Something fascinating if true! Comes from an EU MP and Former Defense Chief in Estonia so quite credible, although not 100%

https://twitter.com/RihoTerras/statu...tEAImODlw&s=19

I'll try to summarize for the non-Russian speakers:

1. Putin has convened a meeting in Ural and is furious and has banned the oligarchs from leaving the country

2. There was hope for the campaign to be over in 4 days

3. cost is 20bn per day

4. They are running out of ammunition and weapons, the factories are unable to fulfill the quotas

5. If they are not able to wrap it up within 10 days, they will be forced to negotiate

6. Will try to spread panic by attacking civilians

7. Spetznaz, their special ops have been there since the 18th but not very effective.

8. They seem to have a problem with getting forces on the ground, at least 200 have died from downed planes


Take with a grain of salt, but it could be true

Come on Tom. You know full well that the far left and far right are as bad as each other. Question is, what do the rest of us do? And don't give me this "do nothing/don't get involved". The line is being pushed against our will, and we all have our individual lines in the sand. So your line may be further back than mine? Fine. I accept that, but events are happening that are largely out of our hands now, an illegal sortie over Taiwan, missiles shot at a Japanese ship (under a Moldovan flag) in the Black Sea. Provocations have the potential to really screw things up for all of us.

Putting aside legendary awe-resonating special ops names of KGB, GRU, Spetsnaz and Wagner Group, the conflict can last as long as it’s financed and Russia most likely has limited budget to achieve their goals. Eventually, as long as Ukraine holds and deters aggression, there will come a moment when everyone will go back to the negotiating table and talk compromise. Sorry, that any life of innocent and commanded people to do their job will be lost until then.

That one at least, appears to have a grain of truth...

https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/st...44191474528258

No, the far left. I don't anyone here on EF who is. The far right is well represented, sadly.

Switzerland should maintain a low profile but ensure also that it cannot be seen to profit from this situation. Focussing on the humanitarian aspects, alleviating suffering and attempting to play a neutral and mediator role would be best. That instead of trying to navigate a fine line between actively supporting "just" wars and actively condemning "unjust" ones.

This has not just happened. It is the culmination of at least a 30 year history and the warning signs were long there that something had to break. Understanding what has happened is the key to minimising the risk it repeats.

Obviously, if you sees a crowd of people prodding a bear into a corner with a stick, the question arises whether you should pick up a stick and join them. Especially so if you perceive the risk that the crowd will also start turning you if you just stand on the side lines. That could be the easy way out but then Switzerland would lose even the role as a credible mediator.

That crowd has also begun prodding a panda into that corner. Not only will there be an energy shortage but also a shortage of manufactured goods and probably much worse to come.

__________________
If you have difficulties with a post which contains a link to a site in one of the Swiss languages, use Google Translate or your own favourite translating browser.

The article you linked to says that the UK visa application centre in Kyiv has been closed. And that Ukrainians who do not have close British relatives can get UK visas if they get to centres in Romania, Moldova, Poland and Hungary.

Not exactly the same truth as the headline, is it?

I think it's pretty clear from past history that although it may not make money from this, it won't be looking at any loss.

Although you didn't mean it like that - due to banking secrecy laws here and lack of press freedom - it won't be seen.

Why hasn't Switzerland already frozen all Russian assets here?

Some people only read in a way that fits their agenda.

Well, if there's price instability in fuel prices it will not be a voluntary issue, so no reason to worry about that, better start reducing other costs and saving.

It is unknown the amount of gasoline and diesel from Russian oil in Switzerland, estimated between 25-30%. Natural gas is more traceable, about 50%. https://www.watson.ch/wissen/wirtsch...em-oel-und-gas

I guess the most impacted regions in CH would be regions that rely a lot on cross-borders workers driving everyday to work. Cross-border workers are under EF poverty line (sorry for the dumb joke) and transportation is a big part of their professional costs. If gasoline doubles in price, people won't come to work. Natural gas is more linked to industrial applications. Anyway, still used to warm some homes, but I hope this will the last time people say it's cheaper to heat homes with natural gas.

PS. there has been several referendums at cantonal level to ban new installations of heating systems fueled with heavy oil and natural gas. Last canton that banned this kind of installations was ZH. It's not only to reduce CO2 emissions, it's also to avoid being hostage of dictators around the world https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/zurich-...aters/47140666

Breaks my heart! Captured Russian soldiers. Not more than 18-19, the age when I was chasing girls and drinking to oblivion. They didn't even know they were going to attack Ukraine. Lets not forget that these conscript Russian boys are victims too, they do not deserve this! Sick sick bastard, I am an atheist, but I hope Putin goes into hell for this!

no blood or anything like this below, just the boys talking


https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/...bNwQajGA8K_WfQ

Yes. It must be absolutely clear that Switzerland cannot be presented by anyone (even anyone acting in the most extreme case of bad faith) as profiting from the situation.

Better would be give a deadline for the holders to remove their assets from here.

The problem is that this "operation" is not the only one outside a UN mandate. Taking a view that Russian assets should be frozen but not those of county "X" is not compatible with neutrality. It is either all or none.

Just filled my car and the price was CHF 1.97 per litre, the highest I ever remember.

These attacks on neutral ships are probably why shipping companies do not want to send their tankers to these areas so Russian oil is currently selling at a big discount versus other oils.

When I first moved to Switzerland in 2011, unleaded was CHF 1.95. I realise it fell a lot since then.

How things have changed.

Well, that means memory lasts less than 8 years. Oil/fuel prices are the highest since 2014 when.....Russia invaded Crimea.

I think are all under no illusion that "neutrality" is a pretty fluid concept.

Indeed, the topic is even on Swiss TV. Commodities is just a proxy for oil and natural gas.

https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/12891...la-russie.html

Showing these videos on Twitter could be against the Geneva convection - not that the soldiers have been portrayed harshly but that by showing the videos, and for what the soldiers are saying, it could mean repercussions for them and their families.

Well I understand why Putin has banned Twitter. Where else can you have a discussion on how to disable Russian tanks and APCs.

Wrong!

The information magic gave was correct at the time of posting with a large number of British MPs and prominent business people protesting this online. It was updated/amended 5hrs ago...

https://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice/sta...07314965774337