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Biden warns Putin against Ukraine invasion

36 Comments
By AAMER MADHANI, NOMAAN MERCHANT and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

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How dare Putin protecting his country against foreign troop buildup along its border!

0 ( +13 / -13 )

Blinken this week said the U.S. has “made it clear to the Kremlin that we will respond resolutely, including with a range of high-impact economic measures that we’ve refrained from using in the past.”

How about stop buying Russian oil, anyway?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Russia has never been weaker or more divided. The majority of Russians would fight against Putin.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

He did not detail what sanctions were being weighed, but one potentially could be to cut off Russia from the SWIFT system of international payments

Unlikely. They've been threatening this for so long that Russia/China have both developed SWIFT alternatives years ago. If anything, this would just accelerate the de-dollarization of oil and gas contracts, which would erode the dollar's status as the world's preferred reserve currency.

Russia has never been weaker or more divided. The majority of Russians would fight against Putin.

Sounds like wishful thinking.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

called out Putin on Kremlin interference in U.S. elections, malign cyberactivity against U.S. businesses

But I doubt many US Republicans, especially those in the Trump sect of his QGOP would support Biden on this. The US far right supports a Russian form of far right authoritarianism. And the US far right are among the globe's biggest boosters of the fossil economy, and leaders of fossil states like Putin, MbS and MbZ. and in the US Texas Republicans.

Russia's Putin authorised pro-Trump 'influence' campaign, US intelligence says

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56423536

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Unlikely. They've been threatening this for so long that Russia/China have both developed SWIFT alternatives years ago. 

No, actually they have not. No nation wants Chinese Yuen in exchange for oil because they cannot use Yuen to buy anything on the world's markets. Likewise China has no use for Iranian or Venezuelan currency for goods they might sell them because they are useless in trade. At best they can barter. Denying Russia the ability to use US Dollars and the US financial system to conduct business in affects not just their ability to sell oil and gas but to sell agricultural products like wheat, or weapons, will severely restrict their ability to do business in the world. They won't be able to buy anything with US Dollars either. Who wans rubles in exchange for selling the Russians consumer goods? Nobody.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

I think most of this is theater. Mr. Putin knows a war in Ukraine is not winnable. It would be a huge quagmire for him and for Russia, another Afghanistan only perhaps even worse. When the dead bodies started coming home families would demand to know what was so important to Russia that their sons and daughters had to give their lives. Mr. Putin won't have an satisfactory answer for that and brutalizing the families into silence won't succeed either. What Mr. Putin wants are guarantees that Ukraine won't join NATO or the EU. I don't think the US, the EU or NATO should offer any such guarantees. Mr. Putin is playing a weak hand. Call his bluff. He'll fold.

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@Desert

You know Putin so well! "Every bond you break, every step you take"

On a different note, what is Biden talking about here?

“What I am doing is putting together what I believe to be will be the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr. Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do,” Biden told reporters.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Biden warns Putin against Ukraine invasion

And Putin warns Biden against unleashing Ukrainian puppets.

@The Avenger

Russia has never been weaker or more divided. The majority of Russians would fight against Putin

Hitler had similar fancy ideas in 1941. And the U.S. are united and solid as never before, right? Biden is loved by all Americans, right?

@Desert Tortoise

They won't be able to buy anything with US Dollars either

Not "able". but "wish". They already started the process of squeezing the dollar out of their economy. The Russian central bank mostly dumped U.S. treasures, its dollar reserves at record low (they buying gold and some euros instead). According to the new gas supply contract with ex-Soviet republic of Moldova the payments will be in roubles and euros, not in dollars. It's just a beginning. Russia, China and others are successfully creating an independent economic zone with payments in euros, local currencies, again not in dollars. Very prudent - little risks of U.S. interventions, no risk of U.S. default on its unsustainable debts, when dollars will be like Venezuelan bolivars.

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But I doubt many US Republicans, especially those in the Trump sect of his QGOP would support Biden on this.

