Ukraine 2

[Right_in_Virginia]

Is the EU getting ready to move on?

Zelenskyy: Macron asked Ukraine to make concessions to help Putin save face
Politico, May 13, 2022

French President Emmanuel Macron asked Ukraine to make concessions on its sovereignty to help Russian leader Vladimir Putin save face, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

https://www.politico.eu/article/zelenskyy-macron-asked-ukraine-concession-help-putin-save-face/

Zelensky: Only diplomacy can end Ukraine War
May 21, 2022
BBC

The war in Ukraine can only be resolved through "diplomacy", President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Speaking on national TV, he suggested his country could be victorious against Russia on the battlefield. However, he added that the war could only come to a conclusive halt "at the negotiating table".

Meanwhile, heavy fighting is taking place in and around Severodonetsk, as Russian forces step up efforts to seize the whole of the Luhansk region.

The end of fighting in the southern port city of Mariupol has freed up Russian troops for redeployment elsewhere and allowed them to intensify their onslaught in the east. ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61535353

OSINT Aggregator
@AggregateOsint

#Italy has circulated a 4-point peace plan to the #UnitedNations for the #UkraineRussiaWar - 1. Immediate ceasefire 2. Permanent #Ukrainian neutrality 3. De facto independence for #Crimea and #Donbas 4. Withdrawal of 🇷🇺 troops and end to 🇷🇺 sanctions.

Wall St. Journal: Italy Circulates 4-Point Peace Plan: 
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-05-20/card/italy-circulates-4-point-peace-plan-h2o9EfwULf6P1mwDbjdn?mod=article_inline

2:47 PM · May 22, 2022

France's European Minister: A Ukraine EU Bid Would Take At Least 15-20 Years
May 23, 2022

France’s European affairs minister said that any bid for Ukraine to join the European Union would take at least 15 to 20 years to complete, putting a damper on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hopes of gaining a quick entry into the bloc.

"We have to be honest. If you say Ukraine is going to join the EU in six months, or a year or two, you're lying," Clement Beaune told France’s Radio J on May 22. "It's probably in 15 or 20 years -- it takes a long time."

"I don't want to offer Ukrainians any illusions or lies," he added.

The comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Ukraine be invited to join some form of “associated” political community with the EU.

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-france-european-union-bid/31862357.html   

[Kamaji]

Nephew of Sergei Shoigu's right-hand man in Russian defence ministry is killed by Ukrainian forces: Paratrooper commander becomes first relative of a senior Putin official to die during invasion

By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
23 May 2022

The nephew of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu's right-hand man has been killed by Ukrainian forces in the war.

Captain Adam Khamkhoyev, 30, a paratrooper commander, was killed on Friday night in Ukraine and later buried in the southern Russian province of Ingushetia.

His uncle Colonel-General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, 58, Russia's hardline deputy defence minister under Shoigu, attended the funeral in plain clothes.

Khamkhoyev's death marks the first time a relative of a senior Putin official has died during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844451/Nephew-Sergei-Shoigus-right-hand-man-Russian-defence-ministry-killed-Ukrainian-forces.html

[Kamaji]

Baby-faced Russian tank commander, 21, is sentenced to LIFE for killing 62-year-old civilian in Ukraine invasion's first war crime trial

By RACHAEL BUNYAN FOR MAILONLINE
23 May 2022

A baby-faced Russian tank commander has today been sentenced to life in prison for murdering an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Vadim Shishimarin, 21, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the opening days of the war after being ordered to shoot him. 

Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a 'criminal order' by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim's head from an automatic weapon.

Shishimarin, wearing a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt, watched proceedings silently from a reinforced glass box in the courtroom and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out.

The Russian tank commander was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to charges of war crimes and murder for killing Oleksandr, who was shot in the northeastern village of Chupakhivka, Sumy region, on February 28 while pushing his bicycle along the road.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10845057/Russian-tank-commander-sentenced-LIFE-killing-civilian-Ukraines-war-crime-trial.html

[Kamaji]

Russia 'has lost as many men in its three-month Ukrainian invasion as it did during entire NINE-YEAR war in Afghanistan due to poor tactics and leadership'

By TOM BROWN FOR MAILONLINE
23 May 2022

Russian losses in Ukraine over the first three months are likely to have already surpassed those of the Soviet-Afghan war which lasted nine years, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

The Soviet Union's losses are estimated to be around 15,000 killed in the Afghan war, with an additional 35,478 wounded and 311 missing.

'The Russian public has, in the past, proven sensitive to casualties suffered during wars of choice,' said the UK government ministry, which did not name the exact figure.

'As casualties suffered in Ukraine continue to rise they will become more apparent, and public dissatisfaction with the war and a willingness to voice it may grow.'

Poor tactics, limited air cover, a lack of flexibility, and a command approach reinforcing failure and repeating mistakes has led to the high casualty rate, said the ministry.

The UK's Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace previously estimated that approximately a quarter of Russia's battalion tactical groups were 'not combat effective.'

