Ukrainian army say they pushed back Russian forces over the border near Kharkiv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaTmjHbVuv4

I saw an interview with Tony Blair on YouTube over the weekend where he stated that most all of western europe after the breakup of the Soviet Union had high hopes that Russia would see the light and choose to join the rest of of europe and even join the EU and become a participant in the economy of the rest of europe. He thinks that is why the rest of europe hesitated so long when it became apparent that Putin wanted to go back to the way things were in the previous century. It just didn't make sense as Russia has been earning a good steady income from their oil and gas. It amazes me that they can still be so paranoid about their perception that the west wants to invade Russia. Even now it just doesn't seem fair to the people of Russia to have to endure a return to previous practices. One can only hope that somehow good sense will come to pass and the current power in Russia can be redirected to a more common sense approach to getting along with their neighbors.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

A pretty good assessment of the state of the Europe/Russia relationship.
One thing I would suggest is that the people of Russia have for so long (well over 100 years) been so subjugated by successive governments that they have all but lost their ability to understand the true predicament of their country in the eyes of the rest of the world, or to see that their leadership is continuing "rule by force".

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

The other evening I had a phone call. The number given was from someone I worked with a few years back. The person at the other end spoke very good English (which the person I knew didn't), and after a brief "Hi there how are you?" and giving me no chance to respond broke into a long tirade about how the west had it all wrong about Russia, and how Russia would punish the west for its belligerence in Ukraine. But the voice was not that of the person I know (unless they've had some pretty serious surgery). I broke in with "Hi xxxxxx, how are you doing?" (xxxxxx not being the person I knows name). The line went dead.

Now, one thing, I've kept in vague contact with this person for a good few years, so getting a call is a rare event, but does happen. The conversations we have are about family and food, and leave politics for an evening when we can both enjoy a drink or two sat by a roaring fire, but even then its never heavy.
So is this a new tactic of the Russian authorities - use someone's phone book to spread propaganda? Or was this just some Russian's idea of a prank?

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

PooTin has come up with a new way to combat poor morale and dissatisfaction among the ranks of his war criminals.

Russia Embeds Spies in Military Units to Identify Rebellion.

While back at home they claim to have captured a homegrown dissenter.

Ukraine 'Nazi' Supporter Held For Allegedly Sabotaging Power Lines.

As Russian propaganda media keeps up with the nuke threats.

Russia State TV Stands by Nuclear Threat: Ireland as 'Collateral Damage'.

And in Germany a PooTin lover there loses his life time office.

Ex-German chancellor stripped of his office over Putin 'lobbying'.

Nothing wrong with "giving" abandoned weapons back to their owner. Just make sure they can "find" them.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

PooTin is not happy.

Putin firing military commanders who have 'performed poorly'.

As opposition supplies 6,000 names for sanctions.

Russian opposition group pushing US to sanction 'next tier' of Putin enablers.

While the home fires continue.

Arsonists Setting Fire to Russian Military Enlistment Offices.

PooTin's Foreign Mouthpiece Sergei is feeling lonely.

Russian foreign minister tries to keep the Kremlin’s few allies onside.

As another of his mouthpieces has a tantrum over asset seizures.

Pro-Putin Journalist Rails Against Italy on TV After Having Villas Seized.

And now this possibility is being discussed.

Russia Could Actually Lose Territory Amid Ukraine War Disaster.

Well that's it for now, but PooTin and his mob of war criminals will certainly be supplying more.

Time to see what's happening on the PooTin criminal war front, which on the whole isn't going well at all, but 1 Russian senator has come up with an excuse.

Russia Official Has Rare Excuse for War Failure: Ukraine's Elite Military.

As the United States is reportedly working on a plan to help remove the Russian blockade of Ukraine's ports.

While Russian Ka-52 Choppers Carry Out Combat Ops on Ukrainian Targets 1 became a test subject, Ukrainian Stugna Destroys New Russian Attack Helicopter Ka-52 At First Shot.

At the same time Russia deploys 'Terminator' tank support vehicles into Ukraine so it shouldn't be too long before we see if those turn out to be any better than the rest of what Russia has turned out so far.

Seeing how well those Ukrainians are using US-supplied howitzers that lack accuracy-aiding computers.

Then there's the latest out of Russian State TV Saying Ukraine War Is 'Rehearsal' for Conflict with NATO.

And then the question arises again, Could Turkey Be Expelled From NATO Over Blocking Finland, Sweden?

As Russia intensifies attacks on eastern Ukraine and Russia bans 963 Americans from the country including Biden, Harris, Zuckerberg, But not Trump (some of which are dead, probably to inflate those numbers to the masses, while still giving Donny a place to run to), and the Ukraine rules out ceding land to Russia to end war.

Now Ukrainian Soldiers Are Hopping On E-Bikes To Avoid Detection as a Russian-appointed mayor of Ukrainian town injured in explosion and back in PooTin land Aeroflot Is Back to the Future as Sanctions Ground Its Ambitions which is a fair reflection of today's Russian economy.

Finally there's an assessment on PooTin, Putin is ‘isolated’ and ‘alone’ as he micromanages Russia’s failing war, and his health, Cancer-stricken Putin is losing grip on power, according to ex-MI6 spy in which case I hope for the world's sake that he shuffles off quickly.

Is 30 years of appeasement coming to an end?
Thank god that Merkel's dream of a "political union" was dashed!
Too little too late?
The West's political leaders should hang their heads in shame allowing a comedian to show them how to stand up & be counted.

https://www.nato.int › nato-welcome
NATO's purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means

... .

(Emphasis added.)

Ummm?

---

Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

Now what's been going on in that war criminal PooTin's delusional world.

Russia's Putin jokes about being blamed for all the world's woes.

