Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion
- Thread starter Wednesday at Stoke
- Start date
Confused as to why this wasn’t done months & months ago.
There is a little nitpick about the Polish MiG-29... they need German approval to deliver them to Ukraine, as those are ex-GDR jets. Same situation as with the Polish Leopard 2 in that regard, albeit much less discussed.
Biden should threaten to give Ukraine ATACMS if Russia tries to recover that drone after violating international airspace rules.
Good idea to release the footage as it will humiliate the Russians a bit after they initially denied the US story of what happened.
This will only further legitimize the need to arm the Ukrainians with increasingly sophisticated weapons.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64975202
At least one person has been killed and two injured in a fire at a building used by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russian media say.
At least one person has been killed and two injured in a fire at a building used by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russian media say.
Amazing how this was unthinkable a year ago and now it has such broad support. Sometimes it seem like things move far too slowly (and probably that's true) but it's definitely going forward.
I think its moved slowly for many reasons but the overwhelming reason is to understand the nature of the response from russia. I believe now its considered that russia are not likely to respond with a nuclear threat.
The other major reason is training, can only assume years of training have been crammed in to months.
The other major reason is training, can only assume years of training have been crammed in to months.
I believe Ukraine has Mig-29 among their fleet so not much training needed. I was more a matter of the frog in a warm kettle. They couldn't give airplanes right away due to, as you said, nuclear threat escalation
Because the West was afraid that Putin will perceive this as an escalation.
Which I always thought it's completely illogical. For two main reasons:
1. Putin does not need any "reasons" to escalate if he wants to. He has been lying since day one, all his "reasons" for starting this war were lies, and he can manufacture many more. Putin is KGB, and for the KGB lies were an essential tool.
2. It is Putin who should be scared that the West will escalate, not the other way around!
On the other hand, Putin knew that our leaders are cowards, and that's one of the main reasons he started this war. He knew the West are complacent and they would seek "peace" no matter what he has done, no matter how many he has killed. If he believed that our leaders are not cowards, he would have never started this war.
Anyway, it is great that NATO finally decided that giving military jets to Ukraine is not an escalation! I hope they will soon decide to give them F-16s, too.
I swear that Western pilots should perhaps give Tu-95s the same "courtesy" on the next time those planes get near forbidden airspaces. That Russian pilot alone flies that jet as if he found his credentials in a box of Cracker Jacks.
Indeed. Anyone pedalling talking points from the Kremlin now and after watching this should be outright called out as a total idiot.
Some quotes from ex-cons who joined Wagner.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-russia-wagner/
"without the stigma of her father’s criminal past."
Tells you everything, doesn't it.
Did the CCP think they would not be found out?
Now that it is in the open, I say it's time for the US to arm China's democratic neighbors (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) with top quality hardware, especially with more Tomahawk missiles and even F-35s.
The West is not one political body. You are simplifying the many events and the context which led to all this. In each situation there is tug of interests. The Brits and the French wanted to intervene in Syria, but then Obama pulled out. At other stages it was the Americans taking a harder line while the French wanting to pursue more diplomacy. Italy didn't want to do anything, and Poland wants to premeditatively nuke Moscow. There were many points leading to the invasion where we could have done differently to change Putins calculation, but putting it down to 'our leaders are cowards' is not very precise at all.
A group of liberal democracies working together is never going to be streamlined and efficient. The few times we actually manage to act quickly, you can get outcomes ranging from Yugoslavia to Libya, and Iraq. No politician in a liberal democracy today has a mandate to rush into a dangerous conflict which isn't a direct threat to its existence without exhausting all, and I mean all, other options. And that's a good thing.
Another educational video posted by Mark Felton today. Scavenging spare parts from museums is done everywhere.
One year ago one of the biggest crimes in this war happened. I can't imagine how many war crimes russia managed to cover up in Mariupol alone. The world must never forget this.
They already have, Japan and South Korea (and Singapore) purchased the F-35.
I’m sure the American’s and everyone else expected the Chinese to back the Russians in some regard. The fact it’s still so clandestine and shit is a massive victory for the West.
Really hope we will finally see Ukraine get fighter jets after a year of rumours.
Every action against the west is now a heroic act over there. Stalin would be proud.
Just a big North Korea.
I want this too, but I’m genuinely unsure how much effect they will have. Ukraine has nothing approaching air superiority, so they won’t be sitting there destroying Russian armour with gay abandon.
So do I.
The only real advantage of the Mig 29 is that Ukrainian pilots would already know how to fly the jet, assuming the weapons systems are the same. They are mainly air to air aircraft with not that much air to ground capability.
But as I expected, the initial no by the US is in the process of changing.
Air superiority is not likely to ever be on the cards, but the air force still appears to be fairly active and used from a stand-off role, along with taking down missiles/drones. They've been able to employ these JDAM guided bombs, which need to be dropped from high altitude within around 70km.
I hope you’re right.
A short summary 
This is big. A clear sign to the world and russian elites of what awaits them in the end of their imperialism.
So, Erdogan will ratify Finland into NATO, Hungary say they will ratify also.
For some reason i trust Orban even less than Erdogan, hope he doesn't find a last-minute excuse to delay.
For some reason i trust Orban even less than Erdogan, hope he doesn't find a last-minute excuse to delay.
Nothing will happen