European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread - Page 1327

On February 25 2022 23:49 LegalLord wrote:
There's been quite a lot of noise about potential negotiations for a ceasefire in Russian news for about the last 10 hours. The concrete proposal seems to be "let's sit down in Minsk" which I suspect is meant to be symbolic.

On February 25 2022 23:56 Dan HH wrote:

It was a Moldovan chemical tanker, not Romanian.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — It has been a long time since the threat of using nuclear weapons has been brandished so openly by a world leader, but Vladimir Putin has just done it, warning in a speech that he has the weapons available if anyone dares to use military means to try to stop Russia’s takeover of Ukraine.

The threat may have been empty, a mere baring of fangs by the Russian president, but it was noticed. It kindled visions of a nightmarish outcome in which Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear war through accident or miscalculation.

“As for military affairs, even after the dissolution of the USSR and losing a considerable part of its capabilities, today’s Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states,” Putin said, in his pre-invasion address early Thursday.

“Moreover, it has a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons. In this context, there should be no doubt for anyone that any potential aggressor will face defeat and ominous consequences should it directly attack our country.”

By merely suggesting a nuclear response, Putin put into play the disturbing possibility that the current fighting in Ukraine might eventually veer into an atomic confrontation between Russia and the United States.

On February 26 2022 00:43 Dav1oN wrote:
Blood donation center/hospital in Kharkiv was just bombarded by the artillery, 2 deaths at least 2 wounded, my wife was just 5-10 minutes late for this...Civilian buildings are also shelled

On February 26 2022 00:43 Dav1oN wrote:
Blood donation center/hospital in Kharkiv was just bombarded by the artillery, 2 deaths at least 2 wounded, my wife was just 5-10 minutes late for this...Civilian buildings are also shelled

On February 25 2022 23:56 Dan HH wrote:

It was a Moldovan chemical tanker, not Romanian.


That's the frustrating part, if we cut off all financial ties Putin is likely to be ousted by his own people. And if he doesn't then fuck it, I'll pay 3x for gas or sleep with 3 coats on if I have to, knowing we at least did everything.

Poland will ban all Russian air operators from using its airspace, the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has announced. The move will be the first of its kind in the European Union.

"I have ordered the Cabinet of Ministers to prepare a decree which will result in the closing of Polish airspace for all Russian airlines," he declared in a Facebook post.

The ban is poised to enter into force at 0001L (2301Z) on February 26.

Since 0001L (0001Z) on February 25, Russian-owned, -operated, -chartered, or -leased aircraft have already been banned from flying to or over the United Kingdom.

Poland is an important transit country for Russian airlines on most of their westbound flights. As they are not allowed to overfly Ukraine, Belarus, and south-western Russia due to the ongoing military activities accompanying Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they have been forced to take a detour via Poland.

The ch-aviation schedules module shows that direct services between Russia and Poland are operated by Aeroflot (from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Warsaw Chopin) and LOT Polish Airlines (from Warsaw to Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg). The Polish flag carrier announced that it would suspend both routes effective immediately at 1500L (1400Z) on February 25. It also said that it would bypass Russia on all of its long-haul routes.

On February 26 2022 01:00 Simberto wrote:


Agreed.

I would willingly double my heating costs. This shit needs to be hit hard. I think that we probably don't want to go to war over this, but we should do anything short of that.

Absolutely no more trade with Russia. No oil, no gas, no imports, no exports, no banking. Seize anything owned directly or indirectly by russian oligarchs abroad. Isolate Russia from everything. No more travel to or from russia (except for people who want to claim asylum).

Hit them hard and with everything we have got.

On February 25 2022 23:49 LegalLord wrote:
There's been quite a lot of noise about potential negotiations for a ceasefire in Russian news for about the last 10 hours. The concrete proposal seems to be "let's sit down in Minsk" which I suspect is meant to be symbolic.

On February 26 2022 01:05 Zambrah wrote:
Since they want to threaten nuclear war on intervention, fine, okay, totally and completely cut them off, if they want Ukraine they can lose every other connection with the western world for a long ass time.

EDIT: Kick them out of the Olympics too.

On February 26 2022 01:00 Simberto wrote:


Agreed.

I would willingly double my heating costs. This shit needs to be hit hard. I think that we probably don't want to go to war over this, but we should do anything short of that.

Absolutely no more trade with Russia. No oil, no gas, no imports, no exports, no banking. Seize anything owned directly or indirectly by russian oligarchs abroad. Isolate Russia from everything. No more travel to or from russia (except for people who want to claim asylum).

Hit them hard and with everything we have got.

On February 26 2022 01:35 Sermokala wrote:

Kick them out of everything. We've done it before and its worked. South Africa was banned for decades and was offered the world cup of rugby if they ended apartheid. I'll be happy to give them the 2026 world cup if they agree to leave their neighbors alone.

Poland, Czechia and sweden aren't even going to consider traveling for their world cup qualifier and I'm willing to bet anything that Poland and czechia will refuse to play them at all even if they move them out of russia.

There needs to be cultural sanctions on russia and not just economic sanctions. All of these directed to the Russian people as something Putin has caused.

On February 26 2022 01:37 Biff The Understudy wrote:

The problem is not the doubling of price; the problem is pure and simple shortage. I’m also ready to double my heating costs, I’m not sure though how to pass the winter without electricity or heating.

Germany must boost its defense spending so that its armed forces can fulfill their role, German finance minister Christian Lindner said, citing concerns about his country’s strategy of operating the military on a bare minimum.

“I am concerned that we have neglected the armed forces so much in the past that it can’t fully fulfill its purpose, and that needs to change,” he said late Thursday on the German talk show Maischberger, adding that the government will discuss the idea with parliament. “Even before today it was clear to me that we need to strengthen means for the armed forces.”

Germany has for decades posed a weak link in attempts to bolster Europe’s defense and security, and has consistently undershot NATO’s agreed military spending target of 2% of gross domestic product. The weakness has become particularly apparent amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this week, with military experts in Germany publicly questioning the country’s ability to meaningfully contribute to defense efforts, should it need to.

“We need to come to terms with the fact that our armed forces have been worn down for many years,” Lindner said. “I think that our domestic politics need to learn that even defense within an alliance is a political priority.”

So far, efforts to respond to Russia’s actions have relied on harsh economic sanctions aimed at blocking the country’s access to the global financial system.

Lindner said ahead of a meeting of European finance ministers and central bank officials in Paris on Friday that “further steps are possible” on economic sanctions, but that consequences must be weighed carefully as the intention is to hurt Russia’s economy, not Europe’s.