Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Slant]

Had a little chat with a collegue this morning (who's from Chechnya originally) and we both noticed that the disdain towards anything Russian (or Russians in general) is increasing the past couple of days.
We feel as if everyone will put anything Russian on 1 big pile and treat them like "All Germans" after WWII, which is sad considering the majority of Russians are against this fiesta.

That feeling mostly comes from Russians not doing anything about it. They let their friends in the opposition get arrested and that's it. And if Putin wins, they're all too happy to waltz around pretending Russia is good. See, we know the average Russian isn't a megalomaniac dick. But we also know as long as he's personally not affected, he won't do jack shit to help anyone in the Ukraine. Or stop Putin from antagonizing the West over... what exactly? Existing? It's idiotic, but at this point... if you're Russian and you don't want to get hated... tough luck, Germans are still getting shat on to this day for something that happened 4 generations ago. Enjoy, it's going to be a fun ride. Not for Russians, obviously. But for the rest of us.

[ati87]

If you think food prices are high now, you have no idea what is about to happen.
Nitrogen based fertilizers and potash based fertilizers are a huge part of Russian exports. And the world simply needs them. There are no substitutes. This war will slam the Ukrainian grain production.

I'm stocking pasta, rice and buckwheat. You should too. There's a non zero chance of famines in places you previously would not have expected.

Well it's a good thing the world has a ton of other export countries that will probably be happy if Russia stop selling that product.
https://oec.world/en/profile/hs92/ni...ey%20(%24808M).

Russia has 1 major category in terms of what they are selling the world. Fossil fuels and arm export mostly, so the only real pain we (EU) will suffer from Russian sanctions is increased gas prices.

Russia isn't a superpower, at best they are like All Bundy like character who acts like a jerk to everybody and still fantasies of his highschool days.

[Jessicka]

Yet Russia claimed China as a friend.


China has said
"mutual benefit”

The only words that matter. The moment it’s not, they stop.

[Slant]

What other option do they have?

I wonder.... what options do Russians have. That are oppressed. In Russia. They have this month that seems to be special to some of them, it's October, would you know what's so special about October in Russia? I think something happened there a while ago about Russians being oppressed in Russia... maybe you can help my failing memory...

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If Belarus joins the fray, all of this foreign aid will be stuck somewhere around Lviv. In fact, I will not be surprised if the whole point of the Belarus deployment will be to corner Western Ukraine in to a small pocket.

And do not, ever, under any conditions, trust the German proclamations. Notoriously duplicitous state, easily succumbs to manipulation and pressure. Deeply penetrated by Russian spies and influencers. Kyiv was promised anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles and launchers 72 hours ago. Where are they? Are the managers of this said program clocking 9-5?
Half of the Monday has passed in Europe and still not a word on SWIFT, further sanctions on banks... nothing. Radio silence.

Do not ever trust the Western Europeans. Ever.

K, Putin. Thanks for your speech...

[snebb]

Ouuufff, even Switzerland is stepping out of it's box of neutrality and placing sanctions on Russia

[Gaidax]

I think people that expect China to get in line with the West are a bit delusional.

China will not go rogue just yet - after all their trade ties with West are very important, but they will support Russia as well. After all they have their own Ukraine to grab in a decade or so and they'd like some allies when time comes.

[szechuan]

The only words that matter. The moment it’s not, they stop.

or
"friendship has no limits" and "there are no forbidden areas of cooperation".

[Slant]

And while I'm thinking about Germany - the legacy of Merkel will be that of a total failure to prepare Germany for the world where tanks, aircraft and missiles do, in fact, matter. Abject failure in energy, military and even diplomatic policies.

I for one welcome the continued decline of German power in the continent.

Decline? Have you read the news? Germany just cemented itself as a global leader, literally because everyone else dragged them on the spot and sat them down "Tag, you're it, now be a big boy and start contributing".

Decline... lol, you've not seen anything, yet. They've just decided, ad hoc, to open their coffers and spend a cool 100 billion bucks on military as a one-off payment, and increase their defense budget by a third permanently... at least a third. You're a funny dude, little Putin.

[zealo]

If you think food prices are high now, you have no idea what is about to happen.
Nitrogen based fertilizers and potash based fertilizers are a huge part of Russian exports. And the world simply needs them. There are no substitutes. This war will slam the Ukrainian grain production.

I'm stocking pasta, rice and buckwheat. You should too. There's a non zero chance of famines in places you previously would not have expected.

