General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt looks like out NATO allies are doing more than we are
As far a sanctions are concerned. They are restricting airspace, have agreed to ban the us of SWIFT and we have not announced those yet. Why? Biden must have a reason. That said, no one could have brought our allies together the way Biden has.
Ocelot II
(115,576 posts)Tetrachloride
(7,813 posts)Biden is working behind the scenes.
Remember the American submarine that allegedly appeared inside Russian waters ?
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)It could be true but they can never ne trusted.
Tetrachloride
(7,813 posts)the US was officially neutral for over 2 years.
https://www.historynet.com/a-few-americans-in-the-battle-of-britain/
hunter
(38,301 posts)... or the means to deliver them anywhere within the hour. Containing Putin will require a deft touch.
Putin got this plan to rebuild the Soviet Empire rolling expecting Trump would be President.
Thanks to Biden it's blowing up in his face.
Voting matters.
Kittycatkat
(1,356 posts)TheRealNorth
(9,462 posts)And there are good reasons to keep any weapons we are sending them on the down low.
jrthin
(4,832 posts)in the background. US(A)
Mad_Machine76
(24,391 posts)it has something to do with European countries being closer? Not a ton we can do but organizing international support against Russia is important. Anything more might be risking escalation, which I think we can all agree that we don't want, right?
bigtree
(85,971 posts)...as most of the sanctions affect European nations' ties with Russian oil and other goods before it hurts the U.S..
I also think anything which avoids making this primarily a US/Russia confrontation is the right way to go.
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)crickets
(25,950 posts)We've been putting manpower, arms, and money toward Ukraine from the beginning. Most importantly, we've been providing intelligence. But we've been doing it quietly. It's not usually our style, but I kinda like it. Steps like sanctions are getting put into place, allies are standing up all over the world. As you rightly pointed out, this is a Eurocentric situation, and not turning into a US v. Russia thing is smart. Letting Europe take the lead is the right way to go.
imaginary girl
(860 posts)This is the kind of coordination you only get when people are willing to set their own egos aside and work for the good of the team, even if somebody else gets the glory, imo.
Dirty Heads
(62 posts)As for restricting airspace? That's a token gesture like removing vodka from liquor stores. It sounds nice but it's not very significant.
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)Samrob
(4,298 posts)Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)Joe is on the phone a lot. Our time to lead may come.
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)I can't imagine anyone doing any better other than maybe Hillary.
Hekate
(90,527 posts)Trump tried to degrade and destroy NATO, one of the greatest alliances ever.
When Joe Biden came into office, one of the first things he did was visit/confer with both EU and NATO and tell them, America is back. Then he set to work to restore our place in NATO and and our relationship with the EU. And that is why we have a NATO alliance to work with right now.
As far as the current crisis is going, Biden and the Biden admin have been fully engaged in negotiations from the start. Part of the negotiating process was to make it clear what consequences there would be if Putin rejected all offers. Part of the process was Joe Biden announcing to the world what American intelligence had found out about Putins intentions, including their well-developed plans for false flag operations.
When negotiations went no place and American intel showed Putin proceeding with war prep, Joe started rolling out sanctions. As far as I can tell, they are phased, giving each phase time to be arranged and when implemented, time to sink in.
From the start, the sanctions have included far more than restriction of airspace. Even if your only source of news is DU, you should be aware that they are absolutely massive.
MineralMan
(146,248 posts)In what way do you think they are doing more? I believe you are incorrect, but if you have actual information, please link to it.
iemanja
(53,010 posts)And the US did announce SWIFT restrictions. It's not Biden's fault you don't keep current.
I think Biden is doing a great job. You don't have to be rude. It was just a question. I was not saying I'm unhappy with Biden.
iemanja
(53,010 posts)are inaccurate.
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)Lancero
(3,002 posts)https://time.com/6151766/u-s-sanctions-against-russia-gas-oil/
Russia won't stop their invasion as long as NATO countries keep bankrolling their military.
iemanja
(53,010 posts)The first article you linked to is four years old. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/other/ukraine-crisis-germany-halts-pipeline-as-nations-sanction-russia/ar-AAUcRiK?ocid=BingNewsSearch
Lancero
(3,002 posts)Nothing towards active lines that pump billions of dollars into the Russian economy, and help keep their military afloat.
