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Old 23rd March 2022, 10:16   #1126
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Same "Respected" Newspaper, similar events but slightly different headlines:

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war-fofebxsx0akcmrq.jpeg

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war-fofebxvxsaynhte.jpeg
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Old 23rd March 2022, 13:43   #1127
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Gonzalo Lira under threat from the Zelinsky regime with help from western media



Hope this gentleman manages to stay alive. War reporting is not really his profession. He just seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and also fearlessly outspoken.
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Old 23rd March 2022, 14:45   #1128
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxbat View Post
Same "Respected" Newspaper, similar events but slightly different headlines:
Mate, not suggesting that the media house is neutral (is any?), however my interpretation from the screenshots is somewhat different.

IMO, the primary issue here is with the duplicity in the Pentagon's stand and not the newspaper, which has quoted the Pentagon.

~~~~

A request to all: please do share the source links of the screenshots. It helps delve further into the issue. Many screenshots are shared on social media, some of which are fake. Also, sometimes the publication changes it's stand after outrage. Links help.
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Old 23rd March 2022, 15:25   #1129
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Importance of Mariupol

If Mariupol is seized, it would give Russia control of one of Ukraine's biggest ports and create a land corridor between Crimea and the Russian-backed regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. Also, Russia will end up with full control of more than 80% of Ukraine's Black Sea coastline - cutting-off its maritime trade and further isolating it from the world.

Connecting Crimea with mainland Russia via the rebel-held areas would make it much easier for Russia to move goods and people to and from Crimea. Russia has wanted this since 2014, when the conflict in the east began.

Also, France’s Total Energies has given under pressure and now joins the likes of bp, Shell and Equinor in cutting ties with Russia.
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Old 23rd March 2022, 15:52   #1130
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnS_12 View Post
Importance of Mariupol

If Mariupol is seized, it would give Russia control of one of Ukraine's biggest ports and create a land corridor between Crimea and the Russian-backed regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. Also, Russia will end up with full control of more than 80% of Ukraine's Black Sea coastline - cutting-off its maritime trade and further isolating it from the world.

Connecting Crimea with mainland Russia via the rebel-held areas would make it much easier for Russia to move goods and people to and from Crimea. Russia has wanted this since 2014, when the conflict in the east began.

Also, France’s Total Energies has given under pressure and now joins the likes of bp, Shell and Equinor in cutting ties with Russia.
It will take many more days for Russia to capture Mariupol, the Azov battalion of the Ukraine army there hasn't allowed evacuation of civilians including women and children from the city, as seen in many videos. They are holding them as hostages to be served as human shield. It serves their purpose of slowing down the enemy.
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Old 23rd March 2022, 16:34   #1131
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

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Originally Posted by Poitive View Post
Unless Putin and co. end up in a situation where they think that further advances are unviable (and it would not be easy for a force like Russia to reach such), I really doubt they would get to a settlement before cutting off uncontrolled Ukraine from the Black Sea. Unless Ukraine steps back after Kyiv (unlikely), the next frontier is likely to be Odessa City and around in the South-West. It is a major port. South West of Odessa city is a region between Moldova and the Black Sea, which has more of a Russian bent, and could well be easier to get into the Russian fold.

Cutting off the rest of Ukraine from the Black Sea would give them a lot more leverage in negotiations, with Odessa being an immediate important factor (vital for exports, I am told).
One of the reasons of the importance of the Black Sea - the basis of the above - is showing up. Trade, food security and inflation under threat:
Quote:
Wheat exports from Ukraine and Russia, which make up a vital part of the world's food supply are still being blocked by Russia from leaving the Black Sea, Germany's largest agricultural trader BayWa said this week.

"Zero [grain] is currently being exported from the ports of Ukraine — nothing is leaving the country at all," Jörg-Simon Immerz, head of the grain trading at BayWa, told dpa news agency.

He added that the export activity on the Russian side is "very limited."

