Russian foreign minister threatens with World War 3 against Sweden and Finland.

[Noomz]

Empty threats of a desperate nation knowing it is losing all allies and friends, or true threats of a government gone insane, bent on conquest and death?

Article is translated below, as it is originally in Swedish.
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/varlden/put...je-varldskrig/

"When Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Finland tomorrow it occurs during the barely concealed threat of what might happen if Finland would join NATO. The Russian minister visit was preceded by a broadside against Finland but also against Sweden for "fear of the Russians."

It's President Vladimir Putin's personal envoy Sergei Markov via Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet and Finnish Hufvudstadsbladet sketch a brutal prospect if neighbors would approach NATO more formally.

- Would you join in and start World War III? Anti-Semitism started the Second World War, Russo-phobia may start a third. Finland is one of the most Russo-phobic countries in Europe, after Sweden and the Baltic countries, says Markov to the two newspapers' reporter.

When asked to explain how the russophobia manifests itself, he refers to "this monstrous lying about Ukraine".

- The claim that Porosjenko elected through free and fair elections is like saying that Bashar Assad is democratically elected!

That statement is especially noteworthy because Putin, who met Porosjenko the past week, at least hinted that Russia accepted the election.

Markov warns of the consequences of epushing Russia into a corner.

- This behavior against Russians as if we are lesser beings has to end! Europe looks today on the Russians in the same way as previously looked at Jews. Your objective is to destroy Russia. But you will not succeed. Napoleon tried, Hitler tried, without success. You will destroy Europe instead, he says in the interview.

Lavrov's visit on Monday and Tuesday may be said to be well prepared because the weekend and early next week dominated by foreign policy seminars at Sauli Niinistö summerresidence Gullranda under the theme "The bear has awakened, but Finland then? '.

Lavrov is not invited to discussions on Gullranda but is expected to be briefed on them when he hits Niinistö on Tuesday."

[Rukentuts]

Russo-phobia may start a third

Stand up against Russian imperialism? You're a Russophobe!

[Simulacrum]

Is that article implying that actually it was the jews who attacked and the nazis were just defending themselves?

[Chelly]

Russo-phobia may start a third. Finland is one of the most Russo-phobic countries in Europe, after Sweden and the Baltic countries, says Markov to the two newspapers' reporter.

They kinda have a good reason to be that.

[Noomz]

They kinda have a good reason to be that.

Yeah it blows my mind how they can't understand it. I mean if you want friends, there's a lot better ways to do it than threaten with World War 3 if they don't comply with your outrageous demands.

This is the same retoric and thinking that the Nazi's used. It's frightening.
At the same time, I can't help but think that it's pure desperation. THey've got nothing at all to back their words. They wouldn't stand a chance in open war and they probably know it.

[Tierbook]

Russia isn't capable of single-handedly being a side in a third world war.

If it just nukes the neighbors anyway, barring nukes Russia would be hard pressed to do much.

[Deleted]

Russia isn't capable of single-handedly being a side in a third world war.

If it is nuclear they probably could stand on their, don't they still have enough warheads to pretty much destroy most of the civilized world?

[Deleted]

The way I read it they say NATO would start WW3 due to russophobia, not them. I could misinterpret it but hey.

[skitzin]

"According to Andrej Illarionov, the President’s chief economic adviser from 2000 to 2005, Mr Putin seeks to create “historical justice” with a return to the days of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Soviet Union under Stalin."

It's safe to say that Putin still has flash back to his old days in the KGB and wants to bring it back. The problem is that the world has changed and Russia is not the power they once were.

[salate]

wow, there is nothing like in our mass media
(at least I cannot find it)

[Deleted]

I really have no idea how it would play out if they did that. Barring that though, they lack the ability to be their own side.

Oh, definitely, no questions asked there, they'd lose hands down in a conventional war.

