Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #15

[Stella123]

Putin must be having a very long phone call with Trump if the "Press Conference" hasn't gone ahead yet. This slightly concerns me as heaven knows what Trump will come out with after being sweet-talked by Putin as his pal

6h ago09.08 GMT

Putin 'may have international call' later, Kremlin says​

We’re getting some news lines out of the Kremlin, confirming that the US has “provided certain information” about the proposed ceasefire, and that president Putin “may have an international phone call later” on Thursday.

No details were offered on who the phone call will be with, but I think it is fair to note, as Reuters did too, that US president Donald Trump is awaiting word from Putin on whether he will agree to a 30-day truce in Ukraine, so that’s one possible scenario.

AFP added that Putin and Trump’s aides spoke by phone on Wednesday.

The Kremlin also declined to comment on whether Russia had presented the US with a list of its demands to end the war in Ukraine.

Russia ‘seeking to prolong war’, says Zelenskyy as Kremlin aide says proposed ceasefire just ‘temporary respite’ for Ukraine – Europe live

Talks over ceasefire come as Russian operation to expel Kursk’s Ukrainian forces in final stage, claims Kremlin

www.theguardian.com

 

[Stella123]

So if the leader of a party was not elected MP in his/her riding during an election, then he/she could still be appointed as PM by his/her party if that party won the majority of seats in the election. Have I got that right?

I remember my first vote in Quebec, Rene Levesque was the MP in our riding and I wondered at the time what would happen if he didn't win the vote in his own district/riding (which he did and become the leader of the Parti Quebecois).

Yes but the party leader would remain as PM unless there was a vote of no confidence in them that was successful (I think) and then they would be forced to resign and the party would elect a new leader who would then become PM. So it's the party leader that becomes PM when that party is voted in.

With Margaret Thatcher, she was basically pushed out - ie pushed into resigning, after holding out for about 10 days. JMO

 

[Stella123]

What tends to happen (mainly with the Conservative party) is if a leader becomes so unpopular, that the party risks losing the next election, they try and change the leader to one that is going to be more popular and get them re-elected. JMO

 

[Stella123]

Now 14:54

Putin-Trump call 'not expected to happen today'​

While we wait for Vladimir Putin to speak at a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian news agencies have delivered an update on the status of the Russian president's call with Donald Trump.

They say there has been no agreement on when the call will take place so far, and it is not expected to happen today.

Ukraine war latest: Putin 'got everything he can possibly want' from Trump - as Europe 'considering post-war buffer zone' in Ukraine

As talks continue over security guarantees in post-war Ukraine, a new report suggests a buffer zone is among the potential solutions under consideration. Meanwhile, a prominent author suggests Vladimir Putin has benefited hugely from Donald Trump's actions. Follow the latest.

news.sky.com

 

[Stella123]

Now 14:54

Putin-Trump call 'not expected to happen today'​

While we wait for Vladimir Putin to speak at a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian news agencies have delivered an update on the status of the Russian president's call with Donald Trump.

They say there has been no agreement on when the call will take place so far, and it is not expected to happen today.

Ukraine war latest: Putin 'got everything he can possibly want' from Trump - as Europe 'considering post-war buffer zone' in Ukraine

As talks continue over security guarantees in post-war Ukraine, a new report suggests a buffer zone is among the potential solutions under consideration. Meanwhile, a prominent author suggests Vladimir Putin has benefited hugely from Donald Trump's actions. Follow the latest.

news.sky.com

Maybe this is why Trump is having a major paranoid hissy fit on his social media today MOO

 

[Sundog]

What tends to happen (mainly with the Conservative party) is if a leader becomes so unpopular, that the party risks losing the next election, they try and change the leader to one that is going to be more popular and get them re-elected. JMO

Sounds like this is what just happened in Canada's parliamentary system of government. Trudeau is out and Carney is in, all without an election, just internal party politics.

