Finland was taken and dragged into NATO. What did we have, some kind of dispute with Finland? All disputes, including those of a territorial nature in the middle of the 20th century, were all resolved a long time ago. We had the best, most heartfelt relations. Economically, everything was developing. Yes, in the timber industry, there were some problems linked to the necessity to develop timber processing within the country. But that was all. Just a small detail in reality. There weren't any problems, but now there will be. Because we've now been forced to create a Leningrad military district and concentrate a certain number of military units there. Why do they need that? It's just nonsense. The same goes for other countries, including NATO countries. With whom did we have problems? Nobody. They're the ones who are artificially creating problems with us. Because they don't want such a competitor as Russia. — Putin

False and fabricated intel promoted by the people in the White House themselves, yes. — ssu

At some point the French president stopped the relationship with us. We didn’t do it, I didn’t. He did. If there’s interest, we’re ready. If not, we’ll cope. — Putin

I didn’t start the war unilaterally, breaking the treaties I’d agreed to. And it wasn’t France that decided to commit war crimes in the north of Ukraine, making discussions virtually impossible. Well, we have to be serious, so I have a very simple position. I haven’t changed my number. If President Putin has a willingness to engage in dialogue and serious proposals to move forward and emerge from the conflict and build a lasting peace, that is to say one that respects international law and therefore Ukrainian interests and sovereignty, I’ll take the call. — Macron

But when one believes in the existence of the world, but says there is no justified belief in the world when not perceiving it. What would you class the position? — Corvus

↪Corvus, it's safer to think that what you won't know can still kill you.
But hey, you won't find any purely deductive disproof of solipsism either. — Nov 25, 2023

Hence, we try to seek justification on our beliefs and perception.
But point here is, can belief be justified properly? Belief is a psychological state, which cannot be justified rationally in nature.

Or are some beliefs also epistemic when justified? But if it cannot be justified, then it can't be. How do we justify our beliefs rationally? — Corvus

they didn't anticipate the Ukrainian response — ssu

the Russian wartime economy is getting to it's feet — ssu

One has to wonder, why does this State of Nature seem to work on such a grand scale, and with such non-entities, but is refused on the smaller scale and with real, living, flesh-and-blood human beings? — NOS4A2

Why are you so quick to defend big pharma. Does your grandmother receive her pension from them? — Merkwurdichliebe

None of it should be trusted. Not big pharma, not government, not mass media, not the church, &c, &c. — Merkwurdichliebe

Fitch anticipates the war will continue throughout 2024 within its current broad parameters. In our view, Ukraine still has some strategic military advantage, underpinned by strong resolve and Western military support, but its counteroffensive has made limited gains so far, and in our central scenario there is insufficient superiority to decisively deliver objectives.

We also consider there is an absence of politically credible concessions that could result in a negotiated end to the war, potentially leading to a very protracted conflict. Over a longer horizon, we anticipate some form of settlement, but view a 'frozen conflict' as more likely than a sustainable peace deal, at least for a significant period.
— Fitch Affirms Ukraine at 'CC' · Fitch Ratings · Dec 8, 2023

Helping another nation exercise their right to self-defense is only rational if it has a chance of succeeding. There is no such chance in the case of the Ukraine war, and thus Europe should not contribute to the illusion that Ukraine can win this war. — Tzeentch

Nuclear posturing of late has been Russian and North Korean. The Kremlin appears to be going for a Cold War II. Incidentally, the kind of environment Putin was trained in, grew up in, knows, where he made some buddies. — Nov 20, 2023

Maybe the capable should start seriously talking about implementing a no-fly zone in Ukrainian airspace, iff the Ukrainian government wishes it.

