This is a very interesting development, explaining Russia's current and previous, recent massing of troops, along Ukraine's border. It was an odd thing, for that last force buildup, to have receded, without incident. It was, perhaps due to an earlier coup plot, that fell through. Having the Russian invasion coincide with a coup, would ensure confusion, and delay, on the part of the Ukrainian resistance. The timing is also very fortuitous for Russia, since with the slowness of oil producers, catching up with renewed world demand, Europe's reliance on Russian oil will make it even harder to get a united NATO response, even regarding economic SANCTIONS, and military equipment support, which are the more likely responses, as opposed to a direct, military one. The first SNIP is from a Reuters article from four days ago. The second SNIP is from just an hour ago. <SNIP> Speaking at an hours-long news conference, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained audio recordings of the plotters talking about involving business magnate Rinat Akhmetov into joining their coup. "We have challenges not only from the Russian Federation and possible escalation - we have big internal challenges. I received information that a coup d'etat will take place in our country on Dec. 1-2," Zelenskiy said. Akhmetov said in a statement: "The information made public by Volodymyr Zelenskiy about attempts to draw me into some kind of coup is an absolute lie. I am outraged by the spread of this lie, no matter what the president's motives are." <END SNIP> https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...ia-absolutely-behind-coup-attempt-2021-11-30/ <Snip> He also said a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border, the second such surge since May, was part of a wider Russian effort to break Ukrainian momentum towards joining the European Union. "They are preparing something," Shmygal said of Russia, without elaborating. <End Snip> If this comes to fruition, will defenders of Russia claim that it was merely coincidence, that Russia's troops happened to be massed at the border, at the time? Another article, from POLITICO, claims that some of the Intelligence about this coup, came to Ukraine from the U.S. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-zelenskiy-coup-akhmetov-russia/amp/ <SNIP> One person close to Zelenskiy said the U.S. had provided Ukraine with intelligence in recent weeks indicating there would be “an internal destabilization effort,” with the possibility that one or more Ukrainian oligarchs could be involved... Zelenskiy’s claim comes in the context of high tensions with Russia. The U.S. and NATO warn Moscow may be planning a full-fledged invasion as it builds up troops on Ukraine’s war-torn eastern border and in Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden said he would “in all probability” be speaking to Zelenskiy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin about the coup allegations. He voiced U.S. objections to “anything remotely approaching” talk of a coup. “I am concerned,” Biden told reporters. “We support Ukraine’s territorial integrity. We support Ukraine’s ability to govern itself.” Moscow denied any involvement in a coup plot.”Russia has never had any plans to take part,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov <End Snip> https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.co...ems-to-plot-against-ukraine-with-troops-coup/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-11-29/ukraine-on-high-alert-as-threat-of-russia-backed-coup-looms?context=amp <SNIP> “When we speak of a hybrid warfare, external military pressure goes hand in hand with domestic destabilization of the country,” <Ukrainian Foreign Minister> Kuleba said in a teleconference from Kyiv. “I want to be clear: If – if – Russia decides to resort to the last measure of military offensive operation, it will undoubtedly be preceded or accompanied by systemic and bold attempts to destabilize Ukraine from inside by all means available to Russia.” Ukraine, the U.S. and their partners in Europe have expressed alarm in recent weeks at a massive buildup of Russian forces on its side of the border adjacent to the ongoing Russia-backed warzone in Ukraine’s eastern reaches. Russia has also mobilized thousands of forces it deployed to the Crimean Peninsula earlier this year under the auspices of a military exercise but never removed. And Western officials, including Kuleba on Monday, also believe a migrant crisis in Belarus orchestrated by Putin amounts to an attempt to destabilize the region including Ukraine – along with recent deployments there of Russian special operations and paratroops. <End Snip>
I've been saying since Biden got elected that I wouldn't be surprised if the Russians launched an invasion into eastern Ukraine tried to seize a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula and its strategically vital port of Sevastopol. Now would be a good time for Vlad the Invader to pull the trigger, unless he wants to wait until the weather gets a little colder...
Then again, the previous guy wanted the Ukrainians to fight the Russian tanks with blankets... I don't trust the democrat vis a vis Russia since Roosevelt did jack **** to counter them occupying half of Europe. Hell he even backstabbed Churchill on that subject, but I wouldn't trust the GOP to do a better job after the Iraqi and Afghanistan debacles.
If by "previous guy" you mean Obama, that's true. He blew off the commitments Bill Clinton made to Ukraine in the 1994 Budapest Accords and then refused to sell arms to Kiev even though he got the green light from Congress. As for the "previous guy" (Trump), he finally allowed the Ukranians to purchase lethal weapons - something Biden suspended back in June when the Russians were massing troops on the Ukrainian border: White House freezes Ukraine military package that includes lethal weapons Officials prepped $100 million worth of arms as Russia massed troops on the border, then put it on pause as the Biden-Putin summit approached. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/18/white-house-ukraine-military-lethal-weapons-495169 Well, Dems are in charge of foreign policy now, and after looking at the withdrawal fiasco in Afghanistan and how Obama, Biden & Co. did nothing about Russia's seizure and annexation of Crimea, Vlad the Invader's gotta be feeling good about his chances vis a vis the United States. Furthermore, with Europe leaning towards more dependency on Russian gas, he knows he's got them over a barrel.
Putin set to take the rest of Ukraine and we're all busy arguing over who's fault it was he took and has kept Crimea. newsflash... It's Putin's fault, and he is going to take the rest of Ukraine unless western democracies get their **** together and do something about it. Internal political bickering is why democracies eventually fail.
No argument that Roosevelt was too naive, w/ respect to Russia; but: 1) he was, then, in very ill health (& it does not take anything away from his foresight in seeing the need for the U.S. role in WW2, & his efforts to make that a reality); 2) it makes no sense to apply that early naivety to Democrats of today (these days, it is only among the Trumpist crowd that you find warm sentiments for Russia/Putin).
Another name for, 'internal bickering," is "debate," which is absolutely essential to any democratic government. I am curious as to what examples you had in mind, confirming your belief that what you stated, was a fundamental law of democracies. I would guess that what you really meant was closer to, "indecisiveness," and "weak resolve." In this case, it would be premature, I think, to make that diagnosis. That being said, it certainly is reasonable to consider what course of action would be the most cost-effective, at combatting Russia's new military expansionism. This, of course, is dependent upon the other nations of NATO, and the world, so would be foolish of us to decide upon, unilaterally. I am sure that there are ongoing discussions about this, between Biden's administration and our European partners, in particular.
Debate over what to do is debate. Debate over what went wrong is debate. Debate over who's fault it is, is bickering.
I completely agree with you. But, other than in forums, like this, I do not think that is what politicians are talking about (at least I hope it's not). If & when Putin finally moves, I guess we'll find out.
