To admit I have no idea wtf is going on with Russia and the

[Dustlandcinderella]

I follow the news and can see that There is a lot about Russia and the Ukraine. But I can’t quite figure out what is happening , what the background is, and what the truth is (bearing in mind in any war there is propaganda on each side).

Am I the only person who doesn’t actually understand what’s going on

No Russian gas means super high energy prices here in the UK

Nord Stream 2 isn't operating yet - it's a new pipeline.

Very easy for a country that is self sufficient in gas to order around a continent that isn't.

A year ago - Jan 2021
Germany has come under increased pressure to halt a Russian gas pipeline following the detention in Moscow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The European Parliament has backed a call for Nord Stream 2 to be scrapped.

Washington argues the project will increase Russian influence over Europe.

...President Joe Biden is expected to pursue the same policy [as Trump] according to his nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken. In 2016, Mr Biden said the pipeline was a "bad deal" for Europe.

However - Biden didn't pursue the same policy as Trump.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55756282

As a former UK ambassador to Russia said "Russia, over the decades, has proven to be a very reliable partner in the supply of gas to Europe"

As the Russian Foreign Minister said to the EU's foreign policy chief last year...

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, called the EU an “unreliable partner” and accused European leaders of lying about Alexei Navalny’s poisoning.

www.politico.eu/article/borrell-stands-by-as-lavrov-calls-eu-unreliable-partner/

November 2021

Nord Stream 2 pipeline Angela Merkel’s 'biggest mistake', says Donald Tusk.

Tusk said Merkel was 'helpless' in the face of the lobbying of German business interests.

www.dw.com/en/nord-stream-2-pipeline-angela-merkels-biggest-mistake-says-donald-tusk/a-59963553

It is very telling on the thread that Russia have gone to the lengths they have even on SM and websites you would not associate with anti Russian sentiment. How much are they investing in their global troll farms etc etc.

I could not care less about paying extra energy prices etc, we are coming into spring anyway so it hardly matters given what Ukraine are facing now. I am researching how I can support the Ukraine economy now, and will be ordering as much as I can from there. They don't need a collapsing economy to deal with as well.

Long story short, Putin doesn't want nato at its borders.

May be of interest (or not I guess)…

www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/russia-ukraine-most-senseless-war-nato-history/

Long story short Putin will end up with MORE Nato on the borders not less. What do you think all of the neutral countries are going to do next? Finland, Sweden et al....you have got it! Join Nato pronto.

All flanks of Ukraine are surrounded by Nato, so you could say by invading he is increasing his exposure not reducing. But it was never about Nato....

This has been brilliant for Nato, because there was a time when many thought it was becoming pointless, outdated and not worth further investment, this has certainly changed that view overnight.

All flanks of Ukraine are surrounded by Nato, so you could say by invading he is increasing his exposure not reducing. But it was never about Nato....

Your geography is about as good as your history... try Moldova and Belarus.

For the moment …

If people have doubts about authenticity it is perfectly possible to alert mnhq and ask them to do what checks they can. On the internet you have to have a certain willingness to accept face value unless obvious disinformation is in play, and perceptions differ in a free zone.

Thanks for the French links, I think French international profile is showing up quite well post Brexit. Al Jazeera has cover as well of course. I’d be interested in seeing Indian news links if they come in a good English translation .

It's not about Russia. It's not about Ukraine. This is about Putin.

And the French have the EU presidency. They’re doing their job.

The Russian Security Council meeting said it all. Instead of being at the end of a long table from Macron or whoever, Putin is across the hall from the lackeys. All bar one are men (spot the one with her knees together). One by one they had to say the right thing, sometimes being corrected and/or chided as his way forward was given their blessing.

He has been in power for a generation. The state of Russia today is to a large extent down to him. It has to be if he has been governing in any way.

Now he is showing signs of age and his face isn't its lean old self. There's no clear successor he can pass things on to and retire safely. So he'll perhaps just go on as Russia returns to being some sort of gerontocracy.

Meanwhile he spews historically inaccurate rubbish about Ukraine. It really did seem to come from a genuine place.

@imfrommars

Long story short, Putin doesn't want nato at its borders.

So outin invades ukraine.... and if successful ends up with.... yup NATO at its borders which they claimbis what they wanted to avoid in the first place

On a side note, does anyone know why so many people think it's called The Ukraine? I actually did myself until I went there a few years ago and realised it was just Ukraine.

In translation, 'the Ukraine' literally means 'the borderland', and is how Russians referred to it in Soviet times. It carries the connotations of being a region - the Highlands, the Alps, the Serengeti - rather than a sovereign independent state.

Which from the POV of an independent (rather than Russian satellite) Ukraine, they're understandably not keen on.

Kiev is being shelled/bombed as we speak

The sirens are ringing in Kyiv in the news coverage

What the fuck happens next?

There are babies lying in their cots, children waking up to the fucking Russians invading their peaceful, beautiful and independent country.

It is an absolute outrage.

I have no words that I can type on here to express my rage, my fury and my disgust of Putin and the Kremlin. Someone needs to NOW take him out. He is a dangerous, unhinged psychopath.

God Bless Ukraine.

I hope everyone who was worried about gas prices and insisted Putin is misunderstood feels better now.
Ukraine is officially under attack. There will be casualties in millions.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

There are babies lying in their cots, children waking up to the fucking Russians invading their peaceful, beautiful and independent country.

It is an absolute outrage.

I have no words that I can type on here to express my rage, my fury and my disgust of Putin and the Kremlin. Someone needs to NOW take him out. He is a dangerous, unhinged psychopath.

God Bless Ukraine.

Tempting as it is of Putin goes there would be a massive power vaccum and it could be worse if we get rid of him.

However we need to hit him and hit him hard I think declaring war is the only way 😔

I'm being dim here but if there is a power vacuum if he went what would happen? Surely it's unlike Iraq? Aren't there a lot of unhappy Russian govt members? Would it escalate or de-escalate?

However we need to hit him and hit him hard I think declaring war is the only way 😔

That would not end well for anybody.

I feel sick at the news this morning.

I’m sure Putin is smirking at Boris’ sanctions!

I have no faith in our current leader, I’ve lost all respect for him, I don’t feel secure with his leadership skills right now!

This is so awful, it feels like we’re repeating last century (pandemic, war).

On a more selfish and lighter note, looks like I won’t be going on a trip to Moscow. Was on bucket list.

I’m also worried about China. People in Australia are pretty scared as they have their eyes there.

@notimagain

However we need to hit him and hit him hard I think declaring war is the only way 😔

That would not end well for anybody.

I know can you see any other way? We can do a no fly zone, we can send equipment but eventually we'll have to send people.

If he control Ukraine he'll move onto Poland or somewhere else next, look what he's been getting Belarus to do to Poland.