:D , everyone having followed already knows (re-repeating, again), in fact, extremism is a problem all over (e.g. † below), yet, again,

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

... in fact, they've made progress (re-repeating), while their northern neighbor has regressed (re-rep...). The so-called deNazification of Ukraine is but another political tool borne of ulterior motives. A Nazi regime to join the EU? Nay, Kyiv just isn't that Nazi stronghold narrated by the Kremlin to be cleansed, get over it.

† I'll just stick to links ...

The US · WISN · Nov 18, 2023
Germany · Bloomberg · Nov 5, 2023
The US (military) · VICE · Oct 20, 2022
Russia (military) · VICE · Aug 22, 2022
The US / Online · NBC · Jan 8, 2021
France · France 24 · Oct 29, 2020
Sweden · euronews · Sep 30, 2017

The Ukrainians have proven willing to change for the better, but not to be overrun by Russia just like that (again); the Kremlin has proven unwilling to change for the better, and continue to landgrab and bomb others in the name of their authoritarianism. (By the way, shouldn't someone have freed Ukraine from military-political covert invaders like Girkin? Shouldn't someone de-genocide the Uyghurs? Shouldn't someone clean up the Kremlin?)

, do you think it's for the home audience?
They're already under some impressive censorship/filtering/control/suppression; perhaps they can rile them up or scare them. They've tossed the "Nazi" word around some, not just regarding Ukraine.

he will echo them — ssu

It's plain false (which has been pointed out already), so it's a bit puzzling. Oh well. Alternate world type stuff.
The Kremlin circle has tried who-knows-what, including attempting to sow hostility between Poland and Ukraine - Aug 2, 2023 - Sep 22, 2023.
Going over the records renders a fascinating picture ("cumulative trust-erosion, mala fide").

, still going on about the Nazi stuff, eh? :)

I guess I can re-repeat. Nah, Ukraine still isn't ruled by a Nazi regime; those claims are straight from the Kremlin's propaganda machine (don't echo them). (Also Apr 25, 2022 - Dec 20, 2022 - Aug 2, 2023.) There have been quality elections in Ukraine since 2014. Ukraine has made some progress towards fulfilling the EU's requirements. That's progress, where we've seen Russian regress instead, it's been set out in some detail throughout the thread (you may blame the Kremlin). Progress good, regress bad. Kyiv said "No" as did the UN.

That being said, you might argue that Ukraine should stop, make concessions, hope for the best.

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

They want reparations:

Deputy Minister of Justice Irina Mudra: If Russia thinks that it will sign a settlement agreement without reparations - will not sign. Ukraine will never go for it
^{— Tatiana Bodnia · Censor.NET · Nov 24, 2023}

Go for it. (I don't think the Kremlin has insurance coverage, it'll be out of pocket. :D)

The recent move of sending scores of asylum seekers (on bicycles) to border posts (in the snow), Russia → Finland, isn't new. Maybe the Kremlin is testing humanitarian responses, maybe attempting to plant agents, maybe exporting "undesirables", ... In case of anything that can be perceived as a negative reaction, it's "anti-humanitarian", "look, bad evil government", "Nazistas", ... Old story, cumulative trust-erosion, mala fide. Another Kremlin character problem, ?

Something analogous has happened further south, Russia → Ukraine, for some time, except on a larger scale, and with given military-political objectives. Maybe Girkin admitting so was another reason for him falling out of favor with the Kremlin (resembling how the Cosa Nostra works).

Russian propagandists have created a nice picture. This is what the current routes from St. Petersburg to Helsinki look like. (Anton Gerashchenko · Nov 26, 2023)

My view, ? It's from the Kremlin, like their "new reality" and whatever, and contrary to the UN (and the good baker Jones of upper Negombo, Sri Lanka). You can't have missed it.

So,

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 invading buggers haven't opened negotiations, they've just restated their ultimatum. Negotiation isn't quite the right word here. (Has come up before in the thread by the way.) They're free to state whatever demands they like, adding their requisite "or else". Should South Korea capitulate to North Korea, "or else"? I don't think laying waste to North Korea is an option (shouldn't be).

