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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Ukraine says Russia stepping up shelling of residential areas
By YURAS KARMANAU LVIV, Ukraine©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
145 Comments
Monty
But Russian attacks quickly closed the humanitarian corridor
There can be no ‘green corridors’ because only the sick brain of the Russians decides when to start shooting and at whom
About eight civilians were killed by Russian shelling in the town of Irpin
We saw everything: houses burning, all the people sitting in basements
Here you can see how evil the Russians are, and what is the real intention of the insane Putin and his mass murderer Mob.
Putin said what? He wants to demilitarilized Ukraine?
What A lie!
He wants to destroy the Ukraine, and to reach his insane Goal, he is killing innocent men, women and children and draw the Ukrainians and also probably the rest of the world in a never seen sorrow and pain.
I can not believe that there are still people out there who support and defend this madman Putin and what he is doing.
Unbelievable!
dagon
Russian President Vladimir Putin turned the blame for the war back on Ukraine and said Moscow's invasion could be halted “only if Kyiv ceases hostilities.”
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is fake news. The Ukrainian forces a Russian movie production. The bodies are props. The humanitarian convoy is only responding to Ukrainian aggression. It is all Zelensky filming a sequel to the movie that got him into office...
PTownsend
The classic 'other-guy' line from a thug caught doing a crime. Someone else did it, Russia has long done the same thing in Syria, and Putin's media pushed the other-guy defense there, too. At this point Putin claiming his invasion can be stopped with some form of i'f', might be believed by those as insane as he has shown to be.
Putin's military commanders are a disgrace, as are his troops. But reasonable people around the world might believe the madman when he brings his killing machines back into Russian territory, and Ukraine is a sovereign nation so nowhere in Ukraine is there any Russian territory. The blood is on your hands, Putin and your murderous military troops, and And yes, I am well aware the US has done hideous things, too. Sick that so many anti-west, anti-democracy Putin followers cannot recognize the Ukraine invasion is a horror, can only continue their 'it's the media that's the problem'. Talk about being brainwashed.
Russia leave Ukraine! and leave other nearby nations alone. The USSR died long ago, Putin's attempting to make it a zombie state, and take his Russian people, modern day serfs, obeying their master down with him, but I doubt he will allow any of them to even enter one of his palaces.
savethegaijin
only if Kyiv ceases hostilities
Rather rich statement, given the fact it's the Russians who have invaded.
bass4funk
Putin is pretty much done. He can never recover from this. Even if he stopped the invasion, apologized, gave billions in restitution, went to the UN on his knees and begged for forgiveness, it wouldn’t matter. He did what no leader of any country should ever do. He’s a pariah, a lone wolf and exiled from the world community. Without China, he has nothing, absolutely nothing. Hope he thinks all the world condemnation was worth it. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.
peterl
Says the mad dictator who is the one invading. If someone invades or attacks me in my home, I have every right to defend myself, just as the Ukrainians have every right to defend their homeland.
And yet, he doesn't and can't provide any evidence of his claims. He is using well-known propaganda to cover up his real agenda of expanding Russia's territory by forcefully taking Ukraine away from its people. He wants to use that land as a buffer against NATO.
Cognac
lol
Russia cleaned Syria from Isis, what movie did you see sir ???
PTownsend
The above must be what the anti-democracy key board warriors call 'fake news', because according to them it's the UK/US/NATO and the west, that are war criminals, not their favorite authoritarian state. And of course Biden is bad, because he's a warmonger, not their Putin, Putin is just a savvy businessman according to one flailing and failing American politician.
Mr Kipling
About 20-30% of the Ukraine population are pro Russia.... you wouldn't believe that watching TV news. Draw a line across the south and east... actually, a line that will be the new Russian border when all is finished. Odessa will be a Russian port.
Mr Kipling
PTownsend....
British military officials are not exactly the most honest commentators on conflict.
Ah_so
@Bass - I don't often upvote your posts, but your position on Ukraine shows that when it really comes down to the big issues, most rational and humane people thing alike.
