They should teach their Vassals to aim better.

Unfortunately, it works. Many Ukrainians have friends and relatives in Russia who believe all this BS that Russian channels are pouring in their ears everyday. Not only in Russia, but also in other ex-USSR countries and even abroad. This stupidity of the audience served badly to Russian government when they started vaccination compain only to find out that the citizens were not only amenable to anti-western propaganda but also to anti-vax propaganda.

Reports indicating that Germany is advising its citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.

From what Ive seen, there has been significant increase in Russian military preparations over past 48 hours.

Zelensky also talking about pre-emptive sanctions (since the west is certain Russia will invade) and the idea that parts of Ukraine shouldn't need to be destroyed before sanctions are announced. He also referred to voiding the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

Depending on perspective, talking about the 1994 agreement in that context MAY indicate that Ukraine is highlighting a potential nuclear option. I have no idea how quickly they can turn out a nuclear device but its not out of the question and would add another layer of complexity to resolving this.

I always mistrusted the claim that the Ukrainians totally dismantled the former Soviet stockpile. Perhaps they kept a core or two for future "experiments"

Unlikely. And Russia would have known about it for sure.

Typical rhetoric from Russian forums. If you don't want to be our friends we will destroy you.

Ukrainians compare Russia to the neighbour who burned the entrance door, occupied one of the rooms, raped your wife and then asks you why you don't like him and don't want to be his friend. Unbelievable cynicism.

So, if Ukraine feels threatened, why don't they deploy their army?
What game are they playing? Are they counting on USA? Are they trying to force US hand which, if they couldn't protect its de facto vassal state, then they won't be credible in Asia either? But Ukraine might pay a price if Russia invades as then they'll collapse very quickly.

I do see parallels between the situation in Ukraine now with the backing of the US (nato) and the situation in Poland in 1939. Poland felt very secure with the backing of Britain and reinforced the fortifications on the Westerplatte in direct defiance to Germany´s demands.

Maybe, maybe not. Ukraine secret service is very effective, but if they do have a core or two you can bet Rubles to Euros that they are frantically building a device.

Ukraine is the facto USA's vassal state? Maybe it was better to be a de facto Russia's vassal state? Wait......they were and it didn't end up well for them.

Ukraine can force USA's hand? Seriously? Is that a scenario in the Russian province of Trollandia?

Buenzli, we all appreciate your deep involvement in this issue right from your 9th post on this forum, what an incredible coincidence, but we've seen it all here.

Maybe my wording wasn't 100%, it should have been "a supposed vassal".
However, why isn't Ukraine calling up its army and deploying it except at the separatist "republics"? Maybe their politicians are so assured Russia is bluffing and think mobilising and making a defense posture could give an excuse Russia so desperately seeks, but if this calculation is wrong then that's an unexplainable lowering of the guard.
If they were counting on Western sanctions, that is now over, some painful sanctions should have been already put in place, Russia is playing North Korea rogue state right now missiles included, and has full assault readiness, everybody knows this not a military exercise any longer, but Russia is too powerful and there are too important economic relations that they haven't and won't be even more certainly after the fait accompli.
So, what the heck are the Ukrainian politicians thinking?

I am quite sure the Ukrainian army is pretty much in DEFCON 1 by now.

They were waiting for your genius advice, so drop a mail to Zelensky he's expecting your guidance


BTW the Russians really believe the whole world is stupid. The Ukrainians waited for the specific moment when they have 300k Russian soldiers at their borders in order to throw the two bombs. One in an empty field and another in an empty building.

Ukrainian army is preparing. Just not in a way that it can be used by Russian propaganda as a sign of preparation to attack L/DPR or Russia.

The Russian propaganda is tailored to the domestic audience, in looking forward to receiving flag-covered coffins. No one meaningful outside of Russia will buy their nonsense.

I know it's not a funny time especially for Ukrainians, but in my defense this was sent to me by a Ukrainian friend

Russia:
If Ukraine starts to kill Russians we will strike back!

*Ukraine doing nothing*

Russia: ok I will do it by myself...

Talking about inappropriate jokes:

You think better about Russia than it deserves. Till now Russian soldiers that died in Donbass were buried secretly.

Now, they aren't, of course. If they are fooling anyone, then some of the Russians who trust the state media.
Externally, this serves a plausible deniability purpose so that if/when other countries decide that their interests with Russia are above Ukraine's, they can do it easier and play dumb if accused.

So the Russian side of the story is a stupid propaganda, and the Ukrainian side is the truth. And you really believe that the audience in Russia is more stupid that the audience in Ukraine. Well, this is exactly how propaganda works.

To me it looks like that neither Russia nor Ukraine need or want this war. It will be a political disaster for Russia to go to war with Ukraine. And for Ukraine it will be a tragedy and a human disaster. Almost every Russian has connections to Ukraine, friends, relatives. I still don’t believe that the war will happen. There are some players who are interested in this war but most of them are outside of Uktaine or Russia.