Things haven't gone quite as smoothly as the Kremlin might have liked, though. Why else the rattling posturing, pseudo rationalizations, misdirection diversion blame-gaming, spiraling domestic suppression, tight control, heavy-duty manipulation in occupied areas, Kim Jong Un coziness (the two have been mutually consistent in their rattling posturing), ongoing generous scattered bombing of Ukraine, ... ? (at peak so far, Russia fired 50,000 artillery shells a day)

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

, 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.

Russia says coexistence with Ukraine impossible, Zelenskyy vows to protect freedom (Global News · 4m:3s · Nov 21, 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

It's not specifically about NATO, it's about anything getting in the way of Putin's geo-military-political power/control aspirations (from memory, Mearsheimer commented similarly about those aspirations/goals). Well, NATO is still around, Putin's Soviet Union is not. And NATO is in the way of Putin's free international rein.

The strangest correlations ... :)

Christian nationalists party at Mar-a-Lago and warn of God's wrath if Trump loses again (— Brad Reed · Raw Story · Nov 21, 2023)

Trump has long praised autocrats and populists. He’s now embracing Argentina’s new president (— Nicholas Riccardi, Jill Colvin · AP · Nov 21, 2023)

... or maybe not. That Lance Wallnau fellow is a goner. I guess we'll see what Javier Milei is going to do.

I would assume the same would be true for the US if China were running military drills in Mexico. Wouldn’t make the US right to invade Mexico, but I think the least we’d say is that it would be a major factor. — Mikie

These sorts of thought experiments have come up before, e.g. Oct 11, 2023. Let's have your take on it. (y)

I guess that's what things look like on the ground at the moment ...

Finnish volunteers target Russian soldiers during fierce gun battle in Ukraine (Daily Mail · 1m:9s · Nov 19, 2023)


... in some places anyway.

Someone should set up a venture: "Treat yourself to a thrilling action adventure in Ukraine. Safety not guaranteed. The new trend in vacation." :)

, can't differentiate the :fire: war, and Putin's idiotic decision? Brilliant. :D Putin's (official) reasons were spoken, and they didn't compel his decision, nor was it necessary.

By the way, recall Dmitry Kozak? Recall the spoken demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine and neo-Nazist Kyiv? Not a fifth of Ukraine. Well, maybe that was lying, or they're incapable of taking over (at the moment). Recall where NATO-related nuclear weapons are placed? And the Kremlin circle's hand-waving paranoia about Russia being doomed to destruction? ... Anyway, all trite re-repetition.

As an aside, I'm a bit surprised no one has claimed that Washington is the real actual true cause of Putin's rise. :)

Putin should be detained (or go on extended vacation), Ukraine should perhaps eventually join the EU, and not become a military-industrial powerhouse.

NATO expansion was the most direct cause of this war. — Mikie

No. This decision remains the most direct cause of this war:
"On conducting a special military operation" —Putin

Russian elections expected in Mar 2024.

Vladimir Putin’s interview with Le Figaro
^{— The Kremlin · May 31, 2017}

This is what distinguishes a true world leader from the people we call temporary caretakers, who come for five minutes to show off on the international platform, and then disappear just as quietly. — Putin · Oct 2023

Peskov is convinced that the next president of the Russian Federation should be “the same” as Putin
^{— TASS · Nov 17, 2023}
Jailed Russian nationalist Girkin warns of 'sham' presidential election
^{— Guy Faulconbridge, Elaine Monaghan, Clelia Oziel, Barbara Lewis · Reuters · Nov 19, 2023}

I can easily see Putin and Patrushev in the Kremlin (both bad news), for example. (Navalny is rather unlikely these days.)

Time for some bets? :)

The question is whether we — the US —should have taken the Russian perspective seriously. — Mikie

"the Russian [monolith] perspective", or the (current) Kremlin's?

In this context, the main perspective is Ukrainian; just about everything that happens here is about / in Ukraine. Leave that out, and you've lost perspective — perspective that matter.