It also shows more clearly that those members of this forum who are still supporting Putin for what they are (and what has been long suspected) - Russian troll farm agents or genuine paid up fascists.
Bob Fosse
No but avalanche of accounts spamming propaganda won’t divert from it. The only people supporting this war are supporters of putin and bored contrarians. All a decreasing minority.
Hiro
So the reason none of the European nations willing to send war planes is because they fear they won't have enough for themselves and want US to promise to compensate them with f16. Waw, so much much for unity. The fact that they aren't even willing give up a few % of the air force is just sad. How about the ones who are further away from the conflict, i doubt they would miss their planes if they give 10%-20% of them up.
All they could do so far is protest and sanction. What a joke NATO is.They always need the US to come to their aid and want them to send the weapons and military gear too. US is also their biggest contributor of funds( a damn waste of money if you ask me).
Michael Machida
How do we stop Vlad?!
Ah_so
@Cognac - you are conveniently blurring lines here. The Russians were attacking te Free Syrian Army that came out if the Arab Spring and which was a threat to Assad's fascist dictatorship and Russia's influence. The Russians indiscriminately bombed Syrian towns which were not ISIS held or supported, but just wanted to be done with Assad.
But you knew that.
The Avenger
The Little Fuhrer is paying blood money for Russian corpses. In his televised speech, the evil ***** told Russians that he would pay families of the dead $62,668 for each dead family member. At this rate, Putin will bankrupt Russia paying blood money for the bodies of the dead.
https://cvvnews.com/the-decadent-compensation-that-putin-will-pay-to-the-families-of-the-russian-dead-in-the-war/
Mad Vlad has a history of agreeing to a ceasefire and then firing on the poor folks who were hoping to reach safety.
Ah_so
You might be hearing this on your TV in Moscow, but in the real world we have access to a wide range of news sources and have a much better picture of what's going on, so posts like this are just laughable.
This level of propaganda is like the old days of the Soviet Union, where black can be white.
Bob Fosse
There is a news item about Syria today on this very same website, about IS in Syria. Go there and comment.
purple_depressed_bacon
Was it really necessary to post those pictures of the fallen? It's disrespectful.
Putin has crossed a line - he's murdering civilians trying to escape from a hell he created. Clearly, the sanctions imposed on Russia are not enough of a motive to get him to cease and desist. NATO and the rest of the international community needs to take harsher action at this point.
Mark
A taste of the the HELL Syrian's Chechens, Georgian's, Crimean's endured in the past 15 years , while the world so called super powers made business deals and had dinners with Putin.
Bob Kunihiro
Putin is a psychopathic idiot and needs to be taken out.
The Avenger
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/6/russian-attack-destroys-airport-as-zelenskyy-urges-no-fly-zone
Dango bong
how could anyone be proud to be Russian
N. Knight
Putin is now fully insane. A paranoid madman who is scared of his own shadow in the Kremlin as he knows there's more and more of his people ready to topple him. Someone needs to put a bullet in his brain. I hope they do it soon.
Christopher J. Thomas
Putin will pay dearly for what he forced his army to do. WAR CRIMINAL! You can be assured he will pay Russia will pay.
The Avenger
https://fortune.com/2022/03/06/russian-banks-turn-to-china-as-visa-mastercard-suspend-business/
Peter14
Yeah, not today. It is more likely they are deeply ashamed of their nation killing their close neighbors and removing their freedom based on nothing but lies and Russia being condemned by almost the entire planet. Also they will be sad for their lost sons wasted on one mans hubris.
A truly futile endeavor with deadly consequences for those involved.
Michael Machida
Putin cannot win this. He has about three weeks of fighting at most in terms of his military power and the Russian economy is going to implode. Putin is isolated around the world and I for one am happy to know that Putin will not get what he wants.
Kumagaijin
War is just legalized murder. Absolutely sickening this is happening.
