The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[Madner Kami]

[...] then again Russia's tech is almost as good [...]

[hammerofglass]

Probably translators, equipment experts, that kind of thing.

[phantom000]

Putin orders blockade of Ukraine in the Black Sea.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pu ... 464d&ei=14

They say this would impact the Africa and China more than it would impact Ukraine, so assuming this is not some desperate measure to turn the tide of a war he is losing, he is trying to play the global political game and gain more support. Given how badly things are going on the ground for Russia I don't really see this action helping Putin, it seems more likely that he would alienate them even further.

[clearspira]

Putin orders blockade of Ukraine in the Black Sea.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pu ... 464d&ei=14

They say this would impact the Africa and China more than it would impact Ukraine, so assuming this is not some desperate measure to turn the tide of a war he is losing, he is trying to play the global political game and gain more support. Given how badly things are going on the ground for Russia I don't really see this action helping Putin, it seems more likely that he would alienate them even further.

He can live with alienating Africa. But alienating China? Oh, dear. Lol. They share a border. That is not wise.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Putin orders blockade of Ukraine in the Black Sea.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pu ... 464d&ei=14

They say this would impact the Africa and China more than it would impact Ukraine, so assuming this is not some desperate measure to turn the tide of a war he is losing, he is trying to play the global political game and gain more support. Given how badly things are going on the ground for Russia I don't really see this action helping Putin, it seems more likely that he would alienate them even further.

He can live with alienating Africa. But alienating China? Oh, dear. Lol. They share a border. That is not wise.

It’d probably take a lot more for China to start acting with aggression. Their trade retaliation is likely to cover the damage, and/or there is a mutual understanding between Beijing and Moscow.

[McAvoy]

Putin orders blockade of Ukraine in the Black Sea.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pu ... 464d&ei=14

They say this would impact the Africa and China more than it would impact Ukraine, so assuming this is not some desperate measure to turn the tide of a war he is losing, he is trying to play the global political game and gain more support. Given how badly things are going on the ground for Russia I don't really see this action helping Putin, it seems more likely that he would alienate them even further.

He can live with alienating Africa. But alienating China? Oh, dear. Lol. They share a border. That is not wise.

Considering Africa is not a country but a continent filled with countries and let's just say that majority of them are no threat to anyone past their borders.

[CmdrKing]

The main non-invading-Ukraine-based foreign policy goal of Russia was essentially convincing what used to be called the Third World (mostly nation in Africa, but also in Latin America) that they'd be better and more equitable patrons than the US/EU, and provide things like advanced medicines and technologies and the infrastructure for their own industrialization/militarization efforts with fewer strings attached the larger West. They weren't nearly as good at it as China (who's also been doing the same thing in Southeast Asia in addition to the global south, but given proximity they got that on lockdown anyways), but they definitely had allies and markets they could call on in those places.

And they are absolutely setting that on fire to try and pull SOMETHING out of their hat in Ukraine, because at this point Putin either delivers some tangible victory in Ukraine or he gets deposed, sooner rather than later at the rate things are going. As an example, this grain blockade has tanked Russian influence among African nations so badly, when they held a summit to meet with them this year, only 17 delegates showed up, compared to 43 in 2019. And the ones that did show up basically offered to help broker peace because the torpedo Putin's taken to the global grain market hit them the hardest.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-afr ... ner-group/

[Thebestoftherest]

I have the feeling that Putin might be getting a cocktail of a dozen different uppers and downers sooner rather than later.

[Madner Kami]

I have the feeling that Putin might be getting a cocktail of a dozen different uppers and downers sooner rather than later.

Nah, he's being taken care of by close allies and getting him poisoned through beverages or food would mean, that his most loyal chef... Oh... Right... Nevermind.

[phantom000]

War is returning to Russia, Zelenskyy says after drone attacks

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/dron ... -rcna97217

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/dron ... -rcna97217

This makes me think of what Sheridan said to Ivanova; 'fight them without becoming them.' Random drone strikes on Russian cities is not going to impact the Russian war effort, the city busting of WW2 proved that if anything it just makes them want to fight you even more. If he's not very careful Zelenskyy might make it look like he is killing civilians in a petty game of tit-for-tat. If he confines his drone strikes to military bases then at least he could argue that he is only targeting the Russian war effort, not the Russian people or even necessarily the Russian state.