By the way, the (supposed) NATO-phobia has come numerous times in the thread already. I suppose it's time for a re-repeat?

I suppose this shows the danger of being out in the open:

Wherever a 155mm projectile will not reach, a missile launched from HIMARS will reach. (Armed Forces of Ukraine · 16s · Nov 10, 2023)

Effective coordination between the aerial reconnaissance of a separate artillery brigade of the Russian Air Force and the HIMARS calculation for the destruction of the enemy "Gradu".

Offensive and movement in monitored areas are very unsafe, hence hunkering down and longer-distance bombing.

No.

I'm wondering why "state" continues to be described as some external, independent, sentient being "out there". It's existentially dependent on people, not some separate entity.

Anyway, a successful state? I thought there were just less unsuccessful states? :)

, hey that could be a useful metric. At least, if many more people want to exit one, and enter another, then the latter is the more successful in some way.

In addition to Iranian kamikaze drones, Chinese "multi-purpose" gear and North Korean bombs, Pakistan Egypt Belarus Brazil buybacks:

Russia Turns to Longtime Arms Customers to Boost War Arsenal
^{— Thomas Grove, Summer Said, Luciana Magalhaes, Gordon Lubold, Saeed Shah, Chao Deng · WSJ · Nov 8, 2023}

Russia spent decades building its arms trade. Now they're going back in secret to their customers trying to buy back what they sold them.

Concerns about running out of means to terrorize Ukraine?

Occupiers report missile attack on Skadovsk: Russian base supposedly hit
^{— Ukrainska Pravda via Yahoo · Nov 9, 2023}

Surgical strike in the south? Either way, Saldo seems to be in a precarious situation.

, the Kremlin gets their way, or it's the nuclear way...?

Russian Official Issues Nuclear Weapons Warning After Historic Achievement
^{— Nick Mordowanec · Newsweek · Nov 6, 2023}

For the first time in the history of the existence of nuclear missile weapons, our country is ahead of its competitors in this [nuclear] domain. — Patrushev (Russia Today)

For some reason, American politicians who are held captive by their own propaganda remain confident that in the event of a direct conflict with Russia, the United States is capable of launching a preventive missile strike, after which Russia will no longer be able to respond. — Patrushev (Rossiyskaya Gazeta)

Putin ally: West increasing risk of weapons of mass destruction being used
^{— Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn, Timothy Heritage · Reuters · Nov 8, 2023}

The natural consequence of the United States' destructive policies is the deterioration in global security. The risk that nuclear, chemical and biological weapons will be used is increasing. The international arms control regime has been undermined. — Patrushev (TASS)

Cold war style paranoia? When was the last time someone threatened the Kremlin with attacking Russia? Nuclear assault? Why would anyone want to? Investment opporutnity?

Meanwhile...

Moscow bombarded 118 Ukraine towns: officials | WION Speed News (WION · 13m:25s · Nov 8, 2023)


Not much by way of a peace trajectory coming out of the Kremlin circle these days. Rich powerful guys terrorize Ukraine and talk paranoia.

Chechen warlord appoints son, 15, as head of his security service (— Sara Odeen-Isbister · Metro · Nov 5, 2023) (also reported by Reuters and Euronews and others)

Not like when I grew up.

According to Express UK and their sources, Russia (partially) went into a war economy, various places (shopping malls, whatever companies) turned into arms production and such.
Anyway, things might not be as rosy in those parts as Pesky says, surely not if some of those casualty estimates are in the right range.
A war economy in part (or perhaps whole) isn't all that surprising with their current leadership, is it?

Transcript: Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova on "Face the Nation," Nov. 5, 2023 (Margaret Brennan · CBS)

Thunberg — Deacon

If I remember right, those people are mostly concerned with policy.

It is the younger generation who is "setting one generation against another". — Agree-to-Disagree

Or climate activists calling out policymakers.