 

[Stella123]

They just updated that post (Sky link above)

7m ago 14:54

Putin-Trump call 'not expected to happen today'​

While we wait for Vladimir Putin to speak at a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian news agencies have delivered an update on the status of the Russian president's call with Donald Trump.

They say there has been no agreement on when the call will take place so far, and it is not expected to happen today.

The US president has been ramping up the pressure on Putin to accept a ceasefire deal, with his envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for talks.

Earlier, a Kremlin spokesman mentioned there was a possibility Putin held an "international call" today, although it was not made clear who this could be with.

 

[Stella123]

According to an article I read about Putin's daily routine, he doesn't usually get up until lunch-time and stays up till 3am. So no doubt everyone will be waiting until much later today! JMO MOO

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I have been curious --this last 36 hours--no words from Rubio. Probably on command from trump. This is what happens when one acts like a king rather than a leader.
Secretary of States have always had a powerful role, respected. Colin Powell should be a lesson for Rubio.

At the end of the day, where will Rubio be?
We know he was willing to speak his mind over the years. Rubio is in his early 50s. He will hold onto possibilities for his future. But at what cost...


Rubio in 2016:
DALLAS — Marco Rubio on Friday unleashed a full-frontal assault against Donald Trump, blasting him as a "con artist" who is hijacking the conservative movement and mercilessly mocking Trump's alpha-male status.
At a rally here, the U.S. senator from Florida unveiled what amounted to his most comprehensive — and scathing — critique of Trump yet, declaring it "time to pull off his mask so that people can see what we are dealing with here."
"He is a con artist," Rubio said. "He runs on this idea he is fighting for the little guy, but he has spent his entire career sticking it to the little guy — his entire career."

Marco Rubio's own words about Donald Trump used against him

The Florida senator said it would be "an honor" to serve as Trump's running mate.

www.newsweek.com

The Moment When Colin Powell Squandered His Spectacular Career

The revered general and statesman, who died Monday, couldn’t outmaneuver his bureaucratic rivals.

slate.com

 

[Stella123]

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko hold news conference​

Live stream from Sky News

EDIT this is not streaming sound from Russia just translating into English and visuals

 

[Stella123]

Putin is talking about the good relationship and co-operation with Belarus and what he and the Belarus leader have been talking about.

Maybe this whole press conference is going to be about Russia and Belarus and not mention Trump's proposals! JMO

 

[Stella123]

3m ago 15:20

Putin welcomes 'great friend' Lukashenko as the two leaders sign documents​

After a wait of more than two hours from when we were told the news conference would begin, Vladimir Putin has now taken to the stage with Alexander Lukashenko.

The two leaders begin by signing documents which include the guarantees of security between the two countries - they also shake hands and pose for pictures as they exchange folders.

The Russian president starts by welcoming the Belarusian president to Moscow and says the two countries are "great friends".

Speaking on the context of the meeting, Putin says they discussed security and defence, and exchanged opinions on regional matters.

Ukraine war latest: Putin 'got everything he can possibly want' from Trump - as Europe 'considering post-war buffer zone' in Ukraine

As talks continue over security guarantees in post-war Ukraine, a new report suggests a buffer zone is among the potential solutions under consideration. Meanwhile, a prominent author suggests Vladimir Putin has benefited hugely from Donald Trump's actions. Follow the latest.

news.sky.com

 

[Stella123]

Lukashenko is saying they will talk more tomorrow. They are still talking about Russia and Belarus co-operation. Is Putin just ignoring the peace proposal altogether? MOO

Lukashenko is praising Putin and saying he has done everything he promised.

 

[Marantz4250b]

Lukashenko is saying they will talk more tomorrow. They are still talking about Russia and Belarus co-operation. Is Putin just ignoring the peace proposal altogether? MOO

Lukashenko is praising Putin and saying he has done everything he promised.

He is playing Trump for the utter fool that he clearly is.

MOO, obvs.

