Member Info for JohnNth

Pokerchips...you state "Putin is popular only whilst he can put food on the table for his brainwashed people" . Blatently obvious of any world leader isn't it? Further, there's no argument against the fact that Zelensky fkd up totally; he misread and miscalculated the whole situation right from the begining. His inexperience and incompetence got the better of him; he ended up getting Ukraine into a war they couldn't win. Now he cannot negotiate either, after all the lives lost, people maimed and misplaced and destruction on epic scale. Apparently, over 80% Ukranians don't want to concede an inch to Russia, so that puts Zelensky between rock and a hard place. There is even talk of coup d'etat by the miltary if he talks of conceding territiry, which Ukraine will have to do to get Russia of it's soil. Things not looking good for Zelensky, but he can only blame himself. Russia has won both the hot war and economic war.

Terraplane...are you on the same page as most of us? Russia has all but won this war already. Do you really think Ukraine will chase off the Russians from it's territory? I don't think so. Yes it could remain a stalemate, but a stalemate will be with Russian army on Ukranian soil, which still means Russia is winning. The war has no support other than from US, UK and few former east european countries like Poland. US and UK govts would not be as supportive if the elections were around the corner, cos they would lose with the current levels of inflation caused by the war. It is only a matter of time before industrial strife takes hold in the west and the governments will then be rushing to stop the war and regain normality. We have fkd ourselves over with the sanctions we've imposed and Putin is having the last laugh. And bytheway, Putin is far more popular in Russia than Zelensky is in Ukraine. Zelensky is loud and omnipresent in international media, but he is NOT popular inside Ukraine. He cannot unite Ukraine against Russia as he is neither a Ukranian or an ethnic Russian. In a country that has large right wing elements, such things count a lot. Ukranians are fighting for Ukraine, not for Zelensky. In short, Zelensky is not Ukranian Churchill.
As for Putin wanting a puppet regime in Ukraine; of course he would want that in all the countries in the world, but he knows very well he will not get that. It most certainly is not his war objective in a country where nearly 80% of population is Ukranian

Russia's aim is not to make Ukraine a subserviant state, but to instil a buffer between itself and NATO and then have a neutral zone beyond that. Russia will get all that cos under their plans, Crimea returns to Russia, Donbas will be made independent under Russian influence and new Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO.

More evidence in support if needed of points raised earlier regards public opinion in the west on war in Ukraine
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/16/us-europe-unity-over-ukraine-is-starting-to-crack-amid-russia-onslaught.html

Pokerchips...Crimea was part of Russia before Krushchev, then leader of USSR placed it with Ukraine as it was on the other side of Black Sea. Ukraine did not buy Crimea from Russia. In the ensuing chaos during Yeltsins rule when USSR fell apart, Crimea got classed with Ukraine. Suirely, Krushchev did not give Crimea to Ukraine so that it can then go away and join NATO. Under Putin's demands at the outset, Ukraine will have been no worse off in terms of it's territory than they were in the 1960's when they did not own Crimea.
As for WAR overrules LAW' for Putin, has this not been the case for US UK over many decades if not centuries. You are effectively saying to Russia, "Don't do what I do, but do what I tell you". As far as I see, there is now a balance of power in the world instead of US UK hegemony, and that can only be good for the worl in the long run.

Snudge1234...you highlighted this "Ukraine will have to cede now more than had they negotiated at the beginning". Let me explain
Before the conflict started, Russia wanted the following:
Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia
Ukraine to provide autonomus status for Donbas (similar to devolved governments in UK)
Ukraine to enshrine protection for Russian langauge & Culture within it's constitution
Reign in on right wing elements like Azov Battalion in east Ukraine who were making lives a misery for ethnic Russians
Ukraine to drop membership aspirations to NATO

Zelensky, if he could go back in time would agree to all this. However now, Russia will demand complete independence for Donbas and may be some other areas in east and south Ukraine as well. Further, Ukranian people have paid a heavy price for Zelensky's incompetence and hence it has become difficult for him and Ukraine to accept Russia's peace terms.

