Russo-Ukrainian war: Strategic and economic theatres

[Amled]

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle...ms-2022-07-21/
The Ukraine and Russians to resume corn and wheat shipments!
Is it being cynical and/or skeptical to be suspicious of Russians “bearing gifts”?

[Albany Rifles]

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle...ms-2022-07-21/
The Ukraine and Russians to resume corn and wheat shipments!
Is it being cynical and/or skeptical to be suspicious of Russians “bearing gifts”?

There damn well better be a bunch of minesweepers ahead of those ships when they leave UKR ports.

[Amled]

It took less than 24 hours for the Russians to violate the agreement not to target Ukrainian ports where grain and other foodstuffs could be shipped out!
The curious thing is that the “TASS” link even mentions the ports that will be exempt from bombardments; including Odessa!
It will be interesting to see how the Kremlin’s talking heads will justify breaking an agreement less than 24 hours after they signed it.

https://www.republicworld.com/world-...ticleshow.html
https://tass.com/economy/1483883

[Amled]

The recent Russian missile strike on Odessa’s port does raise an interesting perspective.
Namely WHY?
The Russians must have known; probably since their naval blockade was established,
the location of the targeted ship. They could have sunk it at time?
So why was it less than 24 hours after a “form” of agreement was reached with the Ukrainian’s was reached,
that they felt this was the right time to attack the port?
To send a message, but to whom?
The people and defenders of Odessa; as well as the rest of Ukraine, have had ample proof that the enemy is at the gate.
So if not to them, who?
It might simply be Russia flexing its muscles, but the venue doesn’t make sense.
They are already considered pariahs by a much of the world.
So is it really to their advantage to be seen as endangering food from reaching people facing starvation?
That plus the shitstorm they are facing in the media and from leading politicians the world over.
Case in point, wonder how the Turkish Defense Minister liked being played by his Russian counterpart?

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...sh-2022-07-23/

[Monash]

I was thinking exactly the same thing about the timing issue. The only thing I can think of was that the submarine involved had been given its orders shortly before the treaty was agreed to and was maintaining radio silence so as to avoid detection. It was a diesel boat after all not a SSN. So basically a stuff up but frankly if so it shows a massive degree of incompetence on the part of Russia's Black Sea naval command. (God forbid it was an SSBM and Russia didn't have effective real time coms with them!)

Point is though regardless of the cause more repetitions of this kind of conduct is going to make a peace deal with Ukraine and indeed the entire West untenable.

[Monash]

OK so when know know that (allegedly) the target of the missile attack in question was a Ukrainian naval vessel and a warehouse alleged to contain munitions, which if true failed to detonate when struck so that was almost certainly a 'miss'. So that leaves the question of how Ukraine is supposed to run grain exports through a port that could be subject to attack any time Russia tries to strike military targets with not very accurate PGMs.

So what exactly is Ukraine supposed to do? De-militarize Odessa and make it an open city? Because unless they do Russia can claim that any strike they make was aimed at legitimate military assets, even if most of the time they miss! And I'm sure the Russian's wouldn't take advantage of any undefended status Ukraine announced in that situation. Cross their hearts and hope to die!

Going to interesting to see how many grain ships get in and out.

[TopHatter]

So what exactly is Ukraine supposed to do? De-militarize Odessa and make it an open city? Because unless they do Russia can claim that any strike they make was aimed at legitimate military assets, even if most of the time they miss! And I'm sure the Russian's wouldn't take advantage of any undefended status Ukraine announced that situation. Cross their hearts and hope to die!

You hit the nail on the head: Russia will never -not in a million years- honor such an open city declaration.

[Bigfella]

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has had an impressive start to her tenure. She has helped to slow China's push into the south Pacific; had successful visits to Indonesia & her home country of Malaysia - speaking to locals in their own language (being Chinese & openly gay doesn't usually play well in these nations, making her success all the more imporessive); and she has taken some steps toward reparing relations with China without sacrificing any of our positions on human rights, Taiwan etc.

Now she has walked out on Sergey Lavrov at the East Asia summit:

It is understood an Australian official was still present while the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, spoke, and that it was not a pre-planned protest from Wong.

“Minister Wong could not sit through Mr Lavrov’s attempt to justify the murder of innocent Ukrainians,” a spokesperson said.

Fuck you very much Sergey.

https://www.theguardian.com/australi...on#top-of-blog

[Albany Rifles]

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has had an impressive start to her tenure. She has helped to slow China's push into the south Pacific; had successful visits to Indonesia & her home country of Malaysia - speaking to locals in their own language (being Chinese & openly gay doesn't usually play well in these nations, making her success all the more imporessive); and she has taken some steps toward reparing relations with China without sacrificing any of our positions on human rights, Taiwan etc.

Now she has walked out on Sergey Lavrov at the East Asia summit:



Fuck you very much Sergey.

https://www.theguardian.com/australi...on#top-of-blog

For a small country population wise Australia always swings way above its weight.

Must be all those dangerous beasties which makes them feisty!

Good job to the Minister!

[Officer of Engineers]

Wonders never ceased. A politicians who can't stand bellyaching.

[tbm3fan]

For a small country population wise Australia always swings way above its weight.

Must be all those dangerous beasties which makes them feisty!

Good job to the Minister!

Got to be all those Sheilas. Luckily for some they are in Australia, ahem...

[DOR]

Got to be all those Sheilas. Luckily for some they are in Australia, ahem...

Don’t confuse Shelia with “Karen.”
Shelia is that rare kind of woman who can both put up with and shut down Bruce.

[Bigfella]

Got to be all those Sheilas. Luckily for some they are in Australia, ahem...

Not that lucky if you happen to live here.

[Officer of Engineers]

Not that lucky if you happen to live here.

Quit your yapping. You're single.

[Bigfella]

Quit your yapping. You're single.

Precisely. Do the math.