The Russia-Ukraine War has begun

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Sid]

Putin will not be doing a happy dance over this.

Sweden and Finland agree to submit Nato applications, say reports

Two countries could apply for membership simultaneously as soon as mid-May, according to reports

www.theguardian.com

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Despite Ukraine now being on the fast-lane for a possible EU membership there've been very good reasons in the past while it was NOT. The European Court of Auditors (ECA), an EU organization, published in September 2021 a report on the current state of the Ukraine and how it's battle against corruption is working.

It's conclusion in the special report: while the EU is the biggest financial donor to the Ukraine and there've been several initiatives to fight corruption, they've failed so far.

The average Ukrainan citizen has at the moment about 30% of the wealth/living standard of an average EU citizen. If the Ukraine would reduce its corruption to the average EU level, then these 30% would go to 50% over time. The widespread corruption and lack of trust in the judiciary system is also what is preventing investors into engaging more in that country.


This is also what will stand in the way for a fast entry in the EU once the war is over. On the Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International the Ukraine ranked at place 122, Russia is place 136 of 180 ranked countries. The bigger that number the more worse the perceived corruption.

Special Report 23/2021: Reducing grand corruption in Ukraine: several EU initiatives, but still insufficient results

European Court of auditors, the guardians of the EU finances. This site is available in 24 languages

www.eca.europa.eu

 

[WolfEyes]

Gunman opens fire at kindergarten in Russia; 2 small children and teacher killed (msn.com)

April 26 (UPI) -- A gunman walked into a kindergarten in western Russia on Tuesday and shot several people, authorities said -- killing two young children and a staffer.

[...]

School shootings aren't uncommon in Russia. There were two high-profile shootings last year, including one in May that killed nine people in the city of Kazan.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[Sid]

In my hometown there is an old border pole from Austria on display as a monument from the past.
This part of NL was once part of the Habsburger Reich for a small period.

So if I understand mister Paul correctly, the Austrians can go at war with us any time they want to reclaim parts of my provence?

Hell, My country was part of Spain in the past as well. It took us 80 years to free ourselves.
And part of the Roman Empire. So we have to keep an eye on Spain and Italy too then?

To make it even more complicated, while NL was a republic with a stadhouder as head of state, that stadhouder William of Orange was king of England as well.
So.... better look over your shoulder Boris, we might come to liberate our rightfull claim and lead them back into the EU no questions asked.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

You should think bigger, Sid - why not reclaim New Amsterdam? I am sure Mr. Paul just would love that!

 

[Essence Lumin]

In my hometown there is an old border pole from Austria on display as a monument from the past.
This part of NL was once part of the Habsburger Reich for a small period.


So if I understand mister Paul correctly, the Austrians can go at war with us any time they want to reclaim parts of my provence?

There's the whole US breaking away from Britain thing too.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Judy Dempsey thinks that Europe's Unity over Ukraine is fading away.

Europe’s Fading Unity Over Ukraine

At this critical moment, Europeans must show commitment and resolve in their support for Kyiv. Divisions within the EU risk buying Russia time and weakening Ukraine.

carnegieeurope.eu

Simon Tisdall thinks that Russia might win; and if so, it would herald a new age of instability, economic fragmentation, hunger for millions and social unrest.

The awful truth is dawning: Putin may win in Ukraine. The result would be catastrophe | Simon Tisdall

A Russian victory would herald a new age of instability, economic fragmentation, hunger for millions and social unrest

www.theguardian.com

The Financial Times has a report that Putin switched strategy, and is now in for maximum land grab by cutting off whole Ukraine from the Black Sea.

Fbnglobalnews.com

 

[Veritable Quandry]

So would Senator Paul be okay with Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland coming under Russian attack?

 

[Sid]

You should think bigger, Sid - why not reclaim New Amsterdam? I am sure Mr. Paul just would love that!

We better hurry up then, because in a few years Trumpty Dumpty might be in jail in NY.
We can live perfectly without him.

 

[danielravennest]

Despite Ukraine now being on the fast-lane for a possible EU membership

I don't expect Ukraine to be admitted to the EU any time soon. Rather, the EU saying they are on a path towards EU membership is another pressure point against Russia in the current crisis. I compare it to EU countries saying they are on a path to eliminate fossil fuel import from Russia. Neither are going to happen anytime soon.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

I would have pointed out that Alaska was once Russian too, but I'm more of a smartass than Blinken, obviously.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

You should think bigger, Sid - why not reclaim New Amsterdam? I am sure Mr. Paul just would love that!

Maybe President Macron should reconsider the Lousiana Purchase?

 

[Veritable Quandry]

I would have pointed out that Alaska was once Russian too, but I'm more of a smartass than Blinken, obviously.

Fort Ross outside of San Francisco was the southern end of Russia in the early 1800s.

eta: The territory making up the north of California was claimed by Mexico and Russia, although the first European settlers in the region came from the US. The Oregon Country was, in 1800, claimed by Spain (there was no set northern boundary to Mexico), Russia (there was no set southern border to Alaska), the UK (through exploration and trade), and the US (also through exploration and trade). Mexico negotiated a northern border when they broke from Spain, and Russia eventually established the modern Alaska border in negotiations with the UK. Both the US and the UK sent trade/exploration missions to the PNW coast by the 1790s (look at a map and the major features are named after a mix of British and American politicians depending on who charted them first, and Lewis and Clark knew where the mouth of the Columbia was as both countries mapped it in 1793) and had trappers and settlers in the Oregon Country in the late 1810s.

 

[Soen Eber]

Maybe President Macron should reconsider the Lousiana Purchase?

That would make things difficult for me, living in Minneapolis; it puts me within a mile of an international boundary and I have family in St. Paul

Hey! Maybe we can wave at each other across the border fence!

 

[Soen Eber]

I would have pointed out that Alaska was once Russian too, but I'm more of a smartass than Blinken, obviously.

Like I said before, we have a receipt!! *waves it about*

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Maybe President Macron should reconsider the Lousiana Purchase?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_boundary_dispute

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Thread

 

[WolfEyes]

Maybe President Macron should reconsider the Lousiana Purchase?

Oh hell no. Not unless you want to see the largest First Nations uprising ever in the history of the world.

Although the bits in Alberta and Saskatchewan... nah I think Canda wants to keep all that.

Btw, there's two I's in Louisiana and none in Lousyana.