Ukraine

[andydclements]

At the moment it seems unclear what his statement was, in terms of was it his personal view and so political/career suicide (and possibly actual suicide) by varying from the kremlin policy line, or was it a well-planned Kremlin move to start to alter the narrative and so soften the ground for some less-positive news. Either way, it was a bit of a shock.

[ramjet]

Either that female journo does not understand what the other journo is saying or she has taken a really big drink of the Kool-Aid.

[Sparky]

Received from Kyiv today.

[ChrisJ]

@andydclements - he predicted the situation Russia finds iteself in now prior to the way (around Feb 8th.) Maybe preparing the population for some bad news?

[PaulCP]

Vlad, you will go down on history for decades/centuries but just like AH for all of the wrong reasons. You will also be despised by your own nation just as AH was/is in Germany & Austria.

From Sky News
Removal of sanctions will need to be 'considered' in order to open ports, Russia says after UN appeal

As we reported earlier, the UN has pleaded with Russia for it to open its ports after world hunger levels hit a "new high". 

David Beasley, head of the UN World Food Programme, said: "I ask (Russian) President Putin, if you have any heart at all, to please open these ports... so that we can feed the poorest of the poor and avert famine, as we've done in the past, when nations in this room have stepped up together."

Now, Russia has said the removal of sanctions will have to be considered in order for it to open its access to Ukrainian ports, Interfax reported. 

Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain producers, used to export most of its goods through its seaports. 

However, since Russia sent troops into the country, it has been forced to export by train or via its small Danube River ports.

[C8RKH]

Ok, we considered removing them. We decided not to. We did what you asked now get those ports open or the Ukrainians will have some nice new torpedoes wandering about the Black Sea looking for something to latch on to.

[C8RKH]

I see the old "I was only following orders from my superiors" script has been rolled out by the Russian Lawyer of the Russian Soldier who felt threatened by an old, unarmed man, riding a push bike.  I thought the Nuremburg trials etc after WW2 made it very clear that just blindly following orders was no excuse for the fact that a soldier had lost their morale compass.  Totally despicable defence.

 

A lawyer for the first Russian soldier on trial in Kyiv since the invasion started has told a court his client is not guilty of murder or war crimes.

Vadim Shishimarin has admitted killing an unarmed 62-year-old man in a Ukrainian village.

Lawyer Viktor Ovsyannikov argued that Shishimarin carried out an order from someone of a higher rank - and could not have known whether that order was criminal or not, “just like anyone else in that situation would not know”.

[bogle]

Nuremburg the Sequel is brought to you by Vlad.  Vlad is the spray that provides a protective layer of crap over any Russian lawyer defending murderous Russian soldiers.  Hopefully, Vlad is a limited offer and will not be sold anywhere but the Kremlin.  Vlad is toxic, radioactive and poisonous to all animals and humans.  You be glad when Vlad stops spreading crap and being distributed.  

Edited May 20, 2022 by bogle

[ramjet]

13 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

Totally despicable defence.

Well it is from a defence lawyer and that is what they mostly do. I thought that generally, if the accused pleads guilty, the judge pretty quickly moves on to sentencing.

No real reason to hear from the defence lawyer. I would think it much more valuable for the accused to name his superior and keep moving up the food chain.

I did do some reading on the Azov regiment that were the last defenders of Mariupol. They were a very far-right group. Possibly not the nicest people. There was some reading in it that said that this was what Russia was 'saving' everyone from. If that is the case, why did they attack the rest of Ukraine as well?

I wonder if a defence lawyer can be done for aiding and abetting a criminal if he tries to defend one that has pled guilty?

Hey this isn't an invasion, this is a 'special military operation', so there's a first for everything.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Check out this nugget from the BBC News website:

So nearly 3 months after the Russian invasion, the former Head of State of Germany has finally stepped down from his role on Rosneft's Board of Directors. Well done you!

[andydclements]

Cannot help but think that if Trump was on a board of a major Russian company he'd still hold that position irrespective of public opinion and would not be criticising Putin etc.