[Noomz]

As long as Russia practically tries as hard as it can to alienate everything left of it on the globe, they could at least have the spine to accept being not so welcome when taking yet another questionable political step. They do a pretty good job putting themselves into a corner, NATO states don't really have to do or say anything. Keeping a power hungry warmonger like Putin atop wasn't the best thing I guess. At least their propaganda inside Russia seems to work like a charm.
Some days ago there also was a news that Russia is getting cozy with North Korea. Doesn't really surprise me, Russia is on a straight line towards a similar political structure for years, person cult and all. Sad, especially since Gorbatschow and Jelzin came so far transforming Russia into a reputable and decent state.

It goes without saying that NATO states won't ever fire the first gun towards Russia, but they sure as hell would defend themselves. And as far as I can tell, the current regime in Russia wouldn't be so hesitant to stir things up enough to start an open conflict themselves. Be it just to prove a point and be able to say "See? They shoot us!!!", but blissfully forgetting to mention the things before when telling it to it's own people. Wouldn't be the first time this would work just well (for some time at least).

Russia is turning to China instead. THey've just signed a 30 year gas supply plan that starts in 2018.
Russia and China have been buddies for a while in the security council and often go against the western powers when it comes to voting.

So Russia isn't alone. Though I doubt that China would have any interest in conflict.

[Deleted]

wow, there is nothing like in our mass media
(at least I cannot find it)

Your mass media? Don't you mean propaganda machine?

[Falrinn]

Yeah it blows my mind how they can't understand it. I mean if you want friends, there's a lot better ways to do it than threaten with World War 3 if they don't comply with your outrageous demands.

This is the same retoric and thinking that the Nazi's used. It's frightening.
At the same time, I can't help but think that it's pure desperation. THey've got nothing at all to back their words. They wouldn't stand a chance in open war and they probably know it.

True. Invading Europe as a whole is no simple feat, especially since this time they wouldn't have the advantage of breaking the bulk of their enemy's power in a defensive war.

But perhaps more importantly, even if they did come out ahead on the ground, they would be fighting nuclear-armed nations. Making a nuclear-armed nation truly desperate is quite possibly the worst thing you could ever do.

[Noomz]

"According to Andrej Illarionov, the President’s chief economic adviser from 2000 to 2005, Mr Putin seeks to create “historical justice” with a return to the days of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Soviet Union under Stalin."

It's safe to say that Putin still has flash back to his old days in the KGB and wants to bring it back. The problem is that the world has changed and Russia is not the power they once were.

It's EXACTLY the same kind of thinking that the Nazi party had as they gained power and it shares so much. They want to annex the world, "for its own good". They want the old glory, at any price. In the end, it'll lose them all chance of glory and they make their own ruin.

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wow, there is nothing like in our mass media
(at least I cannot find it)

Ofcourse there isn't. Sorry, but your so-called media is nothing but a state controlled propaganda machine.

- - - Updated - - -

The way I read it they say NATO would start WW3 due to russophobia, not them. I could misinterpret it but hey.

They believe that the world is against them and wants to destroy them. They say this to appear as the victim, as the righteous defender who fights injustice.

[Gangresnake]

From what I hear this guy isnt in fact the Russian foreign minister, he's just some teacher who got Putin protection or something

Which is good to hear because that's a pretty fucking stupid thing to say

[skitzin]

Russia is turning to China instead. THey've just signed a 30 year gas supply plan that starts in 2018.
Russia and China have been buddies for a while in the security council and often go against the western powers when it comes to voting.

So Russia isn't alone. Though I doubt that China would have any interest in conflict.

If China was presented with the opportunity to take that gas for free after Russia is flattened, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

[Rukentuts]

Though I doubt that China would have any interest in conflict.

China has interest in $. Therefore they'll continue to play both sides.

[Dave696]

World War 3 will happen. I don't understand why so many people don't believe it. Do they just not want to?

[Noomz]

From what I hear this guy isnt in fact the Russian foreign minister, he's just some teacher who got Putin protection or something

Which is good to hear because that's a pretty fucking stupid thing to say

Then he's a puppet. A guy who says all the crazy things that their officials can't say, but still think.

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If China was presented with the opportunity to take that gas for free after Russia is flattened, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

The stuff that happened between Soviet Russia and China after the revolution in China goes to show how brittle any alliances they've had have been.

China doesn't want to be Russias underdog. So yeah, they'd probably take that chance.