Tracking where Russia is taking Ukraine's stolen grain
I think only warships are affected by the "embargo" in the Bosphorus.
Turkey got what it wanted then? And Putin has NATO on his border
I wonder what it took to win Turkey over!
👍
I wonder what it took to win Turkey over!
probably some deal regarding Kurdish separatists who escaped to the Nordic countries.
probably some deal regarding Kurdish separatists who escaped to the Nordic countries.
Given their economic situation probably a few quid as well/favourable trade deals which will just happen to be agreed soon.
I believe there is no longer a block imposed on selling arms to to Turkey from Sweden/Finland in the new accord. Given turkeys reliance on Russian military tech (and seeing it's apparent limitations fully exposed) that's a big win I suppose.
I'm sure there is much more to the agreement though.
Anyway, it was inevitable that Turkey would relent. Once Sweden/Finland said they wanted to join NATO any hurdles would be overcome come what may.
Well done Putin you genius.
The EU is about to compromise on sanctions in respect of Kaliningrad, "(Putin) has much more leverage than we have. It's in our interests to find a compromise," he said, conceding that the eventual outcome may appear unfair https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-kaliningrad-row-eu-nears-compromise-deal-defuse-standoff-with-russia-2022-06-29/
It seems reasonable to allow Russia to move goods to an enclave "within" Russia, but they have to be careful that the Baltic port isn't then used to bust sanctions further
I don't really see how Putin has more leverage in the Kaliningrad situation?
More like the EU is worried that the Baltic fleet might start something dragging everyone in to the mire . Or the fact the unhinged prat has a red button.
Putin would like to piss about with the Baltic Fleet near Lithuania as a distraction technique so the EU focuses more on this and less on Ukraine, this removes some of his pretext for doing it. I very much doubt there is any political will in Belarus to even threaten the border. There certainly aren't likely to be the resources for anything meaningful.
Meanwhile a Ukrainian spokesman stated that Ukrainian forces have driven Russian forces off the island
Apparently its a gesture of goodwill by the Russians.
I guess they added very quietly "to our soldiers who were sitting ducks".
I see Bernie Ecclestone is sticking up for his old chum Vlad.
He really is a vile individual, stating he's a "first class person" and "I would take a bullet for him".
The pair have history, with BE previously stating in 2016 that Vlad should run Europe.
nice if vlad was to take him at his word, hand him an AK "off you go get too it"
Is Igor the Russian version of Chemical Ali ?
If the Ukranians could threaten and take out the Crimea bridge near Kerch that would really be a game changer.
I don’t really see how Putin has more leverage in the Kaliningrad situation
Oil and gas
Meanwhile a Ukrainian spokesman stated that Ukrainian forces have driven Russian forces off the island
This sounds significant to me, my understanding was that this island has been fiercely fought over due to it's strategic value- as in the Russians wanted to use it as a platform to lob missiles at Ukraine since their other missile lobbing platform, the Mockba, was sunk by Ukrainian forces (or set fire to itself and sunk in a phantom storm, depending on who you believe..)
Replacement radar station was allegedly put back on the island after Ukraine destroyed the last on, the new one got hit and blown up so Russia have given up on the island.
OR Russia gave it up as a gesture of good will. A bit like not hitting that shopping centre.
It's just to show to their African supporters that they're not the ones stopping grain exports. Honest Guv. Now how will Ukraine export grain from the East of the country? Oh I forgot, they don't need to, Russia will do it for them.
Belarussian citizens have started receiving conscription notices, local news outlet Zerkalo reported on June 30.
Worth staying with it for the last line.
https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1542621575404568583
If this is true, it sounds like Russia is getting desperate.
https://twitter.com/ABarbashin/status/1542801062851219458
Nothing says 'special military operation' like putting your entire economy on a war footing.
Belarussian citizens have started receiving conscription notices
And Poland has conveniently just finished 115 miles of border wall in record time. Poor buggers - off to the Donbas meat grinder you go.
Beeb showing Ukraine army being trained in the UK.
Looks like Salisbury plain and towed artillery.
Hopefully yet another reason to show Putin that he really has underestimated both the Ukrainian armed forces and the rest of Europes willingness to help.
I do worry about escalation though.
Belarussian folk seam to know the score that if they get sent badly trained with less than upto date arms it's going to be brutal for them.
More chance of a internal leadership battle if Lukashenko pushes his luck on Ukraine, Russia won't back him up with troops this time as let's be frank Putin has slaughtered 35thou of his own army personnel.
Belarussian citizens have started receiving conscription notices,
Thats Belarus where the current leader is only in power because the Russians backed him up with troops?
