Ayn Marx wrote on Mar 31^st, 2022 at 7:17pm:

I suspect Lavrov has his eye on the job.

But my money is ultimately on Navalny's rehabilitation.

Once the Russian people find out the truth of what has been done to Ukraine in their name, Putin's arselickers (including Lavrov) will be lucky to escape with their lives or long jail terms.

Navalny is currently the only credible figure who could possibly rededicate Russia towards the path of true democracy and, by that, immediately end Russia's isolation. No Putin-stained senior will be able to accomplish that or win the Russian people's confidence in Russia's leadership.

Navalny is Russia's Lech Walesa.

athos wrote on Apr 1^st, 2022 at 9:55am:



How does it end?  The Western European powers invade Russia, imprison the oligarch gangster capitalists, take control of the natural resources like gas, and restore trade and peace to the region.

Unleash The Germans!!  Uncle Mud is giving the West time to regroup and build up.... end of April or thereabouts the ground firms up..... nothing wrong with Eastern Europe that a few good autobahns couldn't fix.  Nobody will make the mistakes Hitler did - invading too late, not allowing for conditions, giving his foes time to regroup by taking on time-consuming battles over towns etc...... no wonder the Chinese are so friendly - so much closer... if the West strikes, watch this space.... business is business... nothing personal.....

Putin reminds me of Nixon sending Kissinger to Paris for peace talks with the North Vietnamese... Nixon's stock in trade was the 'good cop - bad cop' with himself playing the 'bad cop'....

...look - you'd better come to the peace table - I can't guarantee what Nixon will do next, and I can only hold him back for so long.... he might even go nuclear to end this endless war.......

Putin isn't that stupid - deluded, yes - crazy no.

Why do you imagine that nuclear war is the only solution to any major conflict between nations?  It is precisely the unwarranted fear of that vaguely possible outcome that Putin is riding on.... like a schoolyard bully who's never been challenged..... he KNOWS that such a totally stupid move would mean the destruction of Russia and everything he now enjoys.

".... don't upset me - you never know what I might do..... I'm dangerous" ..... lots of people try that on .....

My experience with bullies is that they need a good thrashing - then they collapse like wet paper bags.  I had one of those once - literally picked him up (skinny li'l me - at my best weight I could go 11 stone then but no way you could keep up with me) bounced his head on the footpath a couple of times, and gave him a serious warning.... you're not the dangerous one, sonny...

Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Apr 1^st, 2022 at 1:29pm:

I get the desire and concept but like all things in life, one situation does not instantly equal another. For every bully that failed, there are 2 more who did not!! A reality so often conveniently forgotten.
The truth is, in life, bullies often win, that is fact and continual.
I genuinely believe personally that if NATO attacks Russia as you suggest, he will authorise Nukes. Smaller targeted Nukes to start and from there it is a no return engagement.

Jovial Monk wrote on Apr 1^st, 2022 at 2:28pm:

They will be opening Russian bank accounts though. How does that sit with Russian Bank sanctions?
The contracts may say "pay in Euros" etc but I doubt very much they say where or where not Russia can have them pay that money. It is almost certain Russia can say " pay the money you owe us into this account"  as is the standard for every transaction around the world. "Yes I want to buy your good, what account do I send the money to?
Now if the party refuses to pay simply because of some other third party desire to stop money flowing to that account then there is no doubt they have breached payment requirement. Goods have been delivered, payment is required to the account specified. The flow on from that of course is ceasing supply till paid.
Once those funds are in Russian banks as opposed to simply being transferred between company off shore accounts/banks, they can be used to buy and support the Ruble.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Apr 1^st, 2022 at 2:47pm:

Nah it's a longer time frame and much better planned now, with the worlds largest single economy and Arab oil starting to help. It's going to be a serious challenge over coming decades. The US dollar is in big trouble IMHO and there are machinations in motion most low level analysis hasn't even got an inkling of. It's not done and dusted but " the west" is now being challenged as it hasn't been since WW11 and Ukraine is only the tip of the iceberg.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/russia-and-china-partners-in...
https://theconversation.com/russia-sanctions-new-impetus-for-chinese-yuan-to-mov...
https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-do...

He can decree all he wants.