War

Bagginski

Well-Known Member
Russia’s retaliation on gas raises stakes for U.S.
Russia is taking a retaliatory step the U.S. and its allies have been bracing for – cutting off gas exports to two European nations, a move that escalated tensions and raised concerns about the possibility of Russia widening the stoppage to other nations.

The Biden administration has long warned that Russia would weaponize its energy exports, but sought to work in lockstep with European allies on their own timelines to reduce reliance on Russian gas and oil.

“The Europeans have genuinely ambitious plans to move away from this reliance on Russian energy,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told lawmakers on Tuesday.

“The challenge is to put them into effect and the other challenge is, in some cases this is not – no pun intended – like flipping a light switch. It is a process, and that’s what we’re working with them on implementing.”

Russia’s decision to cut off gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria marks a risky gamble for the Kremlin, which is seeking to force Europe to pay for energy imports in rubles instead of dollars or euros to raise the strength of Russia’s domestic currency, which is under intense pressure from global sanctions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that neighboring countries were supplying Poland and Bulgaria with gas delivery in the midst of the Russian blockade, and warned energy companies against violating European and U.S. sanctions by paying for gas imports in rubles.

“Our guidance here is very clear, to pay in rubles, if this is not foreseen in the contract, to pay in rubles is a breach of our sanctions,” she said.

“Companies with such contracts should not accede to the Russian demands, this would be a breach of the sanctions so a high risk of the companies.”

Russia’s announcement drew renewed condemnation from the West. Von der Leyen accused Russia of blackmail, while White House press secretary Jen Psaki said it was an instance of Russia “almost weaponizing” its energy supply.

“It’s a very definite sign of the escalation of the battle on the energy front,” said Daniel Yergin, an energy expert and author of “The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations.”

Bulgaria and Poland are heavily dependent on Russian gas, though Yergin noted that Poland is connected to the German market and can import Russian gas from Germany.

Poland had also taken preemptive steps to stock up its gas supply, holding about 76 percent reserves at the end of the heating season in anticipation of Russian retaliation.

“It looks like the Poles certainly, and I think the Bulgarians are not caught flat footed,” said Daniel Fried, a former ambassador to Poland and senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.

Experts said the situation could quicken European efforts to impose a stricter ban on Russian energy imports, something officials have already been discussing, which would have a debilitating impact on the already weakened Russian economy.

A German official raised eyebrows earlier this week when he suggested Berlin is days away from independence from Russian oil, in large part by supplying German oil refineries with imports through Polish sea ports.

“I do think this is, if anything, probably going to increase the resolve of many European actors to reduce their reliance on Russian energy,” said Rachel Ziemba, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. “The challenge is I think it runs the risk of dividing European entities.”

Ziemba said the development would likely spur an increase in natural gas prices, including in the U.S., which is increasing LNG exports to Europe to help wean European nations off of Russian gas.

“Globally, I would think prices are generally heading up from here,” said Ziemba.

On Wednesday afternoon, within hours of the Russian decision, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the authorization of exports from two new liquid natural gas projects based in Texas and Louisiana, respectively.

While the department did not specifically mention Poland or Bulgaria in the announcement, it noted that the U.S. is the biggest exporter of liquid natural gas and said exports will “continue to play a key role in global energy security, particularly due to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.” Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Psaki told reporters that the U.S. has been in touch with Bulgarian and Polish officials since Russia shut off gas supplies to their two countries.

Blinken on Wednesday, speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before Russia announced it was cutting off gas supplies, said the U.S. had already redirected “significant amounts” of liquified natural gas (LNG) to Europe to help them move away from Russian gas in the midst of the war in Ukraine.

“That process is continuing and we want to make sure that as they do that, there is backfill, and there’s significant amounts going to that,” Blinken told lawmakers.

This includes the delivery of 15 billion cubic meter (bcm) of LNG to Europe, which Biden announced in March alongside von der Leyen while establishing a joint U.S.-E.U. task force aimed at reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.

The U.S. is looking to increase LNG delivery to 50 bcm to Europe each year until at least 2030, according to a task-force statement at the time.

Blinken said the administration is committed to increasing U.S. exports of LNG.

“The president has urged domestic producers to speed up production, there are… thousands of licenses that have gone unused and hopefully they will be used to increase production,” he said.

Approximately 9,000 domestic oil and gas leases are currently unused, and the Biden administration has frequently referenced them to fault the energy industry for high gas prices.

Still, there are limits to what the U.S. can do to assist its European partners, especially those like Germany that are heavily reliant on Russian energy.

“I feel like they’ve been doing about everything that they can,” said Samantha Gross, director of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institution. “The president doesn’t have a lot to say over where oil and gas goes – even U.S. oil and gas.”

Yergin argued that the Biden administration would be wise to deepen its dialogue with energy companies. He pointed to past crises like the Suez Crisis, during which the U.S. government was more closely coordinating with industry in how to address supply issues.

“That hasn’t happened here yet,” he said.