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844747/Russia-lost-men-Ukraine-invasion-did-entire-NINE-YEAR-war-Afghanistan.html

[Kamaji]

Putin's TV appearances were 'staged' last week to mask his absence from duties amid growing rumours of health problems - while a hardline ally 'holds the Kremlin reins', opposition source claims

By WILL STEWART and CHRIS MATTHEWS FOR MAILONLINE
22 May 2022

Public appearances by Vladimir Putin were 'staged' last week to mask an absence from duties, raising new speculation about his health, an opposition source claimed.

Old footage was used in video appearances for several meetings, it was alleged.

Trusted aide Nikolai Patrushev - a former FSB chief - is now in virtual control of the Kremlin, and is the recipient of top level briefings that would normally go direct to Putin, claimed General SVR Telegram channel.

The same outlet has previously asserted that Putin has been ordered by doctors to undergo surgery related to a cancer condition, and had predicted his temporary disappearance despite the war in Ukraine.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10842537/Putins-TV-appearances-staged-week-mask-absence-duties.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

Love the spirit animal   

Pedro L. Gonzalez
@emeriticus

Kinzinger has to LARP this hard because his life blows and he doesn't have the courage to actually go to Ukraine and fight. We are basically watching a man whose spirit animal is Meghan McCain live out a midlife crisis on the internet.

Adam Kinzinger
@AdamKinzinger
 · May 21

Coincidently, I’m celebrating the 27,000 dead Russian soldiers and a bakers dozen dead GENERALS!  How embarrassing for you!!
#SlavaUkraine twitter.com/Dpol_un/status…

1:56 AM · May 23, 2022·Twitter for Android

[Right_in_Virginia]

Glenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald

I really wish people understood: it's only in the US and parts of Europe where USG propaganda -- about how we fight wars to benevolently save people and democracies  -- works. Everywhere else, it provokes a laughing fit, especially in countries that have seen US power first-hand.



2:10 PM · May 22, 2022   Twitter Web App

[Right_in_Virginia]

Glenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald

The US, like every major power, doesn't do wars to help people. That's the propagandistic packaging for domestic pacifying.

I never understood how the USG can get Americans to believe it fights for democracy while propping up the Saudis, Egyptian generals, and supporting coups.

2:15 PM · May 22, 2022    Twitter Web App

[Kamaji]

Baby-faced Russian tank commander, 21, is sentenced to LIFE for killing 62-year-old civilian in Ukraine invasion's first war crime trial

By RACHAEL BUNYAN FOR MAILONLINE
23 May 2022

A baby-faced Russian tank commander has today been sentenced to life in prison for murdering an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Vadim Shishimarin, 21, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the opening days of the war after being ordered to shoot him. 

Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a 'criminal order' by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim's head from an automatic weapon.

Shishimarin, wearing a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt, watched proceedings silently from a reinforced glass box in the courtroom and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out.

The Russian tank commander was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to charges of war crimes and murder for killing Oleksandr, who was shot in the northeastern village of Chupakhivka, Sumy region, on February 28 while pushing his bicycle along the road.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10845057/Russian-tank-commander-sentenced-LIFE-killing-civilian-Ukraines-war-crime-trial.html

That is substantially better treatment than Ukraine civilians are suffering at the hands of the Russians - in fact, better treatment than Russian soldiers are suffering at the hands of their fellow Russians.

The only real nazis in Ukraine are the Russians.

[Hoodat]

Glenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald

I never understood how the USG can get Americans to believe it fights for democracy while propping up the Saudis, Egyptian generals, and supporting coups.

2:15 PM · May 22, 2022    Twitter Web App

I never understand how Russian propagandists can crank out this drivel while Russian forces continue the wholesale slaughter of the Ukrainian people.

[mountaineer]

It's not Russian propaganda to ask why the US supports corrupt and oppressive regimes - and, no, I'm not talking about Ukraine.

[mountaineer]

Joe is losing - or has lost - the NYT.

The New York Times
@nytimes
May 19
In Opinion
Without clarity on its aims and strategy for the war in Ukraine, the White House not only risks losing Americans’ support but also jeopardizes long-term peace and security on the European continent, writes the editorial board.

9:50 PM · May 19, 2022

Link to opinion piece

[mystery-ak]

Russia 'has lost as many men in its three-month Ukrainian invasion as it did during entire NINE-YEAR war in Afghanistan due to poor tactics and leadership'

    Poor tactics, limited air cover, a lack of flexibility, and commanders repeating mistakes has led to high Russian casualties, said the UK Defence Ministry
    Public dissatisfaction with the war within Russia is likely to increase, it added
    Experts say the Russian offensive could grind to a halt around the middle of June

By Tom Brown For Mailonline

Published: 05:27 EDT, 23 May 2022 | Updated: 06:11 EDT, 23 May 2022

Russian losses in Ukraine over the first three months are likely to have already surpassed those of the Soviet-Afghan war which lasted nine years, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

The Soviet Union's losses are estimated to be around 15,000 killed in the Afghan war, with an additional 35,478 wounded and 311 missing.

