Member Info for JohnNth

Proves Russia is not going down the path of seizing foreign assets and wants the businesses to continue investing in Russia. As long as the relationship is two ways, ie money invested in Russia instead of just taking out, there is a room for flexibility. This could prove to be significant if it materialises. Then only threat to POLY can come from UK sanctions and so far they have avoided them. In fact, there may not be any need to redom cos POLY is a huge investor in Russia.

"Businesses based on new technologies"...ok mines dont qualify as such but new technology is deployed to make mines more efficient and greater carbon capture. Well have to wait and see.

Redinjun..excellent article. The article states>
"The Kremlin said proposals on dividend payments should "include conditions that residents expand their production in Russia, develop businesses based on new technologies and invest in the Russian economy."
POLY is doing just that with that vast expansion of mines; two thirds of POLY expenditure is in Russia and most of it to develop mines.
Definitely good news if the idea is progressed.

Israel is a special situation, no one there make it comply with any resolutions or laws that it hasn't made for itself eg. there is a 'unanimous' resolution for it to withdraw to 1967 line but instead it keeps expanding its boundaries. Libya on the other hand did not breach any UN resolution and was bombed back to stone age.
Do as I say, not what I do

Do as I say, Not as I do........

Nostradamus is back..........

Any attack on Russian ships in the Black Sea is ill-advised, cos Russians can use that to stop all shipping in the area affecting export of grain and other agriculture from Ukraine. There is already unrests in EU with cheap grain coming in from Ukraine, with countries like Poland, Hungary and Slovenia banning imports from Ukraine. So exports through Black Sea is absolutely vital for Ukraine.
In terms of fire power, Russian war ship adds very little to the conflict in Ukraine and so attacking it would add disproportionate damage onto Ukraine itself. Further, I would dispute Russia keeps large number of ships in Sevastopol so close to within Ukraine artillery range; it would be suicide.
Having said that, blowing up infrastructure like petroleum storage causes huge visible impact and boosts morale.

h118...excellent assessment; think you're on the money.

https://weatherspark.com/y/100364/Average-Weather-in-Donetsk-Ukraine-Year-Round
According to this chart, summer season starts in early June, meaning we are almost 2 months into spring already.
Where is this threatened spring offensive?

Agreed JAB...my advice to Zelensky and Ukraine is you follow US UK narrative like you need a hole in the head. No point winning the war with Ukraine turned into one big wasteland and your population living elsewhere in europe.

Peace could be well under way sooner than that. Ukraine may be saying to the Russians, look what we have at our disposal; try use that as a threat in negotiations instead of actually using it.
Me thinks Russia will never surrender Crimea and Ukraine will accept that and some kind of autonomous agreement inside Ukraine for Donbas, on top of no NATO membership and all that with security guarantees.
All the predictions by our resident Nostradamus (big baloney) like splitting and carving up of Russia etc is for the birds.

Time Ukraine got this underway and be done with so we can all move on. Alternatively, engage in peace talks and end this misery for ordinary Ukranians.
Hope Zelensky and Ukraine will stop doing the bidding for US and choose the latter.

You'll do better with placard on the beach in Haifa, Israel, cos that's where Mooky lives and he's the BOSS.

Russia will never surrender Crimea and that is a given; and Donbas, even if Ukraine manages to liberate will ask for Autonomy which Ukraine will not be able to deny, or else they will declare UDI. Is Ukraine going to post soldiers in Donbas to put down rebellion? Cos not, and especially if they want to join the EU.
Donbas will be a problem even if Ukraine gets it back, so why lose so many lives trying to liberate. I think Russia will withdraw from Donbas IF Ukraine agrees to make the area autonomous within Ukraine.

There's not going to be a spring offensive; Ukraine senior defence official was on Ch4 news yesterday said they've not recd heavy armaments promised. Further, any army man will tell you that casualties are higher when you are running into defensive line, just like Russians with Bakhmut. Further, what happens if Ukraine doesn't succeed breaking down Russian line? Where does Ukraine go from there? Also, the areas Russians occupy are predominantly inhabited by ethnic Russians, and people there won't be very friendly to Ukraine soldiers IF they do actually manage to break through Russian lines.
Not easily done. Think Ukraine will get more out and lose less if they negotiate...and I think such thoughts are running through the mind of Zelensky and Ukraine govt.

Shook them off about 3 decades ago.

Well we've been waiting and waiting...it's like watching paint dry! And bytheway, I'm at least 4 decades at the minimum from getting anywhere near Y Fronts.

Belt & Braces is loans but Chinese gets the job done, compared to World Bank (which is also loans) but there's never ending form filling and by the time loans materialises the costs has gone up exponentially. Further, World Bank hands money over to governments whereas the Chinese send in their companies and gets the job done and gives the bill to the country. If there's any risk of fraud/corruption in handling money (which often is the case with developing countries), you'd prefer the Chinese method.
Completely forget US UK rebuilding Ukraine; they will leave it to the EU. They're only in Ukraine to weaken Russia/China axis and no other reason. They will fight Russia to the last Ukranian, and finally Zelensky and Ukraine may be coming round to that.
Lastly, since you're the war brain, any update on Ukraine's late spring offensive?

Any updates on the spring offensive?

@chique...China have demonstrated this over past 10 years through it's 'belt & road' initiative; they have stumped up over $250bn building infrastructure around the globe. Initiative is not without its problems, but works lot better than the wests equivalent the World Bank, which is bureaucratic and gets very little done.
Ukraine should think seriously before embarking on a potentially suicidal summer offensive (spring have almost passed and no sign yet of any offensive). No one inside them (inc. US UK) have any hope of Ukraine gaining much from the offensive and so negotiation is the best bet; I'm sure the Chinese will emphasize that.
So called spring offensive is currently restricted to gorilla operations at night in the Kherson area where Ukranian troops cross Dnipro river at night, fires few shots and retreats back to their own side. The very reason Russians withdrew from large part of Kherson region and to the east of Dnipro is that it found it difficult to supply troops across river Dnipro, and Ukraine will have the same problem supplying from the western side of the river to the eastern side.
I'm not writing off the Chinese peace proposal and get the feel the reality may be beginning to set in in Zelensky and Ukraine as well; not to mention EU which is largely in favour of peace as well.
Ukraine following US UK advice will only lead to more deaths and destruction. Further, US UK have a record of destroying countries and walking away (Vietnam, Iraq, Libya etc), and Ukraine should be aware of this.