Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #15

[UK Girl]

And the funniest thing about that is, if they hadn't staged their coup and backstabbed Boris, they probably would have stayed in!
(I'm not championing Boris btw, just musing)

I still prefer him to anyone since tbh. I wouldn't have minded Penny Mordaunt either tbh

 

[Rolypolyoly]

I still prefer him to anyone since tbh. I wouldn't have minded Penny Mordaunt either tbh

Oh definitely! I don't know much about Penny Mordaunt tbh.

 

[LovesPeace2]

Right now, we have all heard from Russia Putin’s highly predictable and manipulative words in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front lines—at... | By Володимир Зеленський | Facebook

Right now, we have all heard from Russia Putin’s highly predictable and manipulative words in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front lines—at...

www.facebook.com

President Zelenskyy today with subtitles

 

[SouthAussie]

After taking aim at the “globalist” Wall Street Journal newspaper, which is allegedly “owned by the polluted thinking of the European Union,” he has now offered this opinion:

Everyone knows that the Wall Street Journal is controlled by the Murdoch family.
You know, that Rupert guy who has sat in the Oval Office with Trump, and attended his inauguration (among other things).

imo

 

[SouthAussie]

5m ago 16:27

Ukraine war latest: Kremlin says it's waiting for US reaction after peace talks - as Putin meets Modi

Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law were in Moscow on Tuesday, where they met with Vladimir Putin and discussed a potential end to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin says it is now waiting for a response from the White House following the talks. Follow the latest below...

news.sky.com

Witkoff to meet Putin 'imminently'​

Another update to bring you on Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who is in Moscow to present the ceasefire plan to Vladimir Putin.

The meeting is expected to begin imminently, a source briefed on the situation has told Reuters.

It comes as Trump has been increasing the pressure on the Russian president to accept a ceasefire deal, with Putin in his news conference moments ago suggesting details still need to be ironed out.

While he said Russia agrees with the proposals, he insisted its position is based on the assumption that it would "remove the initial reasons for the crisis".

We'll keep across any developments and bring them to you on this live page.

Interesting that Putin took the world stage with Lukashenko prior to any meeting about a ceasefire plan with the US envoy.

imo

 

[SouthAussie]

12th March 2025

"More than seven in ten Ukrainians now say they approve of Mr Zelensky’s work.
Eight in ten say he is still Ukraine’s legitimate president, and reject the idea of elections while fighting continues.
Over seven in ten still trust him to lead negotiations.
Even more striking, the poll suggests that Mr Zelensky would win an election if one were held today, with Valery Zaluzhny, his popular former top general, in distant second place."

Is Zelensky a disliked dictator or a popular hero?

Our poll of Ukrainians shows a surprising shift in the president’s ratings

www.economist.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Can you imagine, having to go and sit on a park bench in a bomb shelter - basically a blank room - for who-knows-how-long because it is too unsafe to be outside?

Hope for Ukraine

 

[Arkay]

12th March 2025

"More than seven in ten Ukrainians now say they approve of Mr Zelensky’s work.
Eight in ten say he is still Ukraine’s legitimate president, and reject the idea of elections while fighting continues.
Over seven in ten still trust him to lead negotiations.
Even more striking, the poll suggests that Mr Zelensky would win an election if one were held today, with Valery Zaluzhny, his popular former top general, in distant second place."

Is Zelensky a disliked dictator or a popular hero?

Our poll of Ukrainians shows a surprising shift in the president’s ratings

www.economist.com

I love that.

He’s transformed utterly from the popular comedian/actor he had been, to a president, and beyond from there to an amazingly courageous man and a symbol of hope to his country. A true leader.

IMO

 

[CaMan60]

Interesting that Putin took the world stage with Lukashenko prior to any meeting about a ceasefire plan with the US envoy.

Putin has stepped up and said they agree with the principles of a ceasefire plan.
It is a logical step to ask who is going to oversee the ceasefire going forward. At one
time the U.N. was doing great things around the world. Also agencies like the Red Cross
should be allowed to do what they can to help the injured.

 

[SouthAussie]

Putin has stepped up and said they agree with the principles of a ceasefire plan.
It is a logical step to ask who is going to oversee the ceasefire going forward. At one
time the U.N. was doing great things around the world. Also agencies like the Red Cross
should be allowed to do what they can to help the injured.

I was remarking about putting Lukashenko on the world stage with Putin, prior to the meeting.

According to the "President of Russia" website (which I don't think I can link here, but it is easy to find) they publicly signed documents together agreeing on:

• measures for mutual protection of citizens from unjustified prosecution by foreign states and international justice bodies
• Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on Equal Rights for Their Citizens of December 25, 1998
• Protocol on the Exchange of Letters of Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on Security Guarantees within the Union State
• intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the field of intellectual property and on ensuring equal rights for consumers
• interagency agreement on cooperation and information exchange for the development of the Geoportal hosting spatial infrastructure data for the CIS countries

My guess is that Putin wanted to publicly show solidarity with Belarus, which is wedged between Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. And was used as a stepping stone in the Russian invasion of Ukraine - before any ceasefire meeting with the US.

With special interest to the first item listed above, knowing that Putin has been deemed as a War Criminal and there is an arrest warrant issued for him from the International Criminal Court.

