An Exceptionally Grave Situation

[ichkeria]

Surprise surprise Russia is now talking up the conflict in E Ukraine.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/shelling-breaks-out-in-east-ukraine-as-west-and-russia-dispute-troop-moves

These are very dangerous times.
It feels like the calm before the storm and I’m not talking about Eunice

[Stickybottle]

Apparently Mad Vlad will personally oversee nuclear missile drills set for tomorrow

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-crisis160top-us-politician-accepts-offer-to-meet-russias-foreign-minister-late-next-week-on-one-condition-12544845

The next 24 hours will be the closest the opposing forces will probably get to conflict

He certainly seems unstable enough to start a ground war

[ichkeria]

Domestic Russian news is currenlty full of stories about attacks by Ukraine on the so-called "rebel" enclaves.
In recent days Moscow claims to have uncovered "mass graves" and discovered evidence of human rights abuses against the "local ethic Russian population.
It is hard to seee this as anything other than the start of exactly the false flag operation that the US warned of a few weeks ago.
And, sadly, there is precisely nothing that can be done as far as I can see.

[Peter Pedant]

thanks ich

Putin - why do you think we are lying ?
answer - because you are lying

[Peter Pedant]

// And, sadly, there is precisely nothing that can be done as far as I can see.//

Putin has been rehabilitating Stalin - ( he wasnt that bad) altho I am sure the Ukrainians dont want to be re-liberated by the Russians

[ichkeria]

The west knows it’s lies but it’s aimed at the Russian people.
An optimistic assessment might be that it’s a cynical play to the west.
“This is what we do. You know it and we know you know. So here it is on queue”
As a further way simply of ratcheting up tension.
But I’m not sure I believe that.

[ichkeria]

On “cue” :-)

[ichkeria]

The people who live in these wretched “peoples republics” where no uncensored journalists can report, probably will be quite happy.
Life there is pretty dire by all accounts.
But no one else of course

[Khandro]

ichi: Ukraine is not part of the EU & doesn't come under the aegis of NATO, so what has whatever happens on its border with Russia to do with NATO or the USA? & what right has Joe Biden to say he will blow up the European pipeline if he doesn't like what takes place there?

[youngmafbog]

For Gods sake, Putin is not mad. He is very dangerous and clever so that makes him someone to be wary about. But then Biden is also dangerous too when it comes to warmongering.

Remember the first casualty in war is the truth, on all sides. Seems to me propaganda is flying everywhere.

[Peter Pedant]

you are at liberty to say Putin is a cuddly Russian bear
you have that right

I think he is a war monger - in Russia you are not allowed to say that

[youngmafbog]

Who said he was a cuddly bear. Stop reading what you want to see rather than what is actually written.

[Gromit]

That is Thursdays news.

More concerning is that Moscow is redeploying its paramilitary mercenaries from Africa, to East Ukraine.

Fighters from the Wagner Group have left Mali and the Central African Republic and are now already in East Ukraine by the side of the Separatists.

The Russians used the Wagner Group when they illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.

[dannyk13]

Khandro:-
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_37750.htm

[youngmafbog]

So NATO has poked its nose in and invoked the wrath of Putin then Danny.

No side in this mess is without sin.

[ichkeria]

Nasty western propaganda Danny :-)

Sometimes I despair, not of the Russians but some on our “side”
I can understand the likes of Diane Abbott doing their usual thing,
but honestly.
Many probably most issues in life are not black and white.
This one though is as close as it gets.

[ichkeria]

Further to gromit’s post, it is alarming that France is washing its hands of Mali.
I suspect the Wagnerians are only getting going there and in the CAR.
There have been agitators in E Ukraine for years. Ukrainian observers have noted that Russia has deployed its national guard to the E Ukraine border. Those are the ones who’d be used as the “police force” of an occupying power.
Europe in the 21st century.

[dannyk13]

ich //Nasty western propaganda Danny :-)//
Can you explain that to me?

[ichkeria]

I was being ironic! It’s a very timely link

[Peter Pedant]

Who said he was a cuddly bear.

er I said you were At Liberty to say he was a cuddly bear (*)
who was it who wrote, that an ABer should read what was written....
o! it might have been you !

(*) missed quote of Christine Keeler ( you are forgiven: a thousand ABers quip - "who she den?" Answer a lady it was dangerous for a minister to know) of Consular secty Ivanov - he was my huggy bear of a man
( and then she kissed him)

[Peter Pedant]

// Further to gromit’s post, it is alarming that France is washing its hands of Mali.//

France - 24 ( yeah Fronce- an-tair) are quite good on this ( O level Fr reqd). Mali has shot its president/prim minister or both. L'affaire Barkhan). France pays for the Malian army. Mali has used some of da moolah to ---- hire mercenaries and Russian shooters.
French have said that they give up and are gonna go home. ( ce n'est pas l'Afghanistan - tu sais hein?)

sorry you are at 20 aa itch
and any old crap on Religion ( two running today this very moment as we speak!) get hundreds