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

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

he will echo them — ssu

Should South Korea capitulate to North Korea, "or else"? I don't think laying waste to North Korea is an option (shouldn't be). — Nov 26, 2023

It's not 2014 Crimea. Putin's decision has become costly. What might be next on his (public) agenda? — Nov 26, 2023

Should South Korea capitulate to North Korea, "or else"? I don't think laying waste to North Korea is an option (shouldn't be). — Nov 26, 2023

It's not 2014 Crimea. Putin's decision has become costly. What might be next on his (public) agenda? — Nov 26, 2023

The current regime that exists on the territory of Ukraine has proven to be completely toxic.
We do not currently see any options to coexist with it.
So, [if] all goes like the President (Vladimir Putin) said:
Maximum denazification and demilitarization [will] set [Ukraine] free from the external influence and external management [in the West] — which is dangerous for the Russian Federation and those who live in Russia.
When this danger is eliminated, the goals of the special military operation are achieved.
NATO commits its own violations which they should be held accountable for.
Those include weaponry supplies, violation of the norms, when they openly support the conflict and supply banned weaponry, when they actively cover for and legalize the actions of the Ukrainian regime, including in the international institutions.

We can counter NATO [for] as long as [is] needed to achieve the task set by the President.
And our task is to eliminate the danger that we face from Ukraine. — Rodion Miroshnik · Russian ambassador-at large