Putin declares "special military operation" in Ukraine https://www.axios.com/putin-delares-war-on-ukraine-5a28dbd5-362f-4e97-91e1-84272f7390fd.html Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a "special military operation" in Ukraine in a speech that appeared to serve as a declaration of war. State of play: Russian troops have already begun to move into eastern Ukraine, and large explosions were reported by journalists in Kyiv and other cities immediately after Putin's speech. While the initial scale of Putin's military operation remains unclear, the U.S. has warned that Russia is now prepared to launch a full-scale invasion of the country. What he's saying: Putin said the military operation would be intended to "demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine," but not to occupy it. That message appeared to be aimed not at the separatist republics where Putin has already deployed troops, but to the country as a whole and its leaders in Kyiv. "To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside: if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me," Putin said. Putin called on Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms, and claimed "all responsibility for possible bloodshed" would fall on the government in Kyiv. Putin's claims that Ukrainian forces somehow provoked the conflict come despite the fact that Russia has built up a force of over 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders over several months. He argued in an hour-long speech on Monday that Ukraine has no right to exist as an independent country. President Biden quickly issued a statement saying, "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces." As Putin was speaking, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield was addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council. In a bizarre split-screen, several countries then made urgent appeals to prevent a war that Putin had already declared. China's representative did not criticize Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an address of his own on Thursday night, speaking to the Russian people directly to plead for peace but warn that if Russia attacks, "you will see our faces, not our backs." This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
strikes and reports of troops in Kiev Reports of explosions or gunfire are coming in from at least five places in Ukraine or near the Russian border, including Kiev, Kramatorsk, Odess, Kharkhov, Berdyansk, and near the Boryspil Airport. Russia conducted missile airstrikes on Ukrainian military command centres in the cities of Kiev and Kharkiv, the Ukrainska Pravda news website cited a Ukrainian interior ministry official as saying on Thursday. Some gunfire was heard on Thursday near the main airport of Boryspil in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, the Interfax news agency said, citing local media, shortly after Ukraine suspended its airspace because of “potential hazard to civil aviation”. The airport has now cancelled all flights. Blasts also rattled the Belgorod province of Russia bordering Ukraine, a witness told Reuters. And more explosions were heard in Kharkiv, in the country’s northeast.
Zerohedge, being a Russian agency, has a real time bulletin, go figure, while I was switching cables from Fox to CNN, just talks but no livestream RUSSIA IS ATTACKING UKRAINE'S MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH HIGH-PRECISION WEAPONS - RIA CITES RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY RUSSIA SAYS IT'S TARGETING UKRAINE ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: IFX RUSSIA: USING HIGH PRECISION STRIKES ON UKRAINE MILITARY: IFX ZELENSKIY: UKRAINE IS INTRODUCING MARTIAL LAW UKRAINE IMPOSES MARTIAL LAW ACROSS THE COUNTRY: ZELENSKIY RUSSIAN DEFMIN: NO THREAT TO UKRAINE POPULATION: TASS UKRAINE PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA CARRIED OUT MISSILE STRIKES ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ON OUR BORDER GUARDS RUSSIAN-BACKED REBELS SAY START ATTACK ON UKRAINE-CONTROLLED TOWN NEAR LUHANSK - IFAX
Brainstorming what this could turn into.China wants Taiwan,China Sea and has been waiting for decades for the right moment to exact revenge on Japan.Russia wants more than just The Ukraine.Russia isn't going to go to war with NATO alone.China isn't going to go to war with The US over Taiwan and Japan alone.With a Russia/China alliance they both would.With The US occupied with China and Russia N Korea joins Russia China alliance and attacks S Korea.With The US occupied with China and Russia Iran attacks Israel.Without US help Israel will have to use nukes.Russia gives nukes to Iran for thier nuclear counter attack against Israel.Putin has said Russia doesn't have to be attacked with nuclear weapons for him to use them.I believe him. Sounds crazy but WWI was about countries pent up anger against thier enemies and just waiting for their moment to strike.WW3 will be the same imo.
Ask yourself, would WWI had happened had there been nukes around? What ended WWII? Nukes. Leaders of developed nations don't want to blast themselves and their country into the stone ages; or live in a bunker for years. They love living lavishly and with power. This greed is what will prevent a WW now.
Past world leaders has shown otherwise. Putin is currently showing otherwise,so is China with Taiwan and The China Sea.The US is the only thing stopping them individually but if they form an alliance both will be willing to take on The US in an all out war imo.