No, the GOP would gladly support Biden if guy backed up his rhetoric of diplomacy with a serious possible threat of force. Then and ONLY then will you get the Russians intentions, but so far Biden has NOT shown himself to be a strong leader when it comes to foreign policy and Russia as well as China see a great opportunity to take advantage of this growing tense situation.

The US far right supports a Russian form of far right authoritarianism.

Not at all, what they support is a more neutral Russia that is put on notice that the consequences for invading the Ukraine would be significant.

And the US far right are among the globe's biggest boosters of the fossil economy, and leaders of fossil states like Putin, MbS and MbZ. and in the US Texas Republicans.

Once the left creates everyday items that need and depend on fossil fuel or a car that has limitless range, shorter charging times, less expensive and a price that anyone can afford, less dependent on the minerals such as lithium where very soon China will be the biggest supplier of, then the Republicans would back and support the change, but that time and sadly is just now, and until that time comes the US will continue and should use all of its natural resources.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

You know Putin so well! "Every bond you break, every step you take"

No, I just read a lot. Examples:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/3/how-real-is-the-threat-of-a-russian-invasion-of-ukraine

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2021/1123/Why-Russia-s-troop-surge-near-Ukraine-may-really-be-a-message-to-the-West

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PTownsendToday  08:06 am JST

But I doubt many US Republicans, especially those in the Trump sect of his QGOP would support Biden on this

Why would you think so?

Mitt Romney, when he was seeking the republican candidacy for presidency in 2012, called Russia America's number one “geopolitical foe.” Many democrats--including President Obama-- mocked him for saying that.

And then Russia invaded Ukraine territory during Obama's second term.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@Desert Tortoise

Mr. Putin is playing a weak hand. Call his bluff. He'll fold

In 2008 another American puppet, from Georgia, also thought Putin was playing a weak hand. His NATO-funded, NATO-equipped, NATO-trained army disintegrated in four days. I think the Ukrainians remember that lesson very vividly. If they start something stupid they'll face the same result.

No need for Putin to attack. Ukraine now is an inpoverished territory with its economy dead on the water, quickly decaying infrastructure and quickly dying out and running away population. What Putin needs it for?

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

No, I just read a lot.

Hmm.. the Al Jazeera article is pretty much an interview with the Ukraine's retired chief of staff. So you get your information about what Putin will//won't/should/shouldn't do from this source?

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Ukraine military are much better equipped and trained than they were in 2014. They have American missiles, trucks, radars and patrol boats, Turkish drones have proven highly effective in defeating Russian made air defense systems in Libya along with American and Israeli drones. Since 2016 there has been a Joint Multilateral Training Group composed of US and NATO Nation military instructors has been training the Ukrainian military and developing an internal training system that is in accordance with NATO standards. A great deal of armor that was in storage and often not operable when the Russians invaded in 2014 has been returned to service with western upgrades to fire control systems and the like. They have equipment from UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Germany and new Milgem class corvettes from Turkey. They produce a lot of their own equipment too. The Russians would not likely be able to repeat what they did in 2014. The Ukrainians are better prepared and battle hardened.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@Desert

Yes, heard the same self-assuring speech about the Afghan troops.

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Mitt Romney, when he was seeking the republican candidacy for presidency in 2012, called Russia America's number one “geopolitical foe.” Many democrats--including President Obama-- mocked him for saying that.

China is a much more dangerous foe than Russia.

In 2008 another American puppet, from Georgia, also thought Putin was playing a weak hand. His NATO-funded, NATO-equipped, NATO-trained army disintegrated in four days.

What? The Georgians asked to join NATO and then President Bush asked for a Membership Action Plan but France and Germany shot that down. When the US tried to reinforce Georgia with a Marine Amphibious Brigade centered on an LHA the Turks refused to let the ships transit the Dardanelles.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Desert TortoiseToday  09:32 am JST

China is a much more dangerous foe than Russia.