The Avenger
https://fbnglobalnews.com/markets/credit-agency-cuts-russias-rating-again-pushes-country-to-brink-of-default/
Slayer
The inevitable is coming, Time for the U.S. to start embarrassing the Russian military, Couple of dog fights in the sky should do it. The U.S. can finish this mess we call Putin's Russia in a few short days. It will be a horror story, but it's already a horror story. all the pundits are saying WWIII could start at any time. Hate to break it to those folks, but WWIII started with the pandemic, the war is just an extension of that.
u_s__reamer
That photo of two dead bodies , Ukrainians lying at the foot of a WW2 memorial to soldiers of the Russian Red Army who liberated their country from the barbaric occupation of the Nazis is so sadly ironic, symbolizing how history repeats itself as (bloody) farce. And what we have seen so far is just the "First Act" in this latest tragedy of war: the worst is surely yet to come. That one cruel man and a small cabal of henchmen can inflict such shocking violence on a civilian population, destroying families and their lives and causing so much suffering for so many should be a wake -up call for a new international order that will outlaw war for good and punish ALL leaders responsible for wars of aggression with imprisonment in perpetuity.
GBR48
Around the world, people will celebrate the death of Putin the way they celebrated the death of Hitler.
rainyday
Yeah, that really does sound like something Putin would say.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Its very innapropriate, gruesome and not necessary to post photos of dead bloodied civilians on the public news.
This needless war is disturbing enough already without the photo of dead civilians.
My sincere condolences to the deceased civilians and to greater success at safely evacuating.
The Ukraine president asking the civilians to take to the streets and fight the Russia army is not wise advice.
I respect their bravery but they are not trained soldiers and iam concerned too many civilians will perish .
The war does not need to continue escalating.
Ukraine just stop fighting the Russian army and stop involving other countries.
Ukraine become neutral .
Surrender !
We don't need WW3 to start .
Look at what fighting the Russians is doing to the world that's already struggling.
Ukraine your not NATO for a reason !
War is nasty business and nobody is a winner !
It's not comedy .
There's a much bigger picture unfolding of a hidden agenda by the west and it has absolutely nothing to do with Ukrainian sovereignty.
Sorry to say .
Mark
Someday Putin and his general will face judgement day and the ultimate judge.
kiwi07
No! It’s because Ukraine has asked for Russian warplanes as that is what the Ukrainian pilots are used to flying, and have trained for war in. But, many of the NATO former USSR countries that still have them, have them serviced by a Russian service team in an old agreement. Maintaining a bunch of old Mig 29s without replacement parts, or a proper service team during a war won’t last long.
A better compromise would be supplying Ukraine with more Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, which they already have and use.
Slayer
Direct conflict is inevitable, Shut down Russia now or pay a much bigger price later.
snowymountainhell
Ukraine doctor telling journalists to continue filming their efforts in vain to save a grieving mother’s dying girl: “Keep filming and show this to Putin”.
UChosePoorly
Would you not fight if it were your homeland being invaded?
I disagree that we shouldn't be showing the casualties of war. The world needs to see what happens when one country invades another.
UChosePoorly
Zoroto, the source footage is out there is you would care to look.
RGao
"China must pay massive consequences too....."
Super correct! Also don't forget the BRICKs which still want to be neutral especially India. Their population exceeded China and need to take more responsibility. And other Asian countries except for SK, Japan, Singapore cannot keep silence. Latin America is as well. The whole world is condemning Russia. We need to sanction them who didn't follow our value. Boycott Shell! They purchased a lot of oil from Russia! God bless Ukraine people!
UChosePoorly
How can one compromise with someone who denies their right to exist? How would one even open up those negotiations?
drlucifer
People are dying, not a joking matter. The U.S. couldn't even handle the Taliban.
Express sister
Have you ever met a conspiracy theory you didn't like?
u_s__reamer
We don't know what these pictures are showing.
It could be civilians as they say, but it's also very possible that this is a soldier with a suitcase (in seemingly very good condition) placed next to it for propaganda reasons.
