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Urwumpe
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Well, Switzerland isn't member of the EU, but clearly an integral part of it... or lets call it in manager-speak "stakeholder". ?
Switzerland knows where our money is.
N_Molson
Addon Developer
Not only that, but Putin and Biden certainly both have accounts there. Maybe not under those names. "Smith" and "Smitseyev" maybe... ? ?
Tomorrow morning would be a good time to start a global thermonuclear war. Can't do that the week-end.
Linguofreak
Well-known member
My bet is on "Biden" and "Putin" (note the order).
jedidia
shoemaker without legs
What I was wondering lately, how do you pronounce Putin's name in french? Because the obvious pronounciation might lead to diplomatic incidents... 
Linguofreak
Well-known member
What I was wondering lately, how do you pronounce Putin's name in french? Because the obvious pronounciation might lead to diplomatic incidents...
To his face, as in Russian. If not to his face, I see no reason at this point not to use the obvious French pronunciation, whatever language you're actually speaking. In Ukranian, my understanding is that you pronounce it as in Russian, but suffix it with a particular profanity.
Linguofreak
Well-known member
Actually, that might cause more of a diplomatic incident. Cannibalism of a foreign head of state is generally considered a diplomatic faux pas, and the Canadians might get the wrong idea.
steph
Well-known member
I'm not sure the west understands how much of a can of worms the fall of Ukraine would mean. It won't be just changing of the guard, but the full ' we found this and that' that soviet propaganda could bring up, not to mention the refugees. Basically, they could 'fabricate' the reasons to go further right in Ukraine. Not to mention that even if they stop at Ukraine, it will be a constant clusterf**k on NATO's eastern flank., with constant poking and incidents.
As for the nuclear posibility, there's this thought that keeps nagging me that they might actually want it to escalate to a russian first strike just to show they're not afraid to use it and to smooth things out for China in Taiwan as well, as exposing the carrier fleet to the risk of getting wiped out by nukes without it turning into all-out nuclear war would be great for countries that love to invade their 'buffer' states, but not so great if you're trying to 'project power' like the US does. Perhaps somewhere with zero civilian casualties. Snake Island in the Black Sea comes to mind, since it has roughly zero civilians, an Ukrainian military base, and it's close enough to NATO troops in eastern Romania that they'd probably see the blast, do the full fallout lockdown etc. WIth an obvious warning of ' next ones are on NATO bases' . Although, I have to admit, nuclear strike on Snake Island in the Black sea in 2022 sounds more like a Far Cry questline ?
Now, I truly don't know what should be done, but I still don't know if sending more troops in the east is a sensible idea. Could mean getting cut off if Hungary flips and cuts off the access from the west and the Russians blockade by sea etc. Depending on how bad it gets, it might be just a good way to lose a few thousand troops, either by becoming POWs, or by getting wiped out in a preemptive strike. Not to mention that it would be Kaliningrad reloaded. Russian troops roughly 100 miles from a NATO bases would be a massive headache.
As for Putin's sanity, let's not forget that he got to power by bombing his own people, and then assassinating the whistleblowers and almost openly bragging about it .There seems to be a certain overlap between insanity while appearing sane and the willingness to commit mass murder . I'm tempted to say that the Soviet Union seemed sane by comparison, but I don't know. And there's no guarante that if there are deeper reasons to this (e.g. oligarchs wanting better deals and Ukrainian resources), someone else might keep the ball rolling if Putin falls, be it Lavrov or some other Lubyanka dude.
As for the nuclear posibility, there's this thought that keeps nagging me that they might actually want it to escalate to a russian first strike just to show they're not afraid to use it and to smooth things out for China in Taiwan as well, as exposing the carrier fleet to the risk of getting wiped out by nukes without it turning into all-out nuclear war would be great for countries that love to invade their 'buffer' states, but not so great if you're trying to 'project power' like the US does. Perhaps somewhere with zero civilian casualties. Snake Island in the Black Sea comes to mind, since it has roughly zero civilians, an Ukrainian military base, and it's close enough to NATO troops in eastern Romania that they'd probably see the blast, do the full fallout lockdown etc. WIth an obvious warning of ' next ones are on NATO bases' . Although, I have to admit, nuclear strike on Snake Island in the Black sea in 2022 sounds more like a Far Cry questline ?
