A good question. In fact, the Kaliningrad question.
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Looks like Nigel has a wallet full of roubles to keep him warm this winter. He was previously sure that Putin would never, ever invade.
How to come to the wrong conclusion, what a twat.
Half right - it gave Putin excuses that play well at home, however irrational.
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Obvious shill is obvious.
Love to see this twat strung up for treason
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Any update on the āsevere sanctionsā that will supposedly be rolled out? They seem to be taking time in announcing them. This can hardly have been a surprise.
In the short term this is going to be terrible for Ukraine. In the slightly longer term, this is going to utterly cripple Russiaās economy & that will likely be the end of Putin. Itās been rumoured for a while that he isnāt well. I wonder if heās just chosen to go down in a blaze of glory.
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From what Iām hearing, I do believe his actions are extremely unpopular in Russia - but people not really able to do much about it.
I wonder how long the Russian economy can hold out. They have a track record of getting by and living with sanctions.
I read somewhere that since 2014 (annexation of Crimea) they have built up the 4th largest foreign currency reserve of any country (equivalent to around half a trillion USD).
That would be reasonably easy to do if you are one of the largest exporters of oil and natural gas (as both are traded in USD) and your country is heavily sanctioned. I do take the point that it suggests sanctions are going to need to be extremely severe. I wonder how the Chinese will respond if they are asked to provide economic support by the Russians.
Has China commented anywhere (ie at the UN?) about this yet?
Early days yet.
They were discussing it at the UN yesterday but I only caught a bit of it. China as a permanent member would normally have had a say.
As you were guys, Putin recalling troops as we speak
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Putin wonāt give a shit will he? No one actually affected by the sanctions will get within a mile of him. And he doesnāt care if many of his subjects starve, itās the Russian way after all.
thereās very little the west can do unless Europe are willing to freeze without Russian oil and gas, but even then I wouldnāt bet on him pulling out of Ukraine any time soon.
Unless his military revolt.
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I couldnāt find anything when I had a quick look.
Probably been asked not to raise anything in payment for not having their games disrupted.
Rather than invest the national hydrocarbon wealth in the economy and infrastructure theyāve shoved in the bank for a rainy day.
Playing the long game over the last 8 yrs.
Too busy preparing to āvisitā Taiwan more like. As good a time as any.
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