Maybe now. But per my comment, in 2012 Mitt Romney said Russia is the No. 1 geopolitical foe, and then Russia invaded its neighbor a few years later, while during the same period China did not, and in fact grew richer as a result of favorable treatment by the Obama/Biden administration.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Hmm.. the Al Jazeera article is pretty much an interview with the Ukraine's retired chief of staff. So you get your information about what Putin will//won't/should/shouldn't do from this source?

The article in the Christian Science Monitor corroborates it. There are others if you poke around. And you think your view of the matter is more valid than that of a Ukrainian with knowledge of the situation.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Biden warns Putin against Ukraine invasion

The globalists need an alibi for more NATO presence/pressure/games in Ukraine, and the corporate warmongering MSM/AP do their job with this headline.

GOOGLE search the headline and you get all the favorites. Yahoonews, abc, nbc, the independent, fox, etal. Written news, cable news, local TV news stations.

So what’s the news out of Ukraine?

According to the document, adoption of the draft law will facilitate peaceful resolution of the situation in the non-government-controlled territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions based on the principles and provisions of international law and the United Nations Charter.

As Ukrainian News Agency reported earlier, the parliament extended the law on the special procedure for local self-government in the non-government-controlled territories in the Donbas until 2022 in December 2020.

Hmmm……

But also

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his confidence that no war in Donbas can be stopped without direct negotiations with Russia.

He said this during his annual speech at the Ukrainian Parliament, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel supported Ukraine’s refusal to hold direct talks with militants as a party to the conflict in Donbas is Russia.

So Zelenskyy doesn’t wanna talk to Donbas. And Merkel doesn’t want Zelenskyy to talk to Donbas.

Hmmmm….

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Red wind ,

The Georgians were a speed bump and it took the “Mighty” Russian Army 3 days to take what should have been a mornings work.

Ukraine is not Georgia and especially not since we’ve sent them the Javelin. it will turn a T-80 into a burning coffin from 1,000 yards.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Desert Tortoise

Ukraine military are much better equipped and trained than they were in 2014

Seriously? Then why they did not try again to invade Donetsk and Lugansk as they did in 2014? Actually in the battles of summer-2014 and winter-2015 the Ukrainians lost, they also lost the best equipment they could muster. And first of all, they lost the most motivated cadres of neonazi volunteers and nazified military personnel.

They have American missiles, trucks, radars and patrol boats

Yeah, Javelins that are stored in rear areas only, because the Ukrainians can sell them to the rebels. And several Island-class ex-USCG patrol boats will be very helpful against Russian missile corvettes.

They have equipment from UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Germany

What exactly? The buy some ex-Soviet equipment, but they do not have money.

new Milgem class corvettes from Turkey

Ukrainians have them? Seriously?? Can you provide photos / names, any details about these new ships?

They produce a lot of their own equipment too

How many new tanks, cannons, attack helicopters the Ukrainians have? They do some repair work of old Soviet equipment, but they are unable to make new armour now, they blundered with the contract to produce new APCs to Iraq. Do you know they still do not have a normal small arms ammo factory? They had one, but it is under rebels' control now.

The Ukrainians are better prepared and battle hardened

Best cadres were lost battles in 2014-15, the rest are mostly new who enlisted to get salaries, not to get killed for their idiotic government. The Ukrainians did not start a single offensive against Donbass since 2015 for a reason.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Talk all you want, Red wind, the Russians will rue the day. Cut off from the SWIFT financial system, the “gasoline stand pretending to be a country” will collapse overnight.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

@Desert Tortoise

with a Marine Amphibious Brigade centered on an LHA the Turks refused to let the ships transit the Dardanelles

I see, all C-5s and C-17s were busy at that time. And what about the mighty USAF? What did prevent its unstoppable bombers?

