U.S. Senate unanimously condemns Putin as war criminal WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal, a rare show of unity in the deeply divided Congress. The resolution, introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and backed by senators of both parties, encouraged the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and other nations to target the Russian military in any investigation of war crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "All of us in this chamber joined together, with Democrats and Republicans, to say that Vladimir Putin cannot escape accountability for the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people," Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor ahead of the vote. Russia calls its actions a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine. Putin has also called the country a U.S. colony with a puppet regime and no tradition of independent statehood. Moscow has not captured any of the 10 biggest cities in the country following its incursion that began on Feb. 24, the largest assault on a European state since 1945. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-unanimously-condemns-putin-war-criminal-2022-03-15/
What a touching video and speech from Zelenskyy to Congress this morning. I now hope we provide the Migs to enable them to, hopefully, establish their own no-fly zone.
Putin says the West's 'attempt to have global dominance' is coming to an end and its 'economic blitzkrieg' of sanctions will only 'strengthen Moscow' in bombastic televised Kremlin address - as he insisted the 'military operation' is going to plan Vladimir Putin said West's 'attempt to have global dominance' coming to end, that it's trying to 'cancel' Russia He said that keeping Russia in check was a long-term policy of Western nations to prevent state being 'strong' Russian president told citizens they are fighting for the country's 'sovereignty' and 'the future of our children' Latest in Moscow's propaganda as it seeks to justify its Ukraine war, claiming it is a 'de-nazification' operation Vladimir Putin said today that the West's 'attempt to have global dominance' is coming to an end and its 'economic blitzkrieg' of sanctions will only 'strengthen Moscow' in bombastic televised Kremlin address. The Russian President, speaking in a televised government meeting in Moscow, insisted the 'military operation' in Ukraine is going to plan despite his troops' advance remaining largely stalled on the outskirts of Kyiv. Putin claimed that the conflict was merely a pretext for the West to impose sanctions because 'they just don't want a strong and sovereign Russia' and said that its economic measures were short-sighted as 'most countries do not support sanctions'. 'The West doesn't even bother to hide the fact that its aim is to damage the entire Russian economy, every Russian,' he said, adding that the West's actions would 'only strengthen' Moscow. But he also told Russians, in words ironically reminiscent of Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky's speeches, that 'we are fighting for our sovereignty and the future of our children'. It is the latest in the propaganda pushed by Moscow in a bid to justify their invasion of Ukraine to Russian citizens - including claims the war is about 'de-nazifying' the country and preventing a genocide of minorities waged by Kyiv. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ests-attempt-global-dominance-coming-end.html
They appear to be somewhat close on a peace deal. Russia will agree to remove all troops (except retain control of Donbass and Crimea apparently). Ukraine would agree to become somewhat of a neutral state and agree not to have weapons that would pose a threat to Russia (hopefully this just means nuclear weapons and long range missiles.) Ukraine would agree not to join NATO (not a big deal since NATO never planned on allowing them in and Russia knew this). Ukraine will still seek EU membership. Other countries (I assume USA, Britain and Germany at a minimum) would have to guarantee the security of Ukraine (and I'm sure the language will be a lot tighter than the flawed Budapest memorandum). No word on reparations but If I am Ukraine and the West I would not agree to lift a single sanction until war reparations (would be in the $trillions I believe) are fully paid. I would also ask that Crimea be returned before a single sanction is lifted but that may be a tough get. I don't care about Donbass , Russia has destroyed it so bad and looted so much from it that it would be an economic and financial drain on Ukraine.
You would have to lift most of the sanctions if you want Russia to pay reparations. Russia's economy is not strong enough to do both.
Ex-Trump national security advisor John Bolton says 'Putin saw Trump doing a lot of his work for him,' so he chose not to invade Ukraine Former national security advisor John Bolton said "Putin saw Trump doing a lot of his work for him." Trump considered withdrawing the US from NATO while he was president. Bolton said it's one of the reasons that Putin did not invade Ukraine during Trump's time in office. John Bolton, who served as President Donald Trump's national security advisor, on Wednesday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't invade Ukraine while Trump was in office because "Putin saw Trump doing a lot of his work for him." Bolton pointed to Trump's outspoken criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the military and diplomatic alliance established in the wake of World War II. "I think one of the reasons that Putin did not move during Trump's term in office was he saw the president's hostility of NATO. It was widely reported in American media," Bolton said during an interview with SiriusXM's Julie Mason. "And to Putin's mind, it's a binary proposition: a weaker NATO is a stronger Russia." Bolton went on, "Putin saw Trump doing a lot of his work for him, and thought, maybe in a second term, Trump would make good on his desire to get out of NATO, and then it would just ease Putin's path just that much more." Trump undermined NATO during his time in office. In 2018, he privately discussed withdrawing the United States from the alliance, raising concerns among national security officials. Bolton, in remarks during a virtual event with The Washington Post on Friday, said that he believes Trump would have withdrawn from NATO if he had won a second term. "I thought he put his foot over it, but at least he didn't withdraw then," Bolton said. "In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO. And I think Putin was waiting for that." Bolton also told Vice last week that he doesn't think the former president would have stopped Putin if the Russian leader had invaded Ukraine while Trump was in office. His comments come as Trump has repeatedly said that Putin would never have invaded Ukraine had he been president and has criticized President Joe Biden over the US response to Russia. https://www.businessinsider.com/john-bolton-putin-saw-trump-doing-a-lot-of-his-work-for-him-2022-3#
Russian state TV discusses how Putin could invade NATO Baltic states and force Sweden to declare neutrality Russian state TV discussed how an invasion of the Baltic states might look, with a retired army colonel outlining the plan on TV channel Rossiya 1 It showed Russian forces pushing up from Kaliningrad and closing the Suwalki corridor separating Poland and Lithuania, blocking NATO reinforcements The Swedish island of Gotland was also circled in red, vide footage shows The Nordic island, part of Sweden, has a population of around 58,595 Nato countries Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia appeared in the invasion plans Sweden is politically neutral but has been threatened by Russia against NATO membership following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 A former senior officer in the Russian army laid out a battle plan on state TV which includes the Russian army invading the NATO Baltic states and parts of Sweden, a politically neutral country. Speaking live on TV channel Rossiya 1, retired Russian military Colonel gestured to the map showing Gotland, Sweden's largest island with a population of around 58,595, circled in red. Pointing a the map, Colonel Igor Korotchenko, formerly of the Russian General Staff and air force and currently a reserve officer, said at the start of the invasion 'a massive Russian radio-electronic strike is inflicted' as 'all Nato radars go blind and see nothing', according to the Sun. This was how the scenario for capturing the countries might look, he added. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...iscusses-Putin-invade-NATO-Baltic-states.html
Unfortunately then the Russians, who have never kept to any agreement, would have no incentive to pay. They could provide free gas to Europe and Ukraine for decades I guess; sell to China for income. Maybe they could sell off some of their assets.
Bullshit. They are on the ropes in Ukraine and trying to recruit mercenaries from all over the world. Nobody is afraid of Russia anymore.