'The Russian public has, in the past, proven sensitive to casualties suffered during wars of choice,' said the UK government ministry, which did not name the exact figure.

more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844747/Russia-lost-men-Ukraine-invasion-did-entire-NINE-YEAR-war-Afghanistan.html

[sneakypete]

French President Emmanuel Macron asked Ukraine to make concessions on its sovereignty to help Russian leader Vladimir Putin save face, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

@Right_in_Virginia   Some things never change. The French being "surrender monkeys" is one of them.

[Kamaji]

Thousands chant 'f*** the war' at a concert in St Petersburg as Putin faces backlash over Ukrainian invasion

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE
23 May 2022

This is the extraordinary moment concert-goers in Russia's second-largest city chanted 'f** the war' as opposition to Putin's invasion of Ukraine grows.

Footage shows hundreds of people in a packed venue in St Petersburg repeatedly denouncing the war in Ukraine in a brazen show of defiance to Putin.

It is unclear exactly when the footage was filmed, but it was posted online at the weekend by a member of opposition politician Alexei Navalny's party.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844695/Ukraine-Thousands-chant-f-war-concert-Russia.html

[sneakypete]

Russia 'has lost as many men in its three-month Ukrainian invasion as it did during entire NINE-YEAR war in Afghanistan due to poor tactics and leadership'

By TOM BROWN FOR MAILONLINE
23 May 2022

Russian losses in Ukraine over the first three months are likely to have already surpassed those of the Soviet-Afghan war which lasted nine years, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

The Soviet Union's losses are estimated to be around 15,000 killed in the Afghan war, with an additional 35,478 wounded and 311 missing.

'The Russian public has, in the past, proven sensitive to casualties suffered during wars of choice,' said the UK government ministry, which did not name the exact figure.

'As casualties suffered in Ukraine continue to rise they will become more apparent, and public dissatisfaction with the war and a willingness to voice it may grow.'

Poor tactics, limited air cover, a lack of flexibility, and a command approach reinforcing failure and repeating mistakes has led to the high casualty rate, said the ministry.

The UK's Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace previously estimated that approximately a quarter of Russia's battalion tactical groups were 'not combat effective.'

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10844747/Russia-lost-men-Ukraine-invasion-did-entire-NINE-YEAR-war-Afghanistan.html

@Kamaji

Ok,who here thinks these causality numbers are being reported by the Russian press?

Buehler?

Anyone?

[Kamaji]

@Kamaji

Ok,who here thinks these causality numbers are being reported by the Russian press?

Buehler?

Anyone?

Most likely nobody in the Russian press; however, they are probably beginning to circulate in the old fashioned way, like the old samizdat.

[sneakypete]

It's not Russian propaganda to ask why the US supports corrupt and oppressive regimes - and, no, I'm not talking about Ukraine.

@mountaineer

The answer to that is sometimes it is in America's best interest to support one corrupt,repressive regime over another because that ONE regime,unlike the OTHER regime,is not anti-American and doesn't support other regimes that are anti-American?

This is reality,not kissy-face romance.

Or would you maybe prefer we purposely supported regimes that are a threat to us?

[sneakypete]

Most likely nobody in the Russian press; however, they are probably beginning to circulate in the old fashioned way, like the old samizdat.

@Kamaji

You can count on it. One of the most common Soviet-era jokes was "The government pretends to report the news,and we pretend to believe it."

[DefiantMassRINO]

America supported Sadam Hussein before we opposed him.

America supported Osama bin Laden before he opposed us.

America supported Stalin in WWII before opposing him in the Cold War.

"Friend", "enemy", "ally", and "competitor" are all momentary transactional perspectives.

Ukraine was dumb enough to de-nuclearize with security "guarantees" at America's request.

[bilo]

The essences of maneuver warfare are mobility and firepower. These vehicles add stealth as well.

Good for this application, and relatively inexpensive.

Nothing like necessity to force a new approach. The way the Ukrainians have used drones, ATV's, e-bikes is something else.

[mountaineer]

Or would you maybe prefer we purposely supported regimes that are a threat to us?

That's not at all what I said, and that certainly wasn't implied.

 I merely stated that asking questions about US policy does not make one a Russian propagandist. That's the allegation to which I responded.

[bilo]

@Right_in_Virginia   Some things never change. The French being "surrender monkeys" is one of them.

Well they are great at asking others to surrender sovereign territory. I don't think we would be so agreeable if Mexico wanted Texas back.

[txradioguy]

America supported Sadam Hussein before we opposed him.

America supported Osama bin Laden before he opposed us.

America supported Stalin in WWII before opposing him in the Cold War.

"Friend", "enemy", "ally", and "competitor" are all momentary transactional perspectives.

Ukraine was dumb enough to de-nuclearize with security "guarantees" at America's request.

We never supported Bin Laden.

[Smokin Joe]

We never supported Bin Laden.

There was a lot of support for the Mujahedin though against the Russians.
We have been here before.