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164267436/international-criminal-court-arrest-warrant-putin-ukraine-alleged-war-crimes

imo

 

[UK Girl]

Putin has stepped up and said they agree with the principles of a ceasefire plan.
It is a logical step to ask who is going to oversee the ceasefire going forward. At one
time the U.N. was doing great things around the world. Also agencies like the Red Cross
should be allowed to do what they can to help the injured.

Actions speak more than words especially in Putins case.

 

[Stella123]

Interesting that Putin took the world stage with Lukashenko prior to any meeting about a ceasefire plan with the US envoy.

imo

He needed a pal there to say what a great trustworthy guy he was. And the comment about America "our partner" included Belarus! So Putin doesn't look like he's on his own? JMO

 

[Stella123]

1 hour ago 1h ago 21:37

Only a 'brick wall' will stop Putin, former MI6 intelligence officer says​

Vladimir Putin "only reacts to hard power" and will "only stop when he hits a brick wall", a former MI6 intelligence officer has told Sky News.

A lasting peace is unlikely as long as Putin remains in the Kremlin, Christopher Steele added.

In addition, the Russian president "doesn't really accept that Ukraine exists as an independent state".

"That's the real problem we're facing," Steele said.

Regarding a proposed cessation in fighting, Putin has said several times he wants final negotiations to precede a ceasefire, "so for him this is the wrong way round", Steele went on.

In addition, Putin "thinks the Russians are in the ascendency on the battlefield and making gains".

Putin 'only reacts to hard power', Steele saysReuters
Regarding talks with the Americans, Putin will be "very concerned" not to be seen to be bowing to American pressure, "particularly from Trump", Steele observed.

"Zelenskyy arguably has done just that. I think for Putin, internally, politically, that would be unacceptable."

Economically, the only way in which the US could further punish Russia would be to reduce its oil exports, but that would "put up inflation around the world", Steele said.

"One thing they perhaps could look at would be increasing military training and supplies to Ukraine. That would put pressure on Putin.

"But in general terms I think Putin will play it cleverly, play it long, will tease, will make conditions, will not be stupid enough to refuse [a deal] outright, but will make it pretty difficult for it to stick."

Ukraine war latest: Kremlin says it's waiting for US reaction after peace talks - as Putin meets Modi

Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law were in Moscow on Tuesday, where they met with Vladimir Putin and discussed a potential end to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin says it is now waiting for a response from the White House following the talks. Follow the latest below...

news.sky.com

 

[MrsWatson]

I wouldn't trust Putin, if he was sitting right next to me (highly doubtful occasion, but stay with me) if he told me what day of the week it was. Same as Trump. They have that in common. You can't trust anything either says. Ever.

MOO

 

[CaMan60]

My guess is that Putin wanted to publicly show solidarity with Belarus, which is wedged between Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Yes the meeting was made public and Putin was showing solidarity with the soldiers
in the field and the bordering territory. Probably to get them all involved so that no one
feels left out. Tomorrow there should be more talks with the U.S. GOP and a plan for more
peace talks, to sort out a 2000 km long dispute.

 

[SouthAussie]

Yes the meeting was made public and Putin was showing solidarity with the soldiers
in the field and the bordering territory. Probably to get them all involved so that no one
feels left out.

More likely to remind others that Belarus can be a stepping stone for Russia to invade their countries also.


Belarus has served as a springboard for Russia’s war against Ukraine from the outset. Russian forces invaded Ukraine from Belarus, despite prior assurances by top Belarusian officials that this would not happen, and the country has continuously provided logistical support, supply lines and medical care for Russian soldiers.
Russian military aircraft have used Belarusian airfields, and as of mid-September, Russia had launched at least 717 missiles from Belarus. According to a group of independent Belarusian monitors, from March until September Belarus also sent to Russia over 65,000 tonnes of ammunition, about 100 Soviet-era tanks (the likes of TM-72A) and approximately 20 armoured vehicles.

One Year On: Will Belarus join the battlefield?


Kyiv has this week called on Belarus to withdraw its army from the Ukrainian border and warned of “tragic consequences” if the Belarusian military joins the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The strongly worded August 25 statement from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs came in response to mounting reports of Belarusian troops concentrating close to the country’s shared border with Ukraine.

Belarus border bluff

imo

 

[MrsWatson]

Obvious which side Belarus is on, and spoiler, it's not the side of democracy.

moo

 

[UK Girl]

Yes the meeting was made public and Putin was showing solidarity with the soldiers
in the field and the bordering territory. Probably to get them all involved so that no one
feels left out. Tomorrow there should be more talks with the U.S. GOP and a plan for more
peace talks, to sort out a 2000 km long dispute.

Soladarity with the soldiers hes sending to the deaths? On top of all the others? If he wants to show solidarity maybe he should put his life at risk like they do?

 

[UK Girl]

Obvious which side Belarus is on, and spoiler, it's not the side of democracy.

moo

Haven't they been involved with the war for quite a time?

 

[SouthAussie]

Haven't they been involved with the war for quite a time?

Since Day One. It was Belarus who happily let Russian troops amass in their country, so they could invade Ukraine.


Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko said he had “no regrets” about allowing Russia to use his country to invade Ukraine, amid condemnation of the “sham” presidential vote that extended his 31 years of authoritarian rule.

Lukashenko says he has ‘no regrets’ about Belarus helping Russia to invade Ukraine

Autocrat conducts rambling press conference as his 31 years of rule are extended by an election dismissed outside the country as a sham

www.theguardian.com