Possibly, but the human brain of will have each one of us believe only what we want to believe, a fact that makes possible lies, self/deception and disinformation ultimately helping to create a technology-based propaganda paradise for the powerful to control the minds of multitudes. Only an individual's intelligence, knowledge and ability to discriminate between the wheat and the chaff, the fake and the real, can provide the intellectual self-defense to protect us from those malignant folk who would gaslight us into obedience and submission. This is the dilemma facing the Russian people whose freedoms are being threatened as never before by Putin's propaganda machine.
Antiquesaving
So let's get this straight.
People are upset, appalled, surprised, schocked, etc..at the civilian deaths and devastation.
Hey geniuses, nearly everyone has agreed that Putin is off his rocker so why is anyone surprised?
The Ukrainian government is making propaganda points by showing how they are arming civilians the hold up in major cities and go " how can the Russians fire in civilians".
Honestly they are both off there rocker at this point Suri Putin more than the rest but common, if I put my troops in the middle of a city is the opposition just going to go " oh let's just go around" ? Leaving a fully armed group behind them?
In WW2 some devastation of certain cities was avoided by the military evacuating the city proper and declaring them "open cities" in this way the 2 armies fight elsewhere in a less populated area.
But at this point anyone surprised by the cruelty, devastating and stupidity of war has not lived in reality long.
I don't understand the thinking, why evacuate ten/hundreds of thousands of civilians? Live them there get the military to leave elsewhere outside the city.
Seems far more practical and humane.
Yes in theory the enemy goes in but the enemy army is not interested in dealing with caring for civilians so like in WW2 they chase after the opposing army leaving the civilians alone for the most part.
No not perfect not 100% guaranteed but holding up in a city full of civilians is 100% guaranteed to results in far more deaths.
goldnugget
Of course, it's not a joking matter, maybe you're reading it wrong.
snowymountainhell
Are you saying we should have access to all information and most importantly, lessons are best learned from looking at history *@UChosePoorly 9:52am ***?**:
stormcrow
Well, what has Vlad the Bad killed or destroyed needlessly today. Just the same ol’ thing, raining death down upon mothers, children and elderly people. Oh, and for dessert, level a number of children’s hospitals, schools, houses and apartment buildings. Russia must be so proud of itself. Hey, China! Are you watching your friend and ally?
spinningplates
As long Putin has access to his Nuclear Arsenal, there is nothing we can do about him from the outside.
I think the poorer Russia becomes through sanctions the more Putin will push, and the more countries he will demolish in his redrawing of the map.
It's going to take a large group of courageous people inside the Kremlin to remove Putin and all his enablers.
UChosePoorly
Bronco, I don't think Ukraine is interested in accepting this offer any more than your country would accept a similar "offer" from Putin.
otherworldly
This is the most passive the U.S. has ever been in my lifetime. Do you honestly think Putin is building Hypersonic missiles to conquer Ukraine? Taiwan is not a part of NATO, will NATO defend Taiwan if China tries to take it? What about South Korea? Wake up, there is something much bigger going on here.
Antiquesaving
BungleToday 10:23 am JST
Except it worked in hundreds of other all over Europe in WW2 especially as the allied advanced!
UChosePoorly
Maybe because the occupying German forces weren't as interested in dying in a foreign city? Someone whose homeland is being invaded will usually fight harder than an invading occupier. You would fight harder for your own city than for someone else's, wouldn't you?
yakyak
And let's not forget Iran!
Antiquesaving
UChosePoorlyToday 10:34 am JST
So are you saying the civilians are part of the opposition to Russian military and combatants?
If so that makes them "legitimate" targets. But what I think you mean is the Army prefers dead civilians over losing land.
itsonlyrocknroll
As he has often done, Putin blamed Ukraine for the war, telling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday that Kyiv needed to stop all hostilities and fulfill “the well-known demands of Russia."
Unless Ukraine agrees to capitulate, the carnage will continue.
As concerning, as military analysts are reviewing threats made by President Putin in 2016 to Rumania and Poland over a missile defence shield necessary to counter threats from Iran ballistic missile programme
From Greece, Putin warns Romania and Poland
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/from-greece-putin-warns-romania-and-poland/
President Putin promised/pledged to anyone prepared to listen the so called invasion was a concocted fairy story.
