Topic: Russian Invasion of Ukraine[In Progress] - page 3. (Read 77935 times)

That's not how this world works.

From beginning I still don't know what's the point of whole this operation in Kursk. When at the same situation is very difficult in Donbas oblast, Russians is getting very close to Pokrovsk and also soon can reach Dnipropetrovsk oblast.

The US can't stop it, and with Trump "IN" may not really want to stop it.

Of course you can see that the US economy has done well. It's all based in the lies you want to believe. Just look at the rise in prices at the US stores since Biden took over. US wages haven't kept up.

There's way more to see when you look at the whole picture, and it mostly isn't MAGA. MAGA restarts now, with Trump, and it mostly doesn't have anything to do with supporting Ukraine. Ukraine is lost, but, really it is gained for the Ukrainians who fled the war.

Seems like Ukraine is pushing in Kursk. Strategically looks very odd but my guess is that Ukraine is figthing for whatever territory is worse defended. In the end, land is land and you can later swap it. I would not, it is better to have a chunck of Kursk as "buffer" for the larger cities.


USA would not allow it, but it may not be possible for them to stop it, just like they could not stop the EU from happening. The UK has no say in the EU - UK has lost plenty of influence in the EU and the Brexit effects added to COVID have left the economy stagnant.

BTW you should read the news if you are assuming the US and the UK have so many common interests.

There is an obvious problem with you "vision" of Germany and Ruzzia: Ruzzia had a big army and has been known to use force to gain territory. Having Germany linked in excess to Ruzzia is simply not safe and strategically is not a good idea to depend on Ruzzia if Ruzzia does not depend on you.

Having said all that, I am going to repeat for the 10th time the same thing: there are winners in this war, but they are not Ukraine, nor Ruzzia, nor the EU, nor (this is just for Branko's personal fixation) the UK. You can clearly see which economies have done well (US) and which ones have gone down (all the rest) due to the war.

The rest is just a blame game and Putin's fixation with having an empire. BTW, Putin was already waging wars all over prior to Ukraine, so keep saying that someone else provoked and all that...

The new offensive near Kursk is nonsense, at that time Kurakhovo was lost.

UK and USA would never allow it. Unity of German industry and Russia resources is biggest threat to them

Would it be better if both Russia and Ukraine joined the EU and made Europe stronger and united? Why is Russia against joining the EU while the likes of Turkey wished to?

Ruzzia is at war, Ruzzia cannot defend their skies nor guarantee the security of the commercial flights, full of civilians that should be safe from the Ruzzian air defence systems while crossing Ruzzia. If Ruzzia cannot tell a commercial plane from a drone - and they have shoot down a plane full of civilians killing 37 and injuring many others - they should not allow commercial flights over their territory, just as Ukraine has done long ago.

If you really want to minimise casualties you would close the airspace, but it is evident that it is not a priority to minimise anything.

But we all know that is not going to happen so again:

To all, please check carefully that you flight does not go over Ruzzia or for that matter Georgia, you may be killed by the Ruzzian air defences.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/28/putin-apologises-to-azerbaijans-president-over-tragic-plane-crash



So, if your planes is downed by the Ruzzian air defence you will get a vage apology, no recognition of gilt whatsoever and no compensation to your relatives since "nothing happened".


Just a quick note: The first 3 French Mirages have arrived to Ukraine.

Is Ukraine at war? Because i'm pretty sure they haven't declared war on Russia either and up to 2 days ago were even receiving money for transferring Russian gas.

They key point here is intent, in a conflict it's the responsibility of the military to minimize civilian casualties. Everyone can read what you wrote, that it is "it is much better to keep it open, it makes drones more difficult to identify" that implies that it would be much worse for Ukraine if Russia closed the airspace, because there would be less civilian aircraft and make UA drones harder to hide. Clearly doing the opposite of trying to minimize the civilian casualties, there's really no other way to spin this.

NATO nations are at the start of throwing their weight behind Russia, against Ukraine.


Slovakia considering cutting electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation for Kyiv preventing Russian gas from reaching the country

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https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-01-02-slovakia-considering-cutting-electricity-supply-to-ukraine.html
    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatens to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv halts the transit of Russian gas through its territory.

    Slovakian energy is heavily dependent on supplies of Russian natural gas running through Soviet-era pipelines in Ukraine.

    Slovakia could be forced to spend 220 million euros more in additional transit costs if Ukraine halts the flow of gas and alternative arrangements are needed.

    Ukraine plans to end the transit of Russian gas through its territory in 2025, but this move could cost billions in damages to Europe and exacerbate the current energy crisis.

    Ukraine is preparing to further halt Russian oil transport through its territory to Slovakia if Bratislava decides to retaliate.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a threat to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv disrupts the transit of Russian gas through its territory.

This comes after Ukraine announced that it will no longer allow Russian gas to be transited to Europe through its territory beginning Jan. 1, 2025, following the end of the current contract Kyiv has with Moscow regarding energy transportation, which expired on Dec. 31.