Putin may win a battle here but it will cause Russia to lose the greater war.
I’ve worked on it for a while, and it seems like Putin has *really* screwed up with this, cutting off the gas like that - what leverage does he have now? He can’t even use the cutoff as a threat now: Europe, continuing to be dependent on Russian gas while the conflict continues, would be hampered, just from doubt as to ‘the nature of the play’. Pooti’s gone senile or paranoid (“why not both?”) to miss this chance to keep the instability going.

This really is just getting worse and worse for him…and because of him (basic weakness of dictatorship/autocracy). Saw a headline to the effect that Russia is being picked to pieces by hackers….

”Apres-moi, le Deluge!”
 

Bagginski

Well-Known Member
They’re selling the big one!

Wow. THAT’s not gonna have any impact on public opinion back home, or with your allies…I was just saying he seems to have lost it, and there it fucking GOES.…

Well done, Poutine! Russia in domestic chaos within 36 hours…destabilized yourself, there, chief

Damn, and we go on about Jonestown, Jim Jones, and the Kool Aid…Reverend Vlad has just told the faithful it’s time for them to go to heaven
 
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HGCC

Well-Known Member
I never really watch those videos so I finally watched into that one.
I felt manipulated to be honest. I quit watching.
What was the point he was making? Maybe in a few words.
Thanks.
I dont get why people are into it either, but I don't really like any sort of talking head type thing. It was mentioned, but I believe he is fairly popular as he appears to be another dude in his truck talking bout Obama, but then is actually left wing.
 

printer

Well-Known Member
Gazprom: Poland continues to buy Russian gas through Germany
The Gazprom company reported that Poland, contrary to its statements, continues to buy Russian gas after the suspension of direct supplies. However, now the country is buying it through Germany.

“This week, Poland refused to pay for gas supplies from Russia under the new procedure, in rubles. It was solemnly announced that Russian gas is no longer needed and will not be bought. But actually it is not.

After the suspension of direct supplies, Poland buys Russian gas. But now in Germany, from where it is delivered in reverse to Poland via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, ”the company said in a statement (Kommersant has it).

The company clarifies that the volume of reverse is about 30 million cubic meters. m per day - almost exactly corresponds to the applications under the contract with Gazprom Export in previous days.

On April 26, the Polish authorities announced that they would not pay for Russian gas in rubles. On April 27, Gazprom confirmed that it had completely stopped gas supplies to the Polish company PGNiG. This decision was made due to the fact that the company refused to pay for gas in rubles.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, against the backdrop of Western sanctions, instructed from April 1 to ensure payments for Russian gas supplies to "unfriendly countries" with conversion into rubles.

German energy giant Uniper gives in to Russian rouble demand
One of Germany's biggest energy firms has said it is preparing to buy Russian gas using a payment system that critics say will undermine EU sanctions.
Uniper says it will pay in euros which will be converted into roubles, meeting a Kremlin demand for all transactions to be made in the Russian currency. Other European energy firms are reportedly preparing to do the same amid concerns about supply cuts. Uniper said it had no choice but said it was still abiding by EU sanctions.

"We consider a payment conversion compliant with sanctions law and the Russian decree to be possible," a spokesman told the BBC.
"For our company and for Germany as a whole, it is not possible to do without Russian gas in the short term; this would have dramatic consequences for our economy."

 

BudmanTX

Well-Known Member
awwww things go boom in Moscow......



kind of explains this......



let the phuckery begin.....
 

printer

Well-Known Member
awwww things go boom in Moscow......



kind of explains this......



let the phuckery begin.....
UK's Wallace says Putin preparing to formally declare Ukraine war in May
President Vladimir Putin is preparing to use Victory Day celebrations on May 9 to tell the Russian people he is conducting a war — not a special military operation — in Ukraine, Britain’s defence minister has said.

Ben Wallace said the Russian leader will have no choice but to come clean about the reality on the ground if he needs more conscripts to be pushed to join the fight under a formal declaration of hostilities between the two nations.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its 10th week on Thursday, Mr Putin has yet to call it a war, instead describing it as a “special military operation” aimed at achieving the “denazification” of the former Soviet nation.

Read more
Ukraine special forces wreak havoc behind Russian lines
Victory Day, which commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, is celebrated in Russia with a huge military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, attended by Mr Putin and his officials.

“I actually think what he’s trying to do is lay the groundwork for an announcement on their May Day Second World War celebration to cover his failure, which if you remember it is a special operation how they describe it,” Mr Wallace told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“He’s going to have to admit if he wants to mobilise more of the Russian people that it is a war.
 

printer

Well-Known Member
Russia blocking evacuations from Ukrainian steel plant, official says
Russia is blocking evacuations from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, according to a local official, after Russian President Vladimir Putin previously agreed “in principle” with the UN to allow evacuations from the area.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the eastern region of Donetsk, said Russia won’t create humanitarian corridors around the steel plant that has been pummeled by Russian forces in recent weeks. The steel works have become a last place of refuge in the city amid Russia’s onslaught.

