So immediate admittance to the EU doesn't sound like a viable solution, probably more symbolic. Even if they don't get any allies in this, if free access through Poland is possible, I can't imagine they are not getting a lot of volunteers coming over just to get some Russian blood.
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Even the offer is mostly symbolic, at best they can "ask to start the process" on the next EU leaders meeting, half march. It's the kneejerk reaction to Putin's "Ukraine should be neutral buffer", the fellow is terrible at reverse psychology...
There are indeed stories of Ukrainians returning, or attempting to do so, to help in any way possible (not just by joining the military). It might truely pick up when it comes to an actual prolonged occupation. Heck even Latvia said they wouldn't prosecute "returning mercenaries", as in "go and kick their ass!". Putin hardly lost souls on this endeavour, as he never had many wavering supporters to begin with. No real middle ground on his (past) antics.
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I was quite surprised to hear Hungary has barred all passage for lethal aid. There must be some arrangement in place that I'm not aware of, or they are just afraid of Putin.
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Hungary was always the pro-Putin voice in the EU, kinda trying to style himself increasingly authoritarian left Orban with little friends in the EU itself. He is obvious seeing the writing on the wall and caved any opposition internally but kept the "non-lethal aid only" going mostly for self preservation I'd guess.
Hungary wouldn't even be the first "target" in the EU or NATO if push really comes to shove. Would be the Baltic states.
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I think Putin wanted to get this done without killing millions of civilians. It doesn't look like he's getting his wish. He's done, whatever he does. If he's successful, I believe no other country on the planet will work with him on anything, ever... and if he backs down, he'll be driven into obscurity. So, it's a no-win situation for him. I think kicking them out of SWIFT is the most damaging, but I'm really angry to know we are still buying oil from them when we have so many other avenues to obtain it... including our own resources.
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He tried and failed to transition his army from its USSR background into a US styled ones. The barrage of missles at the start make it seem they tried going for an Iraq war style approach. And while the elite troops did wonders (like the military airport north-west of Kiev being taken on day 1) the actual army is mostly conscripts who were even siphoning off their trucks fuel when they were "on training" at the border to get extra $$. And while the end result will likely be met, he sadly has once again shown why Russia today isn't the USSR from the '50 or '60s.
SWIFT might have been harmfull, but throwing the russian central bank out of their foreighn currency stashes was much more hurtfull. They had to more then double their interest rates (9% => 20%) just to keep the rouble from falling more then 30%.
For that last part, you can actually blame globalism. Thou you know with my added addedum that it is capitalism at its finest. China is gonna profiteer massivly from this, unless they don't want what Russia will be haggling away.
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Thank you my friend, for talking to me about this extremely important issue. I hope the best for you.
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Never say never but I seriously doubt it will directly impact me, if even slightly. If it would, I think I would need to mirror your words back at ya, cause then it's WW3...
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Joe Biden had a big speech tonight. He's trying to spin the most dismal first year ever into something to brag about. He spent the entire time trying to get everyone excited about what he failed to do. He's still trying to sell "Build Back Communist". It's already been rejected, and there's no way it will come back... it's an election year, and no one in Congress will pin their life to such a monstrosity. Now he's talking about the Senate passing the failed "Voter Fraud Act". This stuff is dead already. This proves he has nothing. He also called the Ukrainian people... the Iranian people. The man is an embarrassment.
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Hey, atleast he aint reading from the prompter! Meanwhile Trump continues to praise Putin. To each there own.