Russia - threadbanned users in OP

I fear the only way this war ends is if Trump get in, war will then be over, if Putin fails to stop, Trump did say he'd arm Ukraine to the teeth, so it's walk out of Ukraine Putin, or I'll drag you out like a bitch.

Why kill Navalny now? Olga Chyzh a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto thinks she know why.

"He is clearing the decks. He wishes to commit fully to what he really wants: finally taking Ukraine.

He is growing impatient of waiting – for western support to dwindle, and for more favourable political forces to take power in Europe and the United States. He needs his hands untied, so he can do what it takes: declare total mobilisation, further ramp up military production, even at the price of an economic contraction and the risk of renewed domestic opposition. When he does so, he doesn’t want charismatic leaders such as Navalny dampening his political support at home, even in a limited way.

A bold move such as getting rid of a key political opponent might not make sense if Putin simply wanted to continue with business as usual after an election whose outcome is already guaranteed. It makes more sense if Putin is preparing to take a new, more politically fraught course. In that case, he would want to leave nothing to chance. Whatever he has planned, with Navalny dead, even the slim possibility of political resistance within Russia is likely now extinguished.

This suggests that any potential for change in Russia now hinges on external influences. Ironically, Russia’s greatest hope for a liberal future is Ukraine. For the west, the death of Navalny might be the last wake-up call before it is too late. The time to support Ukraine is running out. Amid debates in US Congress over the latest aid package and the EU’s hesitation in prioritising its own military industrial production, Putin is devising his most ominous scheme yet. The west must brace itself for a post-election Putin, an unrestrained despot determined to achieve his objectives at any cost."

Interesting point in video, that the West recognizing Putin, is what is giving Putin legitimacy amongst the Russian people, and that for years, through many fake elections he has been recognized and allowed to act as President globally by the West.

I suppose if for arguments sake he says comes out with 95% votes for him and then he can go around and declare full mobilisation and state 95% of the people are with me and want me to do this. Probably feels at the beginning of his re-election he is at his most powerful and can get away with anything then (he is anyway but I say more so he can then) , also probably shows to the west, hey look I'm here the next 6 years and this is 6 years more that I will continue on in Ukraine. Are you the West when I ramp up everything more to take Ukraine after I win this election willing to go all out for the next 6 years.

It's a tinderpot , remember the march to Moscow,he needs to consolidate his situation or risk a revolt by the people and the army.

WTF! Trump never said that, if he got back in he'd cut all funding to Ukraine and get them to concede all Russian seized land to Russia.

I don't want to be speak for everyone on the West, but I thought the sense here was that he intends to hang on to power until he's dead. If that's the case, I don't think he needs to show the West that, especially as there seems to also be a widespread assumption that Russian presidential elections are a bit of a sham, made all the more so with Navalny dead and Kara Murza in prison.

He has hesitated to announce full mobilisation for two years. I cannot say he won't in future, but I don't think it's an election thing. He must know on some level what revolt that could bring, and of the decentralised kind where mobs are burning recruitment offices out in the provinces.

Saw that in the guardian. A lot of speculation, maybe she's right, maybe not. In the early months of the war there were constant rumours of mass mobilization and it never happened. I'd be surprised if it happens soon after the election, we'll soon see

Another day, another report of Russian war crimes

No not at all, please don’t mix me up with a Russian bot apologist.

I am more emphasising the point that Putin is going nowhere regardless of whether the people of Russia ever do turn on him so I doubt he cares about victories before an election etc as he will never hold a legitimate one anyway.

I find it saddening amongst aquantances and others here in Ireland during discussions re Russia invasion of Ukraine how sort of indifferent, disinterested they are about it. It seems to be a distance thing. We are far away over here, an Island off the west coast of Europe .. shur why would anybody attack us and shur we are neutral. It will never effect us.

I find it incredible actually. Seems to be far more interest in whats happening in Gazza vs a war raging on our continent. A large disconnect. A few do ask - Oh yeah the war in Ukraine, when will it be over and when will the Ukrainians here go home?

All are unaware of whats going on on the ground and the difficulties that now are happening re arming Ukraine + Russian advances though small. They just never seem to have understood the huge real danger in all of this for all of us inc Ireland and not just Ukraine. And how fast this could unravel, especially in 2024/25

Lets go slightly down the rabbit hole. I previously mentioned delays with F16s and the like, asking why. Then we have the hold ups in the USA. Now here is another albeit smaller delay example:

"The delivery of 100 Bulgarian armored personnel carriers to Ukraine has been delayed as the Bulgarian Defense Ministry asks NATO to cover the transport costs, Euractiv reported on Feb. 20, citing Bulgarian lawmakers and officials."

Part of me is entertaining that there are forces in the background in the WEST, EU and NATO etc that actually want UKRAINE to fail and for Russia to win the day? I have been in discussions with some where the attitude is, Ukraine cannot win this war, Russia is the superpower here, too big to fail. And in certain corridors in Europe some may want Ukraine to fail, russia to win as it may hold off Russia attack on Europe "Proper" for another good while ( Appease )

Anyway there is your rabbit in the hole ..

I feel sorry for this guy, but his behaviour after the defection was stupid. He should have stayed in Ukraine, or else severed all contacts which could have used to find him and hid in the US or somewhere.