Ukraine counter offensive

[IT Minion]

Russia’s Oil And Gas Revenues Slump 46% Year-Over-Year | OilPrice.com

Russia’s oil and gas revenues plunged by 46% in January compared to a year ago due to sanctions on its exports

oilprice.com

Sanctions are finally starting to bite into Russia's oil revenues.

 

[IT Minion]

Russian gas is down to around 10% of the EU's consumption. I'm expecting that'll continue to fall once winter is over. With a bit of planning and making sure the reserves are filled it should stay low through 2023. That's down from around 50% before the invasion.

Where does the EU’s gas come from?

www.consilium.europa.eu

 

[JohnD]

Vinty will tell us that was all planned, and, anyway, it's all somebody else's fault.

 

[Justin Passing]

There seems to be much enthusuiasm for pointing to Putin's weakness. With some rather silly diaphanous reasons.
Falling life expectancy and Covid deaths, FFS. Quantify the difference on those wrt Ukraine. Or rather, don't, it's trolling.

Ukraine has a load of keen citizens in the fight, yes.
Is there anything else they have more of than Russia?
Is their economy in a better state?
Will a few dozen tanks - or promise of them, make a difference?
At the moment it all appears to me to be heading for something approaching a stalemate, with Russian incompetence failing to completely deny their might from moving forwards. So a slow grind westwards, then.
If a few extra guns make no lasting progress, how long will the West keep sending them?

 

[JohnD]

Falling life expectancy and Covid deaths,

These are weaknesses, or problems, in Russia. As is the demographic shift towards older people and away from those of working age.

It is actually the low number of men of military age that is a particular problem for Putin's war.

You seem irritated that it is mentioned

The West is under no moral obligation to provide financial support to assist Putin's war.

 

[Justin Passing]

These are weaknesses, or problems, in Russia. As is the demographic shift towards older people and away from those of working age.

It is actually the low number of men of military age that is a particular problem for Putin's war.

You seem irritated that it is mentioned

It applies everywhere and is irrelevant. Quantify your comparison wrt Ukraine.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

It applies everywhere and is irrelevant. Quantify your comparison wrt Ukraine.

Fairly simple.

Ukraine chose it's own path, irrelevant whether the west, or Russia liked it

Russia invaded a sovereign country. Either you stand with, against or do nothing

It costs money to stand with.

 

[JohnD]

It applies everywhere and is irrelevant.

The shortage of men of military age is particularly bad in Russia.

Most countries have not recently invaded their neighbours, so is is less relevant to them as they do not have a sudden and urgent need for a large army.

It is particularly relevant to Russia.

Which of those facts do you hope to disprove?

 

[JohnD]

Is there anything else they have more of than Russia?

Friends.

 

[Vinty]

did Russia invade Ukraine or not

Ukraine is an artificial state created by the Soviets.
Don't you find it ironic that the west is prepared to defend a state created by their enemies.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

A sovereign state in its own right.

It's people have chosen their path. We don't have to like it or dislike it, but we do have to respect it. Just as Russia should.

It is Russia that has not respected it.

We (the west) are just supporting.

 

[Munroast]

Contrary to the narrative peddled by Russia lovers, Vlad the invader cannot be allowed to win. He is shown to have a tinpot army, leading a country with a tinpot economy and must be defeated.

Unfortunately though, one of the few things in vlad land that is not tin-pot. Is his enormous arsenal of intercontinental nuclear missiles. What might he do the moment before defeat and losing face become inevitable?

 

[Justin Passing]

Fairly simple.

Ukraine chose it's own path, irrelevant whether the west, or Russia liked it

Russia invaded a sovereign country. Either you stand with, against or do nothing

It costs money to stand with.

The question here is only about about the demographics

 

[carmanmemoranda]

The shortage of men of military age is particularly bad in Russia.

Most countries have not recently invaded their neighbours, so is is less relevant to them as they do not have a sudden and urgent need for a large army.

It is particularly relevant to Russia.

Which of those facts do you hope to disprove?

I think that answered that aspect

 

[Vinty]

. He is shown to have a tinpot army, leading a country with a tinpot economy and must be defeated

The Nazis thought the same thing.
Two world wars took place in the last century.
The first world war, at the beginning the recruiting offices were under siege with volunteers who wanted to see some action in case it was over before they got there.
Second world war the Nazi armies invaded the Soviet Union without bothering to take an extra pair of socks and sandwiches because they believed they wouldn't need them.
Be careful what you wish for.