Recent content by Spitfire9

Crimea has a population of around 2.4 million. Several hundred thousand Russians settled in Crimea after the Russian annexation in 2014. It looks probable that life in Crimea, already very difficult, will become extremely difficult in coming months. Intense problems with transport by car...

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/ukraine-just-launched-one-of-the-biggest-strike-of-the-war-and-set-off-a-20-mile-traffic-jam-of-russians-fleeing-crimea/ PS State of emergency declared in Sevastopol. Russian-occupied Crimea appears to be rapidly descending into a state of chaos or as Putin...

Clearly a large number of people want to leave Crimea. I imagine that many Russians who went there on holiday with children were unaware of the situation there when they got in their cars and drove away from their homes in Russia. I presume that the Russian government preferred not to warm them...

Crimea is becoming untenable. It is now being starved of supplies. The 3 ferries being used to ship supplies from Russia via the Kerch crossing were reputedly put out of action or destroyed. The Kerch bridge has been weakened. Trains can no longer use it. The main road from the north running...

From the sound of the article above next thing on the agenda is negotiating an export contract with the partner from hell. Should be interesting.

https://storychase.co/news/russian-communist-leader-calls-for-seizing-private-bank-deposits-to-fill-budget-gaps/ I have been saying for some time that the government might resort to seizing funds in bank accounts by converting them into government bonds. That prospect or freezing or seizing...

The answer to your first question: Moldova. Other countries: Any other non-NATO country bordering CIS with an unfriendly government What will happen with NATO is unclear. US may leave NATO. US has already said it will not protect NATO states that 'do not pay their way'. You think the war...

Irish ex-diplomat who worked as a diplomat for the UK in Ukraine claims that nearly 2,000 Russian fuel trucks were destroyed in the 4 days before being interviewed. It is not surprising to me that Crimea is suffering from fuel shortage. Is the 2,000 figure credible? Not entirely but if he is...

Russia's attack has damaged the world economically. Imagine Russian aggression had been successful and Russia had taken over Ukraine. Don't you think Putin would not be encouraged to plan to take over parts or all of other neighbouring countries to the west of Russia? The situation has changed...

Quite true. You did somewhat suggest that at some point 'the Turks' would 'sort out' (my words) those countries, though.

I'm back down on planet Earth. Turkiye is going to conquer Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus? What have you been smoking?

A big bully grabs some of its smaller neighbour's land in 2014. Europe disapproves but does little to help. The big bully tries to grab the rest of its smaller neighbour's land in 2022. This time Europe decides to help. For the first time the big bully is confronted by Europe and, now, after 4...

Withdraw from the Donbas? I imagine that most people in the area would rather not be part of Ukraine. If Ukraine were to take it over, wouldn't it become another Palestine with the people living in the 'occupied territory' in a permanent state of low level conflict with the 'occupier'?

Elvira, governor of the central bank, is back in action, on June 19 announcing the new 14.25% bank rate. An island of competence floating in a sea of incompetence! I think she is Russia's biggest asset in the struggle to manage and mitigate the effects of Putin spending massively on a massively...

Most Europeans like freedom and democracy. Prices are going up but not as fast as in totalitarian Russia. In my country there is an acute shortage of housing in many areas. What is there to solve? Get 2.8% UK inflation down to 0%? I suggest you look at economies with 0% inflation. Not...