Slovakia is heavily dependent on Russian natural gas, which it receives through Soviet-era pipelines that run through Ukraine. This dependency has led to a critical situation, and Fico is not backing down from his stance.

This January, Slovakia is reportedly going to assess the situation and may take reciprocal economic measures against Ukraine, including potentially stopping electricity supplies from reaching Kyiv through its territory. (Related: Slovakia’s PM reveals NATO, EU states still considering sending troops to Ukraine.)

"Stopping the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine is not just a hollow political gesture. It's an extremely costly move, one that we, in the European Union, will pay for," Fico said.

Fico's warning comes with reports indicating that terminating the transit deal with Moscow will cost the EU billions of euros in damages, further eroding the bloc's international competitiveness.

It's about the ECONOMY for Slovakia
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Russia signals willingness to negotiate peace deal with Ukraine at neutral site in SLOVAKIA, but Ukraine rejects it

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https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-01-02-russia-signals-willingness-to-negotiate-peace-deal-with-ukraine-in-slovakia.html
    Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to Slovakia’s offer to host peace negotiations with Ukraine, praising Slovakia’s “neutral position.”

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s controversial visit to Moscow has sparked backlash domestically and internationally, with critics accusing him of undermining EU unity.

    Ukraine has rejected Slovakia’s mediation offer, accusing Fico of siding with Russia and jeopardizing European solidarity.

    Kyiv has accused Russia of intensifying its offensive, including the use of North Korean troops

    Slovakia, a NATO and EU member, has faced criticism for its reliance on Russian gas and its perceived alignment with Moscow.

    Ukraine’s refusal to extend the Russian gas transit contract has heightened tensions with Slovakia, which relies heavily on Russian energy supplies.

    Ukraine's refusal to negotiate a peace deal is a missed opportunity for Europe.

Slovakia’s peace offer could become a missed opportunity, as Ukraine rejects diplomacy
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There is no "hidding" because there is nothing to "hide", Ukraine will keep droning and destroying as many factories, oil facilities and military infrastructure until Ruzzia decides to go back where they belong.

Ruzzia has shot down their own commercial aircraft. There is no Ukraine involvement whatsoever and even the president of Azerbajian has demanded apologies from Ruzzia.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgrzvn7y5lo


Sure Branko just like Europe was going to freeze a year ago, but it did not happen. BTW the UK government has cut the fuel subsidy this year.

However let me put this into context...

2023

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/CitizensAdvice/Energy/FINAL_%20Winter%20Warning_%20The%20urgent%20case%20for%20energy%20bill%20support%20this%20winter.pdf

2022

2021
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58746953

2020
https://www.nea.org.uk/news/energy-crisis-will-double-average-heating-bill-from-april/

And if you look for nearly any other year you will see exactly the same news. Just in case you don't get it, this is the go-to "news" of the season and the "heating or eating" is the slogan that comes up every winter. Because people in the UK want their government to pay their bills.

Brother paxmao and his neighbors won't be able to pay for heating this winter - its either food or heating:

Same trick Israel uses, and it resulted in the loss of a Russian aircraft offshore of Syria IIRC.


Akin to Gaza where Israel tells civilians to go to 'safe areas', then massacres them when they collect there.

It should be a surprise to nobody that the 'right sector' Ukrainians, their Jewish president, and their Jewish handlers in the U.S. State Department display the same abysmal tactics as do the Israelis.

As for 'why', seems that the very identity (religious and otherwise) of 'those who call themselves Jews' seems to revolve around mayhem, violence, and the destruction of everyone and everything which is not of use to 'their people'.  In the two instance above they wanted, and still want, maximum destruction of souls.  Genocide.  I think that is the basis of what the neocons mean when they identify themselves as having 'Trotsky-ite roots.'


Yeah, my respect and admiration for post-Soviet Russia steadily increase with the restraint and dignity (and effectiveness) that they display in the contest with an enemy who fights in a very very dirty manner.  I'm certainly entertaining the concept of the assertion that they now are guided by 'Christian values' where in earlier days when I was still significantly brainwashed by American propaganda I would literally laugh such a thing off.

^^^ The above doesn't really matter. Ukraine will be gone soon. They just cut their own throat... by cutting the throats of NATO who is helping them.


Ukraine Cuts Russian Gas Pipeline to Europe to Start the New Year

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https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/ukraine-cuts-russian-gas-pipeline-europe-start-new/
This move, effective from January 1, 2025, concludes a longstanding energy arrangement that has been central to Europe's energy landscape.

The 2019 contract between Ukraine's Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom officially ended on December 31, 2024, effectively cutting off one of the last major routes for Russian gas into Europe.

This pipeline has been transporting approximately 40 billion cubic meters of gas annually to European countries.

NYT reported:

The flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe was cut off early Wednesday after Ukraine refused to renew an agreement that allowed for the transit of Russian gas through its territory, according to officials in both countries.