Immerz's assessment was backed up by the Panamanian Maritime Authority, who said on Wednesday that the Russian Navy was preventing 200-300 ships from leaving the Black Sea — most of them were carrying grain. Other reports suggest around 100 vessels are blocked.
....
Food security threatened
Questions have been raised about how much grain Ukraine will be able to produce this year due to the conflict. At the same time, Russia has vowed to retaliate against Western sanctions that have crippled its economy.

Curbs on wheat and fertilizer exports are presumed to be high on Moscow's list, which could have further consequences for the world's food supply and food price inflation.
Link: https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-war-ru...rts/a-61165985

Cutting off the rest of Ukraine from the Black Sea is what the Russians appear to have gone for right from the beginning. Also as SnS_12 mentioned above, it also links mainland Russia to Crimea (which again is vital for Black Sea influence).

Seems a bit like: push Russia enough and they might be driven to "hum toh doobangae, sanam, tumko bhi saath le kar doobangae" (that if we drown, love, we will take you along while drowning).

Last edited by Poitive : 23rd March 2022 at 16:36. Reason: Corrected name: SnS_12
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Old 23rd March 2022, 18:31   #1132
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Quote:
Originally Posted by vintherace View Post
It will take many more days for Russia to capture Mariupol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poitive View Post
One of the reasons of the importance of the Black Sea - the basis of the above - is showing up. Trade, food security and inflation under threat:
Ukraine has agreed a deal with Russia to set up nine humanitarian corridors. However, the agreement does not cover the besieged southeastern port city of Mariupol, but includes routes out of Luhansk, where a ceasefire has been announced.

Also, what the main media is not talking about is how is Russia able to fund this war?? Initially western media houses were saying that the war will cost USD 20 billion a day and with sanctions in place Russia can financially only fight for 10 days at best with the funds they have access to before going bankrupt and here we are on day 28.

Further, once the war is over they will have to spend more to get their economy back on feet as their stock market are shut and foreign companies are pulling out, which btw are being nationalized (oligarchs getting richer) by Russia at the moment, which will ultimately lead to foreign companies loosing billions. Also, a lot of money will have to be put in to replenish the military hardware used up or lost unless they have used only weapons which had reached their life cycle?

Countries which are dependent on imports and especially for goods coming out of Ukraine and Russia might be what Russia has in mind as a backup to counter the western sanctions, as slowly world will realize they are dependent more on Russia then vice versa.

Here you go, Russia drops its financial sanction bombs..Bye Bye $$$

Quote:
President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday Russia will only accept payments in rubles for gas deliveries to “unfriendly countries,” which include all EU members, after Moscow was hit by unprecedented sanctions over Ukraine.

“I have decided to implement a set of measures to transfer payment for our gas supplies to unfriendly countries into Russian rubles,” Putin said during a televised government meeting, ordering the changes to be implemented within a week.
Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war-img_2426.jpg

Last edited by SnS_12 : 23rd March 2022 at 19:01. Reason: Added the news of gas sales in rubles
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Old 23rd March 2022, 19:05   #1133
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

How can you choke your enemy underwater, if you can't hold your breath long enough?
An excerpt from a bloomberg article:
"
European natural gas surged more than 20% after President Vladimir Putin said Russia will start demanding payments in rubles from buyers it deems “unfriendly.”
Putin ordered the nations’ central bank to develop a mechanism to make ruble payments within a week at a meeting with his government. Russia earlier named the U.S., U.K. and members of the European Union unfriendly nations.

"
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Old 23rd March 2022, 19:43   #1134
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Quote:
Originally Posted by Poitive View Post
Seems a bit like: push Russia enough and they might be driven to "hum toh doobangae, sanam, tumko bhi saath le kar doobangae" (that if we drown, love, we will take you along while drowning).
And soon after this, I read about a nuclear threat by the Kremlin:

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war-ukr-russia-nuclear-threat-kremlin.jpg

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2...-plan-liveblog
(Just noticed: since the link is of a live blog, the content in the link keeps changing)

Reminds me a bit of our western neighbours, but they might well be different.