Keeping a reasonable stockpile of non-perishables like bags of pasta and rise is something people should be doing even outside of the current situation, it's just part of basic crisis preparedness.

You don't want to end up in a situation where you have no food cause there's disturbance to JIT grocery store logistics whatever that reason may be.

[Gaidax]

or
"friendship has no limits" and "there are no forbidden areas of cooperation".

Please... I absolutely agree with take of "friendship has no limits" until it actually has.

It's a typical foreign relations bullshit talk. It's all down to China's interests in the end.

[Yunru]

If you think food prices are high now, you have no idea what is about to happen.
Nitrogen based fertilizers and potash based fertilizers are a huge part of Russian exports. And the world simply needs them. There are no substitutes. This war will slam the Ukrainian grain production.

I'm stocking pasta, rice and buckwheat. You should too. There's a non zero chance of famines in places you previously would not have expected.

Meanwhile my country is still using cow poop for that. Its gona hit only large grain producers. Its possible that they will reduce export of food to another countrys here tho.

[Elegiac]

or
"friendship has no limits" and "there are no forbidden areas of cooperation".

Which is PR fluff designed to distract from the reality that China is going to exploit the shit out of Russia by phrasing it in terms of aid and cooperation.

I feel like y'all have forgotten that Triangular Diplomacy was a thing for a reason.

[Slant]

Ouuufff, even Switzerland is stepping out of it's box of neutrality and placing sanctions on Russia

You know you dun fucked up if Switzerland goes "Ok, this is enough, now we have to do something about you..."

[ati87]

I wonder.... what options do Russians have. That are oppressed. In Russia. They have this month that seems to be special to some of them, it's October, would you know what's so special about October in Russia? I think something happened there a while ago about Russians being oppressed in Russia... maybe you can help my failing memory...

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K, Putin. Thanks for your speech...

Do they feel like that though?
Russians for the last 20-25 years supported Putin because he projected a false image of strength. Sure you have a decent chunk of people that see the corruption and outright incompetence but that's overal a small minority.

[Jessicka]

I think people that expect China to get in line with the West are a bit delusional.

China will not go rogue just yet - after all their trade ties with West are very important, but they will support Russia as well. After all they have their own Ukraine to grab in a decade or so and they'd like some allies when time comes.

I don’t think they’ll step in line with the West. I also don’t think they’ll go all in with Russia as others are suggesting.

They’ll find their own way through it throwing enough platitudes and money in either direction to keep everyone sweet.

[Gaidax]

I don’t think they’ll step in line with the West. I also don’t think they’ll go all in with Russia as others are suggesting.

They’ll find their own way through it throwing enough platitudes and money in either direction to keep everyone sweet.

Yes.

/10c

[Slant]

Do they feel like that though?
Russians for the last 20-25 years supported Putin because he projected a false image of strength. Sure you have a decent chunk of people that see the corruption and outright incompetence but that's overal a small minority.

That's my point exactly. Russians know how to deal with oppression, but a) they ain't hurting enough and/or b) think it's the right move. In which case they're just as guilty as Putin is in my book. Any Russian that has these delusions of grandeur of neo-Soviet Empire can go fuck themselves.

As for the Russians that are like you and me, sorry... but if Germans can live with the hate, so can Russians. They're big boys and girls, my sympathy cup these days is reserved for Ukrainians that are getting attacked and lose their frickin' homes because of some cocksucker being cranky over his cereal or whatever problem it is that Putin has.

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I don’t think they’ll step in line with the West. I also don’t think they’ll go all in with Russia as others are suggesting.

They’ll find their own way through it throwing enough platitudes and money in either direction to keep everyone sweet.

China will stay out of it, maybe fan the flames for funsies, but by and large all they'll do is watch and learn how the West responds. They see this as a testbed for Taiwan, most likely.

[Gorsameth]

Russia-China trade also has to answer the question "with what?".
With Foreign assets being frozen and China unlikely to accept Roubles because the currency is collapsing Russia's ability to trade with China may well be limited.

[snebb]

You know you dun fucked up if Switzerland goes "Ok, this is enough, now we have to do something about you..."

I wonder how much cash was being hoarded in CH banks with the expectation of safety/forever neutrality. (kek).

[Elegiac]

The Kremlin says Russia's 'economic reality has 'considerably changed' in the face of 'problematic' Western sanctions

What's Russian for "fuck around and find out"? Asking for a global community.