Russian Military near Mariupol

[Doll]

Kaliningrad is a problem itself in this regard, to have conflict in NATO members you need to be totally insane (which Putin is not).
To post here without any doubt that he is going to do it is cheap and childish.
I am starting doubting Mendy is a journalist at all (or he doesn't respect people here)

[Boethius]

Two years ago, no one would have believed Putin would invade Ukrainian territory.

[Photo Guy]

Invasion: the ultimate form of 'disrespect'.

[Изумруд]

Kaliningrad is a problem itself in this regard, to have conflict in NATO members you need to be totally insane (which Putin is not).
To post here without any doubt that he is going to do it is cheap and childish.
I am starting doubting Mendy is a journalist at all (or he doesn't respect people here)

If anything was to happen in the Baltics, it would be done covertly; like we're seeing now in Odessa, Kharkiv etc.  There will be no open invasion Imo.  There are enough ethnic Russians in those countries to keep them constantly unstable, if he so wished, and the leaders of those countries know it.

[Doll]

Invasion: the ultimate form of 'disrespect'.

Really?

[lordtiberius]

Is Kaliningrad not part of Russia?  That sits right next to the Baltic States; take a look at the map,  Russia touches both Latvia and Estonia.

Russian Forces to Exercise in Baltic After Lithuania Publishes Manual on How to Deal With Invasion
http://www.thetrumpet.com/article/12399.19.0.0/world/military/russian-forces-to-exercise-in-baltic-after-lithuania-publishes-manual-on-how-to-deal-with-invasion

The Baltic Fleet includes more than 50 destroyers, corvettes, missile ships, landing ships, minesweepers and other vessels.

Russia plans Kaliningrad shipbuilding cluster
11 Feb 2015
A new shipbuilding cluster is to be established in Kaliningrad, the Russian port city sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, writes Eugene Gerden.
http://www.motorship.com/news101/ships-and-shipyards/russia-plans-kaliningrad-shipbuilding-cluster

Throughput of Kaliningrad Sea Commercial Port down 28.6% to 165,300 t in Jan’15
http://en.portnews.ru/news/194659/





Man Sets Himself On Fire Outside Kaliningrad Mayor's Office
http://www.rferl.org/content/kaliningrad-self-immolation-police-mayors-office/26833900.html

[lordtiberius]

There will be no open invasion Imo.

In your opinion, is Putin a master strategist  or a freelancer?

[Doll]

Two years ago, no one would have believed Putin would invade Ukrainian territory.

He didn't

[Boethius]

Even Putin has now admitted troops were in Crimea. 

[Doll]

Even Putin has now admitted troops were in Crimea.

Have you heard what Obama said about Crimea? He said that it was totally spontaneous.

[Изумруд]

In your opinion, is Putin a master strategist  or a freelancer?

I think he's seen that the EU is disjointed and has absolutely no stomach for a confrontation with Russia; especially, over Ukraine, unfortunately.  The pitiful last round of sanctions against Givi, Motorola and a 77 year old crooner, proved that the EU are pretending defiance, but in reality want this over as quickly as possible, so they can get back to the way it was before.  That is why the often heard phrase: "We're deeply concerened....." sickens me.   

[Boethius]

Have you heard what Obama said about Crimea? He said that it was totally spontaneous.

Obama didn't give an order for troops to invade in Crimea.  Moreover, you are misinterpreting what Obama stated.  What he meant was, the invasion wasn't long planned.  It came about because of an opportunity.  That is proving to be incorrect, as the plans, partly released by a Russian news media outlet, now prove. 

[Doll]

I think he's seen that the EU is disjointed and has absolutely no stomach for a confrontation with Russia; especially, over Ukraine, unfortunately.  The pitiful last round of sanctions against Givi, Motorola and a 77 year old crooner, proved that the EU are pretending defiance, but in reality want this over as quickly as possible, so they can get back to the way it was before.  That is why the often heard phrase: "We're deeply concerened....." sickens me.

What's wrong in it?

[Boethius]

I won't speak for Изумруд, but why should Putin be rewarded for the invasion and misery he has wreaked on Ukraine?

[lordtiberius]

Anyone here still think Putin will "take a break"?  Anyone here question whether the Minsk accords are still valid?

[Изумруд]

What's wrong in it?

