Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #5

[Bit of hope]

Rusland vraagt kunstmestproducenten om te stoppen met export - Nieuws.nl

Russia is urging fertilizer producers in the country to halt exports, the Russian government said in a statement. This threatens to further increase the already considerably higher global fertilizer prices.

Russia, facing mounting international sanctions since it invaded Ukraine, is known as a major exporter of fertilizers. Natural gas, in which Russia is also very big, is an important component of many fertilizers.

According to experts, cessation of exports from Russia could lead to farmers all over the world having to pay even more for their fertilizer. That could probably also boost the prices of food items in the supermarket. The prices of many types of fertilizer have already risen sharply in recent days due to logistical problems, levies and sanctions.

 

[Vern]

WOW, so NATO and Poland want tne US to take the hit from Putin? Unbelievable. And the US is the one protecting Poland, we sent the 82nd Airborne, several divisions and units.

Moo....

To be clear, NATO didn't ask the US to handle the trade of jets. Poland did. There are plenty of NATO troops and equipment in Poland and not just from the US.

My question is why should the US have to offer. Poland is TRADING planes. Poland is a NATO country. We are in this to support the NATO partners and they wanna trade planes? Then announced it's all on the US.

I'm not liking this. Its like helping my neighbor out and then he charges me for helping him. Moo

No, we should not have to buy or trade to a country we have thousands of troops, planes, equipment to protect them.

Moo....

The US is a NATO partner. It's partner, Poland, is simply seeking to assure that one of NATO's largest members, the US, is willing to live up to it's commitment to NATO to mutual defence. That was a little hinky with the last US administration, so the 'trust' isn't quite built back up yet for some.

To be certain, I'm just a girl in the Canadian Army (also NATO) who has served alongside the Polish in Syria and in Afghanistan as a result of mutual co-operation and defence due to the 9/11 attacks on our fellow NATO member - the USofA. This is/may be a different war with the same requirements to effect that mutual cooperation and defence.

The Polish aren't seeking anything different from the USofA than was asked of them post-911 by the USofA.

 

[Simply Southern]

Russia-Ukraine war: US rejects Polish plan to offer jets to Ukraine; Russia accused of breaking Mariupol ceasefire – live | World news | The Guardian
34m ago 21:42

The US Government may have opposed a Polish plan to ship jet fighters to Ukraine but it will be sending two Patriot anti-missile batteries stationed in Europe to Poland.

State Department Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that as a Nato-member, the move would help secure Poland’s airspace owing to its adjacency to the conflict.

“The main issue is to evaluate what Poland’s immediate needs are in the context of being a neighbor of this conflict,” Nuland said.

Sounds like Poland was wanting anti battery stations and a deal was made.

I found it interesting US gives more money to NATO than all 29 other countries. The "fees" for NATO are 2% of national Gross National Product. That's not alot for a defense of a nation. Many of the countries are not paying the 2%.

The US and Germany provide 16% EACH to the cost of running NATO. That's 32% of total cost provided by two countries.

Nato summit: What does the US contribute?
The current agreed target for European Nato members is 2% of GDP on defence by 2024.

President Trump had urged the other countries in the alliance to increase that to 4% of GDP.

In 2020, 10 Nato countries (in addition to the US) reached or exceeded the 2% target - two more than in 2019 including for the first time, France and Norway.

The rest (including Germany, Italy and Spain) spent below that in 2020, even though they've all increased their spending as a percentage of GDP since 2014 (when the 2% target was agreed).


Germany indicated in 2019 that it wouldn't reach the 2% target until 2031.

Nato members also pledged that by 2024 at least 20% of their defence expenditure should go on acquiring and developing equipment.

On this measure, most Nato members in 2020 spent at least that proportion or more on equipment, although Germany and Canada still spent less than 20%.

 

[Simply Southern]

Russia-Ukraine war: US rejects Polish plan to offer jets to Ukraine; Russia accused of breaking Mariupol ceasefire – live | World news | The Guardian
34m ago 21:42

The US Government may have opposed a Polish plan to ship jet fighters to Ukraine but it will be sending two Patriot anti-missile batteries stationed in Europe to Poland.

State Department Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that as a Nato-member, the move would help secure Poland’s airspace owing to its adjacency to the conflict.

“The main issue is to evaluate what Poland’s immediate needs are in the context of being a neighbor of this conflict,” Nuland said.

Sounds like Poland was wanting anti battery stations and a deal was made.

I found it interesting US gives more money to NATO than all 29 other countries. The "fees" for NATO are 2% of national Gross National Product. That's not alot for a defense of a nation. Many of the countries are not paying the 2%.

The US and Germany provide 16% EACH to the cost of running NATO. That's 32% of total cost provided by two countries.