With the brewing climate change, these have taken part in shaping the present: pandemic (Dec 2019), the US leaving Afghanistan (Feb 2020), Russia invading Ukraine (Feb 2022 (also Feb 2014)), Hamas-Israel warring (Oct 2023).
Whether we like it or not, there will be future impact as well.
Frederick Kempe noted "pay now or pay more later".
Paying my part.
What's the cost of longer-term prosperity, progress, anyway?

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief on the breakthrough he needs to beat Russia
^{— The Economist · Nov 1, 2023}

Just like in the first world war we have reached the level of technology that puts us into a stalemate.
I realised that is exactly where we are because just like then, the level of our technological development today has put both us and our enemies in a stupor.
On our monitor screens the day I was there we saw 140 Russian machines ablaze—destroyed within four hours of coming within firing range of our artillery.
The simple fact is that we see everything the enemy is doing and they see everything we are doing. In order for us to break this deadlock we need something new, like the gunpowder which the Chinese invented and which we are still using to kill each other.
It is important to understand that this war cannot be won with the weapons of the past generation and outdated methods.
Let’s be honest, it’s a feudal state where the cheapest resource is human life. And for us…the most expensive thing we have is our people. — Zaluzhnyi

Peskov commented on Zaluzhnyi’s words about the deadlock in the conflict in Ukraine (en)
^{— TASS · Nov 2, 2023}

No, it has not reached a stalemate. Russia is consistently continuing to conduct a special military operation. All the goals set must be fulfilled. — Pesky

Five factors, according to Zaluzhnyi, for Ukraine to progress significantly: air force, electronic warfare, counter-battery fire, dealing with the extensive minefields, reserves.

The Kremlin's (official) goals have gone a bit here and there, though:

Lavrov says Russia’s objectives in Ukraine now extend beyond eastern Donbas region
^{— Radina Gigova, Sana Noor Haq, Jack Guy, Rob Picheta, Tim Lister, Kostan Nechyporenko, Oren Liebermann · CNN · Jul 20, 2022}

At least Zaluzhnyi isn't propagandizing like Pesky.

U.S., European officials broach topic of peace negotiations with Ukraine, sources say
^{— Courtney Kube, Carol E Lee, Kristen Welker · NBC · Nov 3, 2023}

Going by the (official current) Kremlin, it's either continue bombing/destruction, or expansion of authoritarianism regress oppression (and wherever that may lead). Meanwhile their prison population has halved or something.

Unverified independently (though consistent with other efforts):

New recruitment scheme for those unwilling to join the Russian army. (Anton Gerashchenko · Nov 1, 2023)

Some Russian polls, FYI:

Conflict with Ukraine: October 2023 estimates (en) (Levada-Center · Oct 31, 2023)

, , I guess this stuff is a step in that direction, sort of ...?

CEO on why giving all employees minimum salary of $70,000 still "works" six years later: "Our turnover rate was cut in half" (CBS · Sep 16, 2021)

The Company Where Every Employee Earns the Same (WIRED · May 30, 2023)

Who really needs 3 cars and 2 houses anyway? Cut down on the excess.

I guess, by some odd logic, North Korea is waging a proxy war with Ukraine:

North Korea believed to have exported over 1 million shells to Russia
^{— Yoonjung Seo, Sophie Tanno · CNN · Nov 1, 2023}

Those 10 shipments could have made a big :fire: somewhere.

, seems absurd. I guess there's some sort of tactical advantage of sitting on the hill.

, right, yes, in broad strokes, "the West" is often North America + Europe + Australia + New Zealand.

Oct 30, 2023 Russia blames Ukraine and the West for Dagestan airport unrest (Al Jazeera)

"Thief thinks everyone steals." (?)

I'm with the good Doc:

Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one. — Dr Emmett Brown (1990)

if people can remember what mistakes not to repeat — Vera Mont

Evidently, people can't. :/ Or at least enough people can't.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. — Santayana (1905)

I'd say worth serious consideration, except keep it legit. Either way, when the Kremlin deteriorates, all kinds of things are affected. Agreement/unity is unlikely, though. Has come up before.