So the threat is now massively reduced and they are going to equip those generally not overly keen on the glorious leader citizens with firearms and ask them to go and fight for him?
Cant see any flaws in that plan.
Thats assuming it is a plan, and they havent just faked it, sent a limited number to try and draw Ukrainian forces away from the east.
Maybe, ive no idea obvs
Thats assuming it is a plan, and they havent just faked it, sent a limited number to try and draw Ukrainian forces away from the east.
You are getting ahead of things, this is just letters. I haven't heard that any Belarussian army have been used yet in Ukraine, but maybe it happened.
I interpret it as Lukashenko doing the minimum he can to keep Vlad happy-ish. He is between a rock and a hard place here (I said this a few dozen pages up there^).
Beeb showing Ukraine army being trained in the UK.
Looks like Salisbury plain and towed artillery.
Almost like a Ukrainian plain....
You are getting ahead of things, this is just letters. I haven’t heard that any Belarussian army have been used yet in Ukraine, but maybe it happened.
I think youve misread me here.
Im suggesting its just a ruse and that itll stop at just letters.
Besides, Belarussians definitely are fighting in Ukraine, albeit actually on the Ukrainian side.
Would it be a leap of fantasy to think that Belarus could pick up arms with Ukraine against the Russians
We have made contact with a food bank in Odessa, they are running very low in supplies.
Although we’ve linked them up with the drivers network we have only had one delivery get there. There is food they can buy to give away but they need funds. They are looking after a lot of internally displaced people from Mariupol etc.
I’ll put a link up in case anyone wants to get involved and help them.
https://onthewave.com.ua/en/home-en/
Would it be a leap of fantasy to think that Belarus could pick up arms with Ukraine against the Russians
I fear it would, but given the unrest in Belarus a year or two back, if Risiian forces are concentrating on eastern Ukraine I could see the Belarusian forces/public taking the opportunity to refuse to support Russian demands to get involved and maybe overthrowing their little dictator.
It would certainly be quite some outcome if Putin gains over 1300km of borders with NATO and loses Belarus.
Im not prepared for that level of wishful thinking, and im not sure how much work would be needed for Belarus to successfully navigate away from what appears to me to be a dictatorship of its own.
Belarus upping the ante with an unsubstantiated claim https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lukashenko-says-belarus-intercepted-attempted-missile-strikes-by-ukraine-belta-2022-07-02/
Who knows whether it's to justify the call up, or to split UKR forces, or...
Later in that article "Lukashenko" claims that no Belarusian troops are fighting in the "special operation".
I wouldn't believe a word said by "him".
False flags, confirmation of the Belarus story or something else....?
BBC News - Deadly blasts hit Russian border city
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62025541
Unfortunately I suspect it's an escalation in the conflict, and one that risks losing support for Ukraine from the international community
I really can't see an overstretched army opening a new front
Russia are more than happy to bomb their own.
Hopefully russian involvement can be proven and the population turn.
Unfortunately I suspect it’s an escalation in the conflict, and one that risks losing support for Ukraine from the international community
I'm not sure that Ukraine hitting a Russian city after Russia spending 3 months killing & displacing millions and pounding eastern Ukrainian cities into rubble will result in any loss of support
I’m not sure that Ukraine hitting a Russian city after Russia spending 3 months killing & displacing millions and pounding eastern Ukrainian cities into rubble will result in any loss of support
You forget that probably 50% of the world population are seeing this war reported through a very different lens. There is no military or propaganda points to be won by Ukraine targeting civilian targets on Russian soil.
This is going to be more than Ukraine unless that cancer-addled madman is put in an early grave.
Prior to the war, notes were seen about leeching Ukraine of all its crops and trees to finance its occupying army. Now they have raised most cities, made the buildings condemned for living in, and are stealing what grain they can.
That grain and oil not getting where it's supposed to go is going to leave tens of millions starving. Hundreds of millions unable to fully feed themselves. Covid is still everywhere. Other health crises compounding.
Lots of people I've spoken to in China say they aren't officially friends with Russia. But then the people's voices don't count when it comes to this sort of thing. I bet China fears sanctions because they haven't put their second favorite nancial stream track in place yet (isolationism) Plenty of bitching here recently though because fuel at the pumps went up to £1.11/litre. Household electricity and natural gas hasn't gone up. I'd say monthly shops in supermarkets are increasing. Interestingly, pasta runs out and isn't being replaced. Also, many ranges with lower profit margins aren't being replaced on the shelves. I have a feeling it's not just about sourcing stock, but about pushing products with higher profit margins.