 

[Stella123]

From the live stream linked above.

Lukashenko says we have also talked about Ukraine and we will work on this today and tomorrow ....and all these statements and all these policies are just empty words for now. He mentions illegitimate sanctions .....are still there, but they somehow helped us. ....we see that these pressures backfired ..........we are confident that we will be able to overcome that pressure with time.

He talks about how the sanctions helped them look at areas they needed to improve and work on.

Talking propaganda now - bigging up Belarus and Russia.

 

[Stella123]

Now they've opened up the floor to Russian media and Belarus media .....

 

[Stella123]

They seem to be mimicking Trump's press conference and using it to big themselves up JMO.

 

[Sillybilly]

Sounds like this is what just happened in Canada's parliamentary system of government. Trudeau is out and Carney is in, all without an election, just internal party politics.

<bbm>This is absolutely untrue. Trudeau resigned and the Liberal party had their own election within their Liberal party to select a new leader for the party. That new leader is Mark Carney. There will be a transition of Liberal party leadership from Trudeau to Carney and Carney will be interim Prime Minister of Canada until such time as there is an election to determine which party will lead Canada. That general election will be on or before October 25, 2025 but may be called sooner.

That's the way the Canadian government works and is not "just internal party politics".

 

[Stella123]

So the world was saying the pressure is now on Putin and Putin is busy holding a press conference with Belarus instead of responding to the "peace proposal". And delaying. JMO

Quoting from the livestream:

Lukashenko speaking in response to a question from the press (presumably about Ukraine):

We are happy to negotiate with Ukraine but Ukraine has to understand that we are coming back into negotiations with Ukraine and we have to ........the situation on the ground.

We have to take into account the current situation, the current facts on the ground..,...if you want to come back, well let's see what's possible.

....over the last three years .....we have mobilised and we have done a lot...

Putin speaking

First of all I would like to thank the President of the United States ........... Second is, we agree with the proposals for the ceasefire, but our position is on the assumption that the ceasefire would lead to a long term peace.

....It looks like a decision taken by Ukrainian side under American pressure... what is the situation on the ground....... I went to Kurst region yesterday ...........the situation there is completely under our control ...........

He claims Ukraine has lost on that territory and negative propaganda about Ukraine in Kurst

In these conditions and in this context, I think it would be great for the Ukrainian side to achieve a peace for 30 days, we are ? for it - however ......... (something about Ukraine surrendering).

Talking about the front line. How are Ukraine going to use this 30 days? Are they going to use it to supply weapons to the front line, ....undergo training? Then we have a question - how are we going to resolve the issues of control or verification. How can we be guaranteed that none of this is going to happen in the future - how are we going to control this..... who is going to give orders to ceasefire and what is the value of these orders........2000 km who is going to determine who and where violated.

All of these are questions that need to be thoroughly studied on both sides. So the idea in itself is correct and we support it, but there are questions that need to be discussed. I think we need to discuss this with our American partners ...maybe have a call with President Trump.





We are not closing any doors.....

 

[Stella123]

From the Live Stream again : Lukashenko speaking - propaganda - saying it wasn't Russia or Belarus who started the conflict.....

"The most important thing is we are keeping the contact with America and other European powers, without disclosing it.

Criticising Zelensky in a low key way saying he's experienced.

"We see that Europe is conducting itself in a very myopic way, not looking into the future. We know our interests, we know our goals. We saw that President Zelensky was humiliated in the White House....he will see that nobody is going to help Ukraine. Now they are talking about ,...the minerals ....they will have to comply now.

I'd like to add - if Russia and America agree on something. If US and Russia agree to co-operate in the field of energy then the gas pipe line can be provided and this will be of use because they can then get cheap Russian gas."

Propaganda - thanking their soldiers and talking about successes. "Depending on the situation on the ground, we will ............see how to achieve acceptable terms for everyone."

More questions from the Press

Having a break now! ...........