Equanamity...sanctions will never destroy Russia cos China is on their side, and China if not already, will be the most powerful country in the world soon. Lot of nonesense/misundersatanding on this borad:
Some say Russia could not capture Ukraine and had to retreat from Kiev. Russia never wanted to capture whole of Ukraine. early on, Russia invaded in different parts to keep Ukranian forces occupied whilst they consolidate their move into east Ukraine.
As for opinion polls mentioned, nearly 60% Americans over a month ago said they should not be making sacrifices for Ukraine, so it's not just about wanting peace. I'm sure if the polls were carried out along such lines of questioning today response would be similar in Uk and Europe as well, if not even higher percentage.
Get used to it, Russia has won and the final outcome in Ukraine will prove it once and for all.

Equanimity and Latpulldown...you clearly are deluded. Russia has captured land, wethered sanctions, protected Ruble (strongest currency this year - appreciated over 40% against EURO since war started) and inflicted pain on US Uk and the west. Economic sanctions (economic imperialism) up to now appeared to be a monopoly of the US; whilst it may work against Iran and North Korea, it doesn't work against likes of Russia. By imposing sanctions, we have hurt ourselves more than hurt Russia, and that is why we are not talking about it anymore other than sanctioning individuals like Putin's Barber and his Butler etc. Russia is in the driving seat and Zelensky and Ukraine will now have to conced lot more than had they negotiated right at the begining; MASSIVE MASSIVE miscalculation on part of Zelensky and he knows it as well.
Further, going forward things don't look good for Ukraine. Public support for Ukraine in the west is waning eg. opinion polls carried out in the US and Europe about a month ago showed significantly less than 50% supported the war (resistance) and majority wanted peace. Opinion and support for Ukraine most likely will have fallen further since the polls were conducted in mid May. Such opinion do weigh in on politics, especially as governments approach elections, where they're bound to lose with current inflation around. Economic Hardship will only end when the war ends and we all know that. People are struggling to make ends meet in increasing numbers; will they continue to care for Ukraine in the same numbers as they did on day one...I don't think so.
https://news.google.com/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFzcGlzdHJhdGVnaXN0Lm9yZy5hdS9wb2xscy1zaG93LXVzLXN1cHBvcnQtZm9yLXVrcmFpbmUtd2FuaW5nLWFzLWJpZGVuLWFkbWluaXN0cmF0aW9uLXN0ZXBzLXVwLWFpZC_SAQA?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen
https://news.google.com/articles/CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWd1YXJkaWFuLmNvbS93b3JsZC8yMDIyL2p1bi8xNS9qdXN0aWNlLWZvci11a3JhaW5lLW92ZXJzaGFkb3dlZC1ieS1jb3N0LW9mLWxpdmluZy1jb25jZXJucy1zdHVkeS1zaG93c9IBAA?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen

As much as I hate it, I think Russia is in the driving seat in this conflict. They have captured territory, weathered sanctions, protected Ruble from collapse and unleashed rampant inflation and economic hardship (which was a monopoly of the US up to now) on US UK and the West. Global hardship inflicted on the poor of the world has been a collateral damage; but Russia will think since when this has ever affected US UK actions in their quest for global hegemony.
Economic hardships world over is becoming unbearable so I can see 'calls' for peace gaining momentum in coming days and weeks. Unfortunately, eventual outcome of any peace process will leave ordinary Ukranians as big losers with Zelensky getting off scot-free.

I cannot see any peace as long as Zelensky is in power cos it will prove he made a massiv miscalculation right at the start and not negotiated in 'practical' way with Russia, who will now demand more. With so many Ukranian lives lost, millions displaced, he just cannot agree to Russian demands; Ukranians will hang him if he does.
Zelensky today demanded Ukraine be granted EU membership immediately, but does not want to listen to leading EU players who are encouraging him to talk peace; he has demeaned likes of Macron and Sholz who will ultimately decide on the membership. Further EU knows that each day the war prolongs, more they will have to fork out for its rebuilding as US and UK will simply walk away as they have done elsewhere eg Vietnam, Iraq, Libya etc
Zelensky says Ukraine cannot accept a stalemate either, but that is exactly where we're heading once Russia captures Donbass which is a matter of few weeks away. With the world economy on a tail spin with rampant inflation everywhere, and likely to stay that way as long as teh war goes on, it is difficult to see the conflict going on for a longer period and Ukraine will have to talk peace with Russians firmly embedded on its soil; and it will make much bigger concessions to Russia than it would have done right at the begining; and the blame for this firmly lies with Zelensky. He is loud but completely inept in political leadership eg. most recently he said he was very happy in Boris Johnson winning the confidence vote in UK. Experienced politician would not have made such comment cos you have to stay out of politics of another country. If Boris is replaced in the next few weeks, would another incoming leader opposing Boris be as kind to Zelensky? And this has been the story of Zelensky...he should've stuck to being a comedian and stop being funny with the lives of ordinary Ukranians.