EU leaders approve using profits from frozen Russian assets
^{— Paola Tamma, Jacopo Barigazzi, Laura Hülsemann · POLITICO · Oct 27, 2023}
Moscow will confiscate EU assets if Brussels 'steals' frozen Russian funds, Putin ally [†] says
^{— Reuters · Oct 29, 2023}

For: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Poland
Cautious due to legalities and economics: Belgium, Luxembourg
Hesitant due to € financialities: France, Germany, ... (The European Central Bank)

[†] Volodin


Out of Solovyov, Medvedev, Trump, who rambles or bullshits the most? :D

Attention, Germany! Russian propagandist Solovyev threatens that Berlin will exist "under the Russian flag." (Gerashchenko · 1m:18s · Oct 30, 2023)

The "quiet invasion" ...

Denial of Georgia's EU membership bid would be "a big victory for Russia," President Zourabichvili says
^{— Sharyn Alfonsi, Ashley Velie, Jennifer Dozor, Erin DuCharme, Peter M Berman · CBS · Oct 29, 2023}

, let me just check that I understand your theory, the military-industrial complex decides what is and isn't sent to Ukraine, and they're in business.

At 11:54 he again forgets that the US isn't handling satellite states like Stalin did with NATO members and Ukraine or Georgia [...] — ssu

Never mind. We'll do it our own way later. — Stalin

Maybe Mearsheimer forgot post-Yalta. At least that Stalin-world ended.

And Western Europe would create it's defense towards Russia without the US — ssu

I suppose one could hope anyway (all of Europe preferably). Expensive, though. The (present somewhat Stalin'esque) Kremlin looms large on the horizon.

Sudan has been a long disaster, humanitarian and otherwise. I'm not particularly optimistic.

Domitilla Sagramoso interview:

'Momentum is on side of Russia' despite minor Ukrainian victories, 'increasing opposition' to Putin
^{— François Picard · France 24 · 9m:44s · Oct 26, 2023}

Slovakia's new populist Prime Minister Robert Fico said Thursday that his government was stopping military aid to Ukraine. Fico told MPs that the country would "no longer supply weapons to Ukraine", repeating promises made during his election campaign, but would still supply humanitarian aid to its war-torn neighbour. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on Russia's brutal war on Ukraine and Slovakia's decision to end military aid to Kyiv, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by Dr. Domitilla Sagramoso, Senior Lecturer in Security and Development and expert on Russian foreign and security policy at King's College London.

By the way, , Hawley's comments, "I also wish our European allies to do their part", echoes what Obama and others have aired prior. So easily post-Yalta is forgotten (also set out in some detail by Anne Applebaum (2012)).

Opinion | Josh Hawley Is Wrong About Israel and Ukraine
^{— Rich Lowry · POLITICO · Oct 11, 2023}

Russia-Ukraine are warring, Hamas-Israel are warring, though not China. Hawley's "I don't see where this is going" oddly forgets the active and violent proliferation of authoritarianism regression oppression contra democracy transparency freedom. I suppose Kara-Murza likely agrees.

why not just ask the US to supply the longer range — boethius

Not just the US, but you're right. They should just have been given the tools/resources from the get-go.


On Russian Nuclear Threat, Putin Lets Others Rattle the Saber
^{— Paul Sonne, David E Sanger · New York Times · Oct 7, 2023}

Oct 20, 2023

Ukraine holds peace formula talks in Malta, Russia absent
^{— Christopher Scicluna, Elaine Monaghan, Andrew Gray, Olena Harmash, David Evans, Mike Harrison · Reuters · Oct 28, 2023}

The world has told the Kremlin όχι.

, sure seems conflicting.

A bit like when Saudi Arabia chaired UN's Human Rights thing, or Russia led UN's Security thing.

I suppose, having the theocrats take some responsibility for all to see, being inclusive, could have some positive effects. One could hope anyway, though admittedly I haven't (personally) been impressed so far.

One day the president of Israel will be a Muslim and all the old people will be like, I thought this would never happen! — frank

Better yet, one day a secular Buddhist will be president of the whole area, and it'll be a genuine democracy with separation of religion and politics.

