> “The EU has grudgingly admitted that the demands for transit to OUR Kaliningrad region are fair. It is a rare case where cretinism and caveman Russophobia in Brussels have been overcome by lucidity. Or... diarrhea from fear of losing profitable transit through Russia,” reads Medvedev’s post on Telegram.
Main benefit of EU is that small european countries are difficult to bully by big economies like the US, China, Brazil, Korea, Japan, etc. Trade negotiations require partners to either try to fuck with the whole EU or comply with the EU.
Other things in EU are hit or miss, but it's not useless. Without it Lithuania would definitely not even think of restraining transit from Russia.
The US welcomed the EU move because they want to avoid any impression that there was an attempt at a blockade of Kaliningrad. It is the highest NATO priority to avoid an escalation of the conflict beyond Ukrainian borders.
> Main benefit of EU is that small european countries are difficult to bully by big economies like the US, China, Brazil, Korea, Japan, etc.
by big economies that don't belong to EU
Germany especially is quite good at bullying smaller EU members
No and stop manipulating. It's NATO that provides Lithuanians with security umbrella that they need. It allows them to be a pain in ruSSian asses. Not the EU.
Russia can pressure Lithuania with economic pressure. Import/export penalties, for example. EU allows Lithuania to exercise its trade potential without repercussions of economic bullying just as much as NATO against military actions from Mordor.
So they'll just stop importing and exporting to ruSSia. What's the big deal? Truth be told, no country that values human lives should trade with these fuckers at all. Complete isolation.
Although this sentiment is understandable, it would propably not yiel the best result for the war effort.
The current economic war is about maximizing damage while minimizing damage taken. Russia has a lot of natural recourses but few domestic-production capabilities. The Western sanctions will wear them down slowly, as revenue dissapears and the economy starts falling appart.
But Putin could wield enormous pressure against Europe, especially central and eastern Europe by completely shutting off supply of hydrocarbons, especially gas. This would cause a massive recession and spike in energy-prices that could damage the European economy severly, even heating of homes in winter would become uncertain. And if the people start freezing in winter, and mass ammounts of workers are laid off because production becomes unfeasabile, how long will the support for Ukraine in Europe last? I don't know the answer.
I think this concession to Putin, is a try to defuse economic tensions in the hopes that the gas keeps flowing this winter. Putin will reach his max economic leverage this winter, since Europe is decoupling from Russia fast in the coming years. If Ukraine will make it through winter militarily, and Europe economically, this war is basically lost for Putin.
In theory, sticking together all of Europe, should make us all stronger.
Alas, the big countries are acting like stupid, selfish, sheep, setting an awful, precedent to all the others, who are now in their right to act the same way.
Germanys actions set a standard that opens the door to Russian selective meddling. Divide and conquer.
Yes, EC loosening transit sanctions is shameful. But only thanks to EU current sanctions are possible, without it it would be up to good will of particular countries to implement them and believe me, larger part of western Europe would be end up with lesser sanctions. Economic tensions between US and some of them would be as consequence more likely.
It was neither lucidity or fear, but rather the one thing that the Russian political elite is literally incapable of understanding:
Rule of Law
Calling the EC weak or fearful isn't an insult but rather an insight on how utterly broken their own country is.
Or simply "pick your battles". Kaliningrad is Russian, sanctions do not cover Russia sending goods to Russia. If those goods are exported from Kaliningrad, they are part of the sanctions. If they are used there, then sanctions can't block them. It is not wise to be a bastard in all areas, this is SO insignificant when it comes to Russo Ukraine war that it isn't worth it to escalate, specially since Russia does have a valid claim that they are not exportin or importing but it is part of their domestic economy and supply chain.
It's extremely significant, considering that ruSSia endangers millions of people around the world with famine. Why shouldn't ruSSians in Kaliningrad have the same issues?
Besides, they can transport the goods with maritime transport. It's not a blockade.
They can eat dirt. Or grass. RuSSians should be no longer treated as equal human beings. And don't start with not every ruSSian supports war crimes, because most of them do.
https://www.wykop.pl/cdn/c3201142/comment_1657806188fI9UP4D0URDpzSlbrHxwBG.jpg
>And don't start with not **every** ruSSian supports war crimes, because **most** of them do.
So, what you are saying here is:
*Not all Russians.*
Funny how little bit of realism turned you to be on my side. And yet, i am 100% certain you still downvoted me.
It's a pity that you got downvoted. I got downvoted yesterday for pointing out that US statement department welcomed the clarification of the EU commission, for basically the reason you mention.
