So Moldova is poor, corrupt, and has an ongoing international boundary dispute with Russia-aligned Transnistria. Sounds like the perfect candidate for NATO membership. Perhaps Jens can propose them when the NATO bigwigs gather this summer for their 75th anniversary celebration.
Moldova is also perfect as yet another bottomless black hole for U.S. taxpayer dollars. Sign them up!
The Moldovan situation is more loaded than as presented; Pres Sandu is doing her utmost best to make Moldova "Romanian", including making it the official language in Parliament (instead of Russian). Romania has always felt robbed when the borders were defined under Soviet rule. Hungary, and Poland for that matter, also have historical claims to western oblasts in Ukraine. The Transnistrian (Russian) enclave is landlocked (by Moldova and Ukraine), though it does have a trip-wire Russian army presence (with allegedly a vast Soviet era weapons/ammo storage facility which Ukraine would love to raid). It is the gateway to Odessa.
Regarding the comment below on Ukrainian soldiers in Odessa who identify as Russians would rebel against Kiev; never underestimate the Neo-nazi (Azov, Territorial Brigades et al) "punisher" presence in all parts of the front; they are there to kill all who would surrender/retreat/desert. They are "licensed" to enforce (murder/torture) their sick vision of racial supremacy no matter where they are, or whether in uniform or not.
All in all it is a highly thorny issue with which to grapple;
The problem with a deployment to Odessa is that the Russians are there already. For the time being they're in Ukrainian uniforms. How many would stay loyal if the government in Kiev unravels? Imagine a force composed of Ukrainian POWs approaching Odessa. Would the defenders fire upon their own people? The temptation to defect to the winning side would be rather strong. I mean, even the Poles chose to fight alongside the Red Army during the latter stage of World War II. The situation is a complete trap.
Moldova is in no position to fight Russia, any fighting that would result from possible scenario's centring around Moldova would be done by NATO armies, but not under NATO banner. The outcome of any such fighting is a forgone conclusion imo.
Fighting in Moldova would cause a substantial portion of the Romanian population to flee to Romania. Russia could then hold a referendum in which the now-majority Russian population would vote to be reunified with Russia. Problem solved, no more Moldova.
Meanwhile, Budanov says that Ukraine has almost everything it needs to destroy the Kerch Bridge. (Basically, Ukraine has received Taurus missiles, which is why we suddenly stopped hearing the constant mewling for them.)
If this were not obvious enough, yesterday Ben Hodges said that “the siege of Crimea had begun”..
But I remind you also that Romania has been the welcome house for CIA torture prisons since 2001 in the so called "war on terrorism" that should be called the new "nazi US war to Europe and Middle East" as if somebody still believes 9/11 was organized and executed by a bunch of fool Saudis is even more fool then them!
Keeping Ukrainian men from fleeing Ukraine conscription is "ensuring the security of Moldova" in doublespeak. Germany appears to be the new vocal right hand man of Pax Americana/Britannica!
God help Moldova, the political Gnosticism of the liberal imperium will destroy them and leave chaos in it’s wake. How many countries are we going to destroy, Moldova will be Libya.
Stephen - What would a “buffer zone” look like in practice and would it still be controlled by a pro-Russian regime in Kiev? Where do you think it would be?
So Moldova is poor, corrupt, and has an ongoing international boundary dispute with Russia-aligned Transnistria. Sounds like the perfect candidate for NATO membership. Perhaps Jens can propose them when the NATO bigwigs gather this summer for their 75th anniversary celebration.
Moldova is also perfect as yet another bottomless black hole for U.S. taxpayer dollars. Sign them up!
The Moldovan situation is more loaded than as presented; Pres Sandu is doing her utmost best to make Moldova "Romanian", including making it the official language in Parliament (instead of Russian). Romania has always felt robbed when the borders were defined under Soviet rule. Hungary, and Poland for that matter, also have historical claims to western oblasts in Ukraine. The Transnistrian (Russian) enclave is landlocked (by Moldova and Ukraine), though it does have a trip-wire Russian army presence (with allegedly a vast Soviet era weapons/ammo storage facility which Ukraine would love to raid). It is the gateway to Odessa.
Regarding the comment below on Ukrainian soldiers in Odessa who identify as Russians would rebel against Kiev; never underestimate the Neo-nazi (Azov, Territorial Brigades et al) "punisher" presence in all parts of the front; they are there to kill all who would surrender/retreat/desert. They are "licensed" to enforce (murder/torture) their sick vision of racial supremacy no matter where they are, or whether in uniform or not.
All in all it is a highly thorny issue with which to grapple;
The problem with a deployment to Odessa is that the Russians are there already. For the time being they're in Ukrainian uniforms. How many would stay loyal if the government in Kiev unravels? Imagine a force composed of Ukrainian POWs approaching Odessa. Would the defenders fire upon their own people? The temptation to defect to the winning side would be rather strong. I mean, even the Poles chose to fight alongside the Red Army during the latter stage of World War II. The situation is a complete trap.
$320 million in aid in a country the outlaws the opposition. We sure know how to pick'em.
Moldova is in no position to fight Russia, any fighting that would result from possible scenario's centring around Moldova would be done by NATO armies, but not under NATO banner. The outcome of any such fighting is a forgone conclusion imo.
Fighting in Moldova would cause a substantial portion of the Romanian population to flee to Romania. Russia could then hold a referendum in which the now-majority Russian population would vote to be reunified with Russia. Problem solved, no more Moldova.
Meanwhile, Budanov says that Ukraine has almost everything it needs to destroy the Kerch Bridge. (Basically, Ukraine has received Taurus missiles, which is why we suddenly stopped hearing the constant mewling for them.)
If this were not obvious enough, yesterday Ben Hodges said that “the siege of Crimea had begun”..
French troops to be deployed in April.
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/106736
The West only continues to double down while Russia dithers.
Here some other point of view https://korybko.substack.com/p/romanias-draft-law-on-dispatching
But I remind you also that Romania has been the welcome house for CIA torture prisons since 2001 in the so called "war on terrorism" that should be called the new "nazi US war to Europe and Middle East" as if somebody still believes 9/11 was organized and executed by a bunch of fool Saudis is even more fool then them!
Keeping Ukrainian men from fleeing Ukraine conscription is "ensuring the security of Moldova" in doublespeak. Germany appears to be the new vocal right hand man of Pax Americana/Britannica!
God help Moldova, the political Gnosticism of the liberal imperium will destroy them and leave chaos in it’s wake. How many countries are we going to destroy, Moldova will be Libya.
WTF does the current American administration know about pluralistic media or border control?
Everyone should read this article by Dmitri Trenin. Everyone who think Russia won't use nuclear weapons should think again:
https://profile.ru/abroad/kak-rossiya-mozhet-pokonchit-s-deficitom-straha-v-otnosheniyah-s-zapadom-1456137/
Has the afternoon shift started in Russia already? Where did the day go?!?
After liberation from the NATO occupation, Moldova will be returned to Russia and life in it will become richer.
Clearly to prevent a (breathless pause) “Crisis in Moldova”, Ukraine must be fully supported and Putin must be defeated!
Thanks for your valuable contribution to the rationale for Russia’s defeat and collapse!
Stephen - What would a “buffer zone” look like in practice and would it still be controlled by a pro-Russian regime in Kiev? Where do you think it would be?
https://korybko.substack.com/p/would-nato-really-hang-france-out?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=835783&post_id=143290302&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1cc3o&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Korybko says the obvious.