Then the promised humanitarian evacuation ceasefire.
This is how War creeps across boarders.
Which Putin promise is valid, what pledge can be trusted?
8T
I think the entire world now understands that the "Peace through strength" policy was very effective.
8T
How about hacking all his access codes.
UChosePoorly
Sure, civilians shooting at Russia are part of the opposition and would be considered legitimate military targets. Civilian families fleeing from a city with suitcases in tow are not.
The Ukrainian Army would prefer that the invaders go back to their own country.
Peter14
Putin does not want a nuclear conflict any more than NATO. His words are a bluff. Any Nuclear war means an end to Russia and most of Europe and North America.
Send in the fighter jets to make it a no fly zone. if Putin shots at them you shoot at Russian forces in Ukraine.
Antiquesaving
itsonlyrocknrollToday 10:41 am JST
I will acknowledge and agree with everything you just pointed out and you are right nothing Putin says can be trusted.
But let me be the devil's advocate for a minute.
The West argues that NATO never actually promised in writing it would not expand Eastward.
So in theory that's true they may have verbally told Russia this but it's not in writing.
So one could say Putin never put what he said down in writing or made any promises in writing so therefore it's just as valid.
Personally I believe they're both full of you know what!
Then we have Ukraine it plays the victim and for the most part it is but at the same time in all their rallies we forgive the fact that there are always those carrying the red and black UPA/OUN flag and it seems that the Ukrainian leaders as well as leaders all around the world seem quite fine and ignoring them.
Now let me remind you part of the UPA/ONU platform:
Can you imagine the outrage if people showed up the world war II German swastika flags? But the UPA red and black flag is the exact same thing. But not only is it not condemned but legitimate news organizations like BBC and CBC have even tried to whitewash it to justify it being there how why read that platform again and tell me these are people we should trust.
No I do not believe the majority of ukrainians follow this but the fact that they allow these people and have since 2014 to have a prominent place in their government and their society without any pushback is a sad situation.
This in No way justifies Putin's invasion but sadly it did provide him with a bit of his craziness so-called justifications.
Antiquesaving
Peter14Today 11:00 am JST
Wow you are so desperate to get back into the military and into a fight that you are ready to gamble with the lives of everyone else.
UChosePoorly
Maybe, but that's for the Ukrainians to decide, not us. Right now, they don't seem to be in a very conceding mood. Would you concede any part of your homeland to an invader?
Blacklabel
to avoid dragging the entire world into World War 3, yes it should be considered as a short term solution to end the conflict and deaths.
Blacklabel
Ukraine: We will not be asking to join NATO. We will not allow NATO troops or weapons to be based in our country. We will eliminate the Neo-Nazi elements in our military. We will provide documents to the world about foreign money laundering/influence buying and corruption. If areas of our country are pro-Russia, they can join Russia if they choose. any pro-Russians can move there and live under Russian rule and any Ukranians can leave and come to Ukraine.
then it should be done.
Antiquesaving
UChosePoorlyToday 11:07 am JST
So then let them fight and let us keep out of it!
As for my homeland, each time we end up in war it has always been by being dragged in by mostly Europe that can't seem to stop fighting.
We sit peacefully in our corner of the world, then the Europeans digging up some long simmering hatred of another country or another ethnic group that once maligned them decides it's time to go to war and boom somehow my country gets dragged into it again.
Strangerland
If Russia stops fighting,
...there's no more war.
If Ukraine stops fighting,
...there's no more Ukraine.
There's only one person keeping this war going, and that's Putin. And the only way he is going to stop is when one of his own takes him out of power.
UChosePoorly
I can appreciate your principled pacifist stance, even if I don't agree with it. It sounds like the Ukrainians aren't going to take their chances that an occupying force will allow them to vote their way back to freedom. Maybe they are more familiar with Putin that you or I are?