Nato summit: What does the US contribute?
The current agreed target for European Nato members is 2% of GDP on defence by 2024.

President Trump had urged the other countries in the alliance to increase that to 4% of GDP.

In 2020, 10 Nato countries (in addition to the US) reached or exceeded the 2% target - two more than in 2019 including for the first time, France and Norway.

The rest (including Germany, Italy and Spain) spent below that in 2020, even though they've all increased their spending as a percentage of GDP since 2014 (when the 2% target was agreed).


Germany indicated in 2019 that it wouldn't reach the 2% target until 2031.

Nato members also pledged that by 2024 at least 20% of their defence expenditure should go on acquiring and developing equipment.

On this measure, most Nato members in 2020 spent at least that proportion or more on equipment, although Germany and Canada still spent less than 20%.

 

[Bit of hope]

Overal duikt het mysterieuze Z-symbool op, maar niemand weet wat het betekent | NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl

Rutte wants discrimination against Russians in the Netherlands to stop
Prime Minister Mark Rutte called on Tuesday to stop the harassment against Russians in the Netherlands. "We are not helping anyone with this at all and it is not civilized," said the prime minister.

Rutte said he heard increasing reports of "verbal abuse or even worse" against Russian people, organizations and companies in the Netherlands. "I strongly reject it," he says. "We are in conflict with Putin and his government, not with Russians and certainly not with Russians in the Netherlands."

According to the prime minister, individual Russians cannot do anything about what is currently happening in Ukraine. The prime minister notes that many of them are turning away from this "terrible violence".

I agree on this.

 

[Vern]

the one on the left looks like he's 14 years old

I'll have to see if I can find the interview again, but he looks like the same lad.

If so, there's an interview out there of a POW who stated the authorities came to his home and he was told to sign the paperwork to join the military or "it would be signed for me".

Child soldiers, if this one is under 18, another War Crime to chalk up on the list.

 

[MrsWatson]

Ukraine war: FOUR UK squaddies go AWOL to fight Putin's forces including 19-year-old Queen's Guard | Daily Mail Online

• Four British soldiers are feared to have gone AWOL to fight Vladimir Putin's invading forces in Ukraine
• A 19-year-old member of the Queen's Guard signed up for Ukraine's International Legion of foreign fighters
• The move has sparked panic at the Ministry of Defence, with security chiefs racing to intercept the teenager
• Fears are high that Russia could claim Britain has entered the war if UK army soldiers are found in Ukraine

 

[Simply Southern]

To be clear, NATO didn't ask the US to handle the trade of jets. Poland did. There are plenty of NATO troops and equipment in Poland and not just from the US.

Do you live in a NATO country? Is it participating in this conflict?

Whats clear today is the US did not agree to "this deal" with Poland. Why would the US trade our F series fighter jets for broken down planes left from a previous Russian conflict? Why did Poland make a public statement, even if a deal was in the works? Why did they feel they had to make a snide (mo) comment? ....Russia can talk to Washington about the planes...or something to that affect. This whole plane story was generated out of Poland, to obtain two Patriot Missile Systems. Moo....

Russia-Ukraine war: US rejects Polish plan to offer jets to Ukraine; Russia accused of breaking Mariupol ceasefire – live | World news | The Guardian
34m ago 21:42

The US Government may have opposed a Polish plan to ship jet fighters to Ukraine but it will be sending two Patriot anti-missile batteries stationed in Europe to Poland.

 

[sds71]

March 9 (Reuters) - Radioactive substances could be released from Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant because it cannot cool spent nuclear fuel after its power connection was severed.

Ukraine warns of radiation leak risk after power cut at occupied Chernobyl plant

 

[MrsWatson]

March 9 (Reuters) - Radioactive substances could be released from Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant because it cannot cool spent nuclear fuel after its power connection was severed.

Ukraine warns of radiation leak risk after power cut at occupied Chernobyl plant

Not good. Not good at all.

 

[worldwatcher]

Overal duikt het mysterieuze Z-symbool op, maar niemand weet wat het betekent | NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl

Rutte wants discrimination against Russians in the Netherlands to stop
Prime Minister Mark Rutte called on Tuesday to stop the harassment against Russians in the Netherlands. "We are not helping anyone with this at all and it is not civilized," said the prime minister.

Rutte said he heard increasing reports of "verbal abuse or even worse" against Russian people, organizations and companies in the Netherlands. "I strongly reject it," he says. "We are in conflict with Putin and his government, not with Russians and certainly not with Russians in the Netherlands."

According to the prime minister, individual Russians cannot do anything about what is currently happening in Ukraine. The prime minister notes that many of them are turning away from this "terrible violence".

I agree on this.

I agree with Rutte on this one. I do know a few people ,with Russian roots,who are living here and they are ordinary people,like you and me!