There is nothing wrong with wanting war to finish, but it shouldn't be at the expense of a nation's sovereignty; otherwise, we will live in a world of complete anarchy.  The 1994 Budapest memorandum was signed to protect Ukraine's sovereignty, not to ignore it.  Sometimes you have to stand up to aggression and nip it in the bud, so as to maintain order.

I believe at this point, Putin has become emboldened due to the extremely weak response of the EU.  He knows they're disjointed, and he can maintain this take a piece at a time strategy indefinitely.  Meanwhile, innocent people are dying and Ukraine is losing more and more land.  let us not forget, that Putin doesn't even consider Ukraine a real country.

[Boethius]

Let us not forget, that Putin doesn't even consider Ukraine a real country.

I suspect the pro Russian supporters on this forum don't, either.

[BillyB]

Anyone here still think Putin will "take a break"?  Anyone here question whether the Minsk accords are still valid?

What you're seeing right now is Putin taking a break. The skirmishes going on aren't going to make Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel, or Hollande announce Minsk 2 is a failure. There are goals that need to be completed by both sides before Putin will advance for more territory. Stop making the small skirmishes more than what it is. When the ceasefire ends, there will not be any dispute, you will know it. In the article below the prisoner swap was just completed that favored Ukraine. They got 139 men back and they returned 52 rebels.


Prisoner Swap/Win Win

[lordtiberius]

You must serve on the Kiev General Staff.

Every life is important Billy B.  A true warrior knows that.  A warrior with experience acknowledges it.

[ML]

I didn't "get out" the map- I know it by heart.
Baltics is not connected to Russia (I mean boundaries) PLUS it is NATO member(s).
Or you think Putin is an idiot?

One of more stupid things posted here.

Estonia and Latvia both have borders common to Russia.

[Doll]

One of more stupid things posted here.

Estonia and Latvia both have borders common to Russia.

opppppppps, you're right

[lordtiberius]

One of more stupid things posted here.

Estonia and Latvia both have borders common to Russia.

No.  Don't say that.  Doll is smart - NOT DUMB according to some, not me.

[fathertime]

What you're seeing right now is Putin taking a break. The skirmishes going on aren't going to make Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel, or Hollande announce Minsk 2 is a failure. There are goals that need to be completed by both sides before Putin will advance for more territory. Stop making the small skirmishes more than what it is. When the ceasefire ends, there will not be any dispute, you will know it. In the article below the prisoner swap was just completed that favored Ukraine. They got 139 men back and they returned 52 rebels.


Prisoner Swap/Win Win

Hey Billy, What do you make of this type of semi-lopsided prisoner swap?    One thing I read into it is that Russia isn't concerned about whatever numbers of soldiers Ukraine throws at them.  There are some other things I thought too, but I'm curious what your read is. 


Thanks,
Fathertime!   

[AkMike]

Russia is shelling the Mariupol area with new style air burst micro schrapnel.

", the enemy allegedly used tube-launched projectiles with a special feature: they burst at a height of 40 meters above the surface.

After the surface burst, the affected area is covered by a large number of microshrapnel whose size is several millimeters. They cause multiple shrapnel wounds; surgery of a person with such small injuries becomes complicated and lasts much longer than usual."

Read more on UNIAN: http://www.unian.info/war/1047129-new-types-of-weapons-used-to-shell-ukrainian-troops-near-mariupol-photos-video.html

[BillyB]

Hey Billy, What do you make of this type of semi-lopsided prisoner swap?   

It's supposed to be the first of a few prisoner swaps. Putin let first swap benefit Ukraine so the other prisoner swaps will go smooth and they'll probably be more balanced. It's good for both sides to get their prisoners back which helps the moral of the troops. Poroshenko and Putin needs the respect of their troops because they'll be asking them to fight again.

  One thing I read into it is that Russia isn't concerned about whatever numbers of soldiers Ukraine throws at them.

Russia has more than enough troops and equipment back home to handle anything Ukraine throws at them.


I don't believe the ceasefire is the end. Putin needs Ukraine to change their Constitution so the world recognizes the independence of two regions in conflict and it takes the heat off what Russia did there. Poroshenko has come to realize the West isn't going to help him militarily. When Putin breaks the peace agreement, Ukraine will gather increased sympathy from the West. Will it be enough for them to receive military help? Poroshenko hopes so and that is one of the reasons he reluctantly agreed to a peace agreement that heavily favors Russia.


Right now Putin is mobilizing more military equipment in Luhansk and Donetsk. I doubt he is providing security for those two regions for when they receive their independence. He is preparing to advance further into Ukraine.