Hot Take, Russia does not inherently have any right to have a ”sphere of influence” just because the soviet union had its boot on the neck of bunch of countries in eastern europe.
If the Ivans don’t like what their own actions are driving their neighbours into doing, they can go fuck themselves.
Sometimes, the light of the moon is a key to other spaces. I've found a place where, for a night or two, the streets curve in unfamiliar ways. If I walk here, I might find insight, or I might be touched by madness.
The most interesting is that Russia seems cool with both Finland and Sweden joining NATO
https://thehill.com/news/3488987-fin...n-nato-calmly/
Finnish president Niinistö, told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Putin’s reaction during the phone call was a “surprise.”
andThe surprise was that he took [the news] so calmly.
, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told Sky News on Friday.Moscow opposes the expansion of NATO, but the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in the bloc won’t become an existential threat to it
(Translation of "existential threat" for OP: Russia will not launch nuclear missiles against Finland and Sweden.)
Historically Finland hasn't really made any claims on russian soil, except for the obvious independence thing and the Continuation War, and neither has Sweden. Now I don't trust putin, but it just might be that they understand that Finland and Sweden are purely there for defense, fat chance of them understanding that, I know. Also, wasting nukes on Finland, Sweden and Norway seems kinda silly. Yes, there are those who want Karelia back, but honestly from what I hear it's a neglected shithole which is thoroughly russified and NO country close to russia is currently wanting to have a sizeable russian minority.
Meanwhile both Ukraine and Belarus have been used as highways into russia in the past (and the same kinda goes from the east via Mongolia).
Still, the mild response is odd to say the least. (or it could just be an acknowledgement that they can't do shit about it right now, short of nuking the place and that would be stupid.)
Nothing really surprising about that. Ruskies ain't stupid and those countries made it clear they want to join NATO after the invasion. All is going as expected in that regard. Putlers and his team outrage was for the masses. What was he supposed to do, curse and threaten Finnish president on the phone? But they are definitely NOT cool about all this situation. It's a major blunder for the country who started this war under "push NATO away" slogan.
Last edited by Makabreska; 2022-05-15 at 06:28 PM.
Sometimes, the light of the moon is a key to other spaces. I've found a place where, for a night or two, the streets curve in unfamiliar ways. If I walk here, I might find insight, or I might be touched by madness.
No its totaly logic, Russia have try to scare Sweden and Finland to not join NATO, by harsh words and mock nuclear strikes. It failed. To continue the sabre-rattling is counterproductive, becuse if the sabre-rattling "succeed" Sweden and Finland will demand NATO troops, and maybe even NATO nuclear wepons. Hence aggravate the Russian strategic position, so Russia change tactic and try to play nice toward Sweden and Finland, so they do not demand NATO troops.
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That was fast..... ; )
are they all just drunk over there at this point???
Bonnie and Clyde photo bizarrely shown at Russia’s World War II celebration
Eh, Sweden has already said they'll apply but they don't want Nukes or Nato bases on Swedish soil. As for the carrot, putin is not really the carrot kinda guy. Finland will most likely host bases as they already do training on Finnish soil so that would just make it easier. Niinistö has a reasonable working relationship with putin though so it could very well been a base level of cordiality. (as far as I know putin had told Niinistö he could always call him whenever he wanted the last time they spoke before last Saturday.)
Are they trying to pass them as Russian? I mean, they have already called dips on Columbus, Latin alphabet, Genghis Khan, and the discovery and colonization of South America.
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/statu...295747?lang=en
That's bad... but not as bad as Russia using a picture of WW2 Ukrainian pilot Petro Dziuba in a poster for their May 9th celebration this year, even as they bomb the town in which he grew up and the cemetery in which he's buried.
A Russian poster celebrating Victory Day on May 9 depicts a Soviet pilot. The photo was published by Russian journalist Tatiana Felgenhauer.
This pilot is a Ukrainian Petro Dziuba, who fought in World War II and shot down 16 German planes. He was born in Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region and lived in Kharkiv, where he died in 1965. One of Kharkiv's avenues is named after him. Both Kostiantynivka and Kharkiv suffered significantly from Russian shelling in 2022.
Dziuba was buried in Kharkiv's G10 Cemetery, one of the nine bombed by the Russian army.
"The difference between stupidity
and genius is that genius has its limits."
--Alexandre Dumas-fils
That doesn't mean that they are on Russia's side - because they have a greater understanding of the cost of war, and who is at fault:
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Ukraine also have more long-shooting artillery now so it seems that they can target the supply lines to Izyum from the re-gains in the counter-offensive, even without advancing further.