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Part of Ukraine's original problem with Russia stems from the ouster of the Russian puppet Yanukovych and the subsequent crackdown on corruption. This created a Ukrainian base of support for Putin to undermine the Ukrainian government, and of course the Russian resulting disinformation campaign designed to undermine the current administration.
No one can dispute that both Russia and Ukraine have had a serious problem with the oligarch class which arose from the economic reforms. Both countries have struggled with corruption ever since, and this has included judges and prosecutors taking bribes and distorting justice.
I am glad to see this “anti-oligarch” law. It could be just what is needed to clean up the country and put Ukraine on a sound footing. No such law would be possible under Russian control.
As a side note: Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus ran as an anti-corruption candidate when he was young, and his policies worked. He stopped the economic reforms which sold off the state owned industries to government insiders and mobsters. Today, the small country is still dominated by state owned industries, but they don't have an equivalent class of oligarchs corrupting the country.
I still believe that the Belarus would benefit by economic reforms, but only if they have learned from their neighbor's mistakes and make the transition in an honest manner, paying off the citizens for the full value of the assets or giving them an equivalent value in stocks. If Putin and his gang finally get their grubby mitts on Belarus, they will steal the national assets and betray those people.
Russia is literally relying on Central Asia, Iran, Syria, and North Korea right now.
But yes, China would gladly step in to support Russia if anything were to truly get bad for them.
This is why it's funny when folks said "Russia will collapse." Even Iran and North Korea haven't collapsed, and they've been pariahs forever. Armchair generals don't understand how much some countries hate the west. Hell even Turkey, a NATO partner, plays both sides of the fence.
China has distanced themselves from the invasion. They are NOT supporting Russia. They just put money first. They aren't letting politics get in the way of making money. They will sell and buy from Russia. They aren't going to prop them up.
They nearly had war over some of their own border disputes. They only settled those about 15 years ago.
China has distanced themselves from the invasion. They are NOT supporting Russia. They just put money first. They aren't letting politics get in the way of making money. They will sell and buy from Russia. They aren't going to prop them up.
They nearly had war over some of their own border disputes. They only settled those about 15 years ago.
China has distanced themselves from the invasion. They are NOT supporting Russia. They just put money first. They aren't letting politics get in the way of making money. They will sell and buy from Russia. They aren't going to prop them up.
They nearly had war over some of their own border disputes. They only settled those about 15 years ago.
Trade with Russia and China is up a stunning 30%. Look at the facts. Ignore the propaganda. China is not your/our friend in this. They never were your friend to begin with. They are an economic rival, and have bled a lot of our nation's industrial might away over the years. If they are presented with an opportunity to profit at the expense of the west, of course you know, they will pounce on it. Not to mention, they are always looking for customers to replace the USA now that we have protective tariffs in place, which is costing them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech commemorating the Soviet forces’ breaking of the siege of Leningrad illustrated that he remains uncertain about his ability to significantly shape the Russian information space. Putin used his January 18 speech to reiterate standard and longstanding Kremlin rhetoric that falsely maintains that Russia launched the invasion of Ukraine to protect residents in the Donbas from neo-Nazis who, the Kremlin claims, seized control of the Ukrainian government in 2014. Putin did not use the publicity of the event to make any announcements concerning the war in Ukraine, such as a new mobilization wave or a formal declaration of war, which some Russian milbloggers had floated. Putin has notably declined to use several high-profile public addresses, including his annual New Year’s Speech and his canceled annual address to the Russian Federation Assembly, to make any notable new announcements about the war.[3] Putin likely reiterated standard Kremlin rhetoric because it has resonated well with the Russian ultra-nationalist pro-war community, elements of which have been increasingly critical of his conduct of the war.[4] Putin may seek to shape the Russian information space over time, but he appears to be unwilling or unable to attempt a dramatic speech that represents a significant inflection in his rhetoric.
While the above analysis is very deep, lol, it does not change the fact that all of the January mobilization/war declaration predictions were wrong (or perhaps fake is a better word) so far. And I know exactly where I read them (no, I don't watch any "milbloggers"). Pravda it was, lol.
P.S. Now, it still might happen, who knows, but that's not an excuse to spread disinformation. Not addressing this to you but to the sources in question.
Last edited by serger; 01-18-2023 at 09:42 PM..
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