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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Biden warns Putin against Ukraine invasion
By AAMER MADHANI, NOMAAN MERCHANT and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
36 Comments
Wick's pencil
How dare Putin protecting his country against foreign troop buildup along its border!
RegBilk
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?
The Avenger
Russia has never been weaker or more divided. The majority of Russians would fight against Putin.
M3M3M3
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.
Sounds like wishful thinking.
PTownsend
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.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56423536
Desert Tortoise
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.
Desert Tortoise
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.
Alex
@Desert
You know Putin so well! "Every bond you break, every step you take"
On a different note, what is Biden talking about here?
Asakaze
Biden warns Putin against Ukraine invasion
And Putin warns Biden against unleashing Ukrainian puppets.
@The Avenger
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
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.
bass4funk
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.
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.
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.
Desert Tortoise
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
RegBilk
PTownsendToday 08:06 am JST
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.
Asakaze
@Desert Tortoise
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?
Alex
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?
Desert Tortoise
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.
Alex
@Desert
Yes, heard the same self-assuring speech about the Afghan troops.
Desert Tortoise
China is a much more dangerous foe than Russia.
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.
RegBilk
Desert TortoiseToday 09:32 am JST
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.
Desert Tortoise
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.
FizzBit
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?
Hmmm……
But also
So Zelenskyy doesn’t wanna talk to Donbas. And Merkel doesn’t want Zelenskyy to talk to Donbas.
Hmmmm….
GdTokyo
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.
Asakaze
@Desert Tortoise
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.
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.
What exactly? The buy some ex-Soviet equipment, but they do not have money.
Ukrainians have them? Seriously?? Can you provide photos / names, any details about these new ships?
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.
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.
GdTokyo
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.
Asakaze
@Desert Tortoise
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" U.S. military twenty years to comprehend they can't defeat even people with assault rifles and RPGs.
Are you sure the Russians do not have something like that against Ukrainian tanks? Or American.
GdTokyo
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.
Asakaze
@GdTokyo
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".
GdTokyo
AsakazeToday 10:41 am JST
@GdTokyo
ok, talked me into it.
Alex
In other words, "You Will Respect My Authoritah!"
Desert Tortoise
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.
Asakaze
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.
GdTokyo
AlexToday 10:55 am JST
More or less. Except unlike Cartman, we mean it.
Desert Tortoise
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.
Fighto!
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.
Alex
@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
Asakaze
@Desert Tortoise
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?