The move to suspend the flow of gas through a pipeline that had carried Soviet and then Russian gas to Europe for nearly six decades is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine and its Western allies to undermine Moscow's ability to fund its war effort and limit the Kremlin's ability to use energy as leverage in Europe.

"This is a historic event," Ukraine's energy minister, Herman Galushchenko, said in a statement. "Russia is losing markets, it will suffer financial losses."

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine vowed last month to shut down the pipeline despite threats of retaliation, including from Slovakia and Hungary, two of the European countries that most depend on Russian gas.

Slovakia, heavily reliant on Russian gas, faces significant supply concerns. Hungary, which has maintained energy ties with Moscow, will continue to receive Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline through Turkey, though the loss of the Ukrainian route adds pressure to its energy security.

As TGP's Paul Serran previously reported, Zelensky's move has caused a side conflict that is expanding, especially with Slovakia.
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I am absolutely puzzled by your interpretation. I hope it is due to your personal choice of festive celebrations in these dates.

Ruzzia is a country at war, there are drones and missiles flying over Ruzzia air space - that is what happens in a war. Yes, you are at war.

Ruzzia cannot guarantee the safety of their own air space. They cannot tell a large passenger plane from a usually small drone. That is clearly the case and has been clearly proven by Ruzzia downing a passenger plane without any "help" from Ukraine.

Ruzzia should reckon they cannot guarantee any level of safety to their commercial civil aviation flights, anyone taking a plane in Ruzzia should be made aware that they can be downed by their own air defence. It seems that Ruzzia - as usual - will not recognise this fact, but passengers at least should be made aware.

If you take a commercial flight in Ruzzia, you may be killed by the Ruzzia air defence forces. It has happened and they have not done anything to prevent it from happening again.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/azerbaijan-airlines-flight-was-downed-by-russian-air-defence-system-four-sources-2024-12-26/



Enjou your flight!

Interesting admission of the UA strategy Using civilian aircraft to hide military equipment behind. But it does fall in line with UA's other actions and answers the question like why Ukraine didn't close the airspace over Donbas and let MH17 in the area where UA military jets were operating, or why UA didn't open humanitarian corridor for civilians out of Mariupol where it's Azov battalion was surrounded. But even if we agree to the true benefactor of this horrendous (possible war crime, Deliberately using civilians to shield military operations) strategy, that nevertheless doesn't excuse the ultimate action but underlines the difficulties RF forces must operating under.

It does not look the case. Trump is doing one of those high-G turns about Ukraine and it is clear that the plan of "48 hours to end the war" is not feasible - it never was. And going back to reality means that he will have to make a few choices on who are the allies and who are the adversaries. Frankly, is not that difficult.

This will not be over until at least one more year, which is what will take for the Ruzzia economy to seriously plunge to the point that revolts may happen.

More money for Russia when she takes Ukraine over. Trump realizes this, because by the time Ukraine has the ability to use the funds, etc., Trump will be "IN" and Zelensky will be "OUT."

Huge New Year Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Swap Results In Hundreds Of Soldiers Freed


Mainstream Media Finally Reports That Ukraine’s Only Option Is Making ‘Territorial Concessions’ to Russia To End the War – Without NATO Invitation

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https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/12/mainstream-media-finally-reports-that-ukraines-only-option/
As 2024 ends, the Russian Ministry of Defense Has divulged the numbers for the year – a significant result where they claim its forces 'liberated' 214 settlements (I say 'conquered,' Ukraine says 'occupied') in the special military operation zone in Ukraine and in the Russian Kursk region.

Some of the most significant successes of the year is the capture of the key cities of Avdeevka, Ugledar, and Selidovo.

And, as 2025 arrives, there are major ongoing sieges in Chasov Yar, Pokrovsk, Kurakhovo, among others.

The largest number of settlements that have been liberated are located in the Donetsk Region — no less than 157 cities and villages.
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It seems that Trump's changing his rethoric about Ukraine. Looks to me similar to that "we will take Ukraine in 3 days" that then became "we will take part of Ukraine no matter how many years it take". Trump's version is "I will stop the war in 2 days" soon to become "I hope we can stop in 2 years".

And while the resident trolls discuss non-sense, the president of Azerbajian is seeking recognition of guilt and compensation from Putin.

Interesting dilema... close the airspace and loose international communication by air or... keep on trying to find out if it is a drone or a passenger plane.

https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-russia-plane-crash-e6c1002284a900fa635eecf5573214ea

It seems that also the sea is dangerous for Ruzzia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZB2iZg-hVw

Biden has sent another 2.5 Billion. Use wisely.

Exactly the point. Who is strong enough to force them to close their airspace? Half the world wants their airspace to stay open. They have enough rocket power, etc., to keep their airspace open. If they really are threatened, they will simply start taking out Ukrainian cities. Following that, NATO cities throughout Europe.

I don't think it's very easy for them to continue doing what they want to do, they have to make a compromise if they don't want to fail with the peace mission they are carrying if they continue like this they risk a permanent closure of the airspace and this does not it's good