Ukraine Heats Up

[HarmanKardon]

Just in this moment Gorbachev is talking to Merkel, the news report that it is a pretty long talk.

Yesterday he blamed the West having destroyed a lot of confidence in the last years which had built up after the fall of the iron curtain. He protects Putin's policy and warns of a new cold war.

In my opinion he argues unrealistically. Let's see what will be published of the talk between him and Merkel.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by HarmanKardon

Just in this moment Gorbachev is talking to Merkel, the news report that it is a pretty long talk.

Yesterday he blamed the West having destroyed a lot of confidence in the last years which had built up after the fall of the iron curtain. He protects Putin's policy and warns of a new cold war.

In my opinion he argues unrealistically. Let's see what will be published of the talk between him and Merkel.

He realized he was duped.

[HarmanKardon]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

He realized he was duped.

Do you refer in a way to the putsch in 1991 and Gorbachev's total political insignificance afterwards?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

He realized he was duped.

It must be tough for a lot of Russians to see their country go from one of two world superpowers to an autocratic kleptocracy, surpassed in global importance by dozens of other countries. Were it not for oil and gas, they'd have next to nothing the world wants. Hell, even Caspian caviar is being surpassed by aquaculture products from across the globe. They've become the Saudi Arabia of the north, just with more weapons and attitude.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by HarmanKardon

Do you refer in a way to the putsch in 1991 and Gorbachev's total political insignificance afterwards?

Policy consciously undertaken by Gorbochev dismantled communism and eventually caused the fall of the Berlin Wall.

There were understandings between him and Reagan/west which the west did not adhere to, especially with regards to NATO.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

It must be tough for a lot of Russians to see their country go from one of two world superpowers to an autocratic kleptocracy, surpassed in global importance by dozens of other countries. Were it not for oil and gas, they'd have next to nothing the world wants. Hell, even Caspian caviar is being surpassed by aquaculture products from across the globe. They've become the Saudi Arabia of the north, just with more weapons and attitude.

Russia occupies a very large varied mass of the world and in an absolute sense really does not need the rest of the world.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Russia occupies a very large varied mass of the world and in an absolute sense really does not need the rest of the world.

If they became more insular and left the rest of the world (specfically eastern Europe) alone, we'd all be better off. It's their aspiration to again be one of the world's superpowers that's the problem. What's with all their fighter jets buzzing NATO countries lately (sometimes with transponders off) and their subs in Stockholm's archipelago? Putin is flexing his nationalistic muscles to detract from the ruble's free-fall and his kleptocracy.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

If they became more insular and left the rest of the world (specfically eastern Europe) alone, we'd all be better off. It's their aspiration to again be one of the world's superpowers that's the problem. What's with all their fighter jets buzzing NATO countries lately (sometimes with transponders off) and their subs in Stockholm's archipelago? Putin is flexing his nationalistic muscles to detract from the ruble's free-fall and his kleptocracy.

Subs in Stockholm's archipelago????

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Subs in Stockholm's archipelago????

Yes. Google it for a photograph.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Yes. Google it for a photograph.

It is headline gimmick. Not Swedish territorial water.