[Childlike Empress]

Wow. This is hilarious

Indeed. I mean, what's that, something like a "ex post facto ad hominem"? It's like saying that I wouldn't trust jimbob if he says the sky is blue, while we're sitting under a clear blue sky together and you just told me that jimbob pointed that out hours ago.

Our Eurasian trio is still in the Kremlin under six eyes, with the press getting tired outside. Something like four hours already.

 

[Childlike Empress]

It's over now and apparently was "constructive" according to a Kremlin spokesperson. No press statements. They want to phone again (including Porky) on Sunday. Merkel is heading back to Germany, where the Munich Security Conference main day will happen tomorrow and apparently Kerry and Porky already await her in some Bierkeller.

I have a feeling that this is a much bigger thing than Donbass fighting, because the facts on the ground remain and I fail to see any real solution - Putin can pressure by threatening to withdraw humanitarian aid, as he did before, but cannot order anything on the ground, Porky cannot order anything on the ground without having the Nazis at his throat, and Angie and Hollande, well...

Historic events. But who cares, of course it's all Putin's fault and nobody gives a flying **** about some Babushkas in places with names like "Uglegorsk".

 

[Dcdrac]

I see certain posters clutching at straws like a tiny minority of those involved in toppling a pro kremlin regieme in Ukraine were far right as an excuse for Russia invading another states territory.

Do not be distracted by this nonsense about the far right in the Ukraine what is going on is an attempt to grab more territory by Russia.

An old style act of imperialism to shore up a failed regieme.

 

[dudalb]

And I have to repear that those endlessly ranting about the far right in the Ukraine are silent about the Far Right in Russia, which is much more powerful and influential then the Far Right in the Ukraine.

 

[trustbutverify]

And I have to repear that those endlessly ranting about the far right in the Ukraine are silent about the Far Right in Russia, which is much more powerful and influential then the Far Right in the Ukraine.

You know the score when it comes to that.

 

[jimbob]

And I have to repear that those endlessly ranting about the far right in the Ukraine are silent about the Far Right in Russia, which is much more powerful and influential then the Far Right in the Ukraine.

Yes.

I don't think any posters in this thread disagree that there are fascists on the Ukrainian side.

Reputable Western news organisations report this. They also report on the strong evidence of Russian state interference.

Of course, the Russian interference will provoke Ukrainian nationalism, helping to muddy the waters.

 

[Childlike Empress]

Putin-Merkel-Hollande meeting follow up: LIVE UPDATES

If anybody is interested in the Munich "Security" Conference, it's here with livestream. Usual bunch of mostly hawkish Yankistanis there as every year; Biden, McCain, Graham, Soros, StrangeBreedlove etc. Merkel just finished speaking, Lavrov about to speak next. Early afternoon discussion features Porky.

 

[Klimax]

Frankly, West should just provide/offer use of drones with nice packages like Hellfire missiles. (Only slightly different case then Yemen, IS,...)

 

[jimbob]

Frankly, West should just provide/offer use of drones with nice packages like Hellfire missiles. (Only slightly different case then Yemen, IS,...)

Atlantic council report on this (PDF) mentions similar items.

It also says this:

Bolstering Ukraine’s defenses should not be a U.S.-only responsibility. NATO members should also increase their military assistance to Ukraine, with a view to meeting the priority needs identified above. NATO allies who have former Soviet/Warsaw Pact equipment and weapons systems similar to or compatible with those now operated by the Ukrainian military should consider contributing those to Kyiv’s defense capabilities.

Some in the West are concerned that provision of military assistance, particularly of lethal arms, would cause Russia to escalate the crisis. We vehemently disagree. Russia has already continuously escalated:
seizing and annexing Crimea, encouraging and aiding separatists in eastern Ukraine, providing the separatists with heavy arms, and ultimately invading the Donbas with regular Russian army units. Although NATO and Ukraine differ over whether Russian regular units have been withdrawn, there is no dispute that a significant number of Russian officers and a large amount of Russian military equipment remain in the Donbas. Enhanced military assistance would increase Kyiv’s capability to deter further Russian escalation.

Timothy Garton Ash saying something similar in the Guardian

Won’t such arms supplies further nourish a Russian paranoia of encirclement? Yes, but Putin is feeding the paranoia already, untroubled by the facts. He recently told students in St Petersburg that the Ukrainian army “is not an army, it is a foreign legion, in this case a Nato foreign legion”.

The Guardian suggests that stronger economic sanctions could be more effective

Europe does have leverage, if it chooses to use it. Russia may be a geopolitical giant but its GDP is no bigger than Italy’s. It is dependent on Europe’s financial structures. Yet next to the plunging oil price, the EU sanctions thus far have had a virtually symbolic impact. Cutting Russian banks and companies from the Belgium-based Swift international transaction system would, by contrast, impose a serious jolt. It could be done quickly, but then also rolled rapidly back. It has worked before, against Iran, which entered nuclear negotiations soon after being banned from Swift in 2012. Many businesses would balk at the costs. But these would surely be easier to bear than the enduring damage done by a widening war on the European continent.

BBC article about Russia testing new weapon systems in the Ukriane conflict

Ukrainian forces are short of secure communications systems. The result is that their communications are both subject to jamming, and often also show their location to Russian direction-finding equipment. This can lead to being swiftly targeted by Russian artillery, including Grad and other, more powerful, rocket systems.

But that can't be true because the Ukrainian rebels only have captured Ukrainian systems - unless they are Russian troops on holiday?

ETA: extra quote from that link:

Now, in addition, Russia has the benefit of a live testing ground in eastern Ukraine, where it can try out its new weapons, systems and tactics. The results - especially if all of these are tested against any potential new US defensive systems supplied to Ukraine - will help Russia assess how its forces would fare in a direct confrontation with Nato.

Keir Giles is an analyst with the Conflict Studies Research Centre in Oxford, and an Associate Fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House in London.

 

[dudalb]

The talks between France/Germany and Putin resume tomorrow via phone.
There is so much we do not know; for instance that at the same time Merkle and the French President are talking with Putin the US State Deparment is really sounding tough, for the first time talking about selling or giving the Ukraining army advanced US Anti Tank weapons. Is this a split between the Allies or just a "Good Cop/Bad Cop" routine?
It's going to get interesting if Merkle is seen as trying to force a peace deal down the Ukraine's throat. The comments abou tanother Munich will abound.

 

[Childlike Empress]

Munich summary: More War In Ukraine Needed So Lindsey Graham Can "Feel Better". I suggest he takes his meds instead.

 

[Childlike Empress]

And, folks, are you happy that Porky finally presented solid evidence of Russian Army involvement (click image for details)?

 

[dudalb]

Some people are totally hopeless. Just Saying.

 

[Klimax]

Having to link and quote 100% pure propaganda site is not sign of having truth on your side. Neutral reports are MIA so far on Russians side...