He's got a long way to go yet to catch up with COVID on that score, but he is terminally delusional after all. Then there's his mouthpiece Lavrov, but he's a bit late to the party.

Moscow not sure it needs resumed ties with West, will work on ties with China.

Mind you China might have 2nd thoughts about that unless they want to suffer Russia's fate.

Biden Is Using Putin Sanctions to Prevent War With China.

Doesn't he realise that many others have already turned their backs on Russia? That's followed by how PooTin is now trying to recruit desperately needed canon fodder.

Russia Offering Soldiers Signing Bonuses in Desperate Plea for Manpower.

Well enough hardware pouring into the Ukraine to accommodate those silly enough to take up PooTin's offers.

Missiles, helicopters: 20 countries offer new arms for Ukraine

He must be desperate, just like his fawning psychopath in Belarus.

Belarus buys nuclear-capable missiles from Russia amid military moves.

The 1st of PooTin's war criminals learns his fate.

Russian sentenced to life in Ukraine’s first war crimes trial.

And then there's still PooTin veiled threats of using nukes and the effects.

Nuclear Bomb Simulator Used 9 Million Times Since Russia Invaded Ukraine.

Meanwhile Donny's daughter, Ivanka, is looking to improve her image.

Ivanka Trump ‘grateful’ to visit and provide aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

But why didn't she cross the border like many others have done? Then to finish this off.

Can hydrogen ease Germany's need for Russian gas?

A principled and outspoken Russian diplomat resigns

Boris Bondarev, 41, confirmed his resignation in a letter delivered Monday morning after a diplomatic official passed on his English-language statement to The Associated Press.

“For twenty years of my diplomatic career I have seen different turns of our foreign policy, but never have I been so ashamed of my country as on Feb. 24 of this year,” he wrote, alluding to the date of Russia's invasion.
...
“The aggressive war unleashed by Putin against Ukraine, and in fact against the entire Western world, is not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the people of Russia, with a bold letter Z crossing out all hopes and prospects for a prosperous and free society in our country,” Bondarev wrote, referring to the widespread use of the letter “Z” as a symbol of support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
...
“It is intolerable what my government is doing now,” Bondarev told the AP. “As a civil servant, I have to carry a share of responsibility for that. And I don't want to do that.”
...
Bondarev said those who conceived the war “want only one thing - to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian Navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity.”
...
“In 18 years, he (Lavrov) went from a professional and educated intellectual to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world with nuclear weapons!” he wrote. “Today, the (Russian) Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred.”

I hope he stays vigilant from this point on...

---

I hope he stays vigilant from this point on...

He'll certainly be another name on PooTin's already very long hit list that's getting ever longer by the day.

A principled and outspoken Russian diplomat resigns

Boris Bondarev, 41, confirmed his resignation in a letter delivered Monday morning after a diplomatic official passed on his English-language statement to The Associated Press.

“For twenty years of my diplomatic career I have seen different turns of our foreign policy, but never have I been so ashamed of my country as on Feb. 24 of this year,” he wrote, alluding to the date of Russia's invasion.
...
“The aggressive war unleashed by Putin against Ukraine, and in fact against the entire Western world, is not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the people of Russia, with a bold letter Z crossing out all hopes and prospects for a prosperous and free society in our country,” Bondarev wrote, referring to the widespread use of the letter “Z” as a symbol of support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
...
“It is intolerable what my government is doing now,” Bondarev told the AP. “As a civil servant, I have to carry a share of responsibility for that. And I don't want to do that.”
...
Bondarev said those who conceived the war “want only one thing - to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian Navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity.”
...
“In 18 years, he (Lavrov) went from a professional and educated intellectual to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world with nuclear weapons!” he wrote. “Today, the (Russian) Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred.”

I hope he stays vigilant from this point on...

I hope he lives to tell his grandchildren about the time he said "no more" to Putin.

---

Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The big question now is: How much is Russia(Putin) willing to up the ante to gain his objectives in the Ukraine and who will blink first as the stakes rise.

---

Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The latest in PooTin's criminal war is that his puppet parliament approves bill to remove military age limits (obviously the extra pay on shorter contracts isn't working) while issuing New Punishments for Russian Defectors as PooTin Grows more Alarmed Over Ukraine.

Then there's that Chechen leader puppet who's suppose to be somewhere else, but is still at home, flapping his gums again.

Putin Ally Ready to Attack Poland: Better 'Take Back Your Weapons'.

He's all talk and no action because he may get his designer boots dirty as Ex-leaders call for global anti-corruption court to tackle PooTin (now I wonder why our just booted prime idiot didn't mention anything about that, but I'll bet that he'll get asked).

Then there's that double dealing terrorist who is trying to become a dictator too, Erdogan, who reckons that he's found [url]Potential Evidence to Use Against Sweden Joining NATO[/url].

More on PooTin's food war and dead soldiers war criminals abandoned - round-up to finish off.

While that putrid PooTin continues with his war crimes he's also being accused of faking visit to military hospital due to familiar man in photo as he signs law scrapping military age limit in Russia, allowing over-40s to join and fight in Ukraine.

He must be having some real problems getting canon fodder while he visits fake wounded.

[edit] Breaking News:

PooTin sick with cancer, has three years to live, says Russian spy.

The excuse given is the Russian army needs skilled people to man the high-tech gear. So, the average recruit is not adequately trained, or the gear is so complex they can't be adequately trained. Either way this is indicative of poor plannimg and selection and training.
No surprise then that they are in the do-do.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

With America and the NATO countries, plus Ukraine, on one side, and Russia on the other, we appear to have two firm rivals.

I better choose to take part for just one here, because Russia could be an aggressor in a war noone really wants.

Just bad wording here, Michael Watson.