Strangerland
No. If someone is invading your home, they are threatening your family and your future's existence. Either you die, or they do. No in between.
Russians must die. When Ukraine has kicked them out, they shouldn't stop, they should go in and burn down the Kremlin. After you've murdered the home invaders, you find out where their posse is, and take out the leader.
Or encourage the posse to take out their own leader, in return for their own lives.
UChosePoorly
We are mostly keeping out of it, because Ukraine is not a NATO country.
We will continue to support Ukraine in other ways because they are not the aggressor. If the roles were reversed and Ukraine had invaded Russia unprovoked, then I would be rooting for Russia.
Roxy Music
Hiro and Blacklabel's comments make sense. Do not quote me though.
UChosePoorly
No deal. What does Russia give up?
Strangerland
Notice how the only two groups of people pushing for Ukraine to give up are Russia, and right-wing Americans?
I notice.
itsonlyrocknroll
Antiquesaving, don't pay much attention to the header/title below, the piece presents a step by step series of events that could be at least partially responsible for this devastating war.
Exposing the myth of Western betrayal of Russia over NATO’s eastern enlargement...
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/exposing-the-myth-of-western-betrayal-of-russia/
One of the most interesting sections is (scroll down) ‘Not one inch eastward’ – and what it really meant
As the Warsaw pact countries broke away from Soviet Union.
The West, for some inexplicable reasoning thought that Russian under the stewardship of Boris Yeltsin would magically democratise.
To end this war, will require a complete review of the current east west security infrastructure, that would need an onsite inspection programme, and include nuclear capabilities.
Then there is the Government of China?
It would be pointless exercise replacing one threat with another. in Taiwan.
Zoroto, I am genuinely frightened Putin might, desperate people take increasing risks.
Then there is Dictators.
UChosePoorly
I can certainly understand why Russia would want Ukraine to give up, but why would right-wing Americans be pushing for this?
Monty
My country, your country, their country....doesn't exist in times with nuclear weapons and a threat that one insane madman are ready to use them.
There is only ONE and OUR world!
And we all have to stand together to protect our world and bring down the evil that are trying to destroy it!
Nator
I understand there is a propaganda-war and I understand most news-media outside of russia is for Ukraine.....but.....
It is bad journalism to just accept something comming out of the mouth of one side and not make at least some attempt to clarify if it is true. Zelensky and his war-escalating talk on a daily bases it getting realy tired. There are plenty of journalist all over ukraine and they have a duty to be impartial and truthful.
--
In more important news that is coming from both sides the US has offered Poland and Romania to replace any planes they give to Ukraine. The russians have said that this implicates these countries in the war. Therefore if Poland and Romania were to hand over planes for Ukranians to fly they would be entering the war. Thank you US for the gesture and lets hope that Putin does not over-react!
itsonlyrocknroll
For this war to even agree a ceasefire will require a trusted third party.
I don't think, at this moment of an entity, without a overriding domestic political strategic self-interest.
Antiquesaving
May work for a few decades then the normal European "we want revenge" thing will pop back up and back to war.
See this comment as a good example:
StrangerlandToday 11:32 am JST
This is a prime example of the never ending circle of European wars mentality.
@Strangerland
Let me remind you that part of the problem is that percentage of present day Ukrainians still wanting revenge on Russians, who they blame for the famine of the 1930s.
That event is a primary reason we see anti Russian language, anti ethnic Russian actions giving the breakaway regions a form of justification for their breaking away.
This was what cause WW1 and WW2. And may end up causing ww3 because the Europeans cannot let the past go with revenge.
venze
Ukraine says Russia stepping up shelling of residential areas:
This war in Ukraine seems to be more of the face-to-face old-style combat type, rather than a brand-new hi-tech war in space.
Tanks and troops are still widely deployed to flatten the city and kill the citizens. So..
Nator
@its only rock and roll
Finland would be a good candidate for somewhat neutral status.
bass4funk
It’s true. You can hate Putin and the world does, but you have to be smart to get to where he is at regardless of how you obtain if, you can’t be a dumb person to achieve what he has and what he has become. So it is savvy, crude and ruthless nonetheless. That’s just a fact.
mz16
Wasn't Ukraine the one who ended the ceasefire near Mariupol? Okay...