Sending F-16s to Ukraine in fight against Russia would take 'months and months': Blinken
^{— Tal Axelrod · ABC · Jul 23, 2023}
A Russian fighter jet fired flares at a US drone over Syria and damaged it, the US military says
^{— Lolita C Baldor, Tara Copp · AP · Jul 25, 2023}

Then (if their government says so), any missiles violating that, warrants taking out the source of launch. Much like whatever other nation, here implemented by whatever coalition agreeing to help Ukraine. Once the Ukrainian skies are better cleared of offenders, civilians will be safer, the situation different, and more assessments warranted. That is, no tiptoeing inside Ukrainian airspace [...] — Jul 24, 2023

• Russia threatens military strikes on Western countries if Ukraine's newly-donated F-16s are based in NATO territory
  ^{— Will Stewart · Daily Mail · Dec 8, 2023}

[...] that underlying threat, which is the US. NATO is simply a vessel. — Tzeentch

[...] It contains observations aimed at bringing some provisions in line with the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950, the Framework Convention for National Minorities of 1995, and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of 1992. — Daria Iulia Cotiuba

Sweden is a strong, capable defense partner that champions NATO’s values, and will further strengthen the Alliance once its NATO accession is completed. Sweden’s membership will strengthen our collective defense and enhance our ability to respond to security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic area. Sweden will be a net security provider from its first day in NATO, and the Alliance will be stronger with Sweden as a NATO Ally. — US Department of State

3. Never since the Cuban Missile Crisis has the threat of a direct clash between Russia and NATO leading to the Third World War been so real.
[...]
And for this loot new rivers of blood will flow, for which the Biden family and all their Bandera bastard are responsible. — Dmitry Medvedev · Dec 8, 2023

Words don't have the power [...] — NOS4A2

There will be no diplomatic solution with Putin. He may not be irrational, as some claim, but he is obsessed. At the beginning of the offensive, we were quick to supply anti-tank missiles and air defense equipment, and today we are doing a lot for air defense. But there were also unfortunate delays. If we now stand on the sidelines and criticize the fact that Ukraine is not making enough progress, we have to keep in mind that we have our share in this. — Klaus Wittmann

Can anyone semi-informed imagine who might replace Putin, and what policy changes would result? Or am I only dreaming? — unenlightened

people in high places [...] Schwab, Bill Gates [...] big pharma [...] politicians on the national level [...] WHO, national governments — Tzeentch

I have no doubt they have major influence [...] people themselves are simply not equipped to deal with this kind of fuckery — Tzeentch

Too little hard evidence is what makes it all so murky. That's what gives the herd the right to deem anything that does not conform to the official narrative as wackadoodle conspiracy theory. — Merkwurdichliebe

Lavrov said on Thursday that Moldova, an Eastern European country and former Soviet republic, is putting itself in harm's way in its desire to join the European Union.

You can't just throw in a "hence" to construct an argument. — boethius

it doesn't fall flat — boethius

I do not think Ukraine has made more progress than Russia on the freedom and equality scale — boethius

mainly micro-blog — boethius

nuclear blackmail obviously works — boethius

You're genuinely surprised by the result? — boethius

Your claim was — boethius

I do not claim Ukraine is ruled by a Nazi regime — boethius

So hard to keep track — boethius

↪boethius, the Kremlin gets their way, or it's the nuclear way...? — Nov 9, 2023

ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv — Sergey Lavrov

Can you leave me alone, please? Thank you. — Sergey Lavrov

No where do I claim Ukraine is ruled by a Nazi regime. — boethius

Ukraine still isn't ruled by a Nazi regime; those claims are straight from the Kremlin's propaganda machine (don't echo them)
[...]
Apr 25, 2022 - Dec 20, 2022 - Aug 2, 2023 — Nov 28, 2023

Ukrainians change for the better for example — boethius

Criterion               Jun 2023       Nov 2023
Constitutional Court    Good progress  Completed
Judicial governance     Completed      Completed
Anti-corruption         Some progress  Some progress
Anti-money laundering   Some progress  Completed
De-oligarchisation      Some progress  Some progress
Media legislation       Completed      Completed
National minorities     Some progress  Some progress

↪boethius, the Kremlin gets their way, or it's the nuclear way...? — Nov 9, 2023