>

I don’t think that was the worst part of his comment: indeed Crimea may never be part of Ukraine, if Ukraine concedes anything in the peace treaty this will be #1
The worst part was he saying German tanks will fight in Russia. As far as I know, the war is entirely in Ukrainian soil, not Russian…
As a croat i have to say our government is a circus and don't take them seriously they all are bunch of corrupted idiots. >

As a Slovene, I can say the same. Our dumb prime minister said a while ago that the Western Balkans are on Russia's side. Our dumb foreign minister said there can be no peace or stability in Europe without Russia. We're still waiting for comments from our dumb Karen of a president. It's a shitshow, led by sympathizers of the old communist regime. >

Interesting. I am rather surprised that’s the case. I’m in a discord with a bunch of Slovenes, they never talk about domestic politics. American politics though… Like they post stories from L.A. It’s weird. I am thinking about trying to learn some basic Slovenian actually. >

Americas greatest export is its politics. >

As an American, I think UK politics are more fun.  If there were easily available English translations of other European Parliaments, I'd watch the fuck out of them.
Politics is best enjoyed when it's not happening to you. >


Politics is best enjoyed when it's not happening to you.

Agreed. I spent four years avoiding US politics except through the lens of UK comedy and news
Also, watching MPs give their PM shit during Question Time is delightful >

Prime minister's questions. Question time is a TV program run by the BBC where panelists, including MPs, are asked questions for debate by the public. >

Ugh, you're right! I stand corrected (that's what I get for commenting while seriously lacking in sleep) >

Sounds like a man that's just remembered he's visited a Russian hotel room in the past >

Absolutely. Russia's desperate. It smells like blackmail >

And urine >

A whole shower’s worth of it >

Honestly, how degrading/outright evil would the kompramat have to be that the better political calculation is simping for Putin at this point in time? Unless there's a yet undiscovered way to funnel Kremlin funny money into his bank account, I'd imagine it would have to be pretty twisted. I feel like most voters would respect a politician more if he/she just came out with the gigachad move and said, "Yeah, I let them shit on my chest, but I'm not going to cape for a terrorist regime." If "they" are 12, however, obviously it's a different story. It's also different, of course, if the Croatian electorate is more pro-Russia than I previously thought (I thought that was Serbia's thing). >


If "they" are 12, however, obviously it's a different story.

Yeah, I have a feeling that if the compromising material was just gross, people could get over it, but if it was illegal, it suddenly becomes a whole new level of messed up. Then it's been upgraded from public embarrassment to prison time and a forever tarnished reputation.
If the Kremlin has that kind of material on you, you'd sing to their tune as well. But hey, it would of course be a lot smarter if you didn't do that kind of nasty illegal shit in the first place. >

The scary thing about this is with the developments in deepfake technology, we're not far away from this sort of life changing evidence being manufactured by the state.
Which begs the question; once these things can be effectively 'faked', will it make blackmail more viable or less? Will it mean you can make it look like anyone has done anything? Or will it just give all the sleazy creeps who actually did horrible things an easy 'out'? >

Ultimately less viable, and the sleazy creeps as well as the blackmailed and attractive will have a way out. Deepfaked video just has to be shown out in court a couple times and then video footage will be heading the way of the lie detector test.
But there's going to be a really scary period in which you might get to watch yourself walk into a dark alley and set the place on fire because the guy who denied your claim wanted to burn the place down for some reason. >

Yeah. The easiest way out would be to make your own deep fakes of yourself in increasingly ridiculous situations to discredit whatever you're being blackmailed with. Alternatively, assuming you know the identity of your blackmailer, make your own deep fakes of them doing proper fucked up shit and "blackmail" them with M.A.D. >

Ahhh, the reverse Tyson zone! But you'd have to know you were a patsie ahead of time... Sweet Sixteenth gift is a "professional demo reel," get your life started on the right track? >

Croatia has a parliamentary system of government, like Germany.  The country is run in practice by the prime minister and the cabinet and most of the president's duties are ceremonial.  Maybe he would have a different attitude if Serbia snatched part of Croatia's territory and said it now belonged to a greater Serbia. >