Doesn't warring itself breach human rights and all that? In a way, if that's where you start reasoning, haven't you already lost...?

Explainer: What war crimes laws apply to the Israel-Palestinian conflict?
^{— Stephanie van den Berg, Anthony Deutsch, Giles Elgood · Reuters · Oct 26, 2023}

What constitutes a war crime? (NBC · 4m:46s · Oct 26, 2023)

all is fair in love and war — @user-bx6we4od7d

If someone has the means and opportunity, then the decision is theirs, others can't decide not to. Anyone may argue about motive, which often enough ends up shrouded in rhetoric.

Migrants Reportedly Being Forced To Sign Contracts With Defense Ministry To Obtain Russian Citizenship
^{— Angelica Evans, Nicole Wolkov, Karolina Hird, Frederick W Kagan · RFE/RL · Aug 28, 2023}

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 24, 2023
^{— Angelica Evans, Nicole Wolkov, Karolina Hird, Frederick W Kagan · ISW · Oct 24, 2023}

Russian authorities are intensifying mobilization efforts targeting Central Asian migrant communities in Russia. Russian Internal Affairs (MVD) Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev met with the MVD board to discuss “migration problems” and “ethnic crime” and insinuated that migrants commit crimes at a higher rate than natural born Russian citizens.⁽⁷⁾ Kolokoltsev defended recent Russian law enforcement mobilization raids on migrant communities and claimed that Russian law enforcement is enforcing standard legal norms.⁽⁸⁾ A Russian insider source claimed that the Russian Investigative Committee is conducting investigations into naturalized migrants with Russian citizenship and is reopening previously terminated and canceled criminal cases in order to mobilize migrants to fight in Ukraine.⁽⁹⁾ The insider source also claimed that the Russian Investigative Committee will now investigate migrants for committing any offense, even minor ones, and will expand that individual’s investigation to include their friends and family. The insider source claimed that unspecified actors, possibly the MVD or MVD Head Alexander Bastrykin, ordered Russian state media to increase reporting about ethnic crime in Russia, likely to set informational conditions for further mobilization raids on migrant communities.⁽¹⁰⁾ Bastrykin has continually advocated for the targeted mobilization of migrants with Russian citizenship, in line with Russian law enforcement’s recent expansion of its efforts to detain and forcibly register migrants with Russian citizenship for military service.<sup>(11)

(7) https://t.me/NeoficialniyBeZsonoV/30299 ; https://t.me/vysokygovorit/13239 ; https://t.me/MedvedevVesti/15640 ; https://mvdmedia.ru/news/official/vladimir-kolokoltsev-provel-zasedanie-kollegii-mvd-rossii-posvyashchennoe-protivodeystviyu-nelegalno/
(8) https://t.me/NeoficialniyBeZsonoV/30299 ; https://t.me/vysokygovorit/13239 ; https://t.me/MedvedevVesti/15640 ; https://mvdmedia.ru/news/official/vladimir-kolokoltsev-provel-zasedanie-kollegii-mvd-rossii-posvyashchennoe-protivodeystviyu-nelegalno/
(9) https://t.me/vchkogpu/43131
(10) https://t.me/vchkogpu/43131
(11) https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-22-2023 ; https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-20-2023 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-29-2023 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-12-2023</sup>

Putin sends message in German to Schröder's critics
^{— t-online · Oct 24, 2023}

I would like to say, the further one gets from Schröder, the closer one comes to Anthony Rota, the Speaker of the Canadian Parliament, who sympathizes with the Nazis. There are many decent people in Germany, and I am sure many will hear this. — Pukin

Plainly, Rota isn't Nazi or a sympathizer. Neither is the Canadian government, nor the Canadian populace at large. That then makes Putin a liar, caught in the act. Don't know if any of his home peers called him out; if any have or will, hopefully, they won't get "sent away" as "extremists".

But, hey, yes, there are many good Germans.

‘So Russians don’t fear them’ Putin administration tells pro-government media not to report on crimes committed by returning soldiers
^{— Andrey Pertsev · Meduza · Oct 24, 2023}