@GdTokyo

and it took the “Mighty” Russian Army 3 days to take what should have been a mornings work

And it took the "Mighty" U.S. military twenty years to comprehend they can't defeat even people with assault rifles and RPGs.

it will turn a T-80 into a burning coffin from 1,000 yards

Are you sure the Russians do not have something like that against Ukrainian tanks? Or American.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Talk all the ___ you want, the West is superior to the gasoline stand that also has nukes and is run by a short, failed Technocrat. These are the facts and they are not in doubt.

As a man of a certain age, I remember when that was not the case and NATO held firm. The USSR had the strategic advantage and yet we, the West held firm.

You doubt our will at your peril.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

@GdTokyo

Cut off from the SWIFT financial system, the “gasoline stand pretending to be a country” will collapse overnigh

Then why it's not done yet, since 2014? Because of America's infinite magnanimity? Anyway, I repeat the words from a Chuck Norris' movie: "Stop talking and just do it".

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

AsakazeToday  10:41 am JST

@GdTokyo

Cut off from the SWIFT financial system, the “gasoline stand pretending to be a country” will collapse overnigh

Then why it's not done yet, since 2014? Because of America's infinite magnanimity? Anyway, I repeat the words from a Chuck Norris' movie: "Stop talking and just do it".

ok, talked me into it.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

You doubt our will at your peril.

In other words, "You Will Respect My Authoritah!"

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Maybe now. But per my comment, in 2012 Mitt Romney said Russia is the No. 1 geopolitical foe, and then Russia invaded its neighbor a few years later, while during the same period China did not, and in fact grew richer as a result of favorable treatment by the Obama/Biden administration.

China was the US most dangerous foe in 2012. The weapons you see coming on line now, all aimed at the Chinese threat, were being developed as early as 2009. Russia was not the pacing threat then or now. China is. China is much more advanced than the Russians. I won't say I had a front row seat but I have been in theater as events unfolded.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Talk all the ___ you want, the West is superior

Yawn. Talk all the ___ you want, stay firm, call yourself superior, cut off from SWIFT, amuse yourself with any similarly productive activity. The bottom line: you are for a big surpise. Not very pleasant.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

AlexToday  10:55 am JST

You doubt our will at your peril.

In other words, "You Will Respect My Authoritah!"

More or less. Except unlike Cartman, we mean it.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Then why it's not done yet, since 2014? Because of America's infinite magnanimity? Anyway, I repeat the words from a Chuck Norris' movie: "Stop talking and just do it".

In the world of financial weapons what you suggest is not a precision munition. It's more of a giant cluster bomb with widespread collateral damage! The effects will not be confined to Russia. They will be global. Cutting Russia off from the US Dollar and the US financial system will affect every single nation that does business with Russia. Outside of truly exceptional circumstances many nations would be very angry with the US if they can no longer trade with Russia in US Dollars. If the EU and the US Pacific allies are willing to go along then it is doable. But for the US to initiate it on its own without consulting with and gaining the acceptance of its EU and its Pacific allies such a move would backfire in a very big way as the economies of US allies took the hit. The US is probably going to have to heavily subsidize the US oil and gas industry to ramp up production as fast as possible to provide fuels for the EU and probably Ukraine too. Oh yeah, India is not going to be happy about it either and the US has been cultivating them as a hedge against China.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

With Trump looking poised to ease back into the White House in 2024, barring disaster, I'm prepared to give Biden at least a chance to show some strength on this.

The US should come to free, democratic Ukraines defense should the Russians step over that line. Meet them with fury and burn them with fire should that happen. Totalitarian Russia can never be trusted when it comes to stealing territory - and neither can slimy lil' Putin.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

@Desert

I think the question about SWIFT was a rhetoric one, we all know the US would shoot itself in the foot if they did that, no need to write a one-pager here

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@Desert Tortoise

It's more of a giant cluster bomb with widespread collateral damage! The effects will not be confined to Russia

I know. Explain all this to @GdTokyo, he is promising to use this "cluster bomb" from yesterday.

Any luck with the search of info about the new Ukrainian / Turkish frigates?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

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