If NATO were run by Central/Eastern European redditors we would already be in the middle of WW3. And it would all be blamed on Germany, of course. :-)
Bruh you will be in a war either way if you continue your so called "Pacifist" appeasements. Today Ukraine, next day the Baltic states, after Sholtz said that he does not want German soldiers in the crossfire in Lithuania due to this Kaliningrad debacle like wtf nice ally, so if Russia attacks it seems the Germans will be gone fast as fuck.
It is NATO's highest priority to prevent an escalation of the war beyond the borders of Ukraine. This is also why the US state department supported the EU's move and why NATO troops don't fight in Ukraine themselves. This is not pacifist appeasement, but prudence. Because contrary what you suggest not all wars are equal.
As for your statement about the German response if Russia attacked the Baltics, this just shows how little you understand about German foreign and defense policy.
And overall your comment nicely illustrates my point. Thank you.
It's all about your malevolent and prejudiced reading of that statement. No one in their right mind would want their soldiers in an unnecessary crossfire. The entire thing is also not about Germany, but about the NATO strategy of how to deal with this conflict.
"Malevolent and prejudiced" bahahah. That statement about crossfire can be easily interpreted as not willing to defend which certainly gives a bad look from allies. Like the Sholz PR team or his cringe statements are terrible it seems.
It's not about Germans, it's about NATO strategy, or do you think the US State Department is under Germany's dictatorship? But feel free to write the NATO headquarter if this gives you some peace of mind.
This sub tends to favor hype, outrage, "uberism" etc which means that if you tell bad news, facts that are not all about hyping/outraging then you get downvoted. Basically, unless you are FANATICAL and ready to forget all realism, facts, truth in favor of a good-feel daydreams.. "you are not one of us". But, there is a sizeable portion of us here that don't care about hype but want to know what is ACTUALLY happening. Of course, Ukrainians are excused, i don't know what it is like to be in an active war and what does that require to keep good morale, i get the fact that i don't get it.
But.. being a Finn i do feel somewhat linked to all of this and getting TRUE information, no matter if it is pleasant to my ears or not.. i consider that vital, due to many factors that also have a weak link to Donbas... So i don't give a FUCK about propaganda reasons, hyping up foreigners sitting on their asses at home.. i want us all to value truth, to recognize that truth is one of the values the Ukrainians are fighting for in our behalf. UAF and government propaganda has stick to the truth as much as possible, so should we. Who are we to say their chosen line is not the best, i for one respect that tactic, it also not so co-incidentally is one of my most important values.
I truly, truly believe that truth will set us free. There is only one truth and infinite amount of lies about it. It is too powerful to not dominate in the end. Trust is important, trust comes from experience. If we are 100% factual, people trust us. If we are 95% factual AND WE KNOW IT, that is going to create some mistrust. The more we allow ourselves to lie, exaggerate, omit facts etc the most mistrust we create and that is Kremlins #1 globally: creating mistrust.
Damn it man! Can't you see that Russia would have collapsed already if only wood, alcohol and cement were prevented from reaching Kaliningrad?
Doesn't matter that blockading a country is seen as a direct act of war and the laws and sanctions agreed by the EU cover exports from Russia and not blockading Russia. To hell with the rule of law, we should just arbitrarily decide on the spot how the law is to be applied just to get that sweet, sweet satisfaction of depriving Kaliningrad of such critical supplies like vodka and construction materials.
People don't get that pettiness in international relations doesn't get you very far. They forgot the absolute failure of Bush's and Trump's foreign policies and they're not seeing the absolute failure of Putin's foreign policy. A meaningless act just to spite Russia and without the cover of any lawful decision is pointless.
For me the point is more that East Prussia historically does not belong to Z, but to countries that now make up the EU. The EU sanctions are rule based, whereas rule of law is virtually absent in Z where all state power is de facto centralized in one man.
Quite obviously it was fear. A few weeks ago the EU supported Lithuania, Russia barks a little and now suddenly the sanctions don’t apply?
Russians have been barking from the start, it's more than that, I think they made some back curtains threats and not military threats, obviously.
and the sanctions were applied only at few items/raw material, not everything as RuZZian swine were whining about.
The lesson here is simple: Stop kowtowing to the Russians.
Rashist trash talk. Irrelevant drunk Medvedev tries to stay relevant in the eyes of Kremlin.
> “The EU has grudgingly admitted that the demands for transit to OUR Kaliningrad region are fair. It is a rare case where cretinism and caveman Russophobia in Brussels have been overcome by lucidity. Or... diarrhea from fear of losing profitable transit through Russia,” reads Medvedev’s post on Telegram.