Further, heard that one idea for humanitarian corridors from the Russian perspective is to make it easier for a section of Ukrainians to leave the battle; perhaps those civilians who were pushed into it by situations.

Last edited by Poitive : 23rd March 2022 at 19:59. Reason: Added source, minor content, typo
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Old 23rd March 2022, 22:01   #1135
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Found this rather not so surprising news. An Ukrainian former MP's wife was caught carrying millions of dollars worth of cash out of the country. Disgusting to see these people even amid a huge humanitarian crisis.

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Old 23rd March 2022, 22:22   #1136
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Another perspective from a Chinese Business Leader



The remark about Biden’s energy level is something that I kept wondering about. The hatred is hard to miss in his language. And it looks like the Russians have taken a lot of casualties. This video paints a very bleak picture of the Russian military state and Putin
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Old 23rd March 2022, 23:01   #1137
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

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Originally Posted by saikarthik View Post
Found this rather not so surprising news. An Ukrainian former MP's wife was caught carrying millions of dollars worth of cash out of the country.
Reminded me of Kateryna Yushchenko, wife of ex president Viktor Yushchenko (of the Orange revolution fame). Was a part of the US administration. While it proves nothing; yet is interesting to note.

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war-ukr-russ-kateryna-yushchenko.jpg

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kateryna_Yushchenko

Further:
Quote:
The US state department last week said it had spent $65m over the past two years financing groups in support of democracy in Ukraine, part of the $1bn spent for the same purpose globally each year.

"Our money doesn't go to candidates. It goes to the institutions that it takes to run a free and fair election," said a spokesman, Richard Boucher.

The US embassy said it - together with seven other western embassies, including Britain's - had funded an exit poll which showed Viktor Yushchenko was ahead in the first run-off by 11 points, and helped to spark the mass protests.

A variety of NGOs which benefit from US government money also sent election observers. The International Centre for Policy Studies, which is funded by US money, was one of several NGOs accused of a pro-Yushchenko bias. Mr Yushchenko sits on its board.
Quote:
Freedom House in Kiev, an NGO partly funded by the US, helped to provide training - some say even funding - to the youth activist group Pora, one of the main agitators of blockades and protests during the 16-day crisis.

Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, said in comments posted on the congressional website: "President Bush said last week that 'Any election [in Ukraine], if there is one, ought to be free from any foreign influence.' Unfortunately, it seems that several US government agencies saw things differently and sent US taxpayer dollars into Ukraine in an attempt to influence the outcome."

He said millions were sent by the US Agency for International Development to an NGO in Kiev called the Poland-America-Ukraine Cooperation Initiative, which then sent the money on to "numerous Ukrainian" NGOs, many of which were "blatantly in favour of Viktor Yushchenko".
(formatting added in the quotes)

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...13/ukraine.usa

For more context, please read about the Orange Revolution.

To believe that the whole situation in Ukraine is without US influence keeps becoming increasingly difficult.

Last edited by Poitive : 23rd March 2022 at 23:10. Reason: Removed OT part, as India's security touched the political part; added tiny content (US influence)
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Old 24th March 2022, 12:17   #1138
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine reminds me of one of the Dohe from Kabir

Chalti chakki dekh kar, diya Kabira roye,
Do patan ke beech me, sabut bacha na koi.


Meaning : Anyone who comes between two strong parties, gets crushed completely.

Ukraine got sandwiched between US and Russia, not by force but "by choice".
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Old 24th March 2022, 12:26   #1139
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

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Originally Posted by Poitive View Post
To believe that the whole situation in Ukraine is without US influence keeps becoming increasingly difficult.
How long will the influence last and whether they will dump Ukraine just like Afghanistan is to bee seen in the coming days.

