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“In a dialogue with the United States and its allies, we will insist on working out specific agreements that would exclude any further NATO moves eastward and the deployment of weapons systems that threaten us in close vicinity to Russian territory,” Putin said.
He charged that “the threats are mounting on our western border,” with NATO placing its military infrastructure closer to Russia and offered the West to engage in substantive talks on the issue, adding that Moscow would need not just verbal assurances, but “legal guarantees.”
“We aren't demanding any special conditions for ourselves and realize that any agreements must take interests of Russia and all Euro-Atlantic countries into account,” Putin said. “A calm and stable situation must be ensured for all and is needed for all without exclusion.”
Putin's statement came a day after he sternly warned NATO against deploying its troops and weapons to Ukraine, saying it represented a red line for Russia and would trigger a strong response.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-worried-ukrainian-military-buildup-81487169He charged that “the threats are mounting on our western border,” with NATO placing its military infrastructure closer to Russia and offered the West to engage in substantive talks on the issue, adding that Moscow would need not just verbal assurances, but “legal guarantees.”
“We aren't demanding any special conditions for ourselves and realize that any agreements must take interests of Russia and all Euro-Atlantic countries into account,” Putin said. “A calm and stable situation must be ensured for all and is needed for all without exclusion.”
Putin's statement came a day after he sternly warned NATO against deploying its troops and weapons to Ukraine, saying it represented a red line for Russia and would trigger a strong response.
So this was back on December 1, 2021 and we all know how that turned out, US pretty much said that Russia is not allowed to have national security interests in any country and NATO will expand anywhere it wishes. Because freedoms and such (except where it's not convenient for US like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Myanmar, Turkey etc...) But now in interesting turn of events for religious? Biden
Quote from: Pope Francis
Pope Francis quoting Putin "It is necessary to put an end to the irresponsible policy of intervening from outside and building democracy in other countries, ignoring the traditions of the peoples."...Francis suggested that perhaps “NATO barking at Russia’s gate” had caused Mr. Putin to invade his neighbor, which doesn’t belong to the alliance. “
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pope-francis-blames-nato-russia-ukraine-11651598988I mean we have the Pope himself directly saying that Ukraine doesn't belong to the alliance. Will be an awkward Sunday mass for Biden. Not sure how this could be spun any other way, is it time to bring freedom and democracy to Vatican??
The only way for US to save face is to get rid of Putin at the cost of Ukrainian lives. But back then, from the same article Zelensky himself pretty much admitting that Ukraine had no chance against Russia
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...“We must tell the truth — we wouldn't be able to stop the war without direct talks with Russia,” Zelenskyy said.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-worried-ukrainian-military-buildup-81487169
But what do you know apparently the ghost of Kiev, and the guy who told the Russian ship to fuck itself, before surrendering, are super warriors who are able to hold Russia back! Well that, and little help...
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Ukraine supplied 25,000 anti-aircraft weapons...and its allies had also supplied Ukraine with 60,000 anti-tank systems.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-supplied-25000-anti-aircraft-weapons-by-us-allies-us-general-2022-04-07Quote
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., noted the U.S. has sent roughly 5,000 Javelins and 1,400 Stingers to Ukraine, comprising 33% and 25% of their respective stockpiles. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., described the state of the missile inventory as “very thin.”
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2022-05-03/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-stockpiles-austin-javelins-stingers-5884318.htmlIt's from a month back, even with only the "official" numbers that's like what, 10 anti-tank missiles for each Rusisan tank? Now we wait how Russia will reply to such escalations, either folds or doubles down and escalate by mobilizing, and what will NATO do then? The world inches closer to midnight, Ukraine suffering huge losses now and stands to loose exponentially more. Anyone left who still thinks this is not a complete failure for everyone? 8yr preparation of Ukrainian army tells me that this was not a surprise for anyone, was just a matter of time