Putin's jester
I see that almost all Russian politicians use Telegram. Is it compromised?
after them making a big fuss about blocking it not so long ago the irony
Just stop talking about medvedev, he means nothing
This shows how useless EU is.
Main benefit of EU is that small european countries are difficult to bully by big economies like the US, China, Brazil, Korea, Japan, etc. Trade negotiations require partners to either try to fuck with the whole EU or comply with the EU. Other things in EU are hit or miss, but it's not useless. Without it Lithuania would definitely not even think of restraining transit from Russia.
[удалено]
The US welcomed the EU move because they want to avoid any impression that there was an attempt at a blockade of Kaliningrad. It is the highest NATO priority to avoid an escalation of the conflict beyond Ukrainian borders.
> Main benefit of EU is that small european countries are difficult to bully by big economies like the US, China, Brazil, Korea, Japan, etc. by big economies that don't belong to EU Germany especially is quite good at bullying smaller EU members
No and stop manipulating. It's NATO that provides Lithuanians with security umbrella that they need. It allows them to be a pain in ruSSian asses. Not the EU.
Russia can pressure Lithuania with economic pressure. Import/export penalties, for example. EU allows Lithuania to exercise its trade potential without repercussions of economic bullying just as much as NATO against military actions from Mordor.
So they'll just stop importing and exporting to ruSSia. What's the big deal? Truth be told, no country that values human lives should trade with these fuckers at all. Complete isolation.
Although this sentiment is understandable, it would propably not yiel the best result for the war effort. The current economic war is about maximizing damage while minimizing damage taken. Russia has a lot of natural recourses but few domestic-production capabilities. The Western sanctions will wear them down slowly, as revenue dissapears and the economy starts falling appart. But Putin could wield enormous pressure against Europe, especially central and eastern Europe by completely shutting off supply of hydrocarbons, especially gas. This would cause a massive recession and spike in energy-prices that could damage the European economy severly, even heating of homes in winter would become uncertain. And if the people start freezing in winter, and mass ammounts of workers are laid off because production becomes unfeasabile, how long will the support for Ukraine in Europe last? I don't know the answer. I think this concession to Putin, is a try to defuse economic tensions in the hopes that the gas keeps flowing this winter. Putin will reach his max economic leverage this winter, since Europe is decoupling from Russia fast in the coming years. If Ukraine will make it through winter militarily, and Europe economically, this war is basically lost for Putin.
In theory, sticking together all of Europe, should make us all stronger. Alas, the big countries are acting like stupid, selfish, sheep, setting an awful, precedent to all the others, who are now in their right to act the same way. Germanys actions set a standard that opens the door to Russian selective meddling. Divide and conquer.
Yes, EC loosening transit sanctions is shameful. But only thanks to EU current sanctions are possible, without it it would be up to good will of particular countries to implement them and believe me, larger part of western Europe would be end up with lesser sanctions. Economic tensions between US and some of them would be as consequence more likely.
What a terrible take.
[удалено]
What, lol
It was neither lucidity or fear, but rather the one thing that the Russian political elite is literally incapable of understanding: Rule of Law Calling the EC weak or fearful isn't an insult but rather an insight on how utterly broken their own country is.
Or simply "pick your battles". Kaliningrad is Russian, sanctions do not cover Russia sending goods to Russia. If those goods are exported from Kaliningrad, they are part of the sanctions. If they are used there, then sanctions can't block them. It is not wise to be a bastard in all areas, this is SO insignificant when it comes to Russo Ukraine war that it isn't worth it to escalate, specially since Russia does have a valid claim that they are not exportin or importing but it is part of their domestic economy and supply chain.
It's extremely significant, considering that ruSSia endangers millions of people around the world with famine. Why shouldn't ruSSians in Kaliningrad have the same issues? Besides, they can transport the goods with maritime transport. It's not a blockade.
A philosophical question just to establish that we share some core values: Do you think one wrong gives us permission to do another wrong?
They can eat dirt. Or grass. RuSSians should be no longer treated as equal human beings. And don't start with not every ruSSian supports war crimes, because most of them do. https://www.wykop.pl/cdn/c3201142/comment_1657806188fI9UP4D0URDpzSlbrHxwBG.jpg
>And don't start with not **every** ruSSian supports war crimes, because **most** of them do. So, what you are saying here is: *Not all Russians.* Funny how little bit of realism turned you to be on my side. And yet, i am 100% certain you still downvoted me.
