WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read my post above from yesterday so that you may properly share my joy. General Gerasimov, one of the two aforementioned motherfuckers above, has apparently been wounded. If true, and I do not vet articles, then good. Ukraine Says Russia Army Top General Wounded in Command Post Strike, ‘Dozens’ Killed https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-po...ded-in-command-post-strike-dozens-killed.html
There are also reports that Gerasimov was seen walking up to the plane to fly back to Russia later, so if he was wounded, it was a light wound.
Although it is wayy to early to discuss some things, the time will come to discuss some options for Russia to finance Ukraine's recovery. You could let them open Nordstream 2 for example and let gas flow to Germany but half of the profits from the pipeline go to Ukraine for X number of years or some such plan. That way germany gets some gas, Russia gets a percent to keep them wanting to participate and Ukraine gets a healthy per cent too. Some such deal is there to be had. Russia not going to be negotiating anything until/unless/if the Ukrainians are able to actually retake some ground and a city or two. In the meantime, yes, no one should allow russia to just destroy Ukraine, and commit genocide and then allow them to redeem themselves just by going home. Maybe you will end out there. but it is wayyy to early for that. My point here today is just that even if their economy goes in the shiiter they will always have the means to pay via energy - it is just a matter or forcing them to do so.
Once bitten, twice shy. I think the days of Russia being a supplier of oil and gas to EU are over. No EU country is going to get into the trap of depending on Russia's energy again. And that is no matter how the war goes or if they withdraw or if they are completely defeated. Doesn't matter. Unless Russia completely withdraws, apologizes profusely, sends some of its leadership to stand trial in the Hague and negotiates a reparation plan, there will be no end to sanctions. I have researched this extensively, using Russian sources, and the conclusion is, with current sanctions they cannot even drop to the level of 1970s. They will start at somewhere in 1950s and work their way up. And good news - they basically cannot maintain or develop their military under sanctions. They stopped production of missiles and tanks. No machinery to produce new artillery pieces either. It is not even foreign electronics. It is the complete destruction, starting with the 90s and to today, of the domestic machining production. Every lathe, all metal fabrication equipment, everything is foreign sourced and there are no new machines or parts or even software upgrades. You have to start at the level of nuts, bolts and ball bearings - the production of all those is sub-par in Russia. Then build your way up. I really have no idea what the leadership there was thinking. I think they broke the "don't get high on your own supply" rule. They actually believed their own propaganda that the West is weak and will just fold. They are finding out just how wrong they are now.
I hear ya but I will have to watch for that intelligence and discipline from the Europeans as we go forward. If they have learned their lesson then that is fine. I am not rooting against them. Just saying I need to see it. And of course they will use the "methadone" argument- ie. "We just need a little more russian gas and oil while we get unhooked." Germany I am lookin at you.