Quote from: DaRude on Today at 07:17:52 AM

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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.

Medieval thinking 100%.

Again, Putin telling the people of other countries what they can and cannot do in the name of his safety. Again, Putin telling all countries that they cannot join NATO because he says so. This is Putin considering himself ruler of the old USSR and the one who can tell Europe what can and cannot do. It is no longer the case and, after this war, he will be lucky if other "territories" do not start revolting in view of the inefficacy of its army.

Quote from: DaRude on Today at 07:17:52 AM

US pretty much said that Russia is not allowed to have national security interests

On the contrary, Russia has security interests, Ukraine has security interests (even more now), Finland has security interests, Sweden, Lithuania, Letonia,... all have security interests... the question is why Putin's interest are better than anyone else's. Is it because he's got a better army / more power? Now that argument seems to have a few leaks.

Quote from: DaRude on Today at 07:17:52 AM

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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...

Worry not, Ukraine's battle plan is much more about using the howitzer's sent by France, US, Germany plus a few counter battery radars to blast Putin's army. The Ghost can take the day off. The Caesar units sent by France are classed as the best in the world - even they look like IKEA furniture half-assembled.

Escalation, you mean, as opposed to Putin's de-escalation by sending his troops over the border? By funding and providing military means to his hidden army in the Donbas? Seriously, try to have some sense of reality when playing the blame game.

Quote from: DaRude on Today at 07:17:52 AM

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It'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

The Javelins, NLAWS and other handheld weapons are very visual and catchy. They have and are helping Ukraine slow the Russian progress. However, the killing has been done by artillery mostly.

A usual, there is one winner to this war (perhaps two). 8 years of preparation and a great success for them. Not a surprise.

Quote from: DaRude on Today at 08:41:26 AM

... Russia declares full war and gets Ukraine, US becomes a saver of Europe once again, China enjoys stability and quietly pushes its agenda in the temporary vacuum. A shame really

There you go, you just found the winners of Putin's war.

Quote from: Branko on Today at 08:16:04 AM

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Except that is the same thing said politely, while behind the scene bribing Zelensky to insist on joining,
despite knowing that means war

Of course, you can have a government, vote, have an economy and try to be free. But only if you do not anger Putin. This sounds like the guy that batters a girl and says that it is her fault for not wanting to have sex.

Quote from: Branko on Today at 11:15:50 AM

I'm afraid real tests for dedication to NATO are yet to come

You are getting a taste of the first one, and Ukraine is not even in NATO.

Quote from: be.open on Today at 11:39:31 AM

.... Israel in the current situation can do little to help Russia, and little can interfere with it - it has enough of its own problems with Palestine.

That's cute. Israel does not only mean Israel, but the resources of Jews across the globe that are backing it - certainly influential.

Quote from: be.open on Today at 06:59:55 PM

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What for? Isn't Ukraine already confident of its victory with such strong military support from the West? Just burn all the Russian tanks with javelins and wait for the Russians to finally run out of those damn missiles.

Mmm, sounds like a plan... but no. Russia will not run out of tanks - it may eventually run out of young people willing to go into them or able to use them or maybe of ships if they keep sinking "by themselves". The USSR did not break because it ran out of tanks, nor nuclear weapons, nor people - however...

The West has more than enough resources to stall the war and take back, likely, much of the territory occupied. Ukraine has the manpower and the will to be free of Putin. The US strategy is not to win the war, and US does not want to depose Putin - that is far too risky due to the nuclear arsenal - but to render Russia unable to try this again. That is not going to be achieved by weapons alone, that's sure.

You know who should be ending this war? Europe, Ukraine and Russia. All the loosers.