The Rouble is currently at a 4 year high against the US dollar.

Something is very, very wrong with the narrative we are being fed here in the West.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

It's being propped up by policy. There is more to an economy than the current value of their currency. See where it's at in six months, as the idea that their economy (along with Ukraines of course, and to an extent Europe) hasn't taken a serious hit doesn't really tally with events. Moreover, they have essentially forced massive investment in energy independence in several European nations (as energy requirements being used as a weapon isn't much fun for anyone) so that will impact them longer term too. We'll all feel the hit of this invasion, but long term, nations have lost faith in Russia to behave in a stable or reasonable fashion and that will be a drag on them for decades to come. Perhaps new leadership will get them back on track. Hopefully we dont have to wait long to find out.

Edited by BlueJay (23 May 2022 1.49pm)

It's about the concern about what comes next if you don't. This cowering mindset that if you lay down your arms and let Russia do what they will, we'll be safer long term and avoid nuclear threats is one outlook. Some believe otherwise. On a basic level, making this easy for Russia would appear to be something that most of my 'European brothers' don't go with though. And it's at least a negotiating position and limitating factor for Russia rather than 'do what you want'. Russia clearly made a misstep, and sometimes making people realise that rather than give them a free pass to run roughshod isn't the worse idea.

Siberian Pianist Jailed for ‘Nazi Propaganda’ After Playing Ukrainian Anthem - The Moscow Times - [Link]

Interesting that the streamed footage didn't appear to show him 'shouting slogans of a banned organization'. Like I said before, anyone that doesn't go with the Russian aggression is a 'neo nazi'. I prefer to keep my criticism of that type of moral degenerate to those who embody or excuse it, not those who it's applied to through acts of fantasy designed to silence them.

That's why protesters are resorting to vandalising military facilities. No civil nation throws peaceful protesters in jail (though we ourselves are heading that way). Imprisonment of protestors to the extent that Russia is behaving is a regime crying out to be toppled by its citizens.

Edited by BlueJay (23 May 2022 3.10pm)

Yes, it's tragedy and travesty in equal measure. Sent to their deaths on the whim of a (possibly ill and certainly detached from reality) leader looking an enact his grand plan. I would like to think he can only pull the wool over the eyes of his citizens for so long. Perhaps a peace deal of sorts can let him claim some kind of small victory of sorts, but I can understand why from a Ukranian side and Russian one, with what this has cost them no-one is eager to concede anything.

Full statement from Top Russian Diplomat Boris Bondarev:

"My name is Boris Bondarev, in the MFA of Russia since 2002, since 2019 until now — Counsellor of the Russian Mission to the UN Office at Geneva.

For twenty years of my diplomatic career I have seen different turns of our foreign policy, but never have I been so ashamed of my country as on February 24 of this year.

The aggressive war unleashed by Putin against Ukraine, and in fact against the entire Western world, is not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the people of Russia, with a bold letter Z crossing out all hopes and prospects for a prosperous free society in our country.

Those who conceived this war want only one thing — to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian Navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity. To achieve that they are willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have already died just for this.

I regret to admit that over all these twenty years the level of lies and unprofessionalism in the work of the Foreign Ministry has been increasing all the time.

However, in most recent years, this has become simply catastrophic. Instead of unbiased information, impartial analysis and sober forecasting, there are propaganda clichés in the spirit of Soviet newspapers of the 1930s. A system has been built that deceives itself.

Minister Lavrov is a good illustration of the degradation of this system. In 18 years, he went from a professional and educated intellectual, whom many of my colleagues held in such high esteem, to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world (that is, Russia too) with nuclear weapons!

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred. It serves interests of few, the very few people thus contributing to further isolation and degradation of my country.

Russia no longer has allies, and there is no one to blame but its reckless and ill-conceived policy.

I studied to be a diplomat and have been a diplomat for twenty years. The Ministry has become my home and family. But I simply cannot any longer share in this bloody, witless and absolutely needless ignominy."