Markets open at 1am in Russia. Could get messy. 

EU sending weapons but more importantly, fighter jets. UKR pilots would fly them?

GV27:

 

Markets open at 1am in Russia. Could get messy. 

 

Long lines of Russians lining up at ATM's. The non military options are extensive across all of Russia, and the world disgust is so widespread it's backfired on Putin. Its not like an annexation of a relatively small portion of a country, that will blow over in time. He has gone in to deep. If and when he takes control of the Ukraine, it won't stop backfiring against him, and his voters. Oh yeah, there are no voters, so the "voters" will become more vociferous. Very destabilising. At some point, enough will be enough, but he wont let go

Russian Central Bank has raised interest rates from 9.5% to 20% p.a., due to external factors, to combat deposit levels and depreciation of the currency.  

Perhaps these sanctions that were supposedly to take time to have an effect are in fact hitting hard early. It shows in a modern war, its not about bullets, these other measures are hitting hard. And ego-busting to Putin.

#cornerbackinginto

tdgeek:

Russian Central Bank has raised interest rates from 9.5% to 20% p.a., due to external factors, to combat deposit levels and depreciation of the currency.  

neb:

Batman:

 

also you don't want to hear this but been reading social media and Trump supporters (yes Kiwis included) are blaming Biden for this war

 

That's been analysed elsewhere, since the US is so polarised one side of the divide will say anything to attack the other side, including supporting the traditional enemy (Russia) against the US, but a different bit of the US than themselves. So it's not so much blaming Biden for the war as taking every opportunity they can to put the boot into the other side. Which just reinforces how badly broken the US is.

You mean kinda like this?

Also LOL at all the "coronavirus vaccine deaths" and all the other scary numbers on the ticker on the second video. Misinformation at its finest. How do idiots like this get a platform these days?

quickymart:

You mean kinda like this?

tdgeek:

 

EU sending weapons but more importantly, fighter jets. UKR pilots would fly them?

 

No, more likely they'll send MiG-29s from Poland, Romania or Bulgaria, and maybe some Su-25s. Ukraine operates those although the NATO ones have been upgraded and may need some NATO-sensitive stuff stripped out before they are handed over. They can't hand over planes the Ukrainians can't fly themselves because having (say) a UK pilot flying a Eurofighter in Ukraine is just the same as saying the RAF is now fighting against Russia in Ukraine.

neb:

tdgeek:

 

Russian Central Bank has raised interest rates from 9.5% to 20% p.a., due to external factors, to combat deposit levels and depreciation of the currency.  

 

Was just going to say that sounds pretty scary, but I checked and they've done in before in response to the events of 2014. That time it took them about six years to recover, but the economic sanctions then weren't nearly as severe as they are now.

Agree. Annexing a smallish part of a country vs war against a country. Its a whole new level

Other key news

Turkey has close ties with Russia. Its neutral, will support talks etc. But its chosen the Ukraine card, using Montreax Treaty to block Russian warships accessing the Black Sea. To do that they had to call it a war, based on the detailed Treaty requirements. Its symbolic though as Russia has already moved its naval forces in the recent past, but its yet another black mark awarded against Russia, and by a friend that quite huge. Turkey supplied the drones UKR is now using. Everyone is choosing sides, and one is a bit light in that respect

Interesting piece on China. The longer this goes on and the longer it goes against Russia, they are nervous. They have big trade with the US and the EU. If and its a big if, Russia backed off, its likely to be China pushing them to. Very early days, but this isnt going away globally, no matter if and when Kiev falls. 

GV27:

 

Markets open at 1am in Russia. Could get messy. 

 

Russian Central Bank has kept the markets closed all day.

Edit- i read now closed until 5 March

SaltyNZ:

 

tdgeek:

 

EU sending weapons but more importantly, fighter jets. UKR pilots would fly them?

 

 

No, more likely they'll send MiG-29s from Poland, Romania or Bulgaria, and maybe some Su-25s. Ukraine operates those although the NATO ones have been upgraded and may need some NATO-sensitive stuff stripped out before they are handed over. They can't hand over planes the Ukrainians can't fly themselves because having (say) a UK pilot flying a Eurofighter in Ukraine is just the same as saying the RAF is now fighting against Russia in Ukraine.

 

They could just follow the example set by Russia in the Donbas and have the pilots & ground crews de-badge their uniforms and the UK MoD say they are all "on holiday". They won't do that, of course.

China, 

Given that a recent China press conference turned into admonishing the press about using the word 'invasion'.
There may be a bit of projection in assuming China cares in same way we do about destruction of a vital democracy.

China does benefit from Russia chaos in a way.
They look like a kinder nicer option to rest of world , stop giving us a hard time on 
Xinjiang, Tibet, Nine dash line, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and those bits of India and Bhutan that would be better returned to motherland.

You need us as we have leverage with Russia ( Like they can do with North Korea ).
To Russia 'mate you need us to help you' in so many ways. 
Russia has resources that China would find useful, especially if they get Ukraine's resources as well, grain, cooking oil, minerals.
They can do lots of under the table trade and support having borders.
Weak Russia is also not a threat, and a Russia not trading with west is not going to compete with them on economic development.
Russia will then need more from China to bolster China's economy.

Don't think CCP is too worried apart from the fear of Putin and associates losing power and a real democracy breaking out.
Now that poses more problems.

It does mean that the dream of a modern luke warm cold war, with the "2022 USSR", AND China won't now happen. Happy about that

If Russia did take UKR without all the global reaction that's now occurred, a luke warm cold war with Russia and China would be very much on the cards, as would mopping up Taiwan etc etc 

Its important the East and West are more or less similar, not with one outweighing the other, that means we can live in a quieter deterrent world

PolicyGuy:

 

They could just follow the example set by Russia in the Donbas and have the pilots & ground crews de-badge their uniforms and the UK MoD say they are all "on holiday". They won't do that, of course.

 

Indefinite leave of absence combined with enlistment in the Ukraine Foreign Legion. Seen a few posts of UK and US ex-special force members, in some cases whole squads, enlisting with Ukraine. 

A vet (ex-Marines I believe) friend of mine in the US had a full bird Colonel turn up at his work yesterday to formally tell him he has been put on active reserve status, and may be called up to serve against Russian aggression within the next fortnight. His response, being the redneck viking that he is, was to say "well jeez Sir, let me get my gear and we can go right now". Unsurprising step for the US to take, but still significant. 

tdgeek:

 

Its important the East and West are more or less similar, not with one outweighing the other, that means we can live in a quieter deterrent world

 

I think the economic collapse within Russia over the next week is probably going to set them back years; and that's if Vlad doesn't get desperate and start digging into his bag of weaponary tricks. 

Seeing numerous commentators on Twitter speculating that the Russian Army's capacity isn't being utilised and a lot is being held back. If so, it's for a specific reason, given the humiliation of supposedly not executing an easy gimme on Kyiv.