US turned a border war into a global conflict. Even if this war happened if the global economy was in a healthy state it would still have had a major economic impact world over. But the global economy was already in a fragile state before this war began and the true impact of this will be visible in the March CPI data which will be released on April 12th. And the numbers are going to be bad and the Fed is giving hints about the same with their now hawkish stand on inflation. Joe Biden will soon have a bigger problem at hand back home and will realize if they already haven't that their involvement in Ukraine is just fueling it further.

With Putin's decision to sell gas from now on in Rubles to unfriendly European countries has increased calls for EU to move away from Russia and look at Qatar, Algeria as an alternate. However, this will take time and involve costs in building up the infrastructure something these countries might not be able to justify with a collapsing economy, which will just add more strain. Finally, Russia can produce and sell energy at very low cost and these countries to survive will have to buy it even if its from their enemy.

Last edited by SnS_12 : 24th March 2022 at 12:39.
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Old 24th March 2022, 13:01   #1140
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Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war

Just wanted to share a Russian perspective on India-Russia-China dynamics.

https://www.rt.com/russia/552520-how...ainian-crisis/

RT.com may be difficult to access for some of us since there seems to be some denial of service attack going on against the website.

Some Snippets.

"Hardly anyone in Russia expected India to fail its historical ally in such circumstances. And it didn’t. New Delhi’s position during the vote on the resolutions condemning Russia’s actions in the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly respectively has been steadfast and coherent – India abstained from taking part in West-sponsored resolutions that sought to deplore in the "strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine."

"India proved its traditionally independent stance and should have dissuaded those political pundits who mistakenly regarded its historically weighted position, as an inclination to bolster its ties with the West at the expense of New Delhi and Moscow's bilateral relations."

"Indian market players themselves are unwilling to join the Western-led sanction campaign but are wary of repercussions deriving from further cooperation with Russia. That is why the State Bank of India (the nation’s top lender) has stopped processing any transactions involving Russian entities which are subject to international sanctions imposed on Moscow due to its significant international presence and the need to comply with US and EU regulations."

"One may wonder what interests India could pursue in the current situation? First of all, New Delhi has another chance to take advantage of the Russian pivot to the East, since this time Moscow has no option but to finally embark on boosting its ties with the non-Western world in practice. "

"Secondly, it is high time India took real steps to lessen the so-called "Russia’s dependence on China". This narrative of "Russia rapidly becoming subordinate to China" has been circulating around Indian official, academic, expert and media circles in recent years. There is unlikely to be a better chance for New Delhi to enter the game decisively by establishing new businesses, launching joint projects and increasing investments so as to pick up its desired winnings."

From Victoria Nuland's (US undersecretary who is leading player in Ukraine and is currently in India) NDTV interview.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/demo...russia-2836276

"We know about the historic relationship and defence relationship between India and Russia at a time when the US was not prepared to have that kind of relationship. But times have changed now. They've changed in terms of the US and European willingness to be strong defence and security partners with India. We are doing more and more together in the Indo-Pacific. But times have also changed in terms of the level of brutality and violation of international humanitarian law that we are seeing," Ms Nuland said.

"We also talked about other opportunities for India to get what it needs including Soviet-era equipment potentially not from Russia itself. We have been supporting the sourcing of security needs for Ukraine along with our allies including Soviet-era equipment and those are the kind of things we can do with India as it continues to evolve its position."

When the US and other countries decided to cut off Russian oil imports completely, Washington did not expect "all democratic partners" to do so immediately, because of historical legacy, said the official.

"But what we do want to do is to work together to find alternative sources over time. And that's what we hope to do with India - whether it's with regard to the security relationship, the energy relationship... Because Russia has proven itself to be unreliable and to be a violator of international law," Ms Nuland told NDTV.

I am curious to see how long this neutrality will continue on part of the GOI. I think Victoria Nuland's India visit was also interesting. A gentle reminder/warning to the government maybe.

Last edited by vb-saan : 24th March 2022 at 13:25. Reason: Typo
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