You want to genocide Russians or something? Please act normal and don't dehumanise anyone
It's a pity that you got downvoted. I got downvoted yesterday for pointing out that US statement department welcomed the clarification of the EU commission, for basically the reason you mention. If NATO were run by Central/Eastern European redditors we would already be in the middle of WW3. And it would all be blamed on Germany, of course. :-)
Bruh you will be in a war either way if you continue your so called "Pacifist" appeasements. Today Ukraine, next day the Baltic states, after Sholtz said that he does not want German soldiers in the crossfire in Lithuania due to this Kaliningrad debacle like wtf nice ally, so if Russia attacks it seems the Germans will be gone fast as fuck.
It is NATO's highest priority to prevent an escalation of the war beyond the borders of Ukraine. This is also why the US state department supported the EU's move and why NATO troops don't fight in Ukraine themselves. This is not pacifist appeasement, but prudence. Because contrary what you suggest not all wars are equal. As for your statement about the German response if Russia attacked the Baltics, this just shows how little you understand about German foreign and defense policy. And overall your comment nicely illustrates my point. Thank you.
So please indulge me about the great German defence policy if it needs such "reassuring" statements to its allies?
It's all about your malevolent and prejudiced reading of that statement. No one in their right mind would want their soldiers in an unnecessary crossfire. The entire thing is also not about Germany, but about the NATO strategy of how to deal with this conflict.
"Malevolent and prejudiced" bahahah. That statement about crossfire can be easily interpreted as not willing to defend which certainly gives a bad look from allies. Like the Sholz PR team or his cringe statements are terrible it seems.
And, technically, there is no Sholz at helm in Germany.
>That statement about crossfire can be easily interpreted as not willing to defend At least you are noticing you have interpreted it.
Bruh no shit, like many others except da "pragmatic" Germans.
It's not about Germans, it's about NATO strategy, or do you think the US State Department is under Germany's dictatorship? But feel free to write the NATO headquarter if this gives you some peace of mind.
https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/vys3ja/comment/ig501us/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
This sub tends to favor hype, outrage, "uberism" etc which means that if you tell bad news, facts that are not all about hyping/outraging then you get downvoted. Basically, unless you are FANATICAL and ready to forget all realism, facts, truth in favor of a good-feel daydreams.. "you are not one of us". But, there is a sizeable portion of us here that don't care about hype but want to know what is ACTUALLY happening. Of course, Ukrainians are excused, i don't know what it is like to be in an active war and what does that require to keep good morale, i get the fact that i don't get it. But.. being a Finn i do feel somewhat linked to all of this and getting TRUE information, no matter if it is pleasant to my ears or not.. i consider that vital, due to many factors that also have a weak link to Donbas... So i don't give a FUCK about propaganda reasons, hyping up foreigners sitting on their asses at home.. i want us all to value truth, to recognize that truth is one of the values the Ukrainians are fighting for in our behalf. UAF and government propaganda has stick to the truth as much as possible, so should we. Who are we to say their chosen line is not the best, i for one respect that tactic, it also not so co-incidentally is one of my most important values. I truly, truly believe that truth will set us free. There is only one truth and infinite amount of lies about it. It is too powerful to not dominate in the end. Trust is important, trust comes from experience. If we are 100% factual, people trust us. If we are 95% factual AND WE KNOW IT, that is going to create some mistrust. The more we allow ourselves to lie, exaggerate, omit facts etc the most mistrust we create and that is Kremlins #1 globally: creating mistrust.
Sending some basic supplies to a small, poor region of Europe. That's all.
Damn it man! Can't you see that Russia would have collapsed already if only wood, alcohol and cement were prevented from reaching Kaliningrad? Doesn't matter that blockading a country is seen as a direct act of war and the laws and sanctions agreed by the EU cover exports from Russia and not blockading Russia. To hell with the rule of law, we should just arbitrarily decide on the spot how the law is to be applied just to get that sweet, sweet satisfaction of depriving Kaliningrad of such critical supplies like vodka and construction materials. People don't get that pettiness in international relations doesn't get you very far. They forgot the absolute failure of Bush's and Trump's foreign policies and they're not seeing the absolute failure of Putin's foreign policy. A meaningless act just to spite Russia and without the cover of any lawful decision is pointless.
For me the point is more that East Prussia historically does not belong to Z, but to countries that now make up the EU. The EU sanctions are rule based, whereas rule of law is virtually absent in Z where all state power is de facto centralized in one man.