Wouldn’t be the first time a purely ceremonial politician would say something controversial just to be in the news again. >

No but more often the ceremonial politician is there to say the most popular lines and deflect away from controversy >

That's the way with common sense. Nowadays we choose space cadets as rulers worldwide, aside from a handful of exceptions. >

And sometimes we make bets that produce will outlast the latest ruler. >

Most politicians end up beating the lettuce.
Also, no so fun fact: The Russian invasion in Ukraine was supposed to be over in 2 weeks, and the UK is on their 3rd prime minister since the invasion started. >

Guys you make it sound like we have a military to give. We have like 4 fighter jets and only 1 is functional. >

Plus Mirko Cro Cop >

Woah woah woah now, let's not start Armageddon okay? >

Don’t you mean Legmageddon? >

Right leg hospital, left leg cemetery! >

"I don't remember asking you a god damn thing." - Ukrainians probably >


Samuel L. Ukraine    

Fixed that for you. >

"Does Ukraine look, like a bitch??!!??" >

What? >

They speak Ukrainian in What? >

What? >

Ukrainian motherfucker, spa Ukraini? >

What? >

[Fires Javelin] >

Check his bank account for rubles… >

You need a microscope these days. >

Nah it’s probably a mountain of rubles that aren’t worth a dollar. >

"I'll take leaders whose opinions matter for shit for $200, Alex." >

So essentially these 'fanatics' remained as a faction, just under a more palatable political banner, since it is fair to say that Putin's leadership of Russia bears little resemblance to Yeltsin's approach. >

Yea but Yeltsin was also a buffoon whose reforms basically led to Putin’s rise and the transfer of ownership of Russia’s economy to the oligarchs that essentially run the country. And Yeltsin wasn’t all that much different from Putin, he also violently surpressed independence movements in the Caucasus, particularly against the Chechens. >

Where the hell did this guy come from? Why do Croatia want to be involved in this? >


Milanovic, a Croatian former premier from the Social Democratic party 
(SDP), has embraced an anti-EU stance since he took the mostly 
ceremonial job of president, aligning his policies with those of 
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Bosnian Serb secessionist 
leader Milorad Dodik. >

Wouldn't say he aligns his policies with those of Orban or Dodik, but his rhetoric has shifted to populism quite a bit in my opinion.
Most of us Croatians don't share his sentiment in regard to Ukraine, and we are highly supportive of them. >

Are there politicians that align with the general populations opinions? Was it surprising for him to open up this kind of statement?
I’m generally curious is all, not questioning anything. >

The Croatian Prime Minister supports Ukraine so it seems the President an PM are at odds >

Anti-EU chud makes stupid fucking statement.
More news at 5. >

The concerning part is he was elected not appointed. >

He was elected because his campaign was the complete opposite of what he has become after elections. He was all about human rights, pro-EU, pro-NATO. Now he's a cheap copy of Orban. He's now a hero of people who didn't vote for him, and an embarrassment for people who did vote for him - me included. >

As a Croat, please don't listen to these cold war fossils, no one takes these corrupt fucks seriously. This is the last step in our effort to get up to speed with the current world, purging of the cunts. We've joined the EU, all that's left to do is to see this breed of fascists die out. >

Traveled in the coastal areas once and loved it. Great country with a lot of history! This guy doesn't sound like he represents that in the slightest to me. >

He used to be okay during his SDP days. He went off of the deep end recently, probably from all the coke. >

He is speaking about the reality of the situation. Redditors don't care about reality, just making jokes >

While I would love it if Ukraine could take back Crimea... Truth is... Doing so will prove to be very difficulty at best.  


Russia has had 8 years to fortify it.


Ukraine has no navy, meaning the only real way they have of entering the peninsula is through a 5 mile wide bottleneck where every gun Russia has in the area will be aimed.  The weapons may be old... But they have lots of them.  Same with soldiers .. they may not be well trained... But they have TONS  of them.