Nator
@zichi
Maybe the word force is a bit strong but as it stands products from the UK can not enter N.Ireland without being processed as imports to the EU. The EU has added lots of caveats and is not acting in the manner the agreement was expected. Yes it could be considered a mild border issue to outsiders but considering the history of the troubles and how it was resolved it is a heavy nudge in the wrong direction and the EU are playing with the conflict (peoples lives) to gain economic advantage.
However this is massively off-topic and I did not want to go into detail but to make a comparison regarding long-term-triggers that made putin invade.
MotMotMot
This is exactly what Russia did in Chechnya and Syria. They will scare off the population (eventually) with indiscriminate shelling, then send in their military to more or less demolish the cities. We are paying the price for letting them get away with it time after time.
The saving grace is Russia has proven logistically they can't more than 90 miles away from their existing bases because Molotov cocktails are extremely effective against fuel trucks. They will eventually resolve it and things will get much worse.
bass4funk
In many ways.
You are getting emotional. Leave it, it won’t help you in a debate. We all hate the man! In order to become a dictator and to control millions or even a country you need to understand and read people, be shrewd and ruthless, but also kind and cunning. You can never reach the level that these people reached if you’re an imbecile or idiot. Acknowledging that these people were smart doesn’t mean that you like or praise them, but most of these people started at the very bottom and now they control an entire country and want to swallow more. Putin outsmarted the US and NATO, that’s not a praise at all, quite the opposite and they all fell for it and here we are. He’s calling the shots and the rest of the world is pretty much at the crossroads. So yeah, he’s smart.
Nator
@Bungle
In context the UK has left the EU so the increase may be connected to that. It maybe that the UK and France have changed who they umbrella and it takes time to move subs around the world so stock-rotation becomes an issue. First increase is 70 years makes it similar to cheescake in Osaka.
Also remember the guardian is not a member of IPSO as it is charity run (some say it has a billion pounds hidden away) and has had the cat-lady telling lies (that is what a judge has said) for years.
Antiquesaving
zichiToday 11:57 am JST
For that to happen people ( often Europeans) need to be willing to leave the past behind.
And judging by both sides here that isn't going to happen anytime soon.
If we can be honest for a minute.
I have said there is no justification for this invasion. Let me be very clear on that.
But I have pointed out things done and said that have been wrong and that gave Putin the fuel he needed.
This is not justifying the invasion it is stating facts.
Ukraine since independence from the USSR has regularly tried to make heros out of war criminals, it permits the UPA flag, it made Stepan Bandera a national hero, (revoking it when certain countries objected especially on in the middle East).
By pandering to this hard line nationalist section of its population and by passing more and more regulations and laws that affect ethnic Russians, it was only time before things blew up.
I wonder if they thought " well if we make it uncomfortable and unwelcoming the Russians will just leave and move to Russia".
I don't know their thinking but especially since the 2014 the Ukrainians have done everything to make it harder for the breakaway regions to return.
These are the facts not excuses just facts,
Nothing justifies war, but you still need to avoid giving crazy people like Putin the fuel he needs.
UChosePoorly
That remains to be seen. This history hasn't been written yet.
Nator
@Antique
The russians do tend to have massive military and civilian casualties though. I wonder if Putin has factored that in.
In WW2 the US civilian casualties amounted to 5,000. The Russians 1 million. I think both sides will be happy to leave Ukraine and subequently Poland and Romania to take the hit.
u_s__reamer
it has been a very rare thing that any invading army has "taken down Russia".
True, but the "enemy within" is the one most feared by all government rulers. The great Russian government scam called "the Soviet Union" simply imploded and most people in the world now fervently hope that Putin's hubris may vouchsafe him a similar fate.
Peter14
The lives of Ukraine are already being gambled with and the West has its fingers crossed it wont expand.