This is making it only worse.They do have families,who are also victims of this insane war!
Beside that,there are many protest going on in Russia!

 

[MrsWatson]

Sounds like Poland was wanting anti battery stations and a deal was made.

I found it interesting US gives more money to NATO than all 29 other countries. The "fees" for NATO are 2% of national Gross National Product. That's not alot for a defense of a nation. Many of the countries are not paying the 2%.

The US and Germany provide 16% EACH to the cost of running NATO. That's 32% of total cost provided by two countries.

Nato summit: What does the US contribute?
The current agreed target for European Nato members is 2% of GDP on defence by 2024.

President Trump had urged the other countries in the alliance to increase that to 4% of GDP.

In 2020, 10 Nato countries (in addition to the US) reached or exceeded the 2% target - two more than in 2019 including for the first time, France and Norway.

The rest (including Germany, Italy and Spain) spent below that in 2020, even though they've all increased their spending as a percentage of GDP since 2014 (when the 2% target was agreed).


Germany indicated in 2019 that it wouldn't reach the 2% target until 2031.

Nato members also pledged that by 2024 at least 20% of their defence expenditure should go on acquiring and developing equipment.

On this measure, most Nato members in 2020 spent at least that proportion or more on equipment, although Germany and Canada still spent less than 20%.

I'm confused. What does this have to do with NATO's approach to the war in Ukraine?

 

[Simply Southern]

To be clear, NATO didn't ask the US to handle the trade of jets. Poland did. There are plenty of NATO troops and equipment in Poland and not just from the US.




The US is a NATO partner. It's partner, Poland, is simply seeking to assure that one of NATO's largest members, the US, is willing to live up to it's commitment to NATO to mutual defence. That was a little hinky with the last US administration, so the 'trust' isn't quite built back up yet for some.

To be certain, I'm just a girl in the Canadian Army (also NATO) who has served alongside the Polish in Syria and in Afghanistan as a result of mutual co-operation and defence due to the 9/11 attacks on our fellow NATO member - the USofA. This is/may be a different war with the same requirements to effect that mutual cooperation and defence.

The Polish aren't seeking anything different from the USofA than was asked of them post-911 by the USofA.

The US didn't ask Poland, they ask NATO, as per our agreement.

The US more than lives up to our commitment. NATO charges 2% GNP from each nation. We give over 18% of the total cost of NATO and then some.

Nato summit: What does the US contribute?

Moo...

 

[worldwatcher]

Chernobyl monitoring suspended

"The International Atomic Energy Agency is no longer connected to the monitoring devices of the Chernobyl nuclear ruins in Ukraine. The nuclear power plant is also separated from the power supply. Experts warn of the escape of radioactive substances."

GT from source:
Krieg gegen die Ukraine: Überwachung von Tschernobyl unterbrochen

ETA:
@sds71 just saw you posted it , good to know, it is a international MSM concern.

 

[Bit of hope]

NOS NEWS • ABROAD • TODAY, 00:15 • MODIFIED TO 00:15

• 14 HOURS AGO
  Coca-Cola and Pepsi suspend operations in Russia
  The American companies Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are suspending their activities in Russia. Coca-Cola said in a brief statement that it expressed its condolences to "the people who are suffering the indescribable consequences of the tragic events in Ukraine. We will continue to monitor the situation." It is not immediately clear what this means in concrete terms for the sale of Coca-Cola products.
  
  PepsiCo, known for the soft drink Pepsi but also Doritos, Duyvis and Lay's, will stop selling soft drinks and will no longer invest and advertise in the country for the time being. The sale of first foods such as milk and baby food will continue.
  
  "This will continue to support the livelihoods of our 20,000 Russian employees and the 40,000 Russian farm workers in our supply chain," said CEO Ramon Laguarta.

Rusland: morgen wapenstilstand bij vijf steden • VS verrast over Pools straaljageraanbod

 

[Vern]

Sounds like Poland was wanting anti battery stations and a deal was made.

I found it interesting US gives more money to NATO than all 29 other countries. The "fees" for NATO are 2% of national Gross National Product. That's not alot for a defense of a nation. Many of the countries are not paying the 2%.

The US and Germany provide 16% EACH to the cost of running NATO. That's 32% of total cost provided by two countries.

Nato summit: What does the US contribute?
The current agreed target for European Nato members is 2% of GDP on defence by 2024.

President Trump had urged the other countries in the alliance to increase that to 4% of GDP.

In 2020, 10 Nato countries (in addition to the US) reached or exceeded the 2% target - two more than in 2019 including for the first time, France and Norway.

The rest (including Germany, Italy and Spain) spent below that in 2020, even though they've all increased their spending as a percentage of GDP since 2014 (when the 2% target was agreed).


Germany indicated in 2019 that it wouldn't reach the 2% target until 2031.

