On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western powers are taking Moscow’s “red lines” too lightly.
“We’re constantly voicing our concerns about this, talking about red lines, but we understand our partners — how shall I put it mildly — have a very superficial attitude to all our warnings and talk of red lines,” Putin said in a foreign policy speech.
The Russian leader has warned NATO against expanding cooperation with Ukraine, but NATO countries continue to do so. This week, the UK signed a new navy deal with Kyiv to build warships for Russia’s neighbor.
The US and NATO have stepped up military activity in the Black Sea, which Moscow views as a major provocation. Putin described this activity as going “beyond boundaries” and said a Western strategic bomber recently flew within 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) of Russia’s borders. US B1-B bombers recently flew over the Black Sea, but it’s not clear how close they were to Russian territory.
Putin said that NATO has destroyed all mechanisms for dialogue with Moscow. The military alliance recently expelled diplomats from Russia’s mission to NATO in Brussels, and Moscow responded by closing the mission.
Putin described relations with the US as “unsatisfactory,” but said he was open to more talks. “However, I want to say once again, we are open to contacts and exchanges of opinion, constructive dialogue,” he said.
Starting wars with puny 3d World nations is low risk, low reward—the MIC
is not sated.
low reward
That’s one way of puting it… “Ignominious defeat” would be another.
Especially true in Afghanistan.. “No, We’re not weak but Strong!!!” Listen how tough we talk & imply.
Putin described relations with the US as “unsatisfactory,” but said he was open to more talks. “However, I want to say once again, we are open to contacts and exchanges of opinion, constructive dialogue,” he said.
Putin says he’s open to new talks and then he says why there will never be any worth having. The US isn’t capable of “exchanges of opinion, constructive dialogue”. If you want sanctions and threats just give the state department a call.
Ignoring red lines is remarkably true in very dangerous way.
It is hard to put a single source for these extreme delusions and risk taking provocations but the think tanks, MIC, and absolute arrogance and hubris are factors.
Not likely to change anytime soon but putin’s team is not with unlimited patience.
Hubris precedes a great fall…
Putin is sending the US oil, currently. He won’t attack. But whoever succeeds Putin might be more dangerous.
This is just a polite signal that Russian military posture has changed. It had to change with reckless British incursion into the region. I guess Johnson sees himself as a hero of a
new Crimean war.
I cannot help it but wander — how did British manage to get this unlucky. Getting out of EU was a great draw to populace tired of EU bureaucratic shackles — but getting into the clutches of global cabal that could not care less for people. Only their own calculations.
It is clear that US and Boris Johnson UK have decided to leave Germany and France out of their plans, AUKUS was the first move, Ukraine — second. Now France and Germany will be left to grovel for a role in the new order,
Germany will be given a role of Russia baiting, but it is UK that will do real baiting, with Germany to take all the punishment. France, it appears will be given the honorary role in managing ME affairs under Israeli guidance.
It is a fast moving strategy, and no matter who wins in Washington and London —the path is set,
Clearly, plan is to frighten China into abandoning Russia. And pressuring Russia in order to test Chinese commitment. Simultaneously financially squeezing Turkey, Lebanon,
Soon, dropping even pretense of relationship with Saudi Arabia. Which Saudis expect ever since opening to Iran, opening trade with Iran and joining Russia-China led SCO. Egypt will be spared — as it is too valuable to ditch,
With crises deliberately started in Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sudan — the struggle between unofficial blocks is visible. Libya is under pressure to allow our candidate to run — even though he is by the transitional rules barred from running.
We have clearly so much money squirreled away for empire protection, that the idea of talking to anyone in the terms of equality — is a joke.
It is for that reason that China repeats word “cooperation” and Russia is always “open to dialogue”.
They know, as do many others, empire does not do “dialogue” nor “cooperation”.
So, the codewords are clear.
It remains to be seen how will the warnings be manifested.
Mostly debt that’s squirreled away!
Completely ignoring the UN-endorsed Minsk Agreement of 2015, EU members Germany and France have allowed Ukraine to refuse talks with the Russian-speaking republics at the east of the country, which was what they guaranteed to get the Kiev régime to do. Nobody mentions the violent overthrow of the 2014 elected government of the Ukraine by the USA- (remember Victoria Nuland-still a US “diplomat!) . Instead, people like Boris Johnson, not even still in the EU, warbles on about how he protects Ukraine’s peace and security!!!
2014 should be called what it was: The American conquest and annexation of Ukraine. I get the impression most Americans don’t understand the word “coup.” Our education system is getting worse, but our nukes are getting stronger, should end well.
I haven’t been following, but Ukraine should just be broken up. Russians should join Russia; Ukrainians who want prosperity like Poland should leave. Easy, have each region vote, using crypto voting if necessary…
If only our “Nukes WERE getting stronger” but the so called update & modernization seems to be to downgrade yield to make them “more usable.” Our hypersonic missile program can’t get its or their engine going or able to fly anywhere, but just glide down and CRASH… We talk tough, but act and are weak. After our Afghan duck, better to talk moderately and get tough. I am all for deterrence. But not the opposite of being weak while talking and acting tough which I view as dangerous.
I had assumed hypersonic was getting better. The US just needs to be too costly to war with, like North Korea. It’s currently at risk in Asia and the Pacific, but it could just exit those areas.
I fear the US government wants US soldiers killed in some attack by China, which can then justify more spending. What can I do but tell Americans not to join the military? It’s not only the navy, also wherever bases are in that region.
I don’t know enough to evaluate risk, but the China policy seems outdated and crazy. Trade policy is how to weaken not only China but foreign growth generally. The policies just don’t make sense from an American perspective; they show an elite thinking more globally, to the extent things aren’t just corruption.
A weaker military might be fine if US territory is still too costly to attack.