Ukraine Watch...

[UndercoverElephant]

Russia says it will "drastically reduce activity around Kyiv to encourage ceasefire negotiations"

In other words they a losing badly in that area and want to avoid a rout.

Or at least they can't afford a lengthy stalemate and need the troops elsewhere. They also mentioned Chernihiv, which is north-east of Kiev, much closer to the Russian border. If you look at this at a map then it quickly becomes clear that this is a very significant announcement. Yes, it is a withdrawal that is being dishonestly presented as an act of good will, but as a withdrawal it is signals Russia really has given up on Kiev and everywhere west of there. They are already being pushed back to Kherson in the south, away from Odesa. They are also getting nowhere fast trying to take Kharkiv, which means this war is now about Russia taking Mariopul, establishing a land corridor to Crimea and taking the whole of Donetsk and Luhansk.

I think Ukraine wil refuse to make any territorial concessions, and I am beginning to wonder whether Russia might even end up being kicked out of Crimea.

[adam2]

Two posts deleted as they contained insults and added nothing to informed debate.

[Vortex2]

>> You are either a russian troll, or a complete f***ing idiot. If I was running this board, you would be banned along with your chum invalid.

Undemocratic cancel culture is clearly extending its tendrils into PowerSwitch.

[adam2]

There no plans to ban those with different views to the majority, PROVIDED THAT such views are expressed in a polite and reasonable way.
Insults or threats will be deleted as will be otherwise reasonable posts that contain quotes of insults or replies thereto.

[Default0ptions]

In my opinion the attack, or lack of it, on Kiev/Kyiv is a feint

Maybe you were on the right track back there, BritDownUnder. Tie up Ukrainian forces there and elsewhere and hinder reinforcements and/or resupply to the bulk of the forces arrayed against the separatist regions in the Donbas.

Seems to have been a very costly tactic though

[kenneal - lagger]

A 40 mile long convoy is one hell of a feint! And it took quite heavy losses but then that is the Russian way: human wave attacks with no thought for the casualties. Russian losses in WW2 were the fault of the Russians themselves because of the way that they conducted their operations. They seem to have learned nothing or still don't give a damn about their youth. Western allied losses were a fraction of Russian losses in that ear.

I read an article that said that Putin has deliberately bled the military dry so that it doesn't pose a threat to his power. That threat is also the reason that the Russian army doesn't have a corps of NCOs to control and lead the troops like western armies do. A lot of the proletariat with command and leadership skills could form a definite threat to Putin's power.

The article also suggested that the Russian government is a criminal organisation which has been set up to bleed the country dry so a weak military is a necessity so that there is no institution in the country with the power to stop the criminal activity. I have often thought that the reason that there was low levels of crime in the USSR was because the criminals were running the place. The KGB took over the running of Russia and have made even more money ever since off the back of the oil and gas industry.

[mr brightside]

>> You are either a russian troll, or a complete f***ing idiot. If I was running this board, you would be banned along with your chum invalid.

Undemocratic cancel culture is clearly extending its tendrils into PowerSwitch.

The forum will be at risk of closure if it turns into a slanging match. What we say to each other on here, in today's society, directly reflects on Powerswitch as an organisation; though i have to confess i'm not clear about who or what Powerswitch is as a lot of the links on the homepage are broken. It basically seems to be a rather interesting if slightly eccentric message board.

Putin needs to be convinced to step down as leader of Russia, it's time someone else had a go. He's had his day.

[Stumuz2]

Germany activates emergency energy plan, because those Ruskies demanding payment in Rubles.
https://financialpost.com/pmn/business- ... nergy-plan

[Catweazle]

An interesting video about the events leading to Putins invasion.

https://twitter.com/claraweiss_wsws/sta ... 2706910215

[PS_RalphW]

UK has issued 2,700 visas to Ukrainians in the 2 weeks since the "visas for homes" scheme started, with at least 20,000 people offering homes to named Ukrainian citizens

[adam2]

The possible requirement to pay for russian gas in roubles seems very odd to me.
Most banana republics and dodgy dictatorships insist on payments in hard currency such as dollars or sterling, to insist on payments in ones own funny money seems very odd.
Some of the revenue from gas sales is presumably to be spent on weapons. Surely international arms dealers would prefer or require hard currency ?

[Stumuz2]

The possible requirement to pay for russian gas in roubles seems very odd to me.
Most banana republics and dodgy dictatorships insist on payments in hard currency such as dollars or sterling, to insist on payments in ones own funny money seems very odd.
Some of the revenue from gas sales is presumably to be spent on weapons. Surely international arms dealers would prefer or require hard currency ?

Putin has split the world into 'the west' and 'rest of the world'.

The west can pay for energy, fertiliser, grains, in gold or rubles. So far the west has said no. We shall see.

The rest of the world can pay in their local currency, Eg, Brazilian real, rubles, or gold. When the Brazilians get their cheaper oil, the Russians get the Real. The exchange the Real for rubles, on the FX market which strengthens the Ruble. Win win.

It is not just energy that Putin wants Rubles and Gold. He said yesterday, that as all fiat currency can be confiscated, only hard currencies will be accepted by Russia in the future. He then went on to define hard currencies. Food, energy, precious and non precious metals, raw materials, timber,i.e only physical goods

Not a word on the news. Could be a new currency epoch. Germany could be out of gas by the weekend.

One thing we know about Putin. He plays the long game and he has just hit the ball into our court.

[adam2]

Germany wont be "out of gas by the weekend" they have substantial stocks, unlike us.
As reported upthread, Germany HAVE declared the first step of a three stage plan for gas shortages.

[Stumuz2]

Yes, the weekend is a bit soon!
But aren't the stocks only 30%full at the mo'?

[automaticearth2]

Yes, the weekend is a bit soon!
But aren't the stocks only 30%full at the mo'?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3 ... or-germany

Habeck said on Wednesday Germany’s gas storage is currently filled to about 25 percent capacity.

Close, but 25% sounds pretty low - let's hope they have a mild spring....