Now, I truly don't know what should be done, but I still don't know if sending more troops in the east is a sensible idea. Could mean getting cut off if Hungary flips and cuts off the access from the west and the Russians blockade by sea etc. Depending on how bad it gets, it might be just a good way to lose a few thousand troops, either by becoming POWs, or by getting wiped out in a preemptive strike. Not to mention that it would be Kaliningrad reloaded. Russian troops roughly 100 miles from a NATO bases would be a massive headache.
As for Putin's sanity, let's not forget that he got to power by bombing his own people, and then assassinating the whistleblowers and almost openly bragging about it .There seems to be a certain overlap between insanity while appearing sane and the willingness to commit mass murder . I'm tempted to say that the Soviet Union seemed sane by comparison, but I don't know. And there's no guarante that if there are deeper reasons to this (e.g. oligarchs wanting better deals and Ukrainian resources), someone else might keep the ball rolling if Putin falls, be it Lavrov or some other Lubyanka dude.
Urwumpe
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Damn, I really hate
We have already two major reasons to be badly concerned there. First of all, the official position of the Kremlin on the status of Ukraine, which is terrifying enough.
And of course, the propaganda in Russian TV, which already committed itself so much to a war with Ukraine, that its doubtful, they could EVER turn back. Talking about concentrations camps against Russian minorities in Ukraine? Mass graves in Donbas? You can't talk like this and later pretend to be all friends again. That is burning bridges.
We have already two major reasons to be badly concerned there. First of all, the official position of the Kremlin on the status of Ukraine, which is terrifying enough.
And of course, the propaganda in Russian TV, which already committed itself so much to a war with Ukraine, that its doubtful, they could EVER turn back. Talking about concentrations camps against Russian minorities in Ukraine? Mass graves in Donbas? You can't talk like this and later pretend to be all friends again. That is burning bridges.
there's an RC-135V flying above the northern Black Sea and around Crimea which is quite interesting given that there's more than 30 Russian ships there taking part in an exercise that began yesterday which also effectively blocked Ukraine's access to the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea
www.bbc.com
NOTAMs issued by the Russians a few days ago
Ukraine tensions: Russia accused of sea blockade
Russian naval drills makes marine navigation "practically impossible", Ukraine says.
www.bbc.com
NOTAMs issued by the Russians a few days ago
N_Molson
Addon Developer
The very good new is that we had another casual Monday, which gives a glimmer of hope for the days to come...
After Macron Olaf Schöltz (german chancelor) is "negociating" with Putin... It isn't better but it isn't worse either...
What Putin really seems to enjoy the most is to be in this exact position, where he is the unshared center of attention of the whole Western world... What he fears the most is to disappear from international politics...
After Macron Olaf Schöltz (german chancelor) is "negociating" with Putin... It isn't better but it isn't worse either...
What Putin really seems to enjoy the most is to be in this exact position, where he is the unshared center of attention of the whole Western world... What he fears the most is to disappear from international politics...
Urwumpe
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Well, it was likely far more boring for Putin than for us. Remember: Putin does not want to negotiate with Germany. We are not important enough, just like France. He wants the big show. And you can see his despair in the official photographs of such events: He is so busy trying to impress the world with Russian greatness, that he doesn't notice how absurd things get. Do you remember Charlie Chaplins the Great Dictator? When Hynkel and Napaloni (some too well painted twins of Hitler and Mussolini) went great lengths to prove who is the bigger one? That is what I see in those pictures.
Obama labelling Russia a "regional power" was a major (and smart) insult for Putins ears. Its really a turning point for Russia and that not to the better.
N_Molson
Addon Developer
I agree on that, again the worst fear of Putin's Russia is to disappear, and become a chinese Sputnik, which I understand is a bit hard to swallow. This is not easy. Giving Putin room to exist without having that degenerating into a nuclear armaggedon is a very thin line.
I think that Macron and Schultz efforts are useful as long as they keep him busy. Add meetings to his agenda might be right now the best way to keep a status quo.
N_Molson
Addon Developer
Ukraine crisis: Biden and Johnson say still hope for diplomatic agreement
The US and UK leaders shared a call after Russia too suggested a diplomatic solution was still possible.
www.bbc.com
meanwhileUkraine crisis: Biden and Johnson say still hope for diplomatic agreement
The US and UK leaders shared a call after Russia too suggested a diplomatic solution was still possible.
Russian Artillery Moving Into "Attack Positions" Along Ukraine Border: Report (Updated)
American officials have warned Ukraine's President that Russia could kick off a major military incursion this Wednesday.
www.thedrive.com