Nato members also pledged that by 2024 at least 20% of their defence expenditure should go on acquiring and developing equipment.

On this measure, most Nato members in 2020 spent at least that proportion or more on equipment, although Germany and Canada still spent less than 20%.

It's sometimes in the math too as all NATO countries do not standardize the formula they use to ascertain the percentage of GDP their nation spends of "defence".

For example, some nations include the costs they spend for their border security, some do not. Some include direct military and defence spending only while others include the costs of policing etc. Some use only the budget allocated to their military for the year - whether it's totally spent or not and regardless if they spend over it or not.

What NATO actually has to do is standardize the formula to be used by all it's partner nations ... then have at 'er. If, for example, national policing costs or border patrolling were NOT included (because some NATO nations include those costs in their % and some do not) towards the determination of GDP spending on defence, the GDP percentages would move significantly for some.

In a lot of cases, it really is like comparing apples to oranges because there is not standardized formula.

Oh, and most NATO and European nations have increased defence spending since 2014 because ... well ... Crimea. That's when the bear raised his ugly head. Yet again.

 

[Bit of hope]

Do you live in a NATO country? Is it participating in this conflict?

Whats clear today is the US did not agree to "this deal" with Poland. Why would the US trade our F series fighter jets for broken down planes left from a previous Russian conflict? Why did Poland make a public statement, even if a deal was in the works? Why did they feel they had to make a snide (mo) comment? ....Russia can talk to Washington about the planes...or something to that affect. This whole plane story was generated out of Poland, to obtain two Patriot Missile Systems. Moo....

The background of this "deal" is that a no fly zone is out of the question, instead they are talking about this planes, to protect the air, preventing the Russians shelling and bombarding the cities and civilians. The Ukrainian fighter pilots are able to fly the old Russian planes and not the newer ones. Actually it's tricky to provide planes at all. I don't understand the outlets from the Polish too...yes, no, yes, no....If Poland (and also other countries who still have them) is handing over the Russian planes they want to be sure their defense force is up to date. There comes the US as NATO partner into play. But giving planes could still be seen by Putin as an act of aggression of NATO. I see NATO tiptoeing around this issue. Maybe it's even a strategy to bring out all kinds of (dis) information to lure Putin away from what is really going on behind the scenes, although I don't see he will miss this.

 

[Simply Southern]

I'm confused. What does this have to do with NATO's approach to the war in Ukraine?

Alot, imo. When countries join NATO it commits to the fees to participate in return for protection. Many are not living up to the agreement but expect protection from NATO. So.....the US is picking up the bill, paying 18% of the cost of NATO.

The fees are equitable to each countrys GNP. Basically if I make $1.00, I pay 2 cents to NATO. Some pay less than a half percentage. Germany is a good example. A very profitable country. Reaps the benefits of a US state of tbe air airfield and hospital and states they might can pay 2% by 2030.

Yes, Poland's comments do affect NATO and especially their most lucrative partner the US.

Moo....yea I'm really upset over the plane issue

 

[sds71]

@TODAYshow

“The Ukrainian people are unruly, they love freedom, they’re not going to let anybody tell them what to do, certainly not Putin. They’re kind of like us.” - Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch

https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1501537824604143616?s=20&t=XDTj3z_-WR_9vw-Kn6q6jA

 

[Simply Southern]

The background of this "deal" is that a no fly zone is out of the question, instead they are talking about this planes, to protect the air, preventing the Russians shelling and bombarding the cities and civilians. The Ukrainian fighter pilots are able to fly the old Russian planes and not the newer ones. Actually it's tricky to provide planes at all. I don't understand the outlets from the Polish too...yes, no, yes, no....If Poland (and also other countries who still have them) is handing over the Russian planes they want to be sure their defense force is up to date. There comes the US as NATO partner into play. But giving planes could still be seen by Putin as an act of aggression of NATO. I see NATO tiptoeing around this issue. Maybe it's even a strategy to bring out all kinds of (dis) information to lure Putin away from what is really going on behind the scenes, although I don't see he will miss this.

So Poland and NATO tiptoe and say the planes are coming from the US not NATO.

NATO can NOT establish a no fly zone over Ukraine with out violating its charter. Ukraine is not a NATO country. NATO is not the world policing agency.

If Ukraine receives planes they need to come from NATO alliance not the U.S. and the US shouldn't have to replace with our fighter jets, let NATO bear the cost.

For the US to give the planes to Russia is an act of war. Clear violation of NATO and .....

Will require Congress to approve before we can enter a war with Russia. US Presidents do NOT have the authority to declare or enter war without congressional approval.

This could/may have been a secret/under the table plan, until Poland announced via Twitter to the entire world. Not what I would expect from a friend and partner.

All Moo...