It is clear that todays RNS was brought about by the difficulties in getting the audit done as per LSE listing rules, and the company took the opportunity to update on other matters as well. Delaying the YE reference date is the correct thing to do and it provides it with a much needed breathing space given all round difficulties. Lack of clarity from UK govt on providing auditing services in Russia may be holding up auditors. The update regards matters affecting shareholder value is disappointing but it is in line with what the company have said before. There's no mention of progress regards finding another bank in Russia or customers overseas now that it has obtained export license.
I am confused; given all these difficulties why aren't company insiders holding significant proportion of shares in POG selling their shares?

I would not be surprised if the exports to EU countries are rising from just below 50% when FXPO reported last, helped on by abolition of all tariffs on imports in March from Ukraine for 12 months. Why import from likes of Brazil and pay 10% import duty. Additionally, FXPO does produce cleaner iron ore which helps global weather.
The risk going forward to this rising trade is more missiles from US UK reaching eastern Ukraine. Russians will want to STOP this and so may blow up railway infrastructure deeper inside Ukraine which could impact FXPO trade. I'm sure the BOD will have factored in such risks.

We should not be surprised the report isn't published as of yet. The new auditor has to work around sanctions, visit companies operations within Russia to carry out the necessary due diligence etc etc. This all takes time and I wouldn't be surprised if we have to wait another 6-8 weeks for the report.
In the meantime, POG is progressing well navigating the sanctions. they're selling gold inside Russia to keep the cash flow going, and have obtained export license. It's going concern status is secured in my opinion, and I don't see the company getting sanctioned anytime soon.

Again, POG is taking the necessary steps to overcome the current situation. Company have received export license, and gold they are selling within Russia for now keeps the cash coming in to pay debts and expenses and maintain its going concern status. I am disappointed we've had to drag this information out of the company. Going forward, as long as the company doesn't get sanctioned, its future is secured and us POGS can look forward to a pay day in the near future. Whilst Liz Truss has been talking up sanctions, she did recently say that whatever happens in the future, private sanctions should remain in place; so there's hope sanctions on the companies will be removed; not that POG is sanctioned at present.

Evanescent...FXPO cannot be subject of a hostile takeover as one single shareholder (Konstantyn Zhevago) owns more than 50% of the company.

Poltava should be safe. Russia would find it difficult to hold area from the border all the way to Poltava. Of greater significance is if the Russians will withdraw from the Kherson region in any deal with Ukraine. FXPO uses Dniper river which flows through Kherson to transport coal to the port of Yuzhny. In it's latest update, FXPO did say the seabourne trade which accounts for approx 50% has stopped.

Now that tensions are receding, bought back into fxpo before any steep incline

I think FXPO will significantly increase regular divi whcih would indicates it has confidence in its future given increase in production going forward. Expect special divi on top as well. This suits Mr Zhevago cos it's the only way he can get money out of the country at the moment; being a dual Swiss citizen he doesn't have to pay tax like us mere mortals. However, once the legal action/probe on him is lifted in Ukraine, I expect him to sell out as FXPO would make a great addition to any of the big players and the take out price would be in excess of £7. In the meantime, given strong cleaner iron ore prices, high divis and no debt, a price of around £5 in the very near future is a strong possibility.

Sound advice from Fools
https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2020/02/20/why-id-dump-the-nmc-health-share-price-and-buy-this-health-stock-instead/

I had business dealings in the 1980's with McLean Homes and Tarmac in the Midlands. It came across as a very professionally run company. I was a supplier and remember we couldn't get away with anything; scrutiny of everything billed for thorough. But we had a peace of mind knowing Tarmac as customer was solid and good for the money. I was a long term investor in Carillion and was very sad to see it collapse.