Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Elenos]

Well, it is theirs. They are also allowed to explicitly close it for military vessels in cases of war since 1936.

If it is a war that involves them.

Turkey may do nothing of the sorts, I'd be very surprised if Erdogan was willing to piss of Russia in such a manner. Also what's the point? Russia already has the vessels it needs deployed in the Black Sea, blocking access now won't change a damned thing.

On the troops near Kharkiv, as ugly as it is, the Ukrainians withdrawing into the city and making the Russians fight a bloody urban war is probably their best bet.

This isn't 1999 in Chechnya.

[Crispin]

it is going to lead to nuclear war. It is going to. Mark my words. One way or another, a nuke will be launched.

This the real worlds version of "Wow is dead!!1"

Putin lobbing nukes, means he'll gladly use them, meaning China will cut ties and NATO will have to deal with it head on. Putin knows this, his goal is not to destroy Russia, which it would do.

He'll probably do the usual Russian "lolz I smart" move. Install a "freely elected" puppet govt in Kiev, said govt grants Russia Crimea and maybe Donbass. Then Putin can whine about sanctions, because the war is over wtfbbqz dont you want cheap gas Germany?!?

[Voidwielder]

This isn't 1999 in Chechnya.

Unfortunately. I for one would love to see heaps of Russian corpses.

[josykay]

If it is a war that involves them.

Turkey may do nothing of the sorts, I'd be very surprised if Erdogan was willing to piss of Russia in such a manner. Also what's the point? Russia already has the vessels it needs deployed in the Black Sea, blocking access now won't change a damned thing.

Not necessesarily. During WW2 they blocked passage for Axis vessels, despite being a neutral state at that point. Turkey however is also a Nato state, so... i can see them doing at as much as not doing it. However, so far from what i understand, it is only an empty gesture, because no significant movement of forces from that route is expected at that point.

[Elenos]

However, so far from what i understand, it is only an empty gesture, because no significant movement of forces from that route is expected at that point.

A very empty one. That is what annoys me about Ukraine, they are concerned about empty gestures ( and have been for years ) just to show they are doing something even when it amounts to little.

[Corvus]

The Russians do have a bunch of ships still out in the Med. Shutting the straits means the long route home.

UK is promising the most severe sanctions Russia has ever seen and the EU is echoing that.

[Gaidax]

The worst thing is the options are now to leave Ukraine to the mercy of Russia, fight them, or negotiate with Putin. Russia looks like it's willing to eat sanctions but can Europe withstand the residual economic affect?

Social media is kind of nasty right now, even with some of the opinions I agree right now. Lots of people people trying to trying to cash in on clout when there's something serious going on.

Not much can be done about Ukraine now. Ukrainian military will be swept aside like a piece of paper in a storm.

Nato won't be fighting Russia over Ukraine. The only way to do anything is negotiations and sanctions.

Now the reality is that if Putin decided to invade then he's ready to eat pretty severe sanctions and they have the strategic war chest to do so, in between decent reserves and energy market realities.

So West would need to grow balls and put up real sanctions and not that playing pretend patting on the wrist they did for years now. Problem is - I am not sure EU has quite the appetite to actually go all in, despite angry declarations.

[Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang]

Why couldn't they assassinate Putin, then?

It's that kind of thinking being normalized that fuels the historical paranoia of Soviet/Russian leaders, leading them to design the likes of Dead Hand and Poseidon.

[Celista]

Why couldn't they assassinate Putin, then?

You should read up on how WWI started.

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No no no, answer the question.

What would Trump have done to stop Putin from invading Ukraine?

What fear did Putin have of Trump?

I want specific examples of things Trump said, did, and policies he enacted that deterred Putin or would have served to deter Putin.

No one seriously believes Trump would have prevented Putin from doing anything...Trump was basically his lapdog while in office.

[Elenos]

So West would need to grow balls and put up real sanctions and not that playing pretend patting on the wrist they did for years now. Problem is - I am not sure EU has quite the appetite to actually go all in, despite angry declarations.

Honestly at this point I don't think any western country could live without Russian oil and gas. We could stop buying them completely of course, but that would be a major blow to our economies.

[YUPPIE]

It's that kind of thinking being normalized that fuels the historical paranoia of Soviet/Russian leaders, leading them to design the likes of Dead Hand and Poseidon.

but this guy deserves an assassin for how many lives he's taken in the pursuit of his self-serving interests. Maybe those people you mentioned should stop being evil to warrant such ideas.

[ati87]

No no no, answer the question.

What would Trump have done to stop Putin from invading Ukraine?

What fear did Putin have of Trump?

I want specific examples of things Trump said, did, and policies he enacted that deterred Putin or would have served to deter Putin.

This is your opinion, surely you must have a reason beyond simply extending "Trump is big strong man who's gonna put the meanie smarty-pants liberals in their place" to his interactions with Russia, despite absolutely all evidence to the contrary?

He probably would have send the US army to help Russia (not really, but fact that we can " joke" about this kind of proves that this wasn't unthinkable).
Probably nothing and even sanctions would have been delayed.

[Gaidax]

I have big doubt Trump would fare any different, it's even not about being lapdog or not, but simply the reality being very restrictive as is. Like legit, right now, as a whole West can't do shit to help aside from actual harsh sanctions and even there I'm not sure they actually have the balls to commit to actual pain.

[Voidwielder]

Slavs killing Slavs, what a day.

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Special military operation of liberating Ukraine from the war.

With mental sommersaults like that, he could be top tier performer at Cirque du Soleil.

[DarkAmbient]

"We stand with Ukraine" = "thoughts and prayers"

[YUPPIE]

I'm not sure they actually have the balls to commit to actual pain.

that's on biden's shoulders. im waiting to see him bring the pain.

[Specialka]

that's on biden's shoulders. im waiting to see him bring the pain.

Low chances that anyone would send troops. Most will send equipments or informations though.

[Magnagarde]

Judging by the reports, the Kharkov border police obviously surrendered, but there's fierce resistance on all fronts.

[Zoranon]

The talk about what Trump or Biden did or did not is absurd and not to the point. Both did lot of wrong things when it came to Russia, be it praising Putin in case of Trump or lifting NS2 sanctions in case of Biden.

At any rate the weakest link of NATO was and sadly still is Germany and its moronic foreign policies.

Now is time for the strongest possible sanctions, no more Swift for Russia, freeze all Russian state assets abroad. Then git the younger generation as well, no more western games, no more studying abroad etc.

[LilSaihah]

I don't expect Trump would have done shit. The most that would happen would be Putin holding off because he realizes Trump would be foolish enough to start a war big enough to decimate both Russia and America.

I'm hoping that the CCP doesn't see this as the distraction they need to make their play for Taiwan. I don't see this causing WW3, but that very well could.