Unfortunately, the worst fears of the Western world have become reality in recent days, with Russia attacking Ukraine. Although the unfortunate escalation of the Russian government had been apparent for some time, the financial markets reacted very violently.
Wilson could it come to this? To answer this question we have to look a bit into the past. Mass demonstrations in Kyiv, later known as the "Euromaidan" or simply "Maidan" protests, began in late 2013 after then-President Viktor Yanukovych decided to postpone the signing of an EU Association Agreement. Initially peaceful protests were joined by hardline nationalists, which escalated into violent riots in Kyiv and takeovers of government buildings across Ukraine. In February 2014, pro-Western factions overthrew Yanukovych's government and officials with notable pro-EU and anti-Moscow stance came to power. While the Maidan events found broad support in the western parts of Ukraine, The eastern and southern regions, which have large Russian-speaking populations and strong historical ties to Russia, have strongly opposed the events in Kyiv. In cities like Odessa, anti-Maidan protests were soon violently crushed. Pro-Russian protests continued in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk and in the Black Sea Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
In a first reaction, stocks literally collapsed. Safe havens such as government bonds, gold and the well-known safe haven currencies yen, Swiss francs and the US dollar have risen. Naturally, there were also high fluctuations in oil and gas prices. The war in Ukraine also affects the European gas and oil markets. In this context, the ADAC announced in a statement on Monday that the price of petrol and diesel had risen by more than five cents per liter over the past days. European markets are more exposed than their US or Asian counterparts.
The West
In a first reaction, the West is very united and determined to counter Russian aggression. Which concrete sanctions will be imposed is currently still the subject of negotiations.
Systematic sanctions against the Russian financial system aimed at cutting off the main Russian banks from transactions in euros and US dollars are very likely. It remains to be seen whether the sharpest weapon - an exclusion from the payment system SWIFT - will follow.
An embargo on gas and oil supplies would also hit Russia hard. In contrast to the USA, however, European economies would also be negatively affected. The importance of Russia for the euro zone arises from its wealth of raw materials. The logical consequence for European consumers would be sharply rising energy prices in response to a halt to gas and oil supplies.
The euro zone
The recovery that is emerging in the euro zone could also be somewhat flatter in view of the events. According to an ECB study, a 10% drop in gas supply would reduce gross value added in the euro area by 0.7%. Despite all the dampening effects, we do not see a scenario of economic stagnation for the euro zone.
The ECB
However, increasing uncertainty could prompt the ECB to take a slightly more cautious tack. Initial reactions from European currency watchdogs point to a delay in switching towards normalized monetary policy. On the other hand, the risk of inflation has increased further as a result of the escalation in Ukraine.
There has never been a danger of a nuclear strike, no nuclear war, there won't be, because a nuclear strike will put an end to the whole thing - and our lives too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nuclear force to be put on alert in a televised conversation with top officials. The Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian armed forces for strategic deterrence [the nuclear forces, ed. Editorial office] to be put on "special alert". In a conversation with Defense Minister Shoigu and Chief of Staff Gerasimov, the President cited aggressive statements from the West as the reason for this step, which was to be reacted to. He said, "You can see that Western countries are not only taking unfriendly measures against our country in the economic sphere. I am talking about unlawful sanctions, as everyone knows very well. But top officials in leading NATO countries are also making aggressive statements about our country Therefore,
Of course that has an impact. The NATO Response Force has been deployed to Romania, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday at a press conference after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Regarding the Ukraine war, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, who resigned as prime minister in 2020 but currently leads the main fact within the ruling LDP party, says Ukraine would not have faced an invasion from Russia if they had some would have kept their nuclear weapons . He further said: "Japan should also consider various options in its discussions." This includes the sharing of nuclear weapons, Abe said on a Fuji Television program. Japan is the only country to have experienced a nuclear attack. According to the country's pacifist post-war constitution, Tokyo relies on the US "nuclear umbrella" to ward off threats, the Sumikai portal writes.
Some time ago, B-52 bombers were transferred to Great Britain from the USA. Since then, one of these machines has been in the air more or less constantly. The B-52 are long-range strategic bombers designed for use with nuclear weapons. Since US nuclear weapons are also stored in Europe (including in Büchel, currently in Nörvenich), these flights with B-52 bombers are already threats with nuclear weapons. These flights lead to the Ukrainian border or, as a few days ago, to the Baltic Sea region together with the Polish Air Force.
We are inundated with fake news. This is the 'Cold War'. It is run internationally. We read newspapers, watch TV, think we are informed. Is that us? No, we are not! We only know what is told to us and it is often not what we should know.
According to Facebook's internal guidelines reviewed by The Intercept, Facebook will "allow praise for the Azov Battalion if it explicitly and exclusively praises its role in defending Ukraine or its role as part of the Ukrainian National Guard." Among the internally published examples of speech that Facebook now deems acceptable are: "Azov Movement volunteers are real heroes, they are much needed support for our National Guard"; "We are under attack. Azov has bravely defended our city for the last 6 hours"; and "I think Azov is playing a patriotic role in this crisis."
The Azov battalion was formed in 2014 and was supposed to take the mainly Russian-inhabited provinces in the Donbass by blitzkrieg. They did not succeed, but for 8 years a bitter war of terror has been waged against the civilian population there - not only with the approval, but on the direct orders of the Ukrainian government, which had swept to power after a "color revolution" financed by George Soros and the US Embassy, among others.
What could not better illustrate the double standards of the oh-so-good and oh-so-left than this absolutely sick measure? As The Intercept reports, for the duration of the Ukraine war, Facebook has allowed praise of the fascist and Nazi Azov Battalion fighting on the Ukrainian side. Previously, content about the military grouping was censored - this was also convenient, as it made it less obvious to the public who was fighting for the "good" Ukraine.
In advance, however, we would like to advise against breaking out in jubilation and spreading photos of the swastika- and SS-rune-wielding Azov fighters. Just because Facebook is changing its "community standards" does not mean that the national prohibition laws in Germany and Austria are out of force. Should the constitutional protection agency and the judiciary also "turn a blind eye" here, the already shaky democracy has another serious problem.
And that's not all. The Robert Koch Institute no longer classifies Ukraine and some immediate neighboring countries as high-risk areas. This makes it easier for refugees to enter the country. Belarus and the Russian Federation are still classified as risk areas. The Robert Koch Institute regularly updates the information on high-risk areas on its website. It says officially on the site: "Information on the designation of international risk areas by the Federal Foreign Office, BMG and BMI." On February 25, at 1:30 pm, the page was updated with the following note: "The risk area classification list below is effective from Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 0:00 am
Everything is being done to help Ukraine.
Deliveries of arms are not seen.
In an interview with NDR Info, Christian Mölling, military expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), expressed the suspicion that weapons supplied by Germany to Ukraine could go via Poland. In any case, the armaments would be handed over to Ukrainians outside of Ukraine. These would then transport the weapons to the appropriate units. However, the expert ruled out a direct delivery from Germany to Ukraine. You are dealing with weapons whose handling is "relatively easy to learn". The types of weapons delivered from Germany are the only ones that meet this requirement and that also "achieve a military effect". Specifically, it's about bazookas and "Stinger" anti-aircraft missiles. the aim is
Former US President Trump also referred to the war in Ukraine in a speech to supporters in Florida. The real problem is that US political leaders are stupid. Speaking at the Republican Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, former US President Donald Trump said of the war in Ukraine: "The problem is not that Putin is smart, because of course he's smart, but the real problem is that our political leaders are stupid." In his speech, Trump also warned that "a major war could very well break out in Europe." Trump also described sanctions against Russia as ineffective. More on the topic – live ticker on the Ukraine was: Ukraine agrees to negotiations with Russia in Belarus.
Another small paragraph on this war.
Are Russia's fears that the West plans to station nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine unfounded? no way. The Law of Ukraine "On the admission procedures and conditions of the armed forces of other states on the territory of Ukraine" (Supreme Council of Ukraine, 2000, number 17, page 122), adopted by the parliament in Kyiv in 2000, allows the temporal limited stationing of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction by foreign troops. During the 2015 was against residents of Donetsk and Lugansk, the Rada updated some sections of the law. After that, Ukraine wants to control the location of such carrier weapons on its territory itself. Article 4, paragraph 2 states: "...
Apart from the fears mentioned above, which are certainly justified, I am personally opposed to this war. Simply put, it is unnecessary. The reason for waging a war may be correct, only this war does not solve any problems, on the contrary, it only creates new problems. No matter what comes out of this conflict, the President of Ukraine will become a hero. Ukraine will be accepted into the EU and she will be welcomed into NATO with open arms. Russia will not benefit!
What we are already seeing is a renewed arms race. Germany is investing 100 billion in its military. You have to see it in the right corner of the eye. Germany had no money to expand the hospital system!
The economic effects on Russia, but also on Europe, cannot really be estimated yet. Everyone sanctions everyone, and everyone gets hit.
The fear is around. Potassium iodine tablets are no longer available in Austria. It is recommended to stock up on groceries. The gas price has risen, the fuel price is hardly affordable anymore.
It does not look good.
NATO no longer has a right to exist. There is no more enemy! The USSR is gone, the Warsaw Pact is gone, only NATO is there. Putin wanted to be admitted to NATO, but that was rejected. That would probably have meant the end of NATO.
What a beautiful world we would have
