I want to return to this because it was new to me. I read this this morning which appears to be a thorough and objective analysis:-

[Link]

Zelensky's promise to investigate seems genuine. I have little doubt that there are some terrible things being done, as they are in every war. I imagine soldiers under stress don't behave as we would like them to as we sit in comfort. I have heard that the Russians aren't taking any POWs. I certainly have seen any pictures of any.

Arranging a ceasefire whilst negotiations take place is clearly the best outcome, but I fear Putin won't agree unless he can use the time to regroup and resupply.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I think the BBC's analysis was also that it was likely to be genuine. Which is why I was impressed by Zelensky's immediate promise of an investigation.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Another Biden idea going south - Putin now wants payments for gas, oil, wheat and other exports to be made in Roubles which will only contribute to the demise of the USDollar as the world’s reserve currency.
His other gem is to release the USA oil strategic reserve but what happens when it’s all gone ? the USA will again be vulnerable!
Everything he has done including the debacle at the Mexican border is bad for the US future and makes you wonder how much truth there is in the accusations of the Biden family’s corruption in Ukraine and China! Even the US left wing media now has to admit the validity of the famous Hunter Biden laptop with its references to “the big guy” - this after they smothered it during the election process !!!
Biden is a doddery senile old leftie fool who’s continued presence in the White House is a danger to all. Regretfully his choice of Vice President was just as bad as his other decisions and having Harris as President is an even more frightening thought. If Harris goes then we are looking at Pelosi who also has her nose in the trough and thinks in the same way !! Our only hope is to wait for the mid terms in November when there will be a huge reaction ( as long as the Democrats are not allowed to cheat again ! )
Bidens approval rate is down to 34% which accounts for die hard democrats who are totally blinkered - the lowest in history - and makes a total lie of the supposed 81 million votes that got him elected!

Certainly smacks of a 'back of a fag packet plan B' to me.

It is of course of sincere concern but holding it as an ace in the hole does not appeal to me as an either effective or sustainable plan. Not that I am any expert by the way just my 2 cents, or 2,000,000 roubles (or whatever the exchange rate is now).

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Well, that's the mainstream media's take.

I don't think it's quite the reality.

The west is trying to destroy the Russian economy, so he's going to fight back isn't he. He holds the resources cards....I just don't think people are really thinking this through...for example is anyone being told that the Ruble is gaining against the dollar?...it's nearly back to where it was.

This is a disaster and not something I support. Politics is the realm of the possible but this generation of politicians are more interested in their egos and virtue signalling than long term logical decisions.

There are going to be an increasing number of people using food banks....In America 65 percent of people live paycheck to paycheck....Germany relies on Russia for 40 percent of its energy....the longer the cold war goes on the worse it's going to be for everybody.....shrugging shoulders about inflation only works for so long. Russia will suffer too, for example their interest rates are sky high, but they will pivot to China like I feared and the dollar is at real risk of losing its premier status in the world here...Who do us and Europe pivot too? Buying much more expensive energy from the US and middle east? ..The US is currently wasting all its six month oil backlog supply just to prop up a mid term election...which will only make a small difference anyway. What's after that?

This is not the 70s and 80s where the west was far stronger economically in comparison to Russia/China.

I don't think our politicians are pushing for peace I think they are pushing for a long drawn out war of attrition. We need to hold our nose and push for peace....As I say, I don't think that's the attitude right now.

Edited by Stirlingsays (01 Apr 2022 11.27pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I don't think anyone with even the slightest recall over history can think of the Russians as the 'good guys' as it were. I think the historical memory of the Soviets in Eastern Europe is wholly justified...not least in Ukraine itself.

Invading Ukraine, regardless of perspective can't be seen as a reasonable response. God knows how many innocent people have perished already.

I think we had a genuine gold plated opportunity there in the nineties and even early on with Putin up to 2004 but I think it was wasted for various reasons but I've gone on about that previously and I'm not eager for more navel gazing.

What's important is how the west tackles the moves from here and our own government seems more up for a fist fight than anything else. The Americans also seem more interested in a 'let's bleed the Russians' in Ukraine strategy all the while the wider world outside of the west shrugs its shoulders and plays both.

I think the Ukraine army should be proud of themselves but from what I'm hearing there is going to be a major battle in the Donbas and a lot of soldiers and of course civilians are going to die.....We know that the Russian speakers in those areas want to be Russian anyway so this all seems like a pointless bloodbath for territory that's going anyway.

One part of me respects the right to fight and die fighting the invaders while the other part sees....what I think most of us realise what will be the basics of the peace treaty and it just looks like lives are being thrown away in the south east.

I think four weeks ago Konstantin Kisin said a lot of things on the topic that are still relevant a month on.

[Link]

Edited by Stirlingsays (02 Apr 2022 1.44am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)