Kyrylenko claimed Russian forces are not allowing evacuations because they want to capture Ukrainian military members.

“They (want to) use the opportunity to capture the defenders of Mariupol, one of the main (elements) of whom are the… Azov regiment,” Kyrylenko said Thursday.

 

BudmanTX

Well-Known Member
UK's Wallace says Putin preparing to formally declare Ukraine war in May
President Vladimir Putin is preparing to use Victory Day celebrations on May 9 to tell the Russian people he is conducting a war — not a special military operation — in Ukraine, Britain’s defence minister has said.

Ben Wallace said the Russian leader will have no choice but to come clean about the reality on the ground if he needs more conscripts to be pushed to join the fight under a formal declaration of hostilities between the two nations.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its 10th week on Thursday, Mr Putin has yet to call it a war, instead describing it as a “special military operation” aimed at achieving the “denazification” of the former Soviet nation.

Read more
Ukraine special forces wreak havoc behind Russian lines
Victory Day, which commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, is celebrated in Russia with a huge military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, attended by Mr Putin and his officials.

“I actually think what he’s trying to do is lay the groundwork for an announcement on their May Day Second World War celebration to cover his failure, which if you remember it is a special operation how they describe it,” Mr Wallace told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“He’s going to have to admit if he wants to mobilise more of the Russian people that it is a war.
every time i see denazification i kinda get a giggle....oh there is that but it's on Pooty's side.....and from some reports he's having a hard time getting conscripts now especially since the word is out.......
 

printer

Well-Known Member
White is black and black is white in Russia.

Mariupol was cleared of rubble, in Russia they named the goal of NATO. The main thing by the evening of April 27
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to involve the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross in the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal. Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev revealed the only goal of NATO in Ukraine. URA.RU brings the main news about the special operation in Ukraine by the evening of April 27.
  • Vladimir Putin agreed to involve the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross in the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal. The Secretary General of the organization, Antoniy Guterres, and Putin discussed the possibility of delivering humanitarian aid and evacuating civilians from dangerous zones in Ukraine.
  • The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the Kiev regime does not want to release people who are at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. She believes that Kyiv wants to delay their stay there as much as possible in order to attract the attention of the world community.
  • The People's Militia of the DPR stated that Mariupol is returning to peaceful life , almost all the streets of the city have been cleared of debris.
  • NATO is trying to push Kyiv into an armed conflict with Moscow by resolving the situation in the Donbas by force.
  • Putin said that if one of the countries wants to intervene in the situation in Ukraine, then Moscow's strikes will be lightning fast.
  • Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft hit 38 Ukrainian military facilities, including S-300s in the Nikolaevka area. The military also destroyed over 210 nationalists and 43 armored vehicles and vehicles.
  • The Ukrainian Armed Forces fired four shells with a caliber of 152 mm at Pervomaisk in the LPR. The mother of four children died in the attack, Channel Five reports .
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special operation on the territory of Ukraine on February 24. As the head of state stated, its main goals are denazification and demilitarization, and not the occupation of the territory. In addition, Russia, according to him, wants to protect the DPR and LPR from shelling by Ukrainian nationalists and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Putin proved to the UN Secretary General the global threat of Nazism from Ukraine
He cited facts that are already enough for an international military tribunal
Russian President Vladimir Putin proved to UN Secretary General António Guterres at a meeting on April 26 the threat of Nazism coming from Ukraine, according to experts interviewed by URA.RU. He substantiated the background of the Ukrainian conflict, his decision to conduct a special operation and provided evidence of the crimes of the nationalists. The result of this meeting, according to political scientists, may be that the UN will lead the process of organizing an international tribunal.

Welcoming the UN Secretary General, Putin stressed that Russia has recognized and continues to recognize the importance of this international organization. “The UN is unique in its kind: there is no other organization like it in the international community. We support the principles on which it is based, and we intend to do so in the future,” the Russian leader said, adding that those who are hindered by it call the UN obsolete.

 

printer

Well-Known Member
German authorities: German Nazis help Ukraine
German neo-Nazis from the Third Way party supported Ukrainian radicals with donations. This message was published on the website of the German Parliament.

“With the help of donations, the party wants to show solidarity with the defensive struggle in Ukraine, especially with the ‘belligerent nationalists’, and help further advance this struggle,” the Bundestag website explained. They also noted that the contacts of the neo-Nazi party with Ukrainian radicals began long before the special operation of the Russian Federation.

Since February 24, 2022, a special operation has been carried out on the territory of Ukraine to demilitarize Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the main goal of the operation is the denazification of Ukraine. Later, a special correspondent for URA.RU told evidence that the Ukrainian military and nationalists brutally killed civilians, fired at residential buildings from tanks and blew up buildings where hundreds of citizens were hiding.

See. It is official.
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
'This Is What American Leadership Delivers': How The U.S. And Allies Help Ukraine

As President Biden is set to ask Congress for additional aid to support Ukraine, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges and Peter Baker discuss how the U.S. and other countries have and continue to support Ukraine.
 
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