[bogle]

3 minutes ago, andydclements said:

Cannot help but think that if Trump was on a board of a major Russian company he'd still hold that position irrespective of public opinion and would not be criticizing Putin etc.

So true.  The more power and money the better for the Fat Man 45... regardless of the costs of human lives.  

[Escape]

8 hours ago, ramjet said:

Well it is from a defence lawyer and that is what they mostly do. I thought that generally, if the accused pleads guilty, the judge pretty quickly moves on to sentencing.

As I understand it, the soldier has admitted to shooting the man, but that does not mean pleading guilty to the charges of committing a war crime. Whether the shooting was justified, will be up to the judge and/or jury (not sure how this tribunal works). They can hardly claim self defense, so this was probably the best the lawyer could come up with...

In general, I often don't get defense lawyers. In theory everyone has the right to legal counsel, but how can you actively try to plead in favor of a known murderer or rapist? Unless you only care about the money...

Filip

[ramjet]

I’m trying to understand something.

 If Russia is shelling the heck out of the Donbas regions, aren’t they just as likely to kill many of the Russian separatists that they are trying to’ liberate’?

 Even if they don’t kill many, where are they going to live? The place is a wasteland.

 Does the rule of a conquering force is responsible for the rebuilding etc? still exist?

 How much history is lost that can never be replaced?

[andydclements]

It's punishment for not everybody having welcomed the Russian forces as liberators.

[ramjet]

Saw a Russian lady on Twitter talking to a journalist, I think, about how war is terrible. Saying their lives won't be better, they will be worse. "The whole world is against us and they should be."

"What are they going to do? Take away my pension? Oh well. Maybe put me in prison? That's that then."

Only thing is, that is one person that is prepared to say what they feel. People stopped demonstrating when it became a law that they weren't allowed to and it carried a 14 year jail sentence.

If people can't see through all the subterfuge, what then?

I don't think that I have felt this strongly about one country being able to repel those that are following, sorry, being ordered to carry out this invasion based on a single man's hubris. Hopefully, that will ultimately be their downfall. How quickly one can become hated.

I just hope that it is not at the expense of an entire country and its people.

[bogle]

How will the war (aka special military operation) end?  

1.  Death of Putin - either by assignation, cancer/medical condition or coup (aka special military get the f**k out of this universe operation)

2.  Refer to number one.

 

[ramjet]

Is it just our media here or has the media everywhere put the war in the ‘oh well’ basket ?

[exeterjeep]

Been a bit quiet here to, Putin has not said much recently..? May be no recent threats to use nukes.

The area of  Ukraine that Russia is after - it may be that some parts of the west feel that Ukraine will have to let Russia have that part. Think if Russia had just encircled Kyiv then there would be more coverage.

[comem47]

On 20/05/2022 at 11:16, andydclements said:

Cannot help but think that if Trump was on a board of a major Russian company he'd still hold that position irrespective of public opinion and would not be criticising Putin etc.

Of course he won't if one belives in pee-pee gate !  😜

[bogle]

With inflation, Jan 6th hearings, mass shootings, etc.--the War has taken a temporary back seat for the moment.  Putin apparently is doing some leg shaking during a recent speech so they are questioning his health.  I would like it if he's terminally ill because that could end the war a lot quicker.  Additionally, if he suffers tremendous pain while ill would be just fine by me.

[ChrisJ]

You can feel the tension before and the relief afterwards.

 

[ramjet]

Our News tonight was saying something about NATO saying that this war could go on for years.

If there was a coup, the next person could be far worse than Putin. I am not sure if that is possible, but you never know.

[bogle]

Hopefully Putin will either die (health reasons or assassinated) rather than have the war continue for years.  Someone worse than Putin?  I hope that doesn't happen.

[exeterjeep]

1 hour ago, bogle said:

Someone worse than Putin?  I hope that doesn't happen.

Doesn't want contemplating.