Since it was Annexed in 2014, the Brainwashed Russian People consider it their soil now.  To invade Crimea means that the Russian people will likely consider Ukraine the true aggressors and rally behind their country.


If Ukraine reaches the point in the war where "invading" Crimea is possible... Putin will feel backed into a corner and will likely get more desperate to hold on to his winnings... His power and most of all... His life.  If he loses Crimea... I see it very likely that there will be a Coup.  He will try everything he possibly can to keep that from happening.


Now I know I will get downvotes for the above.  It is important for me to say that I hope I am wrong... That the Ukraine military can steamroll their way through.  Or Putin is ousted sooner by cooler heads (although a crazier person could rise up) and a political victory could give the land back to Ukraine.  I just feel that it is very important to look at all of the things that have to happen and be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. >

Also Russia is never going to end the war if they don’t get any concession at all, and Ukraine giving up what they didn’t even have before the war seems like the smallest concession that might eventually work. >

Countries that are losing end wars all the time without getting major concessions. >

Russia can’t lose though, because of nukes. At best, it can be a draw. 
The only way Russia loses is an internal coup / power implode (like 1917, 1990’s). That’s why Putin ramped up security forces and is cracking down so much on dissent. 
Russia (and China) have learnt that they lose only from within. >

Russia is not going to be conquered.  But you can start a conventional war of choice or of conquest and have it go poorly and then decide to cut your losses.  
Great powers have done that all the time. >

Before nukes, yes. Russia did that in their war against Japan in the early 20th century - before nukes. 
Actually, no great power has willingly given up their European territory since world war 1. I doubt Russia is gonna be the first. >

They wouldn't be giving it up "willingly."  They would be defeated in conventional warfare, or they would make the calculus that the costs of the conflict are no longer worth the potential benefits. >

Crimea a river oh. >

That's like...his opinion, man. >

What is this alternative reality when croatian government support Russians while Serbian government is against?
Is this real life?
Is this phantasy? >

It would honestly be surprising if the Ukrainians were able to successfully retake Crimea. Im rooting for them, but right now they’re still just trying to survive. >

You need Crimeans to want to reintegrate first. >

... and he will never again be president of Croatia. >

People on Reddit are quite delusional about this war and how many resources Russia actually does have. It would take a complete collapse of the country for Crimea to return, and that is still very unlikely. >

Exactly, for the past 8 months I've only been hearing how oh Russia is running out of men, rockets, resources  etc. How they will collapse soon and yet there they are preparing another offensive. BS, Russians can wage this bloody war for years. >

Yep. Been hearing for months and months that Russia are getting trashed yet Zelensky is still begging for weapons saying they need them. >

That's litteraly his job. >

I don't think anyone is saying he shouldn't be asking for weapons. I think it just shows that he isn't winning the war as easily as everyone seems to think on reddit. >

I will quote Tolkien here “Never is to big a word, even for the Ents” >

Crimea will go back to Ukraine when the United States gives back Texas to Mexico.
Ukraine is in a pinch if half of Russia's mobilization numbers are true. But Ukraine can defend what they have and take a bit more if the odds roll right. >

Even though people don’t want to admit it, he is probably right. This statement doesn’t automatically make someone pro Russia. You can want Ukraine to force russia out of their land, but still think russia will hold onto crimea. >


He added that the arrival of German tanks in Ukraine would only serve to drive Russia closer to China.

Well, Russia drove themselves away from Europe so I guess that's where they will end up either way.  If they can get over their mutual hatreds. >

Now please let my family go. >

Yeah, it's mine now
And i will not share with anyone, i like to eat dirt too much >

If it in some way meant a long lasting peace, it would be a bitter pill to swallow but conceivable, I mean part would be great just 'ta-da' no more death. Unfortunately it would not mean peace at all under any circumstances. A casual understanding of any basic facts of recent history, would lead anyone sensible to conclude allowing Crimea, because of its location, to have been taken away by an imperialistic dictatorship would 100% guarantee future conflict and escalations. Anyone to suggest otherwise must have some non-transparent motives.