Not much to go on. The risk to Russia right now is nil cities attacked. Nil civilians killed and the war confined to another nation. Expand that at all and Russia gets bombed and cities destroyed and civilians killed.
Call his bluff. Set up a no fly region and let him make the next move. Putin is a coward and will not want missiles fired at him or his family. He will bluster and then allow it. If he doesnt then the war widens. There is a good chance of that happening when Poland sends MiG 29's to Ukraine.
Russia wants war with Ukraine who they can defeat militarily. Taking on 30 plus nations is a war they cant win. The best they can hope for is mutual destruction or an assassination attempt on Putin to end this madness.
bass4funk
With your question.
And I gave you a retort, relax.
Yes.
Well, I do and most people I know do.
But he had enough time to insulate himself from the world and had enough time to amass his fortunes and now that he had China as an ally as well as in Iran he has put himself in many ways into a safe position. So that is on his part a very smart move.
Monty
In many ways.
Yes
My goodness!
WTF!
No wonder the world goes to sh..it with people with such a mindset around!
Peter14
Well if "full blown negotiation" was ever going to work it was before the invasion. There is now zero chance of that in the real world. Putin wants Ukraine's surrender, disarming and never a NATO member. Ukraine wants Russia gone and eventual NATO membership to stop any future occurrence of this.
Putin needs removal or this will happen again and again. Once he knows he can get away with it once it will lead to a second and third until he is opposed. Putin is using Hitlers playbook. Negotiations did not work. Force worked. Not happy about it but I learned from history. Has anyone else?
justasking
US and NATO should just invade Eastern Ukraine and call it “military operations” so Russia can’t move forward anymore.
justasking
I meant western Ukraine.
Express sister
The EU has freedom of movement for its citizens. Why haven't Germany or France collapsed?
rcch
Some disturbing pictures on JT today ( in different articles ) ...
...
I’m not criticizing... it’s just unusual...
EvilBuddha
This should not surprise anyone.
That's what the Russians did in Syria and before that Chechnya. Unlike the Americans, the Russian war doctrine does not favor street fighting by their army or marines equivalent where they will probably meet with fierce resistance. Instead they will flatten cities by massive air strikes and bombing to flush out opposition and demoralize citizens.
UK9393
What an absolute senseless waste of life. Captured Russian soldiers repeatedly keep revealing their horror that they were seemingly tricked. Let's hope the Russian Military STOPS. Then finds Putin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD_4Y2TQotA&ab_channel=OstapKostyuk
WilliB
Peter14
That is true, and Russia pov is entirely reasonable. Remember how Kennedy reacted to SU missiles in Cuba? This is the Cuba crisis all over, only the paradigm has changed. Suddenly it is supposed to be OK to roll up right to the other supoerpowers nose with nuclear weapons.
Neither of us is there, but does this not depend on which media you listen to? It seems to be the shelling of Dombas is done by the Ukrainian side, especially the Azov battallion. Did they not kill 14,000 Dombas civiliians until now, count running?
Antiquesaving
Okay let's try and sort this out.
First we have reports of Russia invading and taking over large parts of Ukraine, next Ukraine parades Russian prisoners claiming killing thousands of them claiming that they're demoralized and running away, then following that call for no fly zone and NATO help because Ukraine is being pushed back, then Ukraine claims it is arming its civilians volunteers to defendant cities, then Ukraine says it needs a ceasefire to evacuate those cities, then Ukraine says Russia violated the ceasefire, and now Ukraine claims it is again decimating Russian forces that are fully demoralized.
Which or what is it Ukraine is beating Russia? civilians are armed? Unarmed civilians are being killed? Russia has cities under seige? Etc...
I no longer know what to believe, I know not to trust Russian news but it seems clear western media doesn't seem any better.
Express sister
lol the dude is a paid-up puppet of RT.
bass4funk
It’s just a matter of time before justice reaches Putin. It may not be now and we don’t know when, but Putin is on a time clock and Karma has a way of getting back at those that cased harm and suffering to others.