But hey, lets get some more current numbers then...
https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2022/02/PE22_N010_51.html#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20Germany%20imported%20in,of%20all%20imports%20from%20Russia.
Damn, 19.4 billion euros. They're bankrolling even more of Russia's military than I first thought.
iemanja
(53,010 posts)OnDoutside
(19,945 posts)depended on the gas coming from Nordstream 1, which was largely the reason why the EU haven't responded sooner to the whole Putin "play". Putin was pushing Nordstream 2 to double capacity and bring it through a non Ukraine route, which would potentially have pressurised Ukraine.
However now that Putin has invaded Ukraine, it has finally woken them up to the fact that they allowed themselves to become reliant on gas from an authoritarian regime. This was a huge miscalculation by Putin because now Germany is going to rapidly push renewable energy. Chancellor Scholz made a speech in parliament outlining their response, which includes immediately spending 100bn on upgrading their defense force and spending 2% of GDP from now on
Lancero
(3,002 posts)That Russia is using to fund their war effort?
Celerity
(43,063 posts)LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - European gas prices surged more than 30% on Thursday after Russian forces launched an invasion of Ukraine. Below outlines why Russia has so much impact on Europe's gas markets, even in countries that Russia does not supply directly.
HOW MUCH GAS DOES RUSSIA SUPPLY?
Europe relies on Russia for around 40% of its natural gas. The bulk comes through pipelines including Yamal, which crosses Belarus and Poland to Germany, Nord Stream 1, which runs directly to Germany, and pipelines through Ukraine. A network of interconnecting pipelines links Europes internal gas markets.
Not all countries get supply directly from Russia, but if countries such as Germany, the biggest consumer of Russian gas, receive less from Russia, they must replace this from elsewhere, for instance, Norway, which has a knock-on effect on available gas for other countries.
As a result, news on Russian supplies triggers as much volatility in British gas prices as in those in continental Europe, even though Britain typically gets less than 5% of its gas from Russia. Lower overall Russian supply to Europe means less could be available from its largest supplier Norway.
snip
Lancero
(3,002 posts)Pity. Who cares how much Ukrainian blood is spilt, so long as gas is cheap right?
Celerity
(43,063 posts)Lancero
(3,002 posts)Ukrainian blood, for Russian gas. A deal Germany gladly makes, and a deal many here gladly justify.
Celerity
(43,063 posts)We here in Europe (in toto) have a far bigger population than the US and also have far less natural recourses overall.
Perhaps the US can subsidise and supply all the petrol and natural gas needs of Europe that Russia, at present, supplies. Raise the US consumer prices to European levels to pay for it.
I am sure that will be an easy sell for Biden.
Come up with an actual workable solution and then we can perhaps talk.
Response to Celerity (Reply #45)
Post removed
Celerity
(43,063 posts)OnDoutside
(19,945 posts)they have changed their energy policy to massively ramp up renewables. It's a pretty momentous decision.
In any case, the economic sanctions mean that Russia can't do anything with it.
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)This is disappointing.
hunter
(38,301 posts)Germany's aggressive renewable energy schemes, entirely dependent on Russian natural gas, failed.
Plenty of people saw this coming, but maybe not so soon or in such a dramatic fashion.
mcar
(42,278 posts)you may want to update your OP.
pinkstarburst
(1,327 posts)doing many things on the down low and just not blasting regular updates out over twitter about things that need to stay, well, secret.
Biden is being smart about this.
Iggo
(47,534 posts)Maybe I dont understand the question.
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)I think his real name is evil enough. No real need to combine it with another evil from history.
Putler sounds like a pet name for a puppy dog lol.
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)Why would they make it longer than his actual name? How odd.
Still sounds like a puppy dog name to me, sorry. Every time I see it, I think of my sisters dog she used to call Pupler as a wee thing.
I only see you using it, so I just wondered.
roamer65
(36,744 posts)But we are sending anti-tank and STINGERS.
and bankrolling a LOT of the effort.
FakeNoose
(32,555 posts)Our stake is high, and if we're asked to do more I'm sure we'll come through. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have both made multiple trips to Europe recently to show solidarity with NATO and Ukraine. We can do more and we will, if it's asked of us.
BlueLucy
(1,609 posts)